Tuesday May 22, 2001 Meeting Synopsis

Chairman Jim Deamud called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Denton Township Meeting Hall. Members present were Dick Pastula, Verle Wetherwax, Charles Van Duser, Carl Geiger, Sheridan Cole and Jay Sandow.

Minutes of the previous meeting were distributed to all members and alternates prior to the meeting for review. The Chair asked for any additions or corrections. Hearing no comment, Carl Geiger moved and Charles Van Duser seconded the motion that the minutes be accepted as published. Motion passed. The audience was advised that the minutes are posted on the County web site and available at township halls and the library.

The agenda for the meeting as published was to report on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers workshop held at the RAM center on May 17 & 18. The Chair asked for additional items for the agenda, but none were suggested.

Charles Van Duser thanked Bud Miller, Pres. of the Lake Association, Roy Spangler, MSU Extension and the board alternates for their presence and participation at the Corps workshop. Carl Geiger stated that these individuals were part of the group that helped develop the board’s mission statement.

Chairman Deamud read the draft mission statement developed at the workshop.

The Houghton Lake Improvement Board (HLIB) is a permanent governmental entity established to direct the process for the control of Eurasian water milfoil in the Lake and to address the problems associated with other aquatic plant growth, swimmers itch, water quality and any other activity that would lead to improving the quality of the lake.

Manage the Eurasian Water Milfoil in the lake.

Removal of Eurasian Water Milfoil in shallow / shoreline areas.

Removal of Eurasian Water Milfoil floating in the lake.

Monitor all ecosystems in the lake such as weevil and insect, fish stock and plant species.

Create a comprehensive water management plan that will establish a continuing monitoring program of the Eurasian Water Milfoil in the lake and identify methods for its control and or removal.

Monitor the activity in the watershed and its impacts on the quality of the lake.

Establish a continuing education program for all residents on the impact of

Household and garden chemicals on the lake.

Reintroduction of native plants into the lake

Deamud reported that board members and others in attendance at the Corps workshop have reported that it was a productive meeting. However, the workshop was scheduled with concurrent sessions so an individual could not attend all sessions. There were sessions on chemical, biological, mechanical, fish & wildlife impacts and limnology and watershed issues. He also reported that although the final report will not be published until September, an interim report will be sent to all the workshop participants sometime this summer.

The Corps has requested the board produce a directory of all the studies done on the lake and where they could be obtained. Roy Spangler and Carl Geiger will be principally involved in this activity.

Dick Pastula reported that the major presenters at the workshop had extensive academic and professional work histories in the areas being discussed. He expressed his appreciation that experts from agencies and universities in Georgia, Mississippi, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were present to assist in the development of our remediation plan.

Carl Geiger reported that the DNR in Minnesota and Wisconsin were actively involved in addressing the milfoil problem and had units working on the problem. He is hopeful the Michigan DNR will become more helpful in addressing the problem.

The meeting was then opened up to questions and statements from the audience.

Roy Spangler stated that he attended the workshop and found the governmental experts were proposing practical solutions to problems and that private sector consultants were not promoting their firms but rather focusing on what would be best for our lake. He stated that all the experts agreed that there was no silver bullet that would solve our problem. We will have to work on a variety of fronts to save the lake.

The mission statement references to short term goals refer to 2001 and long term relates to 2002 beyond.

The question of how we pay for any treatment of the lake was asked. Chairman Deamud stated that the only way the board has to raise funds is through special assessment districts. The total cost is being supplemented with initially the $75,000 grant from the federal government for the workshop and plan. It is expected that additional grant funds will be available from both the Federal and State governments that will have to be matched with local funds.

The question of the 15 million dollar cap for lake projects was raised. It is the boards understanding that there will be an effort at the federal level to fully fund the Water Resource Development Act which would allow the Corps additional flexibility in dealing with the named lakes in the Act.

Chairman Deamud stated that under the Act that organized the board, we are required to have two public hearings. The first is to adopt the plan for control methods and following a second public hearing on the assessment amount and district. He expects that as soon as the final Corp report is delivered and the community has had time to review, that the first public hearing will be held in October. The second will follow quickly.

In response to a question, Deamud stated that the responsibility for removal of milfoil at road ends is a problem that has not been resolved. The townships, county, road commission and the board are unsure of who is ultimately responsible, but will attempt to define responsibility in the immediate future. Verle Wetherwax added that the board is looking into a solution.

Bud Miller of the Lake Association said that the Corp made a strong case for restoration of native plants in the lake as part of the milfoil control program and that the DNR raised question regarding the lake level. Carl Geiger, who is responsible for assuring that the lake levels are maintained in accordance with court orders, stated that he was bothered by the fact that the DNR has incorrect data relating to lake levels.

The Corps has requested of the board to inventory all studies that have been done on the lake. Carl Geiger and Roy Spangler will be working to identify and collect this info and to establish a lake-monitoring program this year.

Bud Miller reported that the Lake Association Weevil project is on track and we should see activity in the lake in June.

Next board meeting will be June 26, 2001