It is the availability of nutrients in the water column and muck on the bottom of the lake that has led to the significant increase
in growth of the Pond Weed, Lily Pads and other native species.
Continuing on the current treatment path is not likely
to deliver the level of improvement that we all looking for over the next several years and beyond.
Developing a Long Term Lake
Management Plan
In September of 2006, the SLWA Board approved the formation of the Weed and Water Quality Action Team . This
team is actively researching available alternatives to improve weed management and water quality and will develop a long-term
Lake Management Plan for Sherman Lake.
The ultimate objective of this effort is to implement root cause solutions to improve
the long-term health of the lake.
To be successful the Lake Management Plan will need the support of all residents.
We are commmitted to providing information to help make good decisions for preserving the health and beauty of Sherman Lake.
Browse
this section of the website using the menu in the picture box on the top right of this page to learn more about the Lake Management
initiative.
Some Basic Facts About Sherman Lake
Sherman Lake is a 160 acre spring fed lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Sherman Lake is
a "closed basin" lake which has advantages and disadvantages with respect to Lake Management efforts.
The advantage of a closed
basin lake is that we have greater control of what comes into the lake. There is no threat of pollutants or invasive species
entering the lake from an incoming stream or river.
The disadvantage of closed basin lakes is that "what comes in stays in".
Turnover or "renewal" of the water in the lake is much slower than compared to lakes with inflowing and outflowing streams.
Implications
for Weed Management
The good news is that the chemical program was been successful in managing the milfoil levels in the lake. The bad
news is that in killing the weeds each season we are creating more and more organic "muck" on the bottom of the lake.
Besides
being unpleasant to step in, the accumulation of muck on the bottom of the lake has significant implications for managing the
weed problems in the lake.
Muck Equals Nutrients for Increased Weed Growth
The "muck" on the bottom of the lake is essentially
a store house of the nutrients that weeds need to grow. This stored nutrient "load" along with the annual influx of new nutrients
from fertilizer run-off and aging septic systems creates the ideal environment for weed growth despite the ongoing chemical
treatment efforts.
