Michigan Lake Info

Low Impact Development – Concept & Considerations

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:05:00 GMT

By:
Tony Groves, M.S., Water Resources Director, Progressive AE
Craig Hondorp, ASLA, LEED®AP, Director of Landscape Architecture, Progressive AE

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Introduction
In recent years, the federal government has placed a strong emphasis on the need for proper stormwater management. The focus on stormwater was prompted, in large part, by the recognition that improperly managed stormwater represents a major source of pollution to the nation's water resources. This fact, coupled with the enormous cost resulting from flood damage, has brought the issue of stormwater management to the forefront at all levels of government. Stormwater management issues can be viewed within the broad context of the hydrologic cycle. The hydrologic cycle is the process by which precipitation (both rain and snow) falls to the ground and either runs off to lakes, streams, and other water bodies, or infiltrates into the ground (Figure 1). This water, in turn, is returned to the atmosphere via evaporation or transpiration (directly from plants), where the cycle of condensation and precipitation is repeated. To protect theenvironment, stormwater should be managed in a way that will not substantially alter the natural hydrologic regime, especially as it relates to the quantity of runoff versus infiltration.

The Concern
As communities become more urbanized, rooftops, roadways, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces replace natural ground cover. As impervious surfaces increase, runoff increases and infiltration into the ground decreases (Figure 2).

(Figure 2)

With the decrease in infiltration, groundwater supplies also decrease which, in turn, diminishes flow in area streams. In some instances, rivers and streams that once had stable base flows slow to a trickle during dry-weather periods due to lack of water infiltration to the water table. During rainstorms, these same streams can become a raging torrent due to the increased rate of stormwater runoff and conveyance. In these streams, the fishery cannot be sustained due to the warming of water and degraded habitat during low-flow conditions and, during high-flow conditions, stream bank erosion and flooding are common.

With an increase in imperviousness and the quantity of stormwater runoff, there is generally a concurrent increase in the quantity of pollutants transported as well. Stormwater runoff often contains high concentrations of oil and gasoline residues, nutrients, sediment, trace metals, fecal bacteria, oxygen-consuming wastes, and a variety of other contaminants. If untreated, stormwater runoff can cause siltation, nutrient enrichment, bacterial contamination, and severely degrade water resources.

Getting to the Source
While County Drain Commissioners often play a key role in stormwater management, local units of government also have an important role to play—especially in promoting “source” controls of stormwater. Source controls are preventative measures designed to reduce the volume of stormwater generated on-site, and eliminate initial opportunities for pollutants to enter a stormwater drainage system. Typical source controls could include the following:

• Preservation of existing natural features that perform stormwater management functions, such as depressions, wetlands, forest land, and vegetative buffers along lakes and streams.

• Reducing impervious surface area through site planning that makes efficient use of paved and developed areas, and maximizes open space.

• Directing stormwater discharges to open grass areas, swales, and bioretention facilities (e.g., rain gardens, infiltration trenches) rather than allowing stormwater to run off impervious surfaces directly to stormwater conveyance systems.

After the implementation of source controls, site controls are then required to convey and treat stormwater runoff generated by development. Many source controls are best addressed during the planning stages of development. It is at this stage that opportunities exist to reduce imperviousness, minimize development site impacts, preserve natural features, and promote practices that maintain the natural hydrology. The manner in which land is developed, along with the attendant infrastructure, begins with the developers and their design engineers and planners. While state and county permits are required for most developments, it is often the township that plays one of the most important roles in the development approval process. As such, townships can be key partners in stormwater management. In fact, townships may be best suited to encourage land development practices that address stormwater issues, especially source controls.

Low Impact Development
A method of managing stormwater that is gaining prominence and acceptance is a concept called Low Impact Development or LID. In The Practice of Low Impact Development (NAHB Research Center, Inc. 2003), LID is defined as an approach to land development that uses various land planning and design practices and technologies to simultaneously conserve and protect natural resource systems and reduce infrastructure costs. LID still allows land to be developed, but in a cost-effective manner that helps mitigate potential environmental impacts. Essentially, LID's promote source controls of stormwater and maintain the natural hydrological cycle by:

• Preserving open space and minimizing land disturbances;

• Protecting natural features and natural processes;

• Reexamining the use and sizing of traditional infrastructure (lots, streets, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks);

• Integrating natural site elements (wetlands, stream corridors, mature forests) into site designs;

• Decentralizing and managing stormwater at its source.

With an LID, the development process includes a detailed site analysis that identifies natural drainage patterns and key natural features. This information is then used to help define development opportunities and constraints, and areas requiring protection. The site analysis is followed by an evaluation of alternatives to minimize development impacts. Alternatives to accomplish these objectives could include minimizing clearing and grading, reducing impervious surfaces, clustering development, limiting lot disturbance, and preserving permeable soil types. An attempt is then made to slow the conveyance of stormwater from the site by dispersing (rather than concentrating) drainage. Where feasible, natural flow paths are maintained, and vegetated swales are used to convey water (as opposed to pipes). A key element of an LID is to treat stormwater at its source, rather than conveying water to a centralized stormwater basin.

In The Practice of Low Impact Development, it is noted that developers who have used LID practices and technologies have indicated that one of the keys to a successful project is to invest additional time and money in the initial planning stages of development. While this idea may be unpopular because of increased up-front costs, the expenditures are often recouped in the form of reduced infrastructure costs, 3 rapid home sales, enhanced community marketability, and higher lot yields. A graphic representation of a conventional development versus an LID is shown on the next page. The example is a 40-acre residential site on sandy, well-drained soils served by on-site septic systems and individual water wells. In the LID, lot sizes were reduced, roads were narrower with no curb and gutter, open swales were used to convey/infiltrate stormwater, and all roof drainage was conveyed to on-lot infiltration trenches. In comparing the two development approaches, the LID resulted in substantial reductions in effective imperviousness, storm sewer pipe and drainage structures.

Practical Considerations
A key element in a typical LID is to provide for the infiltration of stormwater at or near its source. This approach may not be feasible in areas with a high water table or soils with poor infiltration capacities such as clays. To avoid the potential for failure of infiltration facilities, care must be taken to ensure the facilities are properly designed, constructed, and maintained. Drainage easements may be appropriate to help ensure proper maintenance over the long term. Infiltration of stormwater in residential developments generally does not pose a pollution problem. However, in the case of industrial, commercial, and concentrated parking facilities, pretreatment of stormwater may be required to prevent groundwater contamination.

The LID approach embodies many of the design principles required to mitigate stormwater impacts and can help communities comply with federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase 2 stormwater mandates. If site conditions are suitable, LID should be considered as an alternative to conventional development approaches. A properly designed LID can be a win-win for the developer, the home buyer, the community, and the environment.

For more information visit:
www.lowimpactdevelopment.org
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urban.html
www.raingardens.org

LID article.pdf (536.73 KB)

Lake Board Act Amended

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Wed, 02 May 2007 20:42:47 GMT

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LAKE BOARD ACT AMENDED
By Tony Groves, Water Resources Director, Progressive AE

In the final moments of the 2003-2004 Legislative Session, several changes were made to the act that governs lake boards in Michigan. Part 309 (Inland Lake Improvements) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act provides for the establishment of lake boards and special assessment districts to finance lake improvement projects. Since 1966, this act has been used extensively to organize and finance a variety of lake projects. Currently, there are over 100 active lake boards in Michigan. The recent amendments change the membership of a lake board (Section 30903), project costs (Section 30927), and provide a formal mechanism for dissolving a lake board (Section 30929).

SECTION 30903

Section 30903 of the act defines the composition of a lake board and requires that a lake board consist of all the following:

• A member of the county board of commissioners appointed by the chairperson of the county board of each county affected by the lake improvement project.

• A representative of each local unit of government (other than the county) affected by the project appointed by the legislative body of the local unit. However, if there is only 1 local unit of government involved, 2 representatives of that local unit shall be appointed to the board.

• The county drain commissioner or his or her designee.

• A property owner, appointed by the lake board, who owns land abutting the lake.

Under the amendments, a representative from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will no longer sit on the board. However, many lake projects will require the issuance of a permit from the MDEQ so the department will still provide regulatory review of proposed projects. Amendments to this section also require that once established, a lake board must now elect a treasurer, in addition to a chairperson and secretary.

SECTION 30927

Section 30927 deals with the computation of project costs and requires the lake board to make a computation of all costs associated with the project including preliminary engineering, contract work, inspections, publication of notices, legal expenses, administrative costs, permit fees, and contingent expenses. Amendments to this section require that a lake board shall not expend money unless it has adopted an annual budget.

SECTION 30929

Section 30929 was added to the act to provide a mechanism for dissolving a lake board. Prior to this amendment, Part 309 was silent on this issue. Section 30929 provides for a lake board to be dissolved if all the following conditions are met:

• The governing body of each local unit of government in which all or part of the lake is located holds a public hearing on the proposed dissolution, determines that the lake board is no longer necessary for the improvement of the lake because the reasons for establishing the lake board no longer exist, and approves the dissolution of the lake board.

• All outstanding indebtedness and expenses of the lake board are paid in full.

• Any excess funds of the lake board are refunded based on the last approved assessment roll. However, if the amount of excess funds is a minimal amount, the excess funds shall be distributed to the local units involved with the project apportioned in accordance with last approved special assessment roll.

• The lake board determines that it is no longer necessary for the improvement of the lake, because the reasons for its establishment no longer exist, and adopts an order approving its dissolution.

To ensure compliance with the recent amendments to Part 309, existing lake boards should appoint a treasurer. Also, if there is only one local unit of government involved with the project, request that the legislative body of the governmental unit appoint a second representative to serve on the lake board. Finally, if a lake board has not formally adopted an annual budget for expenditures, it should do so.

Financing Your Lake Project: Lake Boards vs. Township Boards

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:46:13 GMT

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Financing Your Lake Project: Lake Boards vs. Township Boards By Tony Groves, Water Resources Director, Progressive AE

This is the second part of a two-part article about financing alternatives for lake projects. The first article, which appeared in the February 2005 issue of the Michigan Riparian, examined recent amendments to the Lake Board Act. This article discusses the pros and cons of organizing a lake project by establishing a lake board versus using an existing township board.

Part 309 (Inland Lake Improvements) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, PA 451 of 1994, as amended, provides for the establishment of lake boards and special assessment districts to finance lake improvement projects. Since 1966, this act has been used extensively to finance a variety of lake projects. Currently, there are over 100 active lake boards in Michigan.

The Township Special Assessment Act, PA 188 of 1954 was amended in 1994 to provide a mechanism to finance lake improvement projects. However, with Act 188, projects are organized under an existing township board.

With respect to process, both Part 309 and Act 188 are similar (Table 1). Both statutes provide for the establishment of a special assessment district to finance lake improvements, and both statutes require a public hearing on 1) the necessity (or practicability) of the project, and 2) a public hearing on the special assessment roll.

Some practical things that should be considered in establishing a special assessment district include:

The Petition: If a project is proposed to be initiated via petition, the petition should clearly state that “a special assessment district will be established and that special assessments will be levied to finance the desired lake improvements.” Space should be provided on the petition for property owners to both sign and print their names. If property is owned jointly, all freeholders should sign the petition. Prior to circulation, the local unit(s) of government involved with the project should review the petition to ensure petition language is acceptable.

Developing the “Plan”: An independent study should be conducted to evaluate the feasibility of lake improvement alternatives and to determine the proposed scope and cost of the project. The preparation of a lake improvement plan is important. You want to make sure that the thousands of dollars that may be invested in a lake project are being spent on improvements that are both environmentally sound and cost effective.

Special Assessments: When establishing a special assessment district for a lake project, care should be taken to ensure the district only includes those properties that directly benefit from the proposed improvement. Typically, this will include all lake front properties and back lots with deeded or dedicated lake access. To avoid legal challenges, assessment should be levied in a fair, consistent, and equitable manner. All similarly situated properties should be assessed the same. Often, a simple assessment apportionment scheme (where, for example, lakefront parcels are assessed one unit of benefit and back lots with access one-half unit of benefit) is easier to defend (and explain) than a more complex assessment methodology.

With respect to procedure, neither statute is superior over the other. However, there are some instances where one act may be preferred over the other. For example, if a lake is located entirely within one township and the township is willing to undertake the project, then Act 188 may be a more expedient way to proceed. If, on the other hand, a lake is located in several townships or political jurisdictions, then Part 309 may be more desirable. (In a situation where a lake is in several townships, each township involved would need to undertake separate assessment proceedings which could be both time-consuming and cumbersome. In addition, no single entity would be administering the project). Another practical consideration with Act 188 is that township boards often have full agendas and address a myriad of issues at their meetings. (If you have ever sat through a township board meeting, you can attest to this fact.). Often, they have precious little time available to discuss and address lake issues and concerns. By contrast, a lake board is formed to address only the lake in question and thus, focuses only on lake issues.

This article provided an overview of the procedures that must be followed in organizing a project under Part 309 or Act 188. In organizing a lake improvement project, it is important that statutory hearing and notice procedures be followed closely. Lake projects can be time-consuming enough without having a project challenged and prolonged due to a procedural flaw. To help ensure proper steps and procedures are followed, lake residents who are considering pursuing the establishment of a special assessment district for their lake should seek professional assistance or legal counsel before embarking on the process.

Table 1 - An Overview of Part 309 and Act 188 Procedures Part 309 (Inland Lake Improvements) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, P.A. 451 of 1994

• Projects are administered by a lake board that is comprised of a lakefront property owner, a representative of each local governmental unit (if there is only one local unit of government involved, 2 representatives of that local unit are appointed to the lake board), a county commissioner, and the county drain commissioner or his or her designee. (Note that local units of government can appoint lake residents as their representative(s) if they so choose.)

• Projects are initiated by motion of the local unit(s) of government or by petition of 2/3 of freeholders abutting the lake.

• Pursuant to the Act, projects can be implemented that provide the following benefit(s): The elimination of pollution and elimination of flood damage, elimination of water conditions which jeopardize the public health or safety; increase of the value or use of lands and property arising from improving a lake or lakes as a result of the lake project, and the improvement or development of a lake for conservation of fish and wildlife and the use, improvement or development of a lake for fishing, wildlife, boating, swimming or any other recreational, agricultural, or conservation uses.

• Lake board retains an engineer to conduct lake improvement feasibility study, and to determine the scope and estimated cost of project and probable assessments.

• Public hearings are required on the practicability of the project and special assessment roll. Township Special Assessment Act, P.A. 188 of 1954, as amended

• Projects are administered by the township board.

• For lake improvements, projects can be initiated by motion of the township board or by petition of land owners constituting more than 50% of the land area in the special assessment district.

• Under this Act, assessments can be levied for the eradication or control of aquatic weeds and plants, the construction, improvement, and maintenance of a lake including, but not limited to, dredging, and the construction, improvement, and maintenance of dams and other structures which retain the waters of the state for recreational purposes. (Note that under Act 188, a lake, pond, river, or stream under the jurisdiction of the county drain commissioner cannot be improved without written permission of the drain commissioner.)

• Plans are prepared describing the improvement and estimated costs.

• Public hearings required on the necessity of the project and the special assessment roll.

Lake Water Quality

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:28:09 GMT

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Lakes are commonly classified as oligotrophic, mesotrophic, or eutrophic. Oligotrophic lakes are generally deep and clear with little aquatic plant growth. These lakes maintain sufficient dissolved oxygen in the cool, deep bottom waters during late summer to support cold water fish such as trout and whitefish. By contrast, eutrophic lakes are generally shallow, turbid, and support abundant aquatic plant growth. In deep eutrophic lakes, the cool bottom waters usually contain little or no dissolved oxygen. Therefore, these lakes can only support warm water fish such as bass and pike. Lakes that fall between these two extremes are called mesotrophic lakes.

Under natural conditions, most lakes will ultimately evolve to a eutrophic state as they gradually fill with sediment and organic matter transported to the lake from the surrounding watershed. As the lake becomes shallower, the process accelerates. When aquatic plants become abundant, the lake slowly begins to fill in as sediment and decaying plant matter accumulate on the lake bottom. Eventually, terrestrial plants become established and the lake is transformed to a marshland. The aging process in lakes is called "eutrophication" and may take anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand years, generally depending on the size of the lake and its watershed. The natural lake aging process can be greatly accelerated if excessive amounts of sediment and nutrients (which stimulate aquatic plant growth) enter the lake from the surrounding watershed. Because these added inputs are usually associated with human activity, this accelerated lake aging process is often referred to as "cultural eutrophication." The problem of cultural eutrophication can be managed by identifying sources of sediment and nutrient loading (i.e., inputs) to the lake and developing strategies to halt or slow the inputs.

There are many ways to measure lake water quality, but there are a few important physical, chemical, and biological parameters that indicate the overall condition of a lake. These measurements include temperature, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi transparency. The latter three measures are used in classifying a lake.

Temperature

Temperature is important in determining the type of organisms that may live in a lake. For example, trout prefer temperatures below 68̊F.

Temperature also determines how water mixes in a lake. As the ice cover breaks up on a lake in the spring, the water temperature becomes uniform from the surface to the bottom. This period is referred to as "spring turnover" because water mixes throughout the entire water column. As the surface waters warm, they are underlain by a colder, more dense strata of water. This process is called thermal stratification. Once thermal stratification occurs, there is little mixing of the warm surface waters with the cooler bottom waters. The transition layer that separates these layers is referred to as the "thermocline." The thermocline is characterized as the zone where temperature drops rapidly with depth. As fall approaches, the warm surface waters begin to cool and become more dense. Eventually, the surface temperature drops to a point that allows the lake to undergo complete mixing. This period is referred to as "fall turnover." As the season progresses and ice begins to form on the lake, the lake may stratify again. However, during winter stratification, the surface waters (at or near 32̊F) are underlain by slightly warmer water (about 39̊F). This is sometimes referred to as "inverse stratification" and occurs because water is most dense at a temperature of about 39̊F. As the lake ice melts in the spring, these stratification cycles are repeated. Shallow lakes do not stratify. Lakes that are 15 to 30 feet deep may stratify and destratify with storm events several times during the year.

Dissolved Oxygen

An important factor influencing lake water quality is the quantity of dissolved oxygen in the water column. The major inputs of dissolved oxygen to lakes are the atmosphere and photosynthetic activity by aquatic plants. An oxygen level of about 5 mg/L (milligrams per liter, or parts per million) is required to support warm water fish. In lakes deep enough to exhibit thermal stratification, oxygen levels are often reduced or depleted below the thermocline once the lake has stratified. This is because deep water is cut off from plant photosynthesis and the atmosphere, and oxygen is consumed by bacteria that use oxygen as they decompose organic matter (plant and animal remains) at the bottom of the lake. Bottom-water oxygen depletion is a common occurrence in eutrophic and some mesotrophic lakes. Thus, eutrophic and most mesotrophic lakes cannot support cold water fish because the cool, deep water (that the fish require to live) does not contain sufficient oxygen.

Phosphorus

The quantity of phosphorus present in the water column is especially important since phosphorus is the nutrient that most often controls aquatic plant growth and the rate at which a lake ages and becomes more eutrophic. In the presence of oxygen, lake sediments act as a phosphorus trap, retaining phosphorus and, thus, making it unavailable for aquatic plant growth. However, if bottom-water oxygen is depleted, phosphorus will be released from the sediments and may be available to promote aquatic plant growth. In some lakes, the release of phosphorus from the bottom sediments is the primary source of phosphorus loading (or input). By reducing the amount of phosphorus in a lake, it may be possible to control the amount of aquatic plant growth. In general, lakes with a phosphorus concentration greater than 20 μg/L (micrograms per liter, or parts per billion) are able to support abundant plant growth and are classified as nutrient-enriched or eutrophic.

Chlorophyll-a

Chlorophyll-a is a pigment that imparts the green color to plants and algae. A rough estimate of the quantity of algae present in lake water can be made by measuring the amount of chlorophyll-a in the water column. A chlorophyll-a concentration greater than 6 μg/L is considered characteristic of a eutrophic condition.

Secchi Transparency

A Secchi disk is often used to estimate water clarity. The measurement is made by fastening a round, black and white, 8-inch disk to a calibrated line (Figure 3). The disk is lowered over the deepest point of the lake until it is no longer visible, and the depth is noted. The disk is then raised until it reappears. The average between these two depths is the

Secchi transparency. Generally, it has been found that aquatic plants can grow at a depth of approximately twice the Secchi transparency measurement. In eutrophic lakes, water clarity is often reduced by algae growth in the water column, and Secchi disk readings of 7.5 feet or less are common.

Lake Classification Criteria

Ordinarily, as phosphorus inputs to a lake increase, the amount of algae will also increase. Thus, the lake will exhibit increased chlorophyll-a levels and decreased transparency. A summary of lake classification criteria developed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

LAKE CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

Lake Total Phosphorus Chlorophyll-a Secchi

Classification (μg/L)[1] (μg/L) Transparency (feet)

Oligotrophic Less than 10 Less than 2.2 Greater than 15.0

Mesotrophic 10 to 20 2.2 to 6.0 7.5 to 15.0

Eutrophic Greater than 20 Greater than 6.0 Less than 7.5

[1] μg/L = micrograms per liter = parts per billion.

Lakeside Landscaping

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:35:17 GMT

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In General

Rake and dispose of leaves away from the lake. Compost if possible. Do not burn leaves near shore. Nutrients concentrate in the ash and are easily washed into the lake.
Avoid using herbicides near the lake, many are toxic to aquatic life.

Fertilizing the Lawn >

If you don’t use fertilizer, don’t start now. If you do...
Most lakeside lawns don’t need phosphorus. Don’t use fertilizer that contains phosphorus unless a soil test shows a need for it. Once in the lake, 1 pound of phosphorus can generate several hundred pounds of aquatic plants.
Fertilizers are labeled with a 3-number system that indicates the percentage of the bag that contains nitrogen (first number), phosphorus (second number) and potassium (third number). Example: a 50-pound bag of 20-0-10 fertilizer contains 20% nitrogen (or 10 pounds), 0% phosphorus, and 10% potassium (5 pounds).
Make sure the nitrogen is a slow- release type, such as sulfur-coated urea or IBDU.
Use no more than 8 pounds of nitrogen per ¼-acre of lawn (¼-acre is about 100 by 100 feet).
Don’t fertilize the lawn until 3 weeks after the lawn begins to turn green in spring. If needed, the lawn may be lightly fertilized again in fall (late September through November) to promote root growth.
When spreading fertilizer, don’t allow fertilizer to land directly in the water.

Irrigation >

Lightly water after fertilizer is applied. Too much water will cause the fertilizer to leach right past the lawn and into the lake; the turf roots will never get a chance to use it.
Irrigation during the hot, dry period of late summer can prevent the grass from turning brown. At that time, it’s better to water for short periods (10 to 15 minutes) daily, rather than heavy watering once per week.
The best time to water is early afternoon, just prior to the hottest part of the day.

Mowing

Don’t cut the grass too short! Near lakes, a mowing height of 3 to 3½ inches or higher is recommended.
A general recommendation for mowing frequency is twice per week in spring, every two weeks in summer, and once per week in the fall.
Return grass clippings back to the lawn. You can reduce the nitrogen needs of your lawn significantly by doing so. If possible, use a mulching lawn mower to aid in this process.

Greenbelt >

A greenbelt is a strip of land along the lakeshore that contains plants to trap pollutants that would otherwise wash into the lake.
A greenbelt should be at least 10 feet wide, but more than 30 feet wide is best.
Don’t fertilize the greenbelt.
For a natural look, don’t mow the greenbelt. Allow natural grasses and wildflowers to grow.
For a landscaped look, plant groundcovers, ferns, perennials, and shrubs.

Lakeside landscaping involves planting or preserving a zone of natural vegetation, a greenbelt, around the lake's edge. This vegetation acts as a buffer, trapping runoff and absorbing nutrients before they can enter the lake.

The lakefront should be landscaped to allow full recreational use of the lake and still provide water quality protection. Lawns alone do not make good greenbelts. Plant varieties should be selected that are attractive, easily maintained, and effective buffers.

To minimize the amount of leaves falling into the water, deciduous trees (i.e., trees that lose their leaves at the end of the growing season) should be planted as far from the water’s edge as practical. Ideally, deciduous trees should be set back from the water’s edge a distance equal to twice the mature height of the tree. Evergreens can be established closer to the lake shoreline. See list at left for some native greenbelt varieties.

Boating Safety

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:19:13 GMT

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With the increase in the size and number of boats in recent years, boating safety is a major concern on many lakes.

Remember, state law requires that:

Maintain a distance of 100 feet from rafts, docks, and swimming areas, unless travelling at no-wake speed.
Whenever possible, boats and personal watercraft should travel in a counter-clockwise direction (i.e. keep the shoreline to your right).
Persons under 12 years old operating motorboats must be under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age or older; and the boat must have no more than 35 horsepower.
Persons 12 through 15 years may operate motorboats if either condition below is met:
- accompanied by at least 1 person 16 years or older, or
- the person has a boating safety certificate.

A little courtesy goes a long way on the lake!

State law related to personal watercraft (jet skis) went into effect in 1999. The law includes the following:

Personal watercraft may only be operated from 8 a.m. until 1 hour before sunset.
Personal watercraft should not cross within 150 feet behind another vessel.
Personal watercraft may not be operated by anyone under the age of 14.
A person who was born after December 31, 1978 shall not operate a personal watercraft unless he or she first obtains a boating safety certificate.
An individual who is required to complete a boating safety course must have in his or her immediate possession a boating safety certificate.

10 Ways to Lake Protection

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:06:04 GMT

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1. Don't use lawn fertilizer that contains phosphorus.

2. Use the minimum amount of fertilizer recommended on the label—more is not necessarily better!

3. Water the lawn sparingly to avoid washing nutrients and sediments into the lake.

4. Don't feed ducks and geese near the lake. Waterfowl droppings are high in nutrients and may cause swimmer's itch.

5. Don't burn leaves and grass clippings near the shoreline. Nutrients concentrate in the ash and can easily wash into the lake.

6. Do not mow to the water's edge. Instead, allow a strip of natural vegetation (i.e., a greenbelt) to become established along your waterfront. A greenbelt will trap pollutants, provide wildlife habitat, and discourage nuisance geese from frequenting your property.

7. Infiltrate drainage from your downspouts rather than letting it flow overland to the lake (i.e., construct a rain garden).

8. Don't dump anything in area wetlands. Wetlands are nature's natural purifiers.

9. If you have a septic system, have your septic tank pumped every 2 to 3 years.

10. Don't be complacent—our collective actions will make or break the lake!

Septic System Maintenance

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:47:30 GMT

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If a septic system is not properly designed and maintained, bacteria and nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) can readily pass through the soil to the water table and ultimately to the lake or a nearby well. In some instances, septic contaminants can move several hundred feet. Therefore, proper maintenance of lakeside septic systems is critical to water quality protection. This section describes how septic systems function and may be properly maintained.

Parts of a Septic System

A septic system consists of two components: a septic tank and a drainfield. Wastewater flows from the house to the septic tank. In the septic tank, most of the solids settle to the bottom and form a sludge layer that is partially decomposed by bacteria. Floating solids form a scum layer on the water surface. Baffles may be positioned in the septic tank to help prevent solids from flowing into and clogging the drainfield. Liquids from the septic tank flow into the drainfield where the wastewater is treated by filtration and microorganisms in the soil. Most commonly, the drainfield consists of a series of perforated pipes that allow water from the septic tank to slowly drain to the surrounding soils.

The following practices will help to reduce septic contamination problems and will prolong the life and efficiency of your septic system.

Septic System Maintenance Practices

Maintaining the Septic Tank>

Inspect the septic tank scum and sludge depth once a year. If the scum depth is within 1 inch of the outlet baffle, the tank requires cleaning. If the sludge depth is within 12 inches of the outlet baffle or within 18 inches of the outlet fitting, the tank requires cleaning.
Pump the tank at regular intervals (usually every 2 to 3 years).
To avoid overburdening your septic system with solids, do not use a kitchen garbage disposal unit.
Do not use chemical agents to clean your system except on the advice of the county health department.
Do not put harmful materials, such as fats, solvents, oils, paints, coffee grounds, paper towels, disposable diapers, cigarettes, sanitary napkins, or tampons, into your system.
If your system is equipped with a distribution box between the septic tank and the drainfield, at 1-year intervals, allow one side of your system to "rest."
If your system is equipped with a dosing chamber, be sure the submersible pump is operating and properly maintained for uniform discharge of effluent into the drainfield, followed by drainage between doses.

Maintaining the Drainfield

Know the location of your drainfield.
Keep automobiles and all heavy vehicles off the drainfield.
Do not allow puddles of storm- water to form over the drainfield.
Do not fertilize the soil above the drainfield.
Do not stockpile snow or soil on the drainfield.
Do not allow downspouts to drain onto or into your drainfield.
Dense grass cover and other shallow-rooted plants are beneficial over a drainfield.
Avoid planting deep-rooted trees and shrubs over the drainfield. Although they promote moisture removal from the drainfield, their roots may clog the drain tiles.

Water Conservation Measures
The less water you use, the better your septic system will function.

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Toilets are among the most water-consumptive appliances in a house. By installing a low-flush toilet, with a 1 gallon-per-flush capacity, instead of the 3.5 to 5-gallon toilets, you may reduce toilet water use by as much as-30 percent.

Use low-flow, water-saving shower heads. This plumbing fixture can reduce shower water use by up to 50 percent but increases water velocity so the shower feels the same.

Faucet aerators can decrease faucet water use by as much as 50 percent.

Other simple things that can be done in the home include repairing leaky faucets and toilets; and using dish and clothes washers only with a full load.
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Eurasion Millfoil

tyningp@progressiveae.com (PAE Admin) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:03:50 GMT

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Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is a nuisance aquatic plant that has infested many Michigan lakes. As its name implies, Eurasian milfoil is not native to Michigan. It was first introduced into the United States from Europe and Asia in the 1940's. Eurasian milfoil can spread very rapidly by a process called vegetative propagation in which small pieces of the plant break off, take root and grow. Eurasian milfoil is especially problematic in that it often becomes established early in the growing season and can grow at greater depths than most plants. Eurasian milfoil tends to form a thick canopy at the lake surface that can degrade fish habitat and seriously hinder recreational activity. Because of its ability to spread by fragmentation, mechanical harvesting (in which plants are cut and removed from the lake) is not an effective method of controlling Eurasian milfoil. In fact, harvesting can actually promote the spread of the plant. Eurasian milfoil can be controlled with herbicides (some of which are selective for milfoil) and, in some lakes, the biological control of Eurasian milfoil is being attempted.