Bulletins/FYI

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Mecosta / Osceola-Lake Conservation Districts Michigan Native Plants Presentation & Sale

Canadian Lakes Castle, Canadian Lakes

       Friday, June 6, 2003                                          Presentation 5:30 - 7:30 pm                              Plant Sale 7:30 – 9:30 pm

       Wildflowers & Grasses $5.00/Qt. Pot                                        Rescued woodland edge species $5.50/Qt. Pot

Vern Stephens, owner of Designs By Nature, has over 10 years experience in every aspect of growing and using native Michigan plants.  The presentation will focus on native plants for lake-shores as well as cover their value in preventing soil erosion, and how to install the correct plants.  There will be a half hour reserved for questions.  Sponsored by the Canadian Lakes Garden Club and Lakes Committee, refreshments will be available.  If you need more information, please contact the Mecosta Conservation District at (231) 796-0909 ext. 3

 Why use native plants?  Native plants are the plants that need no extra coddling here.  They want to grow in our soil with our rainfall and with our climatic conditions because they were meant to.  So if you want a fairly carefree landscape, choose our area’s native plants.  Sure beats trying to force a native from the southern states to live here.  You may be amazed which ones are already in our neighborhood!

"if you can’t remember the last time you had your septic tank pumped,

then it’s time to do it again!  Pump you septic every two years at the minimum."

BOATING RULES

• Jet Skis / Wave Runners are motor boats and subject to all rules which apply to motor boats.

• Speed boat and ski hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Boats are to circle the shoreline in a counter-clockwise direction (keep to the right).

• All boats must be equipped with an approved life preserver for each occupant.

• Speed boats and skiers must keep 100 feet away from shore, docks, floats & other boats.

• NO WAKE speeds apply to all channels and during non-speed boating hours.

• Keep stereos and radios tuned low enough to not bother your neighbors.

Updated boating guides are available at Doyle Realty.

 County and DNR officers patrol regularly and violators will be ticketed.

Please contatct Hal Baar if you have observations or comments on weed matters as the season progresses.  He’s willing to work on any problems.

Winter Golf

We had a great time with hot dogs and chili, snow and wind chills and 76 hardy souls (some people are afraid of the cold).  There was a tie for first place with a score of 18 each.  Winners were the team of Ron & Phylis Zacharias, Bob Kirkey and Garret and the team of Dave & JoAnn Ellis, Bill & JoAnn Warra, Bob Bailey and Joe Lanz. 

 A great dinner was held at Northern Shores and our area merchants were the absolute best!  They were so gener-ous that there were prizes galore!  We can’t thank them enough!  When you visit any of these businesses, please thank them, and do visit them and often.                        

A Flair for Hair                        Antlers Lakeside                                   Applebee’s

A Little Bit                               Adventure Video                                  Auto Zone

Big Daddy’s Pizza                    Bennigan’s                                            Big Lots

Blossom Shoppe                      Bob Evans                                            Carter’s Grocery Store

City Looks                               Coldwell Banker-Lakes Realty Conley’s Bakery

Country Corner IGA                Courtright Water Wells                         Dar’s Barn

Denslow’s Market                    Dick’s Place                                         Dunkin’ Donuts

Eastside Café                           First Bank                                             Graphic Specialties

Hansul Marine                          Helen’s Restaurant                                Hometown Health Foods

Java Jack’s                               KD’s Family Hair Care                         KJ’s Family Restaurant

King’s Trading Post                  Lakeside Motor Sports                         Marge Musser

Northern Shores                       Pepper’s Café & Deli                            Remus Bowling Center

Remus Lumber                         Remus Repair                                        Scoops

Staples                                     Stonehill Veterinary Clinic                      Al McNamara

The Hair Affair:  Bunny, Cheryl, Jennifer, and Dave

Doyle Realty:      Kevin Doyle, owner and Cindi Voss, Associate Broker

Managing Shoreline Property

The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program has a bulletin available called Managing Shoreline Property to Protect Water quality.  This is an assessment that examines the special role shoreline property owners have in preventing contamination of their lake or stream. 

 Three areas are covered in this assessment.

                                     1.      Household Wastewater Management

2.      Lawn and Garden Care

3.      Storm water Runoff Management

 Copies of Managing Shoreline Property bulletins are available at no charge.  This is a confidential assessment, which is completely voluntary and easy to use.  For a free copy, please contact the Mecosta County Michigan State University Extension Office at (231) 592-0792.

CRABGRASS

Do you really want your crabgrass pre-emergent to do it’s job on your lawn?  Here’s the 411!  Apply your pre-emergent when you see the forsythia blooming.  You know those bushes that have yellow flowers in the spring?  Applying it earlier will cause the pre-emergent to lose it’s punch before working on the crabgrass and applying later will let the crabgrass get a toehold and  the pre-emergent won’t be able to affect that pest much.  So enjoy!

BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR LAKE,

 What Does It Mean?

 Maintaining a natural shoreline is vital to the health of your lake, river or stream.  How do you keep it natural?  Do all of the following:

1.      Maintain any wetlands that stretch along the shoreline of your property.

2.      Install a boardwalk over wetlands to get to your lake.

3.      Riprap the shoreline with natural stone rather than installing cement or steel bulkheads.  Retaining walls deflect wave energy back to the lake and destroy shoreline habitat for microscopic plants and animals and macroinvertebrates which are essential parts of the food chain for larger plants and animals of lakes and streams.

4.      Maintain a buffer strip of at least 35 feet in width parallel to the shoreline with a maximum width walkway through the buffer strip of four to six feet.

5.      A manicured lawn to the waters edge lacks the plants and roots capable of removing nutrients from runoff.

6.      Maintain a minimum setback distance of fifty feet from the waters edge for dwellings and septic systems.  If possible, increase the setback distance for septic system field systems.

7.      Avoid spilling gas, oil and the use of other hydrocarbons near water.  Do not rake leaves into the lake or burn leaves in close proximity to the lake.

 What actions are essential to maintaining the water quality and fish reproduction capacity of your lake?  Do all of the following:

1.      If you use your boat on lakes infested with exotics, such as, zebra mussels and/or Eurasian water milfoil, make sure that there are no plant fragments of milfoil or veligers, or adult zebra mussels attached to your boat before launching it on your lake.

2.      Maintain a slow no-wake speed when within 100 feet of the shoreline of your lake.

3.      Avoid disturbing the spawning beds of native fish during spawning times.

4.      Limit the horsepower of motorized watercraft on small and shallow lakes.

5.      Maintain natural aquatic plants that grow in the littoral zone, such as, bulrushes and cattails, to provide habitat for protozoans, insects, amphibians and fish.

6.      Avoid the runoff of soil particles into the lake from disturbances of soil surfaces.

D.E. Winne/11/30/01

SIREN

The tornado siren will be tested at 1:00 pm on the 1^st Saturday of each month and is activated by radio from the Sheriff’s office in Big Rapids.  There will be no “all clear” signal, so if you hear the siren at any time other than when testing, take cover and turn on your radio or TV for further news.

SPECIAL RESOURCES 

Are you familiar with the Mecosta Conservation District?  They are located at 18260 Northland Drive

Big Rapids, MI 49307, telephone (231) 832-0909 ext. 3.  Through this awesome resource you can find answers or directions on where to find answers for your natural resource questions, order tree and plant seedlings and seeds at a great price every spring and fall, and pick up a wide selection of pertinent pamphlets, books and videos.  If you are interested in our area then The Natural History of Mecosta County will be truly informational.  It is the first book to present a history of the plants and wildlife in the entire county for just $15.94.  They also sponsor workshops like the ones listed below:

***COMMON SENSE***

 ·        DO NOT use the lake for washing – pets, hair, or people.  Soap should not come in contact with the lake water.  Take your car to the car wash, when you rinse your car the soapy water goes where?  Into the ground and into the water table of the lake.

·        DO NOT throw your “garbage” in uninhabited areas or bury it.  This is a nuisance animal attractant and not healthy for our natural wildlife, pets or children.

·        When on your boat or the Island in Blue Lake, provide your own toilet facilities.  DON’T “go” in the lake, duh!

·        HAVE your septice system pumped and checked every two to three years to be sure it is not polluting the lake.  Who wants to swim or eat fish from the lake if someone isn’t taking care of their septic?

·        DO NOT fertilize within 50 feet of the shore.  Use a fertilizer using –0- phosphorous (the middle number of the formula).  Water with lake water which will probably provide enough nutrients so that you won’t need to purchase fertilizer.  One lb. of phosphorus in the lake can generate several hundred lbs. of aquatic weeds.  If you are concerned, take a soil sample to the County Extension Office and know for sure whether you need to add fertilizer and if so, how much of what.  Remember that what you put on the ground will end up in the lake..

·        Protect ducks, geese and swans but DON’T feed them.  They can become real pests and make a mess of your lawn or beach.  You aren’t feeding them the nutritious food they need either.

·        Protect the loons.  DON’T go near, instead use binoculars to get a close up view of them.  We are fortunate to have these rare birds consider our lakes as their summer home.

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DID YOU KNOW……

• Some plants are know as “nitrogen-fixers”?  These plants - such as lupines, sweet peas, and clovers – pull accessible nitrogen out of the air and put it into the soil, where good bacteria transform it into a plant-friendly form.  Plant these nitrogen-fixers next to heavy feeders like roses and astilbes and save on fertilizer.
• If you mulch with compost and add organic matter to your soil every year then you may not need to do as much fertilizing as you think or maybe not at all!  Properly maintained soil needs little to no additions of fertilizer!
• Those weeds that like to pop up in tight spaces between bricks and patio stones can be quickly and easily eliminated by pouring boiling water right on them.  It’s fast, free and environmentally safe.  Look Ma, no herbicides!  Do be careful not to burn yourself.
• Keep bugs in line by inviting the “good” bugs into your garden.  Plant nectar-rich plants, such as cosmos, zinnias, alyssum, and goldenrod.
• Try to diversify your plantings.  A large grouping of one species that is dinner to one kind of bug is as appealing as the Tri-Lakes are to aquatic birds!  Break them up into smaller groups with other plants in between.
• Be bird friendly.  A single swallow can easily devour large quantities of flying insects in just one afternoon feast.  Now add more swallows, a few babies to feed, and don’t forget about purple martins or bats!  Include one or more birdhouses in your yard as well as a birdbath and some seed and fruit bearing plants and trees, such as purple coneflowers, magnolias, and dogwoods.  Look Ma, no pesticides!

 Let’s take care of our little piece of heaven here in Morton Township.

 "ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF THE SAME OLD STUFF?  If you think the newsletter prints too much information regarding septic systems, fertilizer use, etc.  Remember that we only wish to maintain the quality of our lake water – for ourselves AND for you."

SEPTIC SYSTEM DO’S AND DON’TS

• Know where your septic tank and drain field are located and have septic tank pumped and inspected every 2 to 3 years – if you don’t, where do you think the overflow is going?
• Install a screen / filter on the septic tank outlet to prevent carryover of solids into the drain field.  DO NOT dispose of tissues, diapers, cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, tampons or other solid wastes in the toilet.
• A septic system is not designed to neutralize paints or solvents, acids, oils or pesticides.
• Chemical products advertised to improve a septic system CANNOT replace routine pumping and may even be harmful.
• Reducing water volume improves treatment effectiveness and system operation.  Low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets are helpful.  Repair leaky faucets.  Adjust water softeners to reduce water needed for back-washing and regeneration.  Wait until dishwashers and washing machines have full loads before running and use liquid soap.  Spread laundry out and other major water using chores over the week.
• Avoid using a sink disposal – excessive grease, fats, and coffee grounds will clog your system.  Start a compost pile instead and improve your soil naturally.
• Vehicles and other heavy objects and activities should be kept off drain field areas.  Avoid planting deep rooted plants / trees or paving or building structures over the drain field.
• Be alert for foul odors in your home, slow or backed up drains, and wet, spongy ground or lush plant growth.  These are the calling cards of a problem with your septic system.

• Have your drinking water tested annually for coliform bacteria and nitrates if there is repeated intestinal illness in your family.

Dear Veronica Lake ,

     I love to come to the lake to swim, boat & fish.  I also love to sit out in the dark at night and watch the stars.  I’m not able to do that any more because many people in my neck of the lake have put up large yard lights that turn my night into day.  There’s even one that shines into my bedroom window . . . . all night!  Why do people come to the lake to escape the city and then light it up just like the city?  Am I the only one who wants to watch stars any more?

                                                                                    Signed,

                                                                                    Blinded By The Light 

Dear Blinded,

     This is called “Light Pollution”.  It’s too bad that some people don’t appreciate that their outdoor lighting is , well, rude.  Poorly designed and / or installed lighting not only can be termed “light trespass” but is a total waste of money.  That’s not to say no one should have outdoor lighting.  Properly chosen and installed lighting will not impinge on your neighbors privacy and look unattractive, but will also satisfy your lighting needs.  Good lighting should 1) never over-light the area, 2) be “fully shielded” to control the light and keep it in the intended area, and 3) be installed to maximize effectiveness on your property and minimize impact on your neighbors’ property.  Your neighbors should consult a lighting expert for more information.  Let’s hope they read this and become Good Lighting people.  P.S.  I, too, like to watch the stars.  Contact WWW.DARKSKY.ORG/IDA/GNOL.HTML for a complete lighting guide with more detailed discussion and illustrated examples for most situations.

"WANTED"

(Preferably Alive!)

 Help on various Tri-Lakes Association committees

 The same people keep working the same jobs and we need some new blood before they give out on us.  Some jobs are small, some are larger, some take one time and others are for over a period of time.  Look over the committees below and see if you can give a little bit of your time for things we all enjoy.  Remember you’d really be working for yourself!  Fill out the sign up sheet and mail to: 

Morton Township Tri-Lakes Assoc.

Attn: (whichever contact person)

                                                            P.O. Box 235

                                                            Mecosta, MI 49332

COMMITTEE                                                                                     CONTACT PERSON

Deputy Loon Ranger                                                                       Bea Cuthbert (Chief Loonie)

Environmental Protection Coordinator                                          Yo Bellinger

Fish                                                                                                     Gary Chapman

Lake Improvement                                                                           Dick Katke

Membership Committee                                                                  Sandy Wise

Recreation :  Boat Parade, Fishing Tournament,

Township Ordinances Regarding Lake Front Property               Carol Novak

"If Interested click here"