Weed Treatment

RUNYAN LAKE INC.

The lake association for the entire community of Runyan Lake
in Tyrone Township, Livingston County, Michigan.

Aquatic Plant & Weed Control

Invasive Species Reference Materials Treatment Notices and Info.

Primary aquatic plant and weed treatment will be applied when the water is warm enough and there are undesired weeds present that need treatment, generally in late May or early June. Any additional treatments will be applied as needed throughout the summer.

Aquatic plant and weed treatment is applied annually, generally when the water reaches a temperature of approximately 65ºF. Additional spot treatments are applied as needed and as arranged by the RLI Board. Our treatment contractor is Aquatic Nuisance Plant Control Inc. of Swartz Creek, MI.

Why do we treat aquatic plants and weeds? A healthy lake results from a balance of nutrients, plants, and animals. When excess nutrients enter the lake, such as those from lawn fertilizers and other sources of runoff, or non-native plants are introduced into our lake, plants experience rapid and excessive growth and non-native plants take the place of the less aggressive native plants. The unintended plant growth chokes the lake, making it difficult to navigate. When the plants and weeds die off in the fall, they fall to the bottom of the lake and decay, depriving fish of oxygen and creating layers of silt. Eventually all the fish die and the lake becomes a silt filled swamp. Our goal is to preserve the current natural state of the lake as much as possible despite already having invasive species such as Northern Milfoil, Curly Leaf Pondweed, Starry Stonewart, and Zebra Mussels in our lake.

Our contractor uses a spot treatment approach to provide the optimum treatment for controlling the population of invasive weeds while minimizing harm to native weeds. However, he must work within the limitations of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality permits, the chemicals that are allowed, the proximity and depth of wells to the treated areas, and the locations of the outlets from the lake. All RLI members' spraying preferences and requests, and all well locations and depths, are provided to our contractor at the beginning of each season. A list of potential treatment chemicals/herbicides and their restrictions can be found below.

A Weed Treatment Notice is provided to all RLI members each Spring, usually as part of the Spring Newsletter (the notice can also be found here). Members should check for colored postings (usually yellow) around the lake indicating when weed treatment is applied and any restrictions on fishing, swimming, lawn watering, and other limitations.

Please contact Ivan Quinn with any questions regarding weed control.

To assist with treatment notice posting you are encouraged to place a stake near your shoreline to which the notice can be stapled. Otherwise the notice will be affixed near your shoreline to your dock, a post, or a tree.

Click here for a list of chemicals/herbicides (and any use restrictions) which might be used by our contractor

Invasive Species and Weed References:

Aquatic Nuisance Handbook Underwater Plant Guide

A Citizen's Guide for the Identification, Mapping and Management of the Common Rooted Aquatic Plants of Michigan Lakes - by H.D. Wandell and L.G. Wolfson, Michigan State University Extension WQ-55.

Weed Treatment Notices:

Annual Treatment Notice (same as provided in Spring Newsletter)

Treatment Map - June 2011 Specific Treatment Notice - 6/21/11

Treatment Map - August 2011 *new

2011 Treatment information:

Touch-up Treatment - Thursday, August 4th. Our contractor treated areas identified as "undesirable growth". See map above.

Reassessment - Friday, July 29. Our contractor will be touring the lake to establish a plan for an early August touch-up treatment.

Treatment occurred Tuesday, June 21st. This was a general treatment for Northern Milfoil, Pondweed, and algae in the channel. The lake was toured on Saturday, June 11th. See the treatment map link above for approximate treatment areas. If you have questions or concerns please contact Ivan Quinn or email us. Please watch for notices, which include water use restriction details, along your shoreline.

2010 Treatment information: (for reference)

Week of July 11. Likely July 12 or 13. Click here for the treatment map which shows the areas to be treated in crosshatch. Please watch for notices, which include water use restriction details, along your shoreline just prior to treatment. We will post the treatment day as soon as it is determined.

Thursday, June 10, 2010 for Pond Weed and Elodea Specific Treatment Notice - 6/10/10

Because of the cool spring weed growth thus far is limited to cool water weeds, such as Pond Weed. Aquatic Nuisance has determined the best treatment method is to spot treat the Pond Weed and some Elodea in early June and follow up with treatments for Northern Milfoil and other weeds as they grow to the point of requiring treatment. This treatment plan will not only keep unneeded chemicals out of the lake but will also save us the cost of chemicals that would have limited effect. Click here for the treatment map which shows the areas to be treated in crosshatch. Please watch for notices, which include water use restriction details, along your shoreline just prior to treatment. We will post the treatment day as soon as it is determined. Click here for a copy of the yellow notice posted along shorelines in the treatment areas.

Runyan Lake Inc.

PO Box 105, Fenton MI 48430-0105, USA

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