February 15, 2009
Dear Lake Martha Residents:
The past seven years of Curly-Leaf and Algae treatments have proved to be
extremely effective in reducing the Curly-Leaf and Algae, and increasing the
water clarity to a record level last year. The clarity measurements taken this
past year are posted on our web site at
www.Lakemartha.com/secchi_disk_readings.htm.
These impressive treatment results are directly attributed to the number of
residents who signed up. Last year we had 32 out of 45 residences sign up and
the water clarity showed it. We need to have everyone’s support again this
year, so that together, we can continue to improve the quality of our lake.
Note that the quality of our lake has a direct impact on the value of our
property!
There a couple of
changes this year. 1st the DNR is restricting treatment to ½ of lakeshore
footage that can be treated. However there is an exception to this rule and it
is for exotic weeds, and the curlyleaf pondweed falls into this exception, so
hopefully we will not be restricted. We are going to apply for this exception
with the DNR. So fill out your forms they way you have in the past. 2nd I
talked to Midwest AquaCare about the Coontail problem we had last year and the
second treatment will be for submersible weeds (which Coontail is) but here is
new information. If you sign up and we have very little Coontail or other
submersible weed you are not committed for the treatment we just have to get a
final count of people who want the second treatment and relay that information
to Midwest AquaCare in a timely fashion. So bottom line is that if you sign up
for the second treatment you are not obligated to do the treatment and if you
do not sign up you will not be able to get the second treatment ( so sign up
!). The DNR needs your request ahead of time on the permit.
The cost for the
2009 treatment has gone up a little from last year ($2.14 a foot). The $750
DNR permit fee will be covered the same as we have in the past, the Lake
Association will collect a $10 permit fee for each weed treatment application,
and the Lake Association will cover the balance of the $750 permit fee.
The cost of the
Midwest AquaCare Curly-Leaf and Algae treatment service for 2009 will be $2.14
per lakeshore foot, which is 1 foot of lakeshore by 100 feet out. Midwest
AquaCare will bill each resident individually for the lakeshore footage
treated after the treatment has been applied. The treatment will be scheduled
for early May, or when the water temperature nears 60 degrees.
In addition to the
1st Midwest AquaCare treatment, MAC will offer a secondary Submersible and
algae (Coontail falls into this) treatment in late June or early July,
depending on the amount of weeds present at that time.
The Lake
Association will purchase Copper Sulfate and apply it as necessary (the
treatment barrel burned in our fire so I will have to make a new one). This
algae treatment will be applied to the properties that are covered by the DNR
permit (households who sign up for primary treatment). Copper Sulfate is
non-toxic and has no swimming restrictions.
Please return the
completed Midwest AquaCare treatment application to Paul Johnson or Angela
Miller by March 25th along with the annual membership dues of $50 plus the $10
permit fee. We need to have these and our DNR Application post marked by April
1 to ensure having the permit in time to treat when the curly leaf is at it’s
worst, so please get them in as soon as you can. We strongly encourage all
lake residents to participate in this program, and to contribute toward making
Lake Martha a clean lake that we all can enjoy the entire boating season.
Sincerely,
Paul Johnson
President,
Lake Martha
Association
