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MLIB Meeting Postponed/Rescheduled for April 30 |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Saturday, 14 April 2018 13:09 |
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Due to inclement weather, the meeting of the Mansitee Lake Improvement Board originally scheduled for Monday, April 16, 2018 at the Coldsprings Township hall has been postponed. It is rescheduled for Monday, April 30, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. at the Coldpsrings Township hall.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 15 April 2018 10:13 |
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Sucker Removal Project Set for 2018- Help Wanted |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Thursday, 01 March 2018 11:41 |
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NOTE ANOTHER DATE CHANGE - Due to continuing winter weather, this meeting has been rescheduled for Saturday April 28, 2018. Same time, same place. If the winter weather continues, this meeting may be rescheduled yet again. We can not set the nets unless the lake is free of ice and the suckers are running.
The Joint Manistee Lake Association/Manistee Lake Improvement Board Fishing Improvement Committee is currently scheduled to meet April 28th at 9AM at Seth and Carol Phillips' house at 4257 E. Shore Dr. (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE) The current plan is to assess the current conditions and, unless the weather is not cooperating, set the sucker trap nets as we have in past years. In addition to help setting the nets, we are always in need of assistance, especially during the week, in checking and emptying the nets and recording fish data, which we are required to do under our DNR permit no less than every other day. We will of course also welcome anyone who would like to have the fish we collect as we must dispose of them. This schedule is subject to change should conditions cause the sucker run to initiate sooner than expected. Any changes will be noted on this web page and on the MLA Facebook page.
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Last Updated on Monday, 16 April 2018 14:09 |
Welcome to the new and improved Manistee Lake Association web site. We hope you like the look and the many additional features. We have tried to make the site far more useful as a source of information and communication. Many of the features are in the members only area so we encourage everyone to become a member and to register for the member area. Access is free to MLA members. Members please make sure to update your member information so we have current contact information for you. If you are a new resident who does not receive our newsletter, please give us your contact information so we can add you to our database. Just click on the contact us link under website feedback on the lower right of this page and submit your information.
We invite comments and suggestions to improve the site as well. We want to make this site as useful and user friendly as we can. We have tried to minimize some features to lessen download times for those of you with slower internet connections. We will continue to add information to the site and to improve features as we go so please check back often and let us know what you think. I hope you enjoy our new home on the web. Spread the word around. Manistee Lake can always use more friends.
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Septic Systems Are Not Protecting Michigan Waters Like We Thought |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Tuesday, 14 November 2017 10:55 |
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An article in the Bridge magazine outlines research showing that septic systems in Michigan are not protecting our surface waters like they should, or like we thought. Research done by MSU shows that 10% of septic systems throughout Michigan are failing to properly filter waste and result in discharges to groundwater, and eventually to our lakes, rivers and streams. Michigan is the only state in the United States that does not have a uniform state septic code. The article argues why this needs to change. And since we have so much surface water and over one million septic systems in operation throughout the state, the impacts of this problem can be huge.
Kalkaska County and the other counties that are covered by our local health department adopted a septic ordinance that requires inspection of systems and correction of failing systems at the time of sale of any property. This was an important step forward. However, there is no regulation of existing septic systems where no property sale occurs. It is clear from the MSU research, that many in use systems are failing to function properly and go undetected, and uncorrected.
Here is a link to the full article.
http://www.bridgemi.com/guest-commentary/waste-water-why-michigan-needs-state-septic-code
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 November 2017 11:04 |
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Manistee Lake Score the Shore Report 2017 Available |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Saturday, 11 November 2017 10:42 |
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The Manistee Lake Association contracted with Progressive AE to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Manistee Lake shoreline to evaluate the quality of our shoreline relative to the standards of the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership. The report of this survey is now available on this website to MLA members who are registered to use the site. The document, entitled Manistee Lake Score the Shore Report 2017, is available under the MLA Important Docs tab in the Members Menu on the left side of this page.
The report contains the entire survey, photos and scoring, explains the basis of the various scores and what they mean. It also includes all of the individual rating forms as well as lots of useful information on how to improve our shoreline to help protect and improve the quality, and the fishery on Manistee Lake. This report will provide the basis of additional efforts to bring about shoreline improvements on our lake. Be sure to read Appendix D for important recommendations in response to the findings.
Summary of the Results (from the report):
The Score the Shore Survey of Manistee Lake was completed on August 30, 2017 in accordance with
MiCorps guidelines. Prior to the field survey, a Score the Shore Survey Map was created in which GPS
reference points were established at 1,000-foot intervals around the shoreline (excluding the canals). In
total, 30 individual survey sites were established around the lake that encompassed about 5.7 miles of
shoreline (Figure 1). Two passes were made around the lake via boat and field observations were recorded on the Score the Shore data forms for each survey section (Appendix B). Score the Shore calculations were then made for each individual survey assessment site (Figure 2) and these data were used to calculate the Development Density and Overall Shore Score for Manistee Lake (Tables 1 through 5). Geo-referenced digital photographs were taken within each survey section (Appendix C).
With the exception to the low-lying wetlands along the northwest end of the lake, much of the Manistee Lake shoreline is developed. Currently, 248 homes and 246 docks border the lake proper, which equates to an average development density of 16.5 structures per 1,000 feet. Manistee Lake has an overall Shore Score of 55 with about 50% of Manistee Lake shoreland rated poor, about 33% fair, and 17% good (Figure 3). Not surprisingly, most of the disturbed shoreland areas occur along developed shoreline areas. These data suggest that there is a need to both preserve and restore natural shoreland habitat around Manistee Lake. Shoreland management guidelines for Manistee Lake residents are included in Appendix D. It is recommended that these guidelines be mailed to all Manistee Lake property owners as part of a long-term lake protection strategy focused on restoring natural shoreland habitat.
Manistee Lake has an overall Shore Score of 55 with about 50% of Manistee Lake shoreland rated poor,
about 33% fair, and 17% good.
A brief booklet with recommendations for improving our shoreline is in Appendix D or can be read separately by clicking on the Score the Shore Booklet item in the Latest News From the Board at the top of the home page. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 16 November 2017 13:17 |
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10 Ways to Help Manistee Lake |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Saturday, 03 May 2014 12:12 |
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Just a reminder to all our lake residents and users on easy things you can do that will help protect Manistee Lake water quality. (From the Manistee Lake Homeowners Guidebook)
1. Don’t use lawn fertilizer or weed killer.
2. Help prevent the spread of invasive species! If you trailer your boat
from lake to lake, wash your boat and trailer before launching back
into Manistee Lake.
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. Don’t 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 and discourage
nuisance geese from frequenting your property.
7. Infiltrate drainage from your downspouts rather than letting it flow
overland to the lake.
8. Don’t dump anything in area wetlands. Wetlands are natural purifiers.
9. Have your septic tank pumped every 2 to 3 years.
10. Don’t be complacent—our collective actions will make or break
the lake!
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 June 2017 12:29 |
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Coldpsrings Township Adopts Fireworks Ordinance |
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Written by Seth & Carolyn Phillips
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Wednesday, 04 October 2017 07:49 |
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Coldsprings Township has adopted a new ordinance to regulate the use of consumer fireworks. In accordance with state law, the ordinance does not restrict the use of consumer fireworks on the day before, the day of or the day after the state designated national holidays. So consumer fireworks can be used at any time of the day or night during these three day holiday windows. The ordinance restricts use of consumer fireworks on all other days to the hours of 9 AM to Midnight (i.e. fireworks can not be discharged after midnight, except for the aforementioned holiday periods.) The ordinance also prohibits the use of consumer fireworks on public property or other private property without the owner's permission, prohibits the use of fireworks by anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs and prohibits the use of fireworks if a burn ban or "red flag warning" is in effect. The ordinance also requires, as required by state law, that anyone using consumer fireworks must be at least 18 years of age.
The full ordinance can be found at this link: http://www.coldspringsexcelsior.org/coldsprings/2017/Fireworks%20ordinance%202017.pdf |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 October 2017 08:00 |
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