Chemical treatments
Water quality maintenance and weed control on White Lake are financed by a Special Assessment District, and are supervised by the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
In 2008, we had two lake-wide treatments with Sonar (Fluridone), which targeted two non-native and nuisance plants: Milfoil and Curly-Leaf Pondweed. There was also late season spot treatment targeted at the few remaining patches of Milfoil.
In 2009, we needed less treatment to control weed growth, because of the residual effects of last year's treatment. Starry Stonewort became the major treatment concern later in the season.
2009 General treatment information
Detailed product information
Testing
The State of Michigan mandates an annual Lake Management Program Report, filed by a certified professional, for several years following the application of Fluridone. Click here to view a copy of the 2009 report. This testing gives us a yardstick to measure progress, and provides the state with information for an effective database.
Visit the Fishing page for information about Fishing Advisories and consumption of fish from White Lake.
Lawn Care
To help in controlling aquatic weed growth, ideally we would not fertilize our lawns, since run-off of fertilizer contributes to weed growth in the lake. Since many of us, however, do use fertilizer on our lawns, there are a few things we can do to lessen the effects of fertilizer on aquatic weed growth. Any of the following can serve as a barrier to help reduce fertilizer run-off into the lake:
-
- landscape ties
- stones and rocks
- plants and bushes
- A 5 - 10 foot buffer strip between the lawn and the lake, where fertilizer use is avoided
We can also use fertilizer that has 0% or very low phosphorus, which is now widely available. (Phosphorus is the middle number of the 3 numbers listed on the bag of fertilizer. The first number represents Nitrogen, the second is Phosphorous, the third is Potassium or Potash.) It is most likely that your soil is already rich in phosphorus. The MSU Extension Service recommends fertilizers that are low in both phosphorus and potassium, such as 23-0-6, 30-4-4 or 26-4-4, in this area
Fertilizer Numbers - What Do They Mean?
Lawncare Do's and Dont's
Christmas Trees
On some northern Michigan inland lakes that are deep and do not have any bottom weed structure, there is a practice of putting Christmas trees out on the ice to mark fishing holes. When the ice melts in the springtime, the trees sink to the bottom (hopefully) and provide structure for the fish. This is NOT a good practice on White Lake! Our lake is shallow, and sunlight provides ample weed structure. Please dispose of your tree using your routine refuse pickup.
|
