Treasures to keep
Published 5:05 am Thursday, August 17, 2006
By Staff
Ask visitors to Michigan way they came and more often than not the answer will include our many lakes.
The ponds, lakes and streams provide many types of recreation from canoeing, boating and sailing, swimming and fishing.
Unfortunately unless our lake residents and governmental bodies take necessary steps, we could lose these natural resources.
Eurasian water milfoil is a decorative water plant sold primarily for use in aquariums. When this plant invades our water ways, it competes with native aquatic plants and forms an extensive root system. The existing vegetation is diminished and provides less nutrients for fish and birds.
Boaters who travel from one body of water to another are encouraged to check carefully, both their boats and trailers, to minimize bringing an invasive species
Another invasive plant looks beautiful as it grows along the shore, but beware, Purple Loosestrife can quickly take over the wetlands.
Those communities which are blessed with bodies of water need to be educated to ways of saving these treasures for future generations.
The Village of Cassopolis just voted to have Stone Lake surveyed to see where milfoil is growing, in order to seek a chemical treatment.
Volunteers have pulled the purple flowers or cut them near the ground and burned them, the suggested treatment by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
The Stone Lake Preservation Committee, composed of Ginger Luxenberger, Tim and Sandy Swenor, Kathy Yoder and John Biek, has also joined the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and continues to educate others about this serious problem.
They should be commended. Other lake associations also need to learn as much as they can to preserve these natural attractions.