ROUND LAKE EURASIAN MILFOIL TREATMENT NOTICE July 16, 2001
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS NOTICE: IT IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION !! RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA ARE PLANNING TO HAVE THE WATERS IN THIS AREA TREATED WITH HERBICIDES FOR CONTROL OF EURASIAN MILFOIL.
This notice is being circulated at least 7 days in advance of the treatment in accordance with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality [MDEQ] procedures. A permit for the treatment has been secured from the MDEQ (Land and Water Management Division, Inland lakes Management Unit). The treatment will be done under a permit approved by the MDEQ. You are receiving this notice if you are in the proposed treatment area, or if you are within 100 feet of the treatment area. We are providing this notice to persons around the lake who are outside the treatment areas as an informational service. Only products which have been approved by the State of Michigan and the Federal Government are being used. These products are applied in amounts approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality [MDEQ].
We hope to treat the known Eurasian Milfoil infested areas early next week (no sooner than 7 days after this notice). It is best to apply the herbicide on calm sunny mornings with fairly calm weather forecasted after treatment. Thus the exact date and time are not known. Due to the uncertainty of weather, please watch your shoreline for the posting of 14 x 11 inch yellow signs that the DEQ requires be placed every 100 feet along the shoreline in the treatment areas before the treatment. The signs will indicate the date of the treatment, the products used, and the restrictions as to the use of the water for swimming, watering lawns, etc. These same restrictions follow.
WATER USE RESTRICTIONS:
Time following treatments that water may NOT be used:
Chemical, Active Ingredient, Swimming, or Drinking, Bathing Food-Crop Irrigation, Livestock, etc. Irrigation of turf. Non-food crops Taking fish for food or Feed
2,4-D 1Day Indefinite Indefinite NA
In summary do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day. Do not use the treated water for irrigation, agricultural sprays, watering dairy animals, or domestic water supplies. "Irrigation" includes watering gardens -however it does NOT include watering lawns. 2,4-D is often used by lawn spray companies to kill weeds in lawns -watering lawns when only 2,4-D has been applied will not hurt your lawn. "Domestic use" means using lake water inside your house. Since the above label restriction says not to use treated water for these purposes it is your decision when to resume such water use. The "indefinite" duration of the irrigation and watering restrictions is imposed upon 2,4-D products. The DEQ typically tells people to wait as long as possible before they begin to irrigate their gardens, and when they prepare to, they suggest that they test an area before beginning to irrigate everything. There should not be a problem with the irrigation of grass, but the areas to be concerned about are vegetable gardens, since 2,4-D is a broad-leaf herbicide. The treatment area is just the three acres that will be treated, not the entire lake. Fish and wildlife are not affected. There is no restriction on fish consumption. 2,4-D is the active ingredient.
We must notify all crop and animal irrigators within treatment area and 500 feet beyond the treatment area of 2,4-D label irrigation restrictions. ;
Granular 2,4-D products can not be applied within 75 feet of ANY well OR within 250 feet of wells less than 30 feet deep. Distances are measured from the well location not from the shoreline. Compliance with these isolation setback distances is critical. Wells and isolation distances are not shown on the treatment map. The permittee is responsible for locating the water wells and for observing the appropriate isolation requirements.
The MDEQ recommends 2,4-D for spot treatment Eurasian Milfoil control. We plan to apply the granular herbicide Navigate (2,4-D) over approximately 3 acres or known Eurasian Milfoil infestation. The application rate is 100 pounds/acre. 2,4-D is a systemic herbicide which means that if it is applied at the proper rates and at the proper times it will kill the plant. The majority of the infestation is 2.5 acres in the southeast comer of the lake. The remaining Vi acre consists of small-scattered hot spots.
Temporary buoys will be placed around the infested areas to allow us the quickly apply the 2,4-D and help us apply it at the proper rate and have even application. These temporary buoys will also help us monitor the effectiveness of our treatment. In addition the buoys will hopefully help all lake residents understand where the effected areas are and help them avoid those areas while boating and jet skiing.
WHAT TO DO IN MEAN TIME
Please refrain from using motor boats or jet skis in the infested areas or anywhere near the infested areas, as this will cause further fragmentation of the Eurasian Milfoil and continued spread to other parts of the lake. This includes family and friends using boats.
While wading, swimming, boating, or fishing watch for Eurasian Milfoil and if found outside of the known infested areas, please notify other concerned lake residents as soon as possible. Don't assume that anybody else knows it is there. If you feel comfortable identifying and it is in a small enough area, remove it be hand pulling. Slowly reach down and gently pull it out by the roots. Remove all parts of the plant from the water and dispose away from the water.
Please remove the aquatic plants that wash up your shore on a regular basis. This may will help lessen the spread of Eurasian Milfoil. Please remove the plants away from the shoreline. Reportedly they make great mulch.
Think twice about allowing family and friends to bring boats on the lake if they have not been cleaned or if they active lake or river hoppers. Ask them where their boats have been lately.
Volunteer for a Eurasian Milfoil hand pulling work group. If you have any questions contact John Esch at 651-2975