NEWSLETTER: FALL, 2007
BREAKING
NEWS:
Tribal fishing agreement finalized
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PCLA
WORKING, COMMUNICATING MORE EFFICIENTLY
Your board
of directors is moving with the times in order to communicate with you more
efficiently. More and more of our members are using the internet, so we will
be posting current issues as well as the newsletter on
www.Pickerel-CrookedLakes.org
We also have a list-serve e-mail address so members can write and reply to all other subscribers in one message. If you’re not on our Yahoo Work Group and wish to join, e-mail Karen Plasencia: karen@plabay.net. To save printing and postage and trees and fuel, we are e-mailing the newsletter to everyone on the Yahoo Work Group. If you prefer that we “snail-mail” the newsletter to you, please e-mail Karen Plasencia at the link above.
The work group allows the board to inform subscribers of breaking news. It also creates an e-mail dialogue to which all subscribers can contribute. As a matter of e-mail ettiquette, however, if you have a personal response to a posting, send it “off list”. Hit “reply,” then copy the address of the sender and paste it into the “to” line to replace pcla@yahoogroups.com
MEMBERSHIP
RENEWALS DUE JANUARY 1
We have a fabulous group of dedicated volunteers who donate a lot of time
and skill to perform the tasks that keep our organization running smoothly.
Like you, our volunteers like to play in the summer, so we try not to overburden
them with indoor tasks when the sun is shining. This has led us to make another
important change.
Historically, dues were payable by April 30. We are finding, however, that with a late spring deadline, our bookwork gets pushed into the great outdoor season. Sooo-o-o-o-o..... We have changed the billing cycle for dues to Jan. 1 - Dec. 31.
This will enable the membership chair to update records when the sky is gray and the slush is deep. It will allow the board to assess its financial position and prepare a budget and an action plan before things get busy on the lake and company arrives for the summer.
You will receive a membership renewal envelope in November, before the holidays fill up your mailbox. Please return it promptly to save yourself, and us, the hassle and expense of those pesky reminder letters.
CROOKED
RIVER LOCKS funding moving through Congress
According to Tom MacLean, the DNR supervisor of the Locks, “Outside of a few
routine repairs, the Locks ran trouble free this season”. He stated that Lock
transits were 9243 (to date), and this was an increase from last year’s 8,205,
or an increase of 12.6%.
Harold Chase from US Senator Carl Levin’s office tells us that the Senate appropriations bill, which is due to be presented to the Senate on October 1, includes a total of $775,000.00 for the Inland route, and has a specific earmarking of $375,000.00 for the locks. It is likely that if the $375 thousand is not enough to do the job, then a portion of the remaining $400 thousand could be tapped to complete the project.
The House version of this funding request was very similar to the Senate version, however it was not passed this fall. Mr. Chase cautioned that the Senate appropriation will need to be coordinated with the proposed House version, passed by the Senate, and the entire package signed by the President for the 2008 funding year. This money is part of the Army Corp of Engineers 2008 budget, and if approved, would provide the money for the permanent hydraulic controls for the locks, as well as for some necessary dredging .
On behalf of the Pickerel-Crooked Lakes Association, Tom and Harold were thanked for their efforts. I also thanked Tom for having such gracious people working the lock this summer…it does make a difference. -- Dudley Marvin
Start
sorting NOW for Garage Sale June 7th, 2008!
This past June, the PCLA was able to raise $1,191.90 from our first garage
sale. PCLA members donated items and all proceeds went to our Aquatic Plant
Study. Due to the success we had, it was decided that we would hold another
garage sale on Saturday, June 7, 2008. Please save items you have that you
would be willing to donate. Furniture and baby items sold particularly well,
but every donation will bring us continued funds for our Aquatic Plant Study,
scheduled to begin in the spring of 2008. We will be sending out details of
where and when to drop off donations in our spring newsletter. If it is a
larger item, we will store it for you after the Memorial Day holiday. Please
contact Ray McMullen at 347-8073 or Dan Plasencia at 231-548-5656 to make
that arrangement. -- Jan Quaine
Be
ready for the ‘08 boating season!
This distinctive red, white, and blue boat flag is now available to PCLA members
by pre-order. Show you belong, and spot other PCLA members as you enjoy the
lakes. Pre-orders will be taken at $22.50 each, which includes shipping. Allow
4-6 weeks for delivery. Our profit of $5 per flag has been designated for
the Aquatic Plant Survey Fund. For more information contact Karen Plasencia:
karen@plabay.net
The flowers
at the Alanson Hillside Gardens just get better every summer!
The group spends on average $1,500 each summer on plants. Also the rotting 27
year old retaining wall was replaced with concrete formed walls this year. This
has been a definite enhancement to the Hillside Gardens. The gardens are maintained
by volunteers, who hold a flower sponsorship drive each year to help defray
expenses. The group requests a contribution of $10 per flat of flowers. If you
appreciate the Garden’s beauty or have ever said, “Wow!” when you drive by,
a donation would be much appreciated and is tax deductible. Checks can be sent
to; Alanson Beautification Center, PO Box 326, Alanson, MI 49706. -- Dan Plasencia
First
Annual Riverfest in Alanson was a huge success!
The Festival coincided with the Tip of Mit Marathon Races August 18th and 19th.
The Riverfest featured six bands, a juried arts and craft show, flea market,
boat and motorcycle show. The children were entertained in the park with numerous
free games, trout fishing and other activities. The entertainment tent served
refreshments and served for Sunday church services. Organized by the Alanson
Downtown Development Authority, the festival was a great boost to awareness
of Alanson Revitalization. Riverfest 2008 will be a three day event: August
8, 9 and 10th. -- Dan Plasencia
Zone
Leaders step up to control invasive species
We have divided our lakes into 10 zones so that we can monitor our invasive
species in an easier way. These leaders agree to communicate with their neighbors,
survey their local lake area and help with needed projects as they occur. We
have put together a notebook of 9 species that are presently on or around our
lake or threaten to invade in the future. Our zone leaders will be educated
about these nine species and they in turn will educate their neighbors.
Maureen and Bob Kerton are leaders of zone 2 (the southwest shoreline of Crooked Lake approximately from the Pickerel River, along Channel Road to about Hency Rd.) If you live in this area and would like to help please contact them at rmkerton@parishonline.tv
Steve & Carol Degnen are leader of zone 7 (the northwest shoreline of Pickerel Lake from the Pickerel River to approximately Lakeview Road). If you live in this area and would like to help please contact them at sdegnen@degnen.com
Greg and Sue Warner are leaders of zone 8 (the northeast shoreline of Pickerel Lake from approximately Lakeview Road to the middle of Camp Petosega). If you live in this area and would like to help please contact them at mooselodge98@aol.com
Pat and Ken Wallace are leaders of zone 9 (the southeast shoreline of Pickerel Lake from approximately the middle of Camp Petosega to the point on Pickerel where Trails End and Ellsworth Road would meet) If you live in this area and would like to help please contact them at pk3wallace@hotmail.com
Paul Lowley is the leader of zone 10 (From the point on Pickerel where Trails End and Ellsworth Road would meet to the Pickerel River). If you live in this area and would like to help please contact him at plow@racc2000.com.
We still need leaders for:
- Zone 1 (the northeast arm of Crooked Lake approximately from the Pickerel River north to the Crooked River, on the east side, and South from the Crooked River to Lake Street on the west side)
- Zone 3 (the shoreline of Oden Island)
- Zone 4 (the west shoreline of Crooked Lake from approximately Hency Rd. to Conway Rd.-where the boat launch is)
- Zone 5 (the north shoreline of Crooked Lake from approximately Conway Rd.-where the boat launch is, to Lake Street-just past Ryde Marina)
- Zone 6 (the Pickerel River)
- Zone 10 (the southwest shoreline of Pickerel Lake from approximately the point where Ellsworth and Trails End meet to the Pickerel River)
If anyone is interested in being leaders for any of these zones please contact Karen Plasencia at karen@plabay.net. Remember that nurturing Pickerel and Crooked Lakes requires constant vigilance and care. To share these privileges, responsibilities, joys, etc. it takes a commitment by all of us.
WHEN
IS A SHORELINE NOT A SHORELINE?
When a shoreline appears on the U.S. Geological Survey map, it's a shoreline
according to the Emmet County zoning ordinance. Shorelines are subject to setbacks
that preserve their integrity and important functions as litoral habitat, pollution
filter and erosion barrier. When a manmade canal or lagoon is proposed, zoning
has been interpreted to mean that the manmade shoreline isn't really shoreline
because it isn't on the map. PCLA hopes to convince the planning and zoning
department to change the language so that all property connected to a public
body of water is subject to protective setbacks. So far most of the dialogue
has been between attorneys for the county and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council,
who are cooperating to find language that is supportable in court and clear
to members of the planning commission.
WHAT'S
GOING ON IN OUR LAKES?
A great deal of data is collected each year to measure water clarity. The DNR
does fish counts periodically. One of the most critical aspects of a healthy
lake is the aquatic plants that grow there to provide oxygen, food, and cover
for fish. To date there is no information available on this topic for our lakes.
PCLA wants to do an aquatic plant survey to produce a variety of measurable
data that provide a baseline map of plant communities in Pickerel and Crooked
Lakes. The survey will tell us whether we have invasive plants (and how much),
and how the native plants are faring in an increasingly challenging environment.
With this information, we will be armed now and in the future to take the most
effective steps to keep our lakes healthy. This survey costs approximately $7000
and members already have donated approximately $5,000. For every dollar our
membership donates, the PCLA has designated matching funds. If you are willing
to donate please download our membership form.