Overview and Recommendation

For over two decades, Loon Lake has been consistently, and aggressively treated with Aquatic Herbicides, multiple times, each season.  Justification for these treatments includes the control of aquatic invasive plant species, but unfortunately, the legal and permitted treatments also target native, beneficial vegetation which gets labeled as “nuisance”.  This activity is permitted by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). However, no metric or data is currently shared that quantifies or qualifies what a “nuisance” level is.  As such, vast areas of the lake’s shallow water environments are currently treated with non-selective herbicides every season, killing native weedbeds that once provided critical cover and habitat for fish species. Nutrients that would have been consumed by these native weedbeds instead feed the algae blooms that we see throughout the lake, which, in turn, are treated with more toxic chemicals.

Chemicals frequently used include Aquatic Glyphosate, Diquat Dibromide, Copper Sulfate/Chelated Copper, Aquathol, and Flumioxazin, with the justification for treatment often being listed as Large-Leaf Pondweed, Wild Celery, and emergent Bullrush, all of which are native, beneficial plant species to the ecological integrity of Loon Lake.  We encourage stakeholders to research the toxicity information of the above chemicals to aquatic life and human health.

Current Oversight Process

  1. The Authority for Aquatic Chemical Application on our lake is the “Loon Lake Improvement Board” (LLIB), essentially a government agency as defined by Michigan Law (Act 451 of 1994). It is comprised of five members:
    • The Plainfield Township Supervisor
    • The Iosco County Drain Commissioner
    • Two Plainfield Township Trustees
    • One representative of Loon Lake Property Owners. Currently this representative is nominated by the Loon Lake Association (LLA).
  2. The Loon Lake Association, Inc. is a Michigan domestic non-profit corporation set up to be run by the membership. Website: https://loonlakeassoc.org
  3. The LLIB meets as needed, selects the treatment Contractor, approves the treatment plan provided by the Contractor and manages the property owners special assessment fund that pays the vendor.
  4. The Treatment Plan provided by the Contractor must also be approved by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The website page explaining the permitting process is: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/aquatic-nuisance-control
  5. The Contractor that applies the chemicals to treat Loon Lake is also advising the LLIB on the need for continued chemical application. This recommendation is based on their own aquatic vegetation survey. No LLIB or LLA member has the technical and scientific background to review and evaluate this recommendation. This arrangement also creates the potential for a conflict of interest, which could result in excessive/unwarranted treatment of the lake while generating additional revenue for the Contractor.
  6. Note that the Contractor does follow EGLE guidelines for chemical treatments, however, they alone determine how much or little of the chemicals are disbursed within the acceptable values.

Proposed Oversight Process

  1. The Loon Lake Conservancy, with support from a Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist, recommends employing a 3rd Party Restoration Company to work with the LLIB and LLA and to provide a scientific, unbiased survey of the lake and create a management plan based on survey results.   This management plan would be fluid and adaptable to the lake’s current conditions.  The plan may include precise and sparing use of chemical application to control invasive plant species within the lake and removes the possibility of excessive/unwarranted chemical application. Their plan would be adhered to on the lake by the Aquatic Chemical Application Contractor.
  2. Long Lake (our neighbor to the northwest), Houghton Lake, Lake Mitchell, and numerous other lakes throughout Michigan employ a qualified third party independent Lake Restoration Consultant (who is not a Chemical Applicator) with economic benefits and successful results.
  3. Listed below are supporting documents provided by the Michigan DNR:
    • Click HERE to view the supporting letter, specific to Loon Lake, from the Michigan DNR Fisheries Management Biologist, April Simmons.
    • Click HERE to view the “Conservation Guidelines of Michigan Lakes” referenced in the April Simmons letter.
    • Click HERE to view the “Minnesota DNR (Valley et al. 2004)” paper referenced in the April Simmons letter.
    • Click HERE to view the “Nuisance Aquatic Plant Management in Michigan: Some Practical Guidelines for Lake Landowners” paper written by Mark Tonello of the Michigan DNR Fisheries Division in July 2023.
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