77456 ALPOA Newsletter 2021

ALPOA
ARNOLD LAKE HAPPENINGS 2021
ALPOA 2021 Board of Directors
John Hood, President jhood1732@gmail.com 248.760.0853 5913 Shirley Ann Dr.
Matt Southern
Vice President
mattsouthern3@hotmail.com 989.280.5136
5890 Access
Sandie Cortez, Secretary sandie@fipprint.com 517.204.6866
5452 Gronda
Treasurer
Tony Koritnik
tonykor@gmail.com 734.612.0118 4820 Arnold Lake Road
Board
Bob Faught robertfaught@yahoo.com 616.723.7216 5394 Gronda
Don Ferguson
989.539.9780 5520 Gronda
Mike Toner
mtoner2@gmail.com 989.539.9435 5420 Gronda
John Marion
JFM24320@gmail.com 586.805.3641 5885 Shirley Ann Drive
Denise Herman
deniseherm4@aol.com 734.776.1105 5380 Gronda
The July 4th annual boat parade will be held on Saturday, July 3rd allowing more property owners to observe the parade and participate in the gala event. Participants are asked to stage for the beginning of the parade in front of the DNR boat ramp at 7:30 p.m. Whether you’re a spectator or participant, this is a great family event. So, decorate your boat, dress in costume and join the fun. Watch for reminder signs.
WELCOME
We want to take this opportunity to welcome our recent new residents and property owners to the lake. You have made an excellent choice in selecting Arnold Lake for your year- around home or weekend cottage. Arnold Lake is highly respected as one of the finest lakes in Clare County. Please take the opportunity to meet your neighbors and participate in association activities. You are invited to join the Arnold Lake Property Owners Association and ALPOA Facebook to keep in touch with the latest happenings and news around the lake.
Unfortunately, we are all too aware of the Covid-19 pandemic and impact it is having on our lives. During 2020 we had to hold our April board meeting on Mike Toner’s front lawn and ended up cancelling the ALPOA Annual Meeting out of an “abundance of caution.” Our April 2021 ALPOA board meeting was a zoom conference, which worked out well. Through it all, your board has been tending to business and we are looking forward to a great summer on our lake. May our newsletter find you and your family in good health and we’ll see you on the lake.
HOW CAN I HELP?
HEALTH OF OUR LAKE
We have been treating our lake for the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian watermilfoil since back in the early 1970’s. At that time, we were treating approximately 35 acres or 1/3 of the lake. In 2020 we treated approximately 23 acres or 1/4 of the lake. Eurasian watermilfoil is an undesirable invasive aquatic plant that crowds out good aquatic plants and prevents their growth. The lake is a living ecosystem and needs both plants and algae for balance. Treatment results were good in 2020, showing good native plant diversity. Diversity is the key to effective management.
Sometimes good native plants become a nuisance and must be treated to maintain control; this is usually for recreational purposes, i.e., swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing. Eelgrass, cattails, water lilies and algae occasionally require control. Good aquatic plants that become a nuisance are treated in targeted problematic areas. The goal of aquatic plant management is to keep an overall healthy plant community.
Our lake is essentially healthy, and a good management program is necessary to maintain the water quality and ecosystem.
Avoid lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus. If you have a lawn service company, do not allow them to use fertilizers containing phosphorus. Phosphorus is a primary source of nutrients creating algae bloom and accelerating growth of aquatic plants.
Properly maintain your septic system. Pumping your septic tank at least every four years is recommended depending upon use; more frequent pumping may be required.
Maintain your shoreline to prevent erosion. Consider the use of natural plants along the shoreline to hold soil in place. Natural stone and rock riprap can be used to break the energy of incoming waves that may cause erosion.
Preserve natural aquatic plants along the shoreline. Only remove plants that are invasive. Removal of native aquatic plants should be limited and may require permits issued by the DEQ. We work closely with PLM, our weed control company, to assist property owners with control of invasive and nuisance native plants.
Boat Parade