Key information missing on effects of using herbicide in Sand Lake

To the Editor,The recent editorial by Sand Lake property owner Bob Hoisington supporting the use of herbicides on local lakes (6/2/14) read like a sales pitch by a chemical distributor, with a one-size-fits-all message. It was also missing key information. He referred to Houghton Lake as a model for what Sand Lake (and other lakes like Wamplers and Devil’s) should be doing to control non-native weeds. All of Sand Lake was treated last summer with the same chemical used at Houghton Lake in 2002 — Fluridone (Sonar).Hoisington did not mention that the Houghton Lake Association board and their local townships have reconsidered proposed whole lake treatments, a process they refer to as “giving Houghton the nuke.” The up north townships voted on March 18, 2014, to not subject Houghton Lake to a whole lake treatment like they did in 2002. They are concerned about the health of Houghton Lake.Houghton’s Lake Associa-tion President said at the March meeting: “the first treatment (2002) took a toll on native aquatic plant species.” DNR Fisheries Biologist Rich O’Neal, wrote a letter to the township boards requesting that Houghton’s permit to use Fluridone in 2014 be denied, citing significant impact on native aquatic plant species. Markey Township Board member Hatherly “expressed concern over Fluridone getting into the flesh of fish in the lake.”Hoisington also did not mention that the same vendor used five semi-truck loads of chemicals on Houghton in 2009 and that last year Houghton Lake experts identified seven new hybrid lake weeds that are becoming increasingly resistant to these chemicals.He also did not mention the swimming restrictions at Sand Lake each summer. If you want to take your kids tubing or skiing on the lake, or just jump in for a swim, you need to know which 3-4 weeks of the summer Sand Lake may be treated, and make sure your relatives and friends know they can’t go in on those days.When Sand Lake is treated, we are warned that it is not safe to water rosebushes or azaleas with the lake water for 30 days, so we really start to wonder whether it is safe to swim if treated lake water is dangerous for plants.What can you do to help your family enjoy the local lakes? If you own property on the lake, please do not fertilize. It makes weeds in the lake grow faster.If you launch a boat at the public access site, after you finish boating for the day you must drain your boat and trailer and wash it off. This is a new law for boaters and helps reduce invasive “hitchhikers.” Be sure to read the swimming restrictions notices so you can prepare kids and friends. Next steps? Even after expensive treatments, Sand Lake and Houghton property owners are realizing that Hybrid Milfoil weeds may be resistant to the chemicals they have been using, so they are looking at alternative methods. A trip to visit three Kalamazoo lakes to examine aeration techniques and cost is planned for Friday, June 20. For more information on this trip and efforts to keep lakes enjoyable, visit the website: Sand-Lake.org Sabrina GrossOnsted