PLPOA March 2021 Newsletter
Table of Contents
The 2021 Boating Season is Almost Here!
Updates For Your Calendar
Two Weed Treatments Planned for This Summer
Ideas for Your Waterfront: Build a Rain Garden
May 22 Native Plant Sale - Pre-Order Only
Chronic Waste Disease in Deer
Fish Kills May Be Common During Spring Thaw
April Goose Egg & Nest Retrieval
The 2021 Boating Season is Almost Here!
Spring is coming and the days are getting longer!
On March 14 - move your clocks forward for daylight savings time.
March 17 - Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
We’ve had a few big snow falls and are hoping that spring rains will bring the water level back up to start the season.
Annual Meeting & Calendar Updates
ANNUAL MEETING - MAY 6, 2021 at 7:00 pm via ZOOM. Invitations will be emailed to up-to-date 2020 paid members. If you miss the meeting, a recording will be posted on the website later.
Keeping the Lake Healthy:
Two Weed Treatments Planned for This Summer
Last summer, mother nature gave us a run for our money!
You may recall we saw an extraordinary amount of healthy native lake weeds. The good news - healthy native weeds are great because this proves we have lessened invasive weeds to create space for the native weeds to return. However, too much of any kind of weeds is not good on our all sports lake.
Last summer, we planned for the treatment of invasive Eurasian Milfoil weeds but did not plan to remove other aquatic weeds due to budget constraints.
There was no way to predict and plan for the weather that brought excessive weeds last summer.
Here’s what happened:
Spring showers brought high lake water. By mid-June, our water level dropped and reached the set-level. The John Hartwig weir collar automatically stopped the flow of water out of the lake. The weir literally stopped flowing water out of Pine Lake in June.
Little Summer Rain – We received lots of spring showers but our area somehow dodged summer showers while all around us, numerous lakes and properties in Michigan continued to suffer from high water levels due to continued summer rainfall.
Photosynthesis – We experienced mega hot, beautiful sunny days and during COVID, how lucky and blessed we were to have such beautiful days. The hot sun produced photosynthesis that grew more weeds.
Hot, sunny & windy days brought water evaporation. Through evaporation, the water continued to drop throughout the rest of the summer thus revealing the newly grown native weeds.
SUMMARY
The summer of 2020 brought:
lots of spring showers
numerous hot and windy summer days
very little summer rain caused evaporation and low water level
photosynthesis brought MEGA native weed growth and as the water evaporated, more weeds were exposed
LESSONS LEARNED - In preparation for 2021, we will pilot two weed treatments this summer through two different methods. Both treatments should be completed in June. Watch the website and emailed communications on this.
GOAL - see less invasive and native weeds so members can enjoy our beautiful all sports lake.
THANKS TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR
GWEN SCHULZ
Realtor / Broker
Ideas for Your Waterfront - Build a Rain Garden
What is a rain garden? It’s a garden with a job that protects our water.
A rain garden’s purpose is to:
control puddles
keep basements dry by soaking up water run-off from roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots and other hard surfaces
slow the aging of the lake and assist in keeping waters clean
prevent flooding
capture water that might carry lawn chemicals, contaminants, and mud into the lake.
Rain gardens feature native plants such as wildflowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, grasses and small shrubs. These native plants are local to our area with a deep root system making them drought tolerant while absorbing large amounts of water.
You can build your own rain garden as a great family project or hire a professional to design and install. You can choose from a large array of plants and flowers. In the spring West Bloomfield Township hosts plant sales that make the project not only fun, but economical.
Rain Garden Resources:
THANKS TO OUR GOLD SPONSORS
(Click icons to visit their websites)
Native Plant Sale
(Pre-Order Only)
On-line ordering is May 16 - May 20.
Curb side pick-up is on May 22
Keep the Deer Safe
Baiting and feeding deer is prohibited in the entire Lower Peninsula and in the core CWD surveillance area in the Upper Peninsula. CWD is fatal; once an animal is infected there is no recovery or cure. To date, there Chronic wasting disease is a contagious, neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose.
Learn more at the CWD Alliance web site
Thank and Frequent Our Silver Sponsors
Pine Lake Marina | Wakeboard Lessons and Ski School |
Oakland Veterinary Referral Services | Contact, Schedule, Learn More |
Fish Kills May Be Common During Spring Thaw
The DNR recently reported: “fish kills may be common during spring thaw.”
After ice and snow melt on Michigan lakes this spring, it may be more likely for people to discover dead fish or other aquatic animals. While such sights can be startling, the Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that it is normal, since winter conditions can cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.
APRIL GOOSE EGG & NEST REMOVAL
Please contact us ASAP if you see geese gathering or nests during April. Removing goose eggs helps to keep e-coli bacteria to a minimum. Ten years ago, the goose population living on Pine Lake had increased to over 100. Through our annual Goose egg and nest removal efforts, this population was reduced to under 40. Once eggs hatch, we cannot remove the hatch-lings and unfortunately, they will return each year.
Each year, as part of the Lake Management Plan, during April, we ask for your help in locating Canadian geese eggs & nests. PLPOA works with DNR licensed Goose Busters LLC, to remove goose eggs and nests prior to hatching, in an effort to lessen the number of Canadian Geese on the lake.
Updates for Your Calendar
1) ANNUAL MEETING - MAY 6, 2021 at 7:00 pm via ZOOOM. Invitations will be emailed to up-to-date 2020 paid members. If you miss the meeting, a recording will be posted on the website later.
2) FIREWORKS: Pine Lake Country Club will announce the date, if COVID & Governor allows.
3) LAKE WATER LEVEL: Lake level and the John Hartwig Weir are checked every week by PLPOA. We typically see high water levels in June and then, levels begin to drop throughout the summer. However, low rainfall and 90-degree, sunny & windy days will have an impact on the lake level due to evaporation. Only Mother Nature knows what will happen this summer.
4) WATER SAFETY / EMERGENCY CONTACTS FOR YOUR YOUR CELL PHONE The Oakland County Marine Division sheriff boat will be on the lake again this summer. Please take the time to review the Pine Lake Rules & Etiquette with your friends and family.
If you see an emergency or violation take pics, video and get as much detail such as date, time, boat type, color, MC# and call the appropriate number below. You can ask for a jump boat.
Non-Emergency, Violation or Complaint - 248 975 9200
Emergency - 911
Submit suggestions to PLPOA through our Contact Form
5) COMMUNICATIONS: Check out our website. Riparian’s and HOA Treasurers can pay their annual dues online. We have provided a myriad of information about Pine Lake, our lake management plan, peruse earlier newsletters as well as many other topics. We send a comprehensive newsletter on the first Saturday of each month from March through November. Each year, in late May, annual dues notices are set through email and can be paid on the website. We ask that you pay your dues before the end of August.
Would you, your association, club or your business like to become a Sponsor? Would you like to donate? Visit our website and contact us.
6) HOW MANY BOATS ARE ON PINE LAKE ON ANY GIVEN DAY? The annual boat count last summer revealed 482 motorized boats on our 400-acre lake. We saw the effects of the COVID pandemic as many families stayed home and bought boats, paddleboards, sailboats, kayaks, wave runners, RV’s, camping equipment, etc. Outdoor equipment sales continue to be in high demand. Help us by following all safety rules on our website. Consider taking a safety class before operating a boat. (contact the Oakland County Marine Division for class information)
7) FERTILIZER: Observe the West Bloomfield Township “Manufactured Fertilizer Ordinance” Sec. 14.5.
October 1 to May 1 - No lawn fertilizer
Never fertilize within 50‘ of any water’s edge
Please Inform your lawn contractors about these limitations.
8) WAKE & SURF BOAT ROUTE FOR PINE LAKE: Our mission is to promote safety, educate, protect water quality, and the watershed property around the lake. The map is a guide and a suggested route and posted on the website. Use your judgement, stay in deep water, be safe and respectful to other boaters. If route is too crowded, make the circle wider or try another time. We received your Wake Board and Surf Boat Route 2020 feedback – Thank You.
After consulting with lake specialist, Dr. Jude, members, businesses and board members, we ask wake & surf boats to use this deep water route to preserve the lake bottom and respect shorelines from property damage to sea walls, boat lifts and boats while maintaining safe boating practices as described HERE.
Factors that went into the development of the map:
Safety
Riparian damage to boats and property from large wake.
Research showing wake/surf boats stir bottom sediment in the lake (not good).
Floaters and swimmers use of the lake
Boats, PWC, skiers, paddle boarders, tubing
And wake/surf boats
Looking Forward to a Safe and Happy Summer of Safe Water Sports While Promoting Good Lake Stewardship as We Protect Our Beautiful Lake!