LTPOA Spring 2011 Newsletter

In this issue:

Text Box: Improving the condition of our lake depends upon every lakefront property owner being proactive in following DNR recommended lawn care procedures as covered in earlier communications. The LTPOA Board is asking owners to establish vegetative barriers between their lawns and the lake and to discontinue the use of anything but organic fertilizer. Many lawn care companies offer phosphorous free fertilizer, but they often contain nitrogen which still runs off lawns, gets into the lake, and feeds the aquatic plants. A new approach to lawn care involves re-establishing microorganisms in the soil which have been killed by herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. This approach, once established, will only require

Text Box: The new season is just around the corner. The water is clear and with the water rising we again see the beauty that drew us to Lake Templene. This year, we have struggled with the nuisance and challenge to the lake in starry stonewort. Everyone saw the many white mounds of it exposed with the drawdown this winter. Even those of us who were aware of it were surprised at the proliferation of the algae in just two years. Before that, it was not present in the lake. The Board did quite a bit of research on starry stonewort only to find that it is new in this country, this state, and few have experience or knowledge regarding it. The Board took bids on treating the lake and checked references closely. As a result, this year we are using a new applicator, Aquatic Services Inc. The owner has experience successfully controlling starry stonewort on other lakes in Michigan. An established applicator, he has many years of experience in aquatic plant management and has been one of the few involved with the initial research of starry stonewort. All references spoke well of Aquatic Services and gave them high ratings. The plan is to start early in the season and treat the lake aggressively with systemic herbicides in an effort to diminish the nuisance plants early and manage them throughout the rest of the season. The applicator will check the lake on a 3 week cycle and treat when and where needed.

Text Box: Our hope is that the drawdown will be as effective as the last one in reducing the pond weed, milfoil, and other nuisance plants. This will allow us to focus more of our resources on the starry stonewort which requires a different combination of chemicals and is much more resistant to treatment than other aquatic nuisance plants. The chemicals to be used are for the most part those that we have used in previous years and they should cause no more inconvenience than we have had in the past. This is a shallow lake that requires a continued lake and land management plan to ensure our continued enjoyment of it as an all sports lake. We look forward to a good season this year. By Dennis Nemeth

Spring Issue

Lake Templene News

Lake Templene Property Owners Association

www.laketemplene.org

occasional applications of organic fertilizer and microorganisms. A soil rich in microorganisms will produce a deeper rooted healthier lawn grass structure, which once established will choke out most weeds and require almost no feeding other than natural grass mulch.

The microorganism treatment uses a substance called Compost Tea. Included in the program is an organic based pre-emergence. In the next newsletter we will describe the elements of a comprehensive lawn care program with Compost Tea as the main component. If you want to consider using the Compost Tea treatment, a company providing the service is Flowerfield Compost Tea Phone: 269-327-0108.

By Jack Rote

2011

Recommended

Lawn Care

Program

Aquatic Plant

Management 2011