April Newsletter 2022

** Associations and Businesses, please forward to your members, thank you!**

In This Newsletter

April is annual goose egg & nest retrieval month - Help us prevent e.Coli on the lake, report loitering geese to info@pinelakemi.com. April 12 - 22, Goosebusters LLC, will be on the lake to collect goose eggs. Why do we collect eggs? See details below.

• Announcements

• Annual Membership Meeting

• PLPOA Goals

• Water Quality Update

• Weed Treatment for 2022

• Pine Lake is 100’s of years old – Everyone’s Role

• Plans & Vision for Fundraising in 2022

• 2021 Season in Review

April is Goose Egg & Nest Removal Month

Help Us Prevent E.coli – REPORT GOOSE GATHERINGS ON THE LAKE ASAP – info@pinelakemi.com to locate nests for collection.
Often, geese, nest in April in the same place each year. Watch for geese or a single goose consistently hanging out near shore. The female will stay low to hide and blend into the surroundings. Tell us if you see a nest.

When you REPORT, please give us the specific address and description of where you think the nest is. Licensed Goose Busters, have a DNR permit, and will collect eggs on the lake two different days in April: between April 12 - 22. Goose Busters will locate nests from your descriptions so please describe the area, include details such as house address, color, and other landmarks.

Egg collection has reduced the goose population in half over the 10 years. Geese return where they are born and goose fecal matter can cause E.coli outbreaks. Once eggs hatch, we cannot remove the hatch-lings and unfortunately, they often return each year and repeat the sequence. Geese droppings cause E.coli outbreaks on the lake.

Announcements

• 2022 Fireworks – Thurs June 30 at dusk 

• Spring is just around the corner. With impending snow melt and spring rains, water will be running into the lake, let’s embrace the rain water before it hits the lake and build a RAIN GARDEN! Avoid erosion. Every little bit helps when it comes to keeping our watershed healthy.

• Native Plant Sale for planting a rain garden (a natural filter for rainwater before it enters the lake), Sat May 21, 9:00 - Noon, must Pre-order between May 15 - 19. More Here

• Safe Boating classes Here Please review the Pine Lake Rules & Etiquette

Annual Member Meeting  

The meeting will be virtual, May 5, 7:00 pm. Per the bylaws, one representative from each home association as well as lake front property owners, in good standing, a invited to attend and eligible to cast one vote. 

For those unable to attend, we will include a recorded video link and meeting outcomes in the May newsletter and website.

Meeting highlights include: We will hear water quality test results from lake limnologist, Dr Jude, and aquatic invasive weed treatment survey results from Savin Lake Services, Paul Barber. Both specialists will give lake water & weed improvement recommendations to the PLPOA Board.

PLPOA Goals - Continue to Reduce Invasive Aquatic Weeds

The board piloted in 2020 - 21, a more effective aquatic weed treatment called ProcelaCor, (outstanding EPA rating) that eliminates aquatic Eurasian Milfoil vs 2-4D only reduces weed beds. We have had 3 successful pilot treatments at the Marina and Birch Harbor and an area near the PLCC boat ramp the past two summers. We will be treating the large bed near Interlaken in the south west bay of the lake in 2022.

The Board is also studying a long-range goal of reducing high levels of phosphorous in the lake’s 5 deep holes noted by Dr. Jude. This is where decomposing weeds, leaves and fertilizer run-off have created ammonia and reduced oxygen levels. If left untreated, these areas will continue to grow and change the lake. We are exploring ways of addressing this with Dr. Jude and Savin Lake Services and will keep you apprised.

2021 Water Quality Report
Dr. Jude reports we have reduced invasive aquatic weeds, and the Board should continue efforts to reduce phosphorus in the lake. We have asked Dr. Jude to do a fish study this summer to verify that we have a diverse and healthy fish population. Healthy & diverse fish population = a healthy lake. We do this analysis every 10 years. (2011)

THANK AND FREQUENT OUR GENEROUS GOLD SPONSORS

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Weed Treatment for 2022

Application vendor, Savin Lake Services will be on the lake several times this summer doing 2 aquatic weed surveys (spring/ fall) and 2 aquatic weed treatments in June, like last year. If you see his boats on the lake, this is Board and DNR/ EGLE permit approved. Savin found 2,4D is no longer effective because the Eurasian Milfoil weeds have hybridized & reject the herbicide. ProcelaCOR, has proven effective against invasive Eurasin Milfoil and we are continuing our pilots using this. Your hard-earned dues, help address invasive Eurasian Milfoil and the pilots were widely successful at the marina in 2020 & Birch Harbor and Country Club ramp area in 2021.

The weed treatment areas for 2022 are similar to 2021 and will be identified once the spring, May, weed survey is completed.

As we select treatment sites we will

• Control or eliminate the aquatic invasive weed, Eurasian Milfoil from main recreational areas of the lake to preserve the health and safety of swimmers, paddle boarders, kayaks, and boaters.  

• Leave non-navigable areas untreated with invasive and native aquatic weeds. Budget allows for boat lane areas only.

• Maintain a variety of healthy native aquatic weeds.

• Maintain a balance of aquatic weed density and height for recreational activities and lake oxygen requirements.

• Identify ways to save treatment and reporting costs.

Lake Health and Safety is everyone’s #1 Priority… and yet Invasive species pose a danger. Invasive species can take over a lake and impact the recreation and appearance, thus impact property values. When large areas of Eurasian Milfoil grow, they pose a risk to boaters, swimmers, kayaks, paddled boats, and paddle boards.

In 2022 we have plans to use a diluted ProcelaCOR. Savin Lake Services applied ProcelaCOR on two other lakes in our area last year. Their fall weed survey results look promising.  Feedback from other Michigan and Minnesota lakes is similar. Final determination will be made after getting their and our Spring weed survey results in May. A second weed treatment may be repeated if necessary.

Plans, Vision & Fundraising for 2022

The Board is working with Savin and Dr. Jude through our Lake Management Plan which will use ProcelaCOR in a more effective way. As costs in general have been increasing for everyone, the same is true for weed treatment. We know we will need to get more creative through funding. Your dues, donations and Sponsorships will play a larger role in the years ahead.  

Pine Lake is 100’s of years old - Everyone’s Role

How can I help keep Pine Lake the best it can be? Phosphorus - always lurking and causing problems. Where does Phosphorous come from? See chart below.

• Follow the recommendations to reduce your fertilizer applications of no more than 2x a year and only apply between May 1- Oct 1 - must tell your lawn service, because they will automatically push for more. Every little bit helps.

• Stay off the lake for our two spring weed treatment days – email notices and yard signs will be posted

• Wake boarders and Surfers have been using the wake board route, the trend is promising. This path protects the shallow lake bottom from deep thrust prop inertia and protects sea walls & properties (follow it when safe).

• Clean. Drain. Dry your boat before entering Pine Lake. Protect Our Waters From Invasive Species

• Spring is just around the corner. With impending snow melt and spring rainwater will be running into the lake, let’s embrace the rain before it hits the lake and build a RAIN GARDEN! Every little bit helps when it comes to keeping our watershed healthy.

• Create a goose free yard - Sebastian explains how Here

• The chart below shows sources of how phosphorus enters the lake.

2021 Season in Review

• 2021 - the second year of COVID 19 - changed the way we live and meet - held the 2nd virtual Annual Meeting: approved bylaws updates, changes, budget, minutes and re-elected four board members.

• Low water levels April-June, boat launching was difficult and then the rains came! Lots of rain raised the water level to spring levels in August and September. Lucky for us, we are closing out the season with water levels at the desired & ideal level, for this time of year.

• April - Goose Buster's (licensed vendor) collected 21 eggs and 4 nests to help combat E.coli. Excess fecal matter can increase E. coli.

• June- reminded boaters of our Deep-Water Wake Boat Path to follow when safe. This path protects the shallow lake bottom from deep thrust prop inertia and protects sea walls & properties (follow it when safe).

• June - Limnologist Dr. Jude and Paul Barber of Savin, conducted two invasive aquatic weed treatments with 2-4D w/bio-wash and two ProcelaCor pilots. Results were successful, lessening invasive Eurasian Milfoil weeds. A huge component of the success is members stayed off the lake that resulted in calm water and no waves. Thank you!

• Record number of outdoor recreational vehicles on our lake. High boat sales continued due to the COVID 19 epidemic.

• July - The total boat count on July 5 was 475 boats on our 395-acre lake. This is a 7-boat decrease from 2020. However, please note the total boat counts is still 96 over a typical year. We had 76 jet skis, 85 pontoons, 170 inboards, 8 outboards, 6 sail boats and continued high numbers of paddle boards and kayaks - equating to a very busy lake!

• Due to many new boat owners on the lake, we asked the sheriff patrol to increase hours. Thankfully did not have any serious incidents. Please continue to follow Pine Lake Rules and Etiquette.

• Pine Lake Country Club's annual July 4th fireworks were moved to Labor Day weekend, thank you, Country Club!

• Added a new page to the PLPOA website, Ski Course

• Added an AUTO-PAY SUBSCRIPTION for online dues payment - making it easier for members set up auto payment each year.

• Our Sponsor program, established in 2020, raised over $4,500. Monies raised go directly to costs for the ever-increasing lake management program. Become a Sponsor - Grow your business exposure - advertise on our website & monthly newsletters.

• OUR 2021 SPONSORS - Gold - Lockton Companies, Mezza Grill;
  Silver - Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, Pine Lake Marina, Broker Gwen Schultz-Coldwell Banker, Dairy Queen - Keego Harbor.
  WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS – PLEASE FREQUENT THEIR BUSINESS and THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT!

• We saw increased levels of healthy native pondweed that grew where Eurasian Milfoil lessened. The board is looking at maintaining this year’s treatment and seeking new, safe and cost-effective approaches to weed treatment and reducing phosphorus levels.

• Safe Summer – Gratefully, we ended the season with no incidents.

• 2021 weed treatment maps below. (note dates)

Safe Boating Is Everyone’s Business

Refresh yourself - Pine Lake Rules & Etiquette
We want everyone SAFE! Please share our rules with new boaters. 
See list of complaints we have received:

• New boaters on the lake traveling the wrong way

• PWC’s going the wrong way and driving too close to boat sterns

• Playing speakers too loud

• Wake-boarding too close to shore

• Young passengers sitting on the bow of pontoon, dangling their feet in the water while in motion

THANK AND FREQUENT OUR GENEROUS SILVER SPONSORS

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PLPOA Mission - Ensure safety, informed stewardship and promote good water quality on our most valuable resource.

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