by Douglas Pullman, Ph.D. Aquest Corp and Lon Nordeen, MLSA Secretary
Punxsutawney Phill made it official forecasting that that winter is still here and will remain for a little while longer. But, there’s lemonade in those lemons and this is a good time to prepare for the coming lake season. Although lake quality concerns may have faded and may be seemingly obscured by ice cover, there’s still a lot to be done to protect our precious surface water resources. This is a good time to do things to protect your lake in 2025.
1. Review reports and data. This is a good time to refresh our memories regarding management interventions that were undertaken in 2024. Check the data to see where invasive species created problems in 2024. Are there certain areas in the lake that are persistently infested each year? How were nuisance species treated with herbicides, harvesting, or other means in previous years and did any of those approaches shrink the scope of nuisance conditions from year to year? Tally the cost of invasive species management by reviewing all invoices submitted and paid in previous years. Are there any trends or technologies that seem to have provided greater value? Low cost and value can be different things and careful consideration of management intervention outcomes and associated costs can help to prepare for the coming management season.
2. Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) blooms were once thought to be only present in the late summer after a succession of different algae groups finally resolved into Cyanobacteria dominance. However, toxic Cyanobacteria blooms can appear at any time of the year and this has been never so clear as we’ve seen in the past several years. There’s many reasons for this – BUT, this is a time to create or review a response plan that includes, finding volunteers to administer information gathering and communications, develop an administrative vehicle to collect observations from lake residents and user groups. Create a list of State and Local agency contacts that need to be notified if bloom conditions are observed. Develop a plan to share information with resident and lake users. Consider mitigation plans that may include the application of cyanobacteriacides and studies to find ways to mitigate the reasons that the blooms occur in your lake. This may include developing nutrient budgets, finding water inflows that can be “cleaned” with absorptive elements that sequester phosphorus and installation of wetland mitigation systems.
3. Make sure that everyone is on-board and ready to meet MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program objectives in 2025. Michigan Lakes and Streams Association can help you to “get on board” with this high value information gathering function.
4. Attend the MLSA conference and bring your critical thinking faculties as this conference brings together reports on older and newly emerging lake management technologies. You’ve reviewed intervention data from prior years – now you may be able to find ways that will improve your lake. Furthermore, you can learn about regulatory and legislative efforts that MLSA has engaged in that will help you to protect your lake. Better yet, there’s opportunity to get involved and so specific things that will protect your lake when you volunteer to help with these efforts.
5. Talk to other lake leaders. You are not alone and you will find that even though adjacent lakes can be radically different, the role of lake leadership can be remarkably consistent. We learn from each other to make it easier to marshall volunteers, communicate with lake management professionals, and evaluate the value of lake management interventions. Reach out – it can help you to avoid problems, make your organization more efficient, and make new friends!
Yes, the cold seems to last forever, but before you know it, invasive species will begin to bloom, algae and Cyanobacteria will begin to become more obvious, and runoff will be more conspicuous. Winter is time to prepare to protect your lake and consider previous success or lack thereof. Lake maintenance is critical to sustaining lakes and mitigating issues to make lakes better. Winter is a great time to get ready for 2025.