In this issue:

Text Box: Text Box: A special mailing was sent out in September notifying lake residents of the DNRE approval for a drawdown that would commence on October 1st and end early in March. All watercraft were to be removed by October 1st in time for the start of the drawdown. That task was successfully accomplished thanks to everyone’s cooperation. The drawdown started as planned on October 1st. 

The approval to have the lake water lowered for the entire winter is the result of Glen Oaks Community College conducting a research project to study the effects of a drawdown on the lake ecosystem. The students, under the guidance of an instructor, collected data on the population of small insects prior to the drawdown and they will be comparing that data to the population next year. Small insects are important because they form the bottom of the food chain. 

The students are also studying the amount of oxygen in the water before, during, and after the drawdown. The purpose of the oxygen study is to determine if the smaller volume of water during the drawdown will cause oxygen depletion. An additional part  of the study is evaluating the effects of the drawdown on the wetland population. 

As you are aware, the Board is hopeful that an all winter Text Box: Lake Drawdown Message - LTPOA Board President Jack Rote
Text Box: Aquatic Weed Control 2010 Summary
Text Box: Aquatic plant control for 2010 has been an uphill battle. Conditions this year have been ideal for the aquatic plants with shallow depths, water temperatures at 85 degrees as early as April and increased water clarity. These factors and others have been presented to residents on several occasions this summer. We have, however, been able to keep the majority of the lake open through the summer. Unfortunately, there are areas where we have been barely able to give owners access to the lake.









The aquatic plant control assessment budget was over spent by 20% and still we would have benefited from more treatment or harvesting. It has been little comfort to know that other lakes are dealing with the same problems this year. As is critically clear, herbicides are but one tool in successful lake management. The Board is very optimistic that the lake drawdown this winter will be another powerful tool in aquatic plant management for 2011. We are hopeful that a hard freeze will result in a winter weed Text Box: kill and a better start next season.
As many of you may have noticed, the reduction of groups of plants leads to the emergence of others. This year, from midseason on, we saw the introduction into Lake Templene of starry stonewort. This is not actually a plant but an algae characterized by dense pillow like growths that rapidly spread and cover the bottom. First identified in Michigan in 2006, it is now believed to be present in every county in the Lower Peninsula. Lakeline Magazine summer of 2010 states starry stonewort “is the most aggressive aquatic plant ever observed in Michigan and is able to out compete all other Michigan plant species. It may be the greatest challenge that has ever faced lake management professionals and lake users in Michigan.” Again, there is hope that the drawdown and winter freeze will give a leg up on this problem next year. Though it is hard on the fishery and out competes most other aquatic plants starry stonewort can coexist with zebras, coontail, bladderwort and lily pads.

In an effort to get ahead of the problem for the 2011 season, one last survey of the lake was completed to identify the different colonies of aquatic plants present and where they are located. Board members will meet with biologists and lake managers through the fall and winter to more effectively define an aquatic plant treatment plan and lake improvement efforts for the coming year. 
		By  Dennis Nemeth

Fall Issue

Lake Templene News

Lake Templene Property Owners Association

www.laketemplene.org

drawdown will destroy a high percentage of weeds  exposed to drying and freezing.  This provides a great opportunity for shoreline clean-up. If you wish to do soil removal of the exposed lake bottom in front of your property, you must obtain a permit from DNRE. You can find the permits on line at “michigan.gov/deq”.

                                              By Jack Rote

 

 

 

 

October 2010

Lake Drawdown

Message

 

Aquatic Weed

2010 Summary

1

 

 

1

Announcements:

Fall Meeting Date

 

Events

 

2

 

2

Founders Landing

Dedication

 

Lake Improvement Project

 

Website

3

 

 

3

 

 

3

Nottawa Bridge

Launch Site

 

Lake Quality

Management

 

4

 

 

4

Protecting Water

Quality

5

 

 

 

 

Newsletter Editor:

Dolly Padgurskis

 

Newsletter Staff:

Susan Leist

Sandy Rote

Leslie Van Gelder

 

Pictured are students: Maykol Hernandez, Sarah

Fennel, Rachel Schuler and Instructor Sarah Simmons