Thursday, July 12, 2012
Watershed group keeps tabs on water quality.
Municipal water put to the test in Northport.
Maple City driller gives the lowdown on wells.
Insects keep up the fight on water pollution.
3
7
9
11
Page 2, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Watershed plan for Good Harbor started By Amy Hubbell Of The Enterprise staff
Work is now underway to develop a management plan for the last of six watersheds identified in Leelanau County. Since October 2011 a group of stakeholders have been meeting to development a management plan for the Good Harbor Bay Watershed. A watershed is defined as an area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. In this case, Good Harbor Bay. The watershed, as identified by the state Department of Environmental Quality, stretches from Leland to the north, Kasson Township to the south and as far west as Port Oneida. “It includes Lime Lake and Little Traverse Lake along the lakeshore at a strange angle,” said Yarrow Wolff, conservation easement manager for the Leelanau Conservancy, which is facilitating the process. “We’re working with representatives of each of the lake associations and others who have a stake in what happens there.” The group includes 20 members, including representatives of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Leelanau Conservation District and county drain commissioner Steve Christensen, although a working group usually includes 10 to 12 people. “This is the last identified watershed in the county without a management plan,” Wolffe said. Bill Irwin represents the Little Traverse Lake Association on the committee. “It’s important to identify flow rates and existing contaminants so we have a benchmark to compare to in the future,” Irwin said. “This is particularly important because of the new chemicals people have in their homes and pharmaceuticals that
could leach into the groundwater if disposed of improperly.” The watershed plan is also important in that it is required to be approved at the state and federal level of governments in order for a project to be eligible for federal grant funding. Possible threats to the health of the watershed include contamination from surface runoff, aging septic systems and the loss of wetlands. “The plan will identify ‘best practices’ for those living along the lakeshore and focus on what’s happened with invasive species,” Wolffe said. The growing prominence of invasive species was among the top concerns of 100 people living in the watershed area who were surveyed by the committee. Other concerns were the runoff of fertilizer into the watershed and development/loss of habitat. When asked what they’d like the watershed to be like in 50 years they said they wanted to see it “just like it is now or better,” Wolffe said. The four watersheds in the county that have established management plans are West Grand Traverse Bay; Lake Terrace Coastal Wetlands on the west coast of the county from Northport Point to the northernmost point of Lake Leelanau; the Lake Leelanau Watershed which extends from the southern county line either side of Lake Leelanau to the lake’s northernmost point; Glen Lake and the Crystal River Watershed and Bar Lakes and Coastal Wetlands. The management plan is slated to be completed by spring or fall of 2013.
THE MAP, on right, shows the boundary of the Good Harbor watershed as defined by state Department of Environmental Quality.
Conservancy wants opinions on new watershed A Good Harbor Bay Watershed steering committee has been formed to create a watershed plan for the land and waters that empty into Good Harbor Bay. The plan will be known as the Good Harbor Bay Watershed Protection Plan. This area includes Lime, Little Traverse , Bass, and School Lakes as well as all streams, creeks and
60% CLOSEOUT on all in-stock
wetlands that eventually flow into Good Harbor Bay-Lake Michigan. (Refer to the Leelanau Conservancy website for a map of the watershed http://leelanaucons e r v a n c y. o rg / w p - c o n t e n t / uploads/2012/03/GHB_watershed_ basemap.jpg) The goal of the plan is to identify threats to the watershed and create a
plan to preserve and improve this area for future generations. The Committee is working with multiple stakeholders (Leelanau Conservancy, National Park Service, State and Local Governments, Lake Associations, etc.) to create a viable plan. We need your input to help set our priorities, goals and action plans. Please go to the following website and answer the questions to help us better understand how the watershed is being used and what concerns users have for the watershed. http://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/6TLBDX2
Dakota says, “Over 100 Varieties of Roses in Bloom!”
Perennials and Daylilies are beginning to bloom
outdoor patio furniture
MANITOU GARDENS
Accessories up to 50% Savings 1-10-8
117 N. St. Joseph Street ■ Suttons Bay, MI Website: www.Bonek.com • E-mail: insurance@bonek.com
⁄2 mile N. of Cherrybend Rd., M-22
1
947-5639
Mon.-Sat. 9:00-5:30 Closed Sunday
Owned & Operated by Shirley Pillars-Becker
7-12-12
231-271-6410 www.edwardsfurnishings.com Mon-Sat 9:00am-5:30 pm
231-271-3623 7-12-12
Home Furnishings, Inc. In the Village of Suttons Bay
12086 S. West Bay Shore Dr.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 3
25 Years of Helping our Neighbors
7-12-12
Some of your neighbors are hungry. Will you help us help them? LeelanauChristian Neighbors.org
SARAH U’REN, program director for The Watershed Center, works with volunteer Phil VonVoigtlander conducting a plant survey on West Grand Traverse Bay. PHOTO BY Maureen McManus
“Living well on Fabulous Surfaces”
Providing Sales, Service, Installation & Design. Porcelain & Ceramic Tile Natural Stone • Carpet Wood • Vinyl • Granite Marble and Quartz
Countertops
929-7207
1430 Trade Center Dr., Traverse City 400 Main St., Frankfort
www.tilecrafttc.com Locally and family owned for over 27 years.
10-20-11
The crystal clear waters of northern Michigan appear to be healthy. But things aren’t always as they appear. Between 1998 and 2009, the number of macrophyte or aquatic beds in Grand Traverse Bay more than tripled, according to a survey by The Watershed Center, based in Greilickville. “It’s an indication of more concentrated nutrients,” said Sarah U’Ren, program director for the center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for clean water in Grand Traverse Bay and protect and preserve the bay’s watershed. Plants need three things to grow: water, sunlight and nutrients. Due to a culmination of circumstances they have more sunlight and nutrients in West Grand Traverse Bay. In the 11 years between surveys, there was an increase in the amount of shoreline development, which increases the amount of stormwater and fertilizers reaching the bay. Likewise, the prevalence of invasives such as Quagga and Zebra mussels has increased. The nonindigenous water species filter water, consuming zooplankton. Their presence makes the water clear, allowing sunlight to reach to greater depths, feeding the aquatic plants. In addition, these critters, which U’Ren said don’t have “defined digestive systems,” excrete “pseudofeces” that are high in phosphorus further feeding the plants. In 1998, the Watershed Center detected 124 beds. By 2009, there were 400 beds. The Department of Environmental Quality had been testing Grand
Traverse Bay with funding from the Clean Water (bonding) Initiative. However, this practice, which began in 2000, was discontinued. The last published test results date back to 2005. The Watershed Center completed water quality and sediment sampling in October and November 2009. Staff randomly selected 40 locations from mapped macrophyte beds and 10 adjacent areas lacking underwater vegetation. Testing results suggested water quality within the bay is excellent. Phosphorus levels in the samples were low overall. However, elevated nutrient levels in some sediments were found. These areas included the southwestern portion of the bay; south of Lee Point, on the northwest side of Stoney Point; Omena Point and the southern end of Omena Bay; north of the Belanger Creek outlet; Ingalls Bay, just north of Omena; Northport Bay and Northport Point. “Invasives are the biggest threat to the water quality of the bay,” U’Ren said. “The next biggest threat is ourselves.” Increased impervious surfaces such as pavement and concrete lead to more runoff into the water body. Carefully manicured lawns and well-groomed beaches can also impact water quality. “Chemicals on lawns … sugar sand beaches. People mistakenly believe everything should be like that,” U’Ren said. Chemical runoff increases nutrients and removal of vegetation also reduces spawning areas used by 90 percent of Great Lake’s fish. “The plants stabilize the soil … keeps it in place and soak up any extra nutrients,” U’Ren said. In addition to the published sur-
A Naturalist’s Gallery
Collections of Antiquarian natural history prints, Japanese woodblocks and interesting objects from around the world.
EURASIAN MILFOIL such as this covering an anchor in West Grand Traverse Bay are becoming a more frequent sighting. PHOTO BY Sarah U’Ren
vey results, the Watershed Center conducts routine E. Coli testing on area beaches including five in
Leelanau County. Outside the county samples are taken at West End (Concluded on Page 4)
7-5-12
By Amy Hubbell Of The Enterprise staff
7-12-12
Watershed group keeping watchful eye on water quality in Grand Traverse Bay
6590 Western Ave. Glen Arbor, MI 49636 www.glenarborwest.com • 231-334-3404
Page 4, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Trish's Dishes
Summer Hours Mon. thru Sat. 10-6 Dine in or Carryout Call for carryout dinner menu
994-2288 Lake Leelanau
A Leelanau County native has been recognized for his efforts to inform people about the importance of water worldwide. J. Carl Ganter’s “Circle of Blue� group received the Rockefeller Foundation’s Centennial Innovation Award for a new model that informs global decision-makers on global water issues. “I was born and live on the shores of the world’s largest source of fresh water,� said Ganter, who now lives in Traverse City, but grew up in Elmwood Township. “When I tell people I’m from the Great Lakes, they say, ‘You have the world’s gold.’� Based at Building 50, Circle of Blue is a team of journalists and researchers that reports on water and resource issues globally. “We just had two teams in China asking big questions no one had asked before,� Ganter said. With an intense focus on freshwater and its relationship to food, energy, climate and health, Circle of Blue has
Watershed group keeping watchful eye on water quality U’Ren said. “This will help us protect families from E. coli bacteria at swimming beaches as part of our Healthy Beaches campaign.� Although Empire Beach is outside the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed. It is tested through a partnership with the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. Test results are posted at www.deq. state.mi.us/beach. “We have great water up here, but we still need to protect it or it could easily be tipped over to not clean,� U’Ren said.
Continued from Page 3 Beach, Bryant Park, Clinch Park, East Bay Park and Traverse City State Park in Traverse City. Locally, within the watershed, samples are taken from Northport Marina Beach; Suttons Bay South Shore Park and new this summer, Suttons Bay’s Marina Park. “We have additional grant funding through a variety of sources to include these two beaches for just this summer, as well as test all beaches twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays,�
county native said. “We’re seeing a global shift and recalibration in how the world deals with its greatest challenges, particularly the global freshwater crisis.â€? In addition to the recognition, Circle of Blue received $100,000 with which Ganter plans to establish an independent “global resources situation roomâ€? where solid journalism, adaptive communications, and solutions-oriented processes converge. The Rockefeller Foundation speciďŹ cally cited Circle of Blue’s Choke Point: U.S. and Choke Point: China projects for helping the wold to better understand and respond to the global confrontation between rising demand for energy and shrinking reserves of fresh water. “Their reports on the ‘choke points’ in the water supply of the United States and China are informing the global conversation on the issues and inspiring action,â€? a foundation spokesperson said in a prepared release. Ganter is an award-winning photojournalist, reporter and broadcaster who has helped shape the multimedia era. He is recognized locally for his production With These Hands, documenting life on the Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm in Bingham Township. “There is renewed hope for plotting a better course ‌ We’re entering an exciting era of accelerated innovation and problem-solving,â€? Ganter said. “But to be successful, we need to understand our starting points, understand the connections between the issues, and set high expectations for ourselves and our institutions.â€? Additional coverage on water issues can be found at www.circleofblue.org.
www.trishesdishes.com
– arts and crafts style in the north –
Vintage Style Pyramid Point Poster by Glen Clark • $45 Lake Street - Glen Arbor 334-3179 • Available online at forestgalleryglenarbor.com
7-12-12
created a breakthrough model of frontline reporting, data collection and design. It is cited across grassroots networks, research journals, mainstream and niche media, consultants, risk analysis reports, ministerial meetings and high-level scenario sessions. “What we learned is that China doesn’t have enough water to continue mining its coal,â€? Ganter said. “Our ďŹ ndings were published here and then to their water ministry.â€? Circle of Blue’s non-advocacy, on-the-ground reporting attempts to make complex issues understandable and provide information and data that connects local stories to global trends. Water scarcity and quality are emerging as serious threats, and statistics of the unfolding water crisis are sobering. “More than ďŹ ve million people die each year due to a lack of safe drinking water,â€? Ganter said. Water scarcity is affecting people, business, the environment, and political stability across the world, including the United States. “It’s a great honor to recognized by the Rockefeller Foundation,â€? the
By Amy Hubbell Of The Enterprise staff
(Next to the Fish Hooked in the old Thunderbird)
" ' #%(! Democratic Candidates 101st District, MI House of Representatives
- "
(%& )* ( ) 17* 2012 ' 6+00 $,!, ' ' " ' & ' 5+30 $,!,
LEELANAU COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER
COMMUNITY ROOM & ' #(% #". " #' % ( ' 411,#% $#"&#% ) ' ( # #! " #' %& # " ( #("')
7-12-12
Leelanau native recognized for aiding global water issues
7-12-12
112 E. Philip St. J. CARL GANTER, a county native, has been recognized for his efforts to inform people about the importance of water worldwide. He is the cofounder of Circle of Blue.
Art Experiences For All!
Famous Homemade Pizza & Sandwiches Hearty Full-Service Breakfast Great Burgers & Fries
" ' #%(! Democratic Candidates 101st District, MI House of Representatives
- "
Open 7 Days a Week
' ' " ' & ' 5+30 $,!,
7-12-12
COMMUNITY ROOM & ' #(% #". " #' % ( ' 411,#% $#"&#% ) ' ( # #! " #' %& # " ( #("')
6-28-12
LEELANAU COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER
Classes for All Ages Manitou Music Festival Gallery Shows Paint Out – August 4 231-334-6112 • www.glenarborart.org 6051 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor
6-21-12
in July and August Tues-Sun @ 8am • Mon @ 11am
(%& )* ( ) 17* 2012 ' 6+00 $,!,
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 5
A BIG lake trout, 9.55 pounds, was caught in May on Lake Leelanau during the Lake Leelanau Walleye Festival Tournament. By Alan Campbell Of the Enterprise staff
Don’t eat some fish. But some are good for you. What’s a fish lover to do?
Health reassessed how it measures dioxins — which resulted in a warning not to consume any lake trout taken from Lake Michigan off the shores of Leelanau County. Bohr said in general terms, mercury contamination remains mostly stable across the state although some hot spots have been identified. The main reason mercury levels have not been falling, he continued, is that the toxic metal continues to be emitted into the atmosphere as a by-product from coal-burning power plants and the incineration of waste. “Most of the contaminants, the legacy ones like PCBs and DDT, are declining over time. That’s the good news. But with mercury, the best you can is say is that it’s not changing. In some places, it’s increasing. That’s the bad news,” Bohr said. Due to pre- State’s vailing winds, most mer- advice: cury found in Leelanau Eat smaller County’s waters is imported fish when from Wisconsin. possible. “Everybody is downwind of something, although a lot of it falls out closely to the source. But a lot of it is global. Probably a lot of mercury (in Michigan) is from Wisconsin, but they’re getting it from someone else. We’re providing ours to Ontario,” he said. It almost pains Mike Litch to have Glen Lake singled out for a fish advisory. He’s the water quality co-chair of the Glen Lake Lake Association, which tests for a variety of factors that serve as indicators for the health of a lake. Included are phosphorous, acidity, temperature and nutrients. (Concluded on Page 6)
WE DO AREA RUGS
S A S K AT O O N S
Pick-up or Drop off
FRESH Saskatoon Berries at Cross Farms
i a DIVERSIFIED CARPET S E R V I C E S
Stop by the farm today!
271-2547 888-378-2906
4-28-11
Call or (toll free)
12-11-8
CARPET and UPHOLSTERY CLEANING 7-12-12
11966 E. Sugar Bush Rd. • Northport, MI 40670 Rick@cross-farms.com 231-386-5406 • www.cross-farms.com
A contradiction is bobbing in Leelanau County waters, which is home for fish and enjoyed by fishermen: Should one be consumed by the other? The answer is somewhat vague, depending upon your source — or even from the same source. For instance, the state of Michigan has issued warnings against some types of fish consumption while in the same breath promoting sport fishing. A page about fish consumption on the Department of Community Health’s website begins with a headline: “Every BODY can benefit from eating fish.” That’s because, the website continues, “fish have a lot of vitamins and minerals,” and “they are heart-healthy and low in saturated fat.” A little lower on the page, the MDCH offers a Great Lakes fish cookbook. The web page also contains a list of warnings stern enough to buckle the old man and the sea. Mercury, which stays in a body’s system for up to a year, harms heart function in older adults and retards brain development in fetuses and children. PCB, which stays with you for up to 48 years, has been linked to cancer, diabetes and immune system damage. What’s a fish lover to do? Pay attention to fish consumption guidelines, suggests an aquatic biologist with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality — but don’t stop eating fish. “They have said that you should eat fish because there are benefits, but they have said you should eat safely, and eat smaller fish when possible because smaller fish have less contaminants,” said biologist Joe Bohr, who works out of Lansing. Digging a little deeper into fish
consumption warnings reveals that they continue to include big Glen Lake even though its’ been three years since a fish was tested for mercury, PCB, or a host of other contaminants that man has at some time or another dumped in excess into the environment. The time lag has been nine years since the last fish from north Lake Leelanau was tested. Those are the only inland lakes in Leelanau County with specific warnings, although MDCH continues to issue a general warning against eating too much of just about any older fish in the Lake Michigan basin. In a sense, lakes Glen and Leelanau are being singled out because they are deep and pristine, making them ideal for propagating lake trout. Lakers are slow-growing fish that end up on the top of the food chain — which means that they are constantly eating smaller fish that have ingested toxins. As lake trout can and often do live 10 years or longer, their toxic levels tend to be higher than most fish. In Glen Lake, the MDCH is recommending that women of child bearing years and children consume no lake trout. Smaller lakers may be eaten by the general population. In north Lake Leelanau, women and children could eat up to one meal of lake trout per month without problems; one meal per week should cause no ill effects on the general population. Restrictions are also in place for suckers taken from Lake Leelanau. Another contradiction is playing out as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pushing to move the safety bar for PCBs higher on all lakes, which ironically will mean that stricter and more frequent warnings will ensue even as toxin levels recorded in fish for all but mercury continue to decrease. A year ago, the Michigan Department of Community
Page 6, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Toxin levels appear to be improving in Glen If tests for toxins in lake trout conducted in Glen Lake 19 years apart are a good indication, fish in Leelanau County are getting safer to eat. A website provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality provides results of fish sampled through the years in all counties. In Leelanau County, sample fish were tested from three three inland lakes and three locations on Lake Michigan. Joe Bohr, aquatic biologist with the DEQ, almost apologizes after asked when the most recent samples had been collected. “You have to keep in mind that we’re covering the whole state with a limited budget,” he said. Consequently, it's been since 1984 that any fish pulled from Lake Michigan waters off Leelanau County were tested. It’s been since 2009 that an inland lake fishery was tested. That means only one comparable database can be accessed to chart toxic levels in fish from Leelanau County waters. Lake trout taken from Glen Lake in 1990 and 2009 can be compared. Nine lakers were tested in 2009; 10 in 1990. The result seems to show an improvement in levels of DDT, chlordane, PCBs and mercury. One lake trout sampled in 1990 contained .39 parts per million (ppm) in mercury. A similar laker
sampled in in 2009 contained .31 ppm mercury. Both trout were 24 inches long, and weighed a little over five pounds. Decreases in mercury appeared prevalent throughout the samples. Trout in 1990 contained a range in mercury content from .35 ppm to 1.57 ppm; the range in 2009 decreased to .18 ppm to .68 ppm. Levels of other toxins improved more drastically. The 1990 lake trout used in the above comparison had .188 ppm in PCBs compared to .033 ppm in the 2009 sample; the level of DDT was .315 ppm in the 1990 sample, but just .083 ppm in the 2009 sample. The lowered levels of contaminants, however, will not keep up with impending changes to acceptable levels as being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bohr said one plan is to lower by fivefold the PCB advisory level that calls for consumers to eat only one fish meal per week, from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. All lake trout sampled — and even the six smallmouth bass sampled from Glen Lake in 1990 — would fail that requirement. The Michigan Department of Community Health re-evaluated how it looks at dioxins last year, which resulted in a warning against eating any lake trout taken from Lake Michigan waters off Leelanau County.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Dining out? The County’s most comprehensive dining guide can be found in the Leelanau Pages phone directory or at LeelanauPages.com
What’s a fish lover to do? Continued from Page 5 “They are all good. From all the tests we run, it’s a pretty pristine lake,” Litch said. The lake association goes out of its way to minimize the effect of man’s use. It provides a work crew at the DNR boat launch that cleans the bottom of boats to stop the spread of invasive species. And if water tests turn up a “hot spot” of phosphorous that the lake association believes is coming from a homeowner’s use of fertilizer, it will make the riparian owner aware of the problem. “All lakes are aging. It takes time. We’re trying to keep the aging of the Glen lakes and Fisher Lake to a minimum, because you’d have to wait for another glacier age to clean them out,” he said. But there’s only so much the association can do to protect the lake, and preventing atmospheric discharges of mercury is not on that list. Charter boat captain Bill Winowiecki, who launches out of Glen Arbor, has been watching closely as government restrictions on fish consumption have tightened. The northwest Michigan director of the Michigan Charter Boat Association, Winowiecki was outspoken when an advisory came out last year against eating any legally caught lake trout taken from Lake Michigan, and his thoughts haven’t changed. “The trout are better than they’ve been in 10-15 years. They raised the standard from 2 or 3 parts per million to 2 parts per billion. There is no logic in that, when you think about it,” said Winowiecki, owner of Watta Bite Charter Service. The restrictions have not changed his eating habits, and have not had a major effect on his charter business because salmon fishing heated up earlier this year than normal. Salmon generally only live to be four-years-old — not old enough to take in enough toxins for a warning. Most charter fishing clients would rather catch salmon, known as a better fighter, than lake trout. Winowiecki feels trout restrictions go beyond what is needed to protect the general public. “It isn’t that big a deal, because nobody eats them every day of the year,” said Winowiecki. “I’ll have
myself maybe five meals a year. So it doesn’t have that big of an effect, and they couldn’t prove it to (the charter boat association)). The processed food from stores has more stuff in it than lake trout we catch and are trimmed up properly.”
State warns against eating big lake lakers On Lake Michigan waters, the Michigan Department of Community Health tightened the criteria for fish consumption last year after re-evaluating how it looks at dioxin levels. Consequently, the department is suggesting against consuming any lake trout and most whitefish. The department’s recommendations come in two categories: regular population; and women of child-bearing age and children 15-years-old and younger. Following are the recommendations for fish taken from Lake Michigan waters north of Frankfort: • Lake trout. No consumption of lake trout over 18 inches is recommended. As the minimum size to keep lake trout is 20 inches, the state is recommending against all consumption. • Whitefish. The general population should only consume whitefish 14 inches or shorter once per week, and should not eat larger whitfish. Women and children should avoid all whitefish. • Perch and smelt. They’re fine for the general population; women and children should limit consumption to one meal per week. • Walleye. For the regular population, small walleye are fine to eat, although walleye 18 inches and larger should only be eaten once a week. Women and children should limit consumption of walleye up to 18 inches to once per week; walleye 18-26 inches to once per month; and walleye larger than 26 inches to up to six times per year. • Salmon. Because salmon die during their mating process, usually after only four years of life, no restrictions are in place on salmon consumption.
Check out our coupons for meal discounts at Leelanau restaurants!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 7
Northport good water flows with chlorine By Mike Spencer Of The Enterprise staff
Tom Botz wears many hats as the Northport Village Department of Public Works supervisor. The one he spends probably the least amount of time doing is very important to the villagers. Botz and his DPW assistant Dave Tompkins are the “water guys,” and in charge of maintaining the municipal water system that has 345 users these days. Botz spends about a half hour each day monitoring the village’s three wells and the 150,000 gallon holding tank. Northport chlorinates its waters, unlike the villages of Suttons Bay and Empire. It’s been that way since a court mandate in the late 1990s. “Chlorine helps, it’s not a 100 percent guarantee,” Botz said. The chlorine level by law is required to be at least 1 part per million. “We just had a streak of bad samples and the state forced chlorination,” said Botz, who has never had to post a boil water notice since the chlorination process began. “Local people that remember pre-chlorine don’t like it (the taste. “But people that move here from big cities don’t notice the chlorine because they are used to it. It’s kind of 50-50,
just like the elections.” Botz, who doesn’t live in the village, has his own well. But he does sample municipal water daily when he uses water at the DPW building. “There are people who don’t like chlorine and they tell me ‘You don’t have to drink it,’” Botz said. “I do hear that.” Botz also monitors the chlorine tanks, adding a little bit of chlorine a couple times a week. “It’s a minute amount,” Botz said. “Everybody should be chlorinating,” said Greg King, the village’s administrative coordinator. “It doesn’t mask what’s in there, it just gets rid of what could be in there. “With some of these old pipes, you never know.” During the peak water period in the summer, the village goes through 164,000 gallons a day. “I’d say about two-thirds of that is irrigation, watering the grass,” said Botz, whose crew spends a lot more time cutting village grass and picking up brush and leaves. Village officials are in the engineering stage of replacing a well that has been in operation nearly eight decades. The water production in well No. 1 (Concluded on Page 8)
ELECT
MARIAN (MIDGE) WERNER Vote August 7
7-12-12
Bingham Township Supervisor
Paid for by the Marian Werner for Bingham Twp. Supervisor Committee, 9791 E. Shady Lane Rd., Suttons Bay MI, 49682
7-12-12
TOM BOTZ, supervisor for the Northport Village Department of Public Works, tests a water sample at one of the village’s three wells.
106 N Mill St Northport, MI
231-386-7031 find us Facebook C,DDL
SUTTONS BAY JULY XX, XX
AN ADJUSTMENT is made to a chlorine tank at one of Northport’s wells.
Community Chiropractic Health Center Dr. Russ and Dr. Reed share a passion to serve the people of Leelanau County by offering Gentle • Affordable • Convenient • Chiropractic Care for the whole family.
DR. RUSS LEBLANC, D.C.
Participate w/all insurance incl. Medicare & Medicaid Theraputic Massage
Education Nutrition Onsite X-ray
256-7877
CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
DR. NATHAN REED, D.C.
489 Main Street • Lake Leelanau • www.drrussonline.com
7-5-12
Celebrating 30 Years of Service
JULY 21, 2012 SAIL - POWER - ROW - PADDLE Inland Seas Education Association • 231-271-3077 • www.schoolship.org
7-12-12
Geriatrics Pediatrics Sports Injury
Page 8, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, July 12, 2012
TWO TUBES of water sit in a chlorine meter reader. TOM BOTZ, supervisor for the Northport Village Department of Public Works, removes the data trace that charts monthly water usage at all three wells.
Ward off shoreline invaders July 17 Phragmites public meeting, 6-8 p.m. 315 Bridge St., Elk Rapids, hors d’oeuvres Invasive Species www.gtbay.org
Grand Traverse Regional Invasive Species Network
get the
SM
Aflac policies have been designed for ease of administration. Our policies and services are designed to be easily implemented. And with coordinated enrollment, support tools and online services, Aflac makes it easy for your employees to participate.
WATER FROM a well is put into a tube for a test. $3,000. In addition there would be costs for testing on a personal well. And a municipal water system has fire hydrants which save users on insurance premiums. “I tell people ‘You’re not out checking your water for contamination and you don’t have to clean,’” King said. The three wells can pump out 700,000 gallons a minute. “We’re ahead of the game when it comes to municipal water,” King said. “For a town our size, two wells did fine
for years. “We put in a new one a few years back and in a couple years, we’ll do another to stay further ahead of the game.” Village Council president Fred Steffens, a native, said he and other residents have enjoyed the luxury of municipal water for decades. “Our water’s inexpensive and darn good,” he said.
Aflac helps attract and retain employees. Great benefits are a top priority for employees when considering where to work. Aflac policies are an easy way to boost your benefits package and increase your employees’ morale at the same time. For the “FACTS” call Bill Laskey at the Bill Laskey Insurance Agency 231-256-2141 or Bill@BillLaskey.com • 118 N. Main St., Leland 12-15-11
Continued from Page 7 is decreasing and doesn’t keep up with summer needs, Botz said. The well was installed in 1933 and is located next to the DPW building on Third Street. “It’s time,” Botz said. “It’s slowing down.” The well at one time pumped out 220,000 gallons a day. Now it’s only capable of 150,000. Geologist Jim Brode, of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, who was hired last week by the Village Council to do preliminary engineering plans to replace the oldest well, said in his analysis that the 1933 well and well No. 2, located on the north side of Third Street, have been “very reliable” over the years. Well No. 2 was drilled in 1947. The village’s third well, off Wing Street, was drilled in 1999. All three wells are in regular service and the village rotates the pumps between lead and lag pump status to balance their usage. The weekly rotation keeps the water fresh, said Botz, who also collects monthly data sheets on each well. Two of the village’s 8.5 mills are allocated for the water system, helping pay for day-to-day operations and emergencies like breaks along the 12 miles of pipes. Last August there was a break on Shabwasung just north of M-22. “It’s one of the 80-year-old pipes,” Botz said. “We didn’t know why it cracked but there was a hole 4-inches long, 1/2-inch wide.” Villagers pay about $40-45 quarterly for water based on a fee of $1.42 per 1,000 gallons. King said it’s a small price to pay. A home well these days runs at least
7-12-12
Northport good water
L A NAU C O U E E L NT R O Y F
23
1
-2
DATA IS collected at each of Northport’s wells as part of a monthly report.
18
-51
46
—DelMoore.com—
•P aid for b y
SHERIFF
com mittee to elec t Del Mo ore for She riff
84 MI 496 erse City, • ID# 45-2011-001 • 12857 S. Roseland Dr. • Trav
s rea .-T Twp d o wo • Elm
7-12-12
rd ha Ric
# Tele
Del MOORE
rure
De
e nis
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 9
BRANDON ZIENTEK, the son of B & Z Well Drilling owner Mark Zientek, removes one of several 20-foot drilling rods after finding water at a depth of 300 feet in Lake Leelanau.
Maple City man knows no two wells are alike By Patti Brandt Of The Enterprise staff
Mark Zientek doesn’t need a divining rod to find water in Leelanau County. He just depends on years — of drilling wells — 20, to be exact — to tell him where the water is. Zientek, the owner of B & Z Well Drilling Co. in Maple City, can tell you where the sandy spots are, where clay is, and pretty much how deep he’ll have to drill to get to an aquifer in any area of the county. The company installs both residential wells, which pump about 12 to 20 gallons of water per minute, and irrigation wells that are used to supply water to vineyards and cherry orchards and can pump up to 100 gallons per minute. Wells can be anywhere from 30 feet to 500 feet deep, Zientek said, though most are at an average depth of about 150 feet. But he has hit water near Glen Lake at depths of just two feet, and once put a well in at Old Mission Point at a depth of 550 feet. In Michigan, state law mandates that wells have to be a minimum of 30 feet. When installing a well, Zientek uses a mud rotary rig to drill an eightinch diameter hole. While drilling, bentonite clay is used to seal off the
borehole and keep it from caving in while the drilling is being done. It also acts to wash up the cuttings made during drilling — usually sand, clay and stones in this area, Zientek said. Once water is reached the 20-foot drilling rods come out and casings go in. Mud and debris is cleared out by pumping air through the casings, and screens measuring 4-feet by 5- or 8-feet are installed at the bottom of the well, at the source of the water. Gravel is packed around the screens and then the entire casing is grouted. Grouting serves to seal off the casing to keep the well from being contaminated in the case of a gasoline or oil spill, or with nitrates that may be present in the soil. Zientek knows by experience that when he’s drilling for wells in some areas in Leelanau County — near Empire and some areas near Cedar — he has to go through the first aquifer to hit a second vein. It’s hit or miss, he said, but in many areas that have been heavily farmed the first vein will often be contaminated with nitrates higher than the 10 parts per billion allowed by the Environment Protection Agency. Wells take about a day to install in sandy soil and can take one or two (Concluded on Page 10)
Please Join Us for the 20th Annual Art Leelanau Benefit Exhibition at the Old Art Building!
ADAM ANDERSON is at the controls while drilling a well at the new Bella Fortuna restaurant.
Featuring Over 90 Leelanau Artists Sponsored in part by Biggs Construction & Northwestern Bank The Opening Night Gala: Friday, July 27 from 5pm until 8pm. Music by the John Lindenau Quartet A donation of $25 ($30 at the door) includes hors d’oeuvres. Cash bar. Tickets are available at Leelanau Books in Leland, The Painted Bird in Suttons Bay, or by calling 231-256-2131.
7-5-12
Exhibit continues through August 1
M A G I C H A P P E N S AT T H E O L D A RT B U I L D I N G !
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Homeowners should test well every 3-5 years just to be safe Chances are if you’ve put in a new well or had a water quality problem, your sample of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen was analyzed by SOS Analytical in Traverse City. The State of Michigan drinking water certified lab, located on Cedar Run Road, does a lot of testing of local well water, said Jack Nowland, president of the company and a geologist. Most testing is routine. “For the homeowner we are really blessed with a lot of good water here,” Nowland said. While there are hundreds of thousands of tests that can be done on water, all the average homeowner needs to check for are nitrates and coliform bacteria, Nowland said. When a health department looks at a well, those are the contaminants they look for, because of the fact that they can cause health issues, he said. The tests are $15 each, and results come back in two to three days. “It’s such cheap insurance,” he said. “Thirty bucks to know that your water is safe seems pretty reasonable.” Sometimes homeowners like to do what is called a partial chemistry screen, which checks for fluoride, chloride, sulfates, hardness, sodium and iron. But those tests can get pretty expensive, and do not always need to be done, Nowland said. There are times when a homeowner will want to be safe rather than sorry. They may want to have some baseline testing done on their water before moving into a new home, or if they’ve never had the water tested. If there are no issues, having a sample checked every three to five years is sufficient, he said. Summer residents may want to have
water checked in the spring when their home is opened, as anything can happen over the winter, like a pipe cracking and critters setting up housekeeping in the well. Homeowners should also check their water after any plumbing work has been done, as open pipes increase the chance of contaminated water. Testing is also routinely done whenever a new well is put in. There are times when a homeowner may want to have extra testing done. Someone who lives near an orchard where arsenic-based pesticides were used will want to make sure their water source isn’t contaminated, Nowland said. Or if a home is located next door to an old gas station they will want to have testing done. Some financing institutions also require a home’s water to be tested for lead before a mortgage is approved. Both nitrates and coliform bacteria can cause some pretty serious illnesses, which is why they are targeted by health departments. A sweet taste to the water may or may not indicate water that is high in nitrates, which causes damage by absorbing the oxygen in the bloodstream and in severe cases will cause “blue baby syndrome,” with the very young and very old being the most susceptible, Nowland said. Nitrates are more prevalent in farm areas where fertilizers may have filtered down to the aquifir, and the Environmental Protection Agency allows up to 10 parts per billion. Though levels that high have been found in Leelanau County, there has never been a case of blue baby in this area, Nowland said. The rod-shaped coliform bacteria are found in all organic material. They can get into a well through things like grass clippings, spiders or animals, Nowland said. If a sample comes back showing the
presence of coliform bacteria, whether there’s one colony or 1,000 colonies, the sample will only show if it is ‘positive’ or ‘negative,’ he said. A positive sample will need further testing for fecal coliform and e-coli bacteria, which can be an indication that there is a problem with the septic system. Fecal bacteria occur naturally in the digestive tracts of all warm-blooded animals, but when ingested can cause mild to severe vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes more serious illnesses. Water contaminated with nitrates can be corrected by a reverse osmosis system. The units can be placed under the water tank or in the house under the kitchen sink. Nitrates are not harmful unless ingested. Many homes have a separate sink and faucet outfitted with the systems for water that will be used for drinking and cooking. If a sample comes back positive for coliform bacteria, a homeowner should take a look at the well and make sure there are no cracked pipes and that no animals have gotten into the system, especially if it is an old well. Many people also have aerators on their kitchen sinks, which can collect and grow bacteria and may be a source of contamination. The aerator should be taken off and cleaned. Contamination with coliform bacteria can be corrected by chlorinating the well, Nowland said. The chlorine should sit in the system overnight before being flushed out. The water will need to be retested before it can be used. To have their water checked, a homeowner can stop by the SOS office and pick up instructions on how to get a sample, as well as the proper container, which holds 225 milliliters, or about 8 ounces.
Maple City man knows no two wells are alike Continued from Page 9 days to install in clay soil, which is harder and more difficult to drill through, Zientek said. “Every well in this county is different,” he said. About 10 percent of the aquifers in the
area are artesian in nature, which means they contain groundwater that is under pressure and will flow, sometimes making it difficult to install the screen, Zientek said. Most artesian aquifers are found in clay soil, which can create pressure because it is harder and heavier, he said. Zientek has never not found water in Leelanau County. He’s put some wells
ADAM ANDERSON, from left, and Brandon Zientek of B & Z Well Drilling work on installing a new well at the new Bella Fortuna Restaurant in Lake Leelanau.
in that don’t produce a large volume of water, but those folks just have to put in a bigger storage tank. “Usually there’s not a problem,” he said. “You just gotta go deeper sometimes.” Deeper wells are not more difficult to install, he said. “It just takes longer and costs more.” Well drillers charge by the foot; Zientek said his average cost is about $12 per foot to install a standard well. A well should last about 20 years, he said, though he’s seen some that are 50 years old and are working fine. In older wells, casings are made of steel. Today’s wells use PVC casings, which are easier to crack or damage, he said. Zientek has seen wells that have to be replaced when a home is hit by lightning, as the well has taken the brunt of the strike. “That charge has to go somewhere, and it will follow the well into the ground,” he said, sometimes cracking the plastic in the process. A resident will also have to get a permit to dig a well from the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, which will add another $234 to the cost of the well. And when the well is in, a water sample will have to show that the water is free of coliform bacteria and is within the allowable limit of nitrates.
DOKAN JEWELRY DESIGNS Robert N. Vertel Jeweler & Goldsmith 6640 W. Western Ave. Glen Arbor 231.334.RING custom jewelry design in store repairs diamond & precious stone setting
Aurora Bora Bear!
Nightly Dinner Specials 228-2282
www.cedarrusticinn.com
Open Every Day Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm Sun. 8am - 8pm Breakfast Lunch Dinner Full Bar Free WiFi 7--5-12
By Patti Brandt Of The Enterprise staff
Large selection of custom Leland Blue and Petoskey Stone jewelry
“The Way of the Ring”
7-12-12
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Offering Medical and non-medical services In your home Including: Skilled nursing Med management Private duty nursing Personal care Errands Homemaking Meal preparation Companionship Overnight services 24 hour care Free in-home assessment
Sun: Polish Platter $13.50 Mon: Quesadillas $11.95 (Chicken or Beef) Tues: Coconut Shrimp $14.50 Wed: 10 oz Prime Rib $14.95 14 oz Prime Rib $17.95 Thur: Fried Walleye 1 Filet $12.50 2 Filets $15.95 Fri: Baked or Fried Whitefish $14.50 (fresh from Carlson’s) Sat: Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo $14.25
Home Health Care of Northern Michigan
Offering in-home non-medical care and in-home private duty and skilled nursing
231.946.3000 Because you’re not on call—we are! SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
1501 Cass, Ste.C, TC, Mi. 49684 9
www.integrityhomehealthcare.com
Tammy Tarsa, RN, BSN Owner and Manager
7-12-12
Page 10, Section 3
Exceptional Hardscapes
Stone & Brick Work Built to Last a Lifetime!
231-947-3470
231
947-4496
www.traverseoutdoor.com
5-31-12
OverheadDoor DoorCompany Company of ofCompany Grand Traverse Overhead Name XXX-XXX-XXXX WebAddress
Since 1977
4-5-12
11-3-11
Landscaping Irrigation
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 11
Thursday
Pizza Night and $1 Domestic Pint Night
COME VISIT US!
Friday
Cod & Lake Perch Fish Fry HappyTimeKaraoke8-11pm
OPEN THURS, FRI & SAT 10-6 SUN 12-6 Located just 8 miles west of Traverse City at our family farm.
Saturday
NY Strip Dinner
Sunday NY Strip Dinner Live Entertainment by Sweet Charlie 6:30-9:30pm
3502 E. Traverse Hwy (M-72 W.) 231.228.7234
www.LightOfDayOrganics.com ) 4 4
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 4-6 pm Sun-ThursPowerHour9-11pm
TOM KELLY, executive director of the Inland Seas Education Association, looks for fly larvae living under a rock in Suttons Bay.
One B t Wes ng di Buil
6-7-12
6-28-12
228-8869 172 W. Burdickville Rd. Maple City
edroom Rent Special Lim Tim ited eO ffer
Theat Village
Bay Ridge Theat Village
Bay Ridge A Retirement Community
A Retirement Community
Independent Living 995-9385 Assisted Living 932-9757 Assisted Living 932-9757 Celebrating Ten Years of Service
3850 Scenic Ridge/ •Assisted Traverse City 932-9757 Independent Living 995-9385 Living 4-26-12
ll Ridgeb • Traverse d www.villageatbayridge.com 3850 Scenic City www.villageatbayridge.com TTY 800-649-3777
The presence of certain aquatic insects in our lakes is a good thing. However, many consider large insect populations a major nuisance. They congregate on our boats, swarm porch lights and become unwelcome guests in our homes. Their importance to the lakes and ecosystem shouldn’t be overlooked though. “You can look at them and go, ‘Ugh, these flies are all over my boat,’� Inland Seas Education Association Executive Director Tom Kelly said. “But to me, it’s saying, ‘OK, the lake is doing well.’ We’re producing these insects and that’s really good food for fish.� When looking for an indication of
AL
W
LE ON SA S Y A
water quality, one of the first signs to consider is insect populations. Though many factors go into determining high quality, the presence of insects such as mayflies and caddisflies will ease pollution concerns. If these winged water dwellers don’t show up, further investigation could be required. “All of these insects require cool and clean water,� Kelly said. “They generally indicate high water quality within our lakes.� Mayflies spend the majority of their lives as nymphs, living primarily under rocks or embedded in sediment. Many species feed primarily on algae and diatoms, though there are some predatory species. They can live as nymphs for up to three years before reaching their winged adult stage. As adults, they may live for as long as several days or as short as a few of
IN SUTT O
NS
BA
Y!
minutes, giving them just enough time to reproduce. Though they only live in their winged form for a short period, the population can become abundant. “They can get so prolific at times that it makes the street slippery and you have to sweep them off the sidewalk,� Kelly said. Caddisflies are similar quality indicators, though they live life a little differently. As larvae, they remain in streams, building casings from stone, twigs or sand with silk excreted from saliva glands. These casings feature open ends, allowing the stream’s flow to deliver food and oxygenated water. These underwater architects enter a period of inactivity to pupate within a silk cocoon before emerging as winged adults. Altogether, their life spans reaches about a year, though some may live longer. While both are considered good quality indicators, Kelly says it’s important to understand the type of
• Post-Surgical Care • Diabetic Teaching • Registered Dietician Services • Stroke Rehabilitation • Medication Management • COPD Care • Congestive Heart Failure Care • Orthopedic Rehabilitation A Medicare Certified Home Health Agency
Additional Mark Downs Throughout the Store
Timeless & Trendy
SAVOR SUMMER! The
New Merchandise Arriving Daily
Leelanau Co. Wines Beers from Around the Globe Imported & Domestic Cheeses
7-12-12
www.blackswanllc.com
Fishtown, Leland
256-9141
7-12-12
BA H L E ’ S C L O S E O U T S TO R E Village Sampler • Glen Arbor 334-4045 • Open Daily
Village Cheese Shanty
Local Gourmet Products
Cool Clothing for HOT days!!
50% to 70% off on Everything for Men and Women
A CHAP Accredited Agency
Toll Free: 800.991.9933
Fresh-Made Sandwiches
Women's Fashions & Accessories
Martha Shaver, RN, BS, MPA Martha has been a practicing Registered Nurse for over 30 years. She leads the clinical team in Leelanau County.
www.healthcallhomecare.com
(Concluded on Page 12)
ANNEX
218 St. Joseph Street • Downtown Suttons Bay 231. 271.5092 • Mon-Sat 10-5:30 &RI TIL 3un 12-4
HealthCall’s Home Care Division Provides a Broad Range of Care, Including:
Photo Courtesy of Leelanau Historical Museum
5-26-11
By Corey L. Frost Enterprise intern
7-5-12
Bugs doing lakes a lot of good
Established in 1987, HealthCall is a family owned and operated Home Care agency servicing patients throughout Michigan, including Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties. At HealthCall, we provide a wide range of home care services including: Skilled nursing care, physical therapy, medical social work, and home health aid care. We work to foster independence and promote health and well-being.
Page 12, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, July 12, 2012
MANY TYPES of larvae living beneath the surface of the water can be discovered under the right rock.
luted.’ But it’s actually the bottom type that’s the problem.” In addition to a quality sign, mayflies and caddisflies are important pieces to the food chain and transfer of energy within the lakes. “If you look at the food web you can see that, these insects, they are food for birds, fish, amphibians and some reptiles,” Education Director Tim Davis
said. “They help support a lot of the autotrophic levels.” More important yet could be the population of midge flies. The term “midge” encompasses several species; Some resemble mosquitoes, though they don’t bite due to a lack of mandibles. Others are small, gnat-like flies, sometimes referred to as “no-see-ums.” In either case, the sheer abundance of the insects make them an important source of food for fish and birds. Volunteer instructor Craig Holmes recalled seeing the feeding frenzy sourced by these flies. “About three or four weeks ago, the water outside the Inland Seas building was dimpled with little fish eating the midge larva,” he said. “They’re quite the source of food for the forage fish, probably the most abundant food source.” Though they may be a nuisance, each insect holds a specific purpose and a sudden collapse in their population could alter several levels of the lakes. So next time you’re out move with a mayfly, kiss a caddisfly or even mingle with a midge. The lakes wouldn’t be the same without them.
“Your child will be reading without even realizing it!” 211 N. ST. JOSEPH (M-22) brainstormsb@charter.net
Brain Storm!
7-12-12
Continued from Page 11 habitat they require before jumping to conclusions. “The body of water’s bottom type is important. Free-moving, sandy bottoms aren’t as supportive as others for these species,” he said. “You might go to a stream and say, ‘Well, I’m not getting any mayflies or caddisflies, so maybe the water is pol-
The Early Reader Treasure Hunt Game!
SUTTONS BAY 271-0314 Look for us on
Gluten-free, Vegan & other dietary requests met Renovated 100 year-old inn
Afternoon Teas
Broasted Chicken To-Go Call for Dock Delivery
By Reservation
DINNER MONDAY – SATURDAY 4-9PM OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH 12-3PM SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM-2PM [OPEN
ANY TIME, BY APPOINTMENT, FOR GROUPS OF
10
OR MORE] 7-12-12
Bugs doing lakes a lot of good
NEW GAME AT BRAIN STORM !!!
334-0150 Located on the beautiful South Shore of Little Glen Lake - 7345 Glenmere
AN ADULT mayfly clings to the wheel of the schooner Inland Seas.
Don’t let their name fool you. The mayfly hatch in Lake Michigan is just around the corner. Though they share their name with a month that’s long passed, the winged insect cares not about time and would much rather wait for the proper conditions. While many species of small mayflies are constantly hatching, the Hexagenia limbata draws the most attention because of its size. Water temperatures are rising as we enter the mid-summer months, and perfect big mayfly weather is drawing near. “The Lake Michigan mayfly hatch is very dependant on the right water temperatures,” the Leelanau Conservation District’s Chris Garthe said. “Each species is a little bit different, but we can
expect them to start very soon.” Suttons Bay will have to wait a little bit longer than other areas along the shore of the Great Lake though. Due to several aspects of the Bay, water warms a little slower, causing the mayfly hatch to hold off until the right temperature is reached. “The hatch will occur along the west shore of Lake Michigan before the bay due to prevailing western winds,” Garthe said. The peninsula creates a wind shadow, keeping temperatures a little cooler than some would expect. There are a few other factors that need to be taken into account as well. According to Garthe, the surface area to depth ratio is different in the bay than the rest of Lake Michigan, also attributing to the delayed hatch.
Your Leelanau County choice for therapy services Physical Therapy Post-Surgical Rehab Back Care and Education Sports Medicine Personalized Home Exercise Program For Maintenance after Therapy
231-271-3939 73 Fourth Street • Suttons Bay T. C. West 5246 N Royal Dr. Suite B Traverse City, MI 49684 231-929-0303
MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED
www.excelrehab.net excelrehabsb@yahoo.com
T. C. East 815-B Business Park Dr. Traverse City, MI 49686 231-995-5210
7-1-10
Lake Michigan mayfly hatch a work in progress
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 13
Old agricultural practices did environment little good By Corey L. Frost Enterprise intern
JOE GRANT stands next to one of his newly constructed sprayers. Pesticides used today are much less harmful and tend to be broken down within seven to 10 days after being applied. streams and lakes. Furthermore, it kept phosphorus and other minerals from disrupting plant life in the county’s lakes and streams. “It was really important in our orchards, because they needed to be planted on the hills to get the best air drainage to minimize the risk of frost,� Nugent said. Standards for herbicides and pesticides have changed with time as well. Early chemicals tended to be harsh, often using arsenic, copper sulfate and lime, according to Grant.
Editor’s note: Leelanau Clean Water was asked to provide a story for this section. Leelanau Clean Water (LCW) is a county commissioned task force comprised of agencies, lake associations, non-proďŹ t organizations and individual citizens in the county interested and involved in water quality issues. The LCW meets the third Thursday of the month from 9-11 a.m. for public conversation about caring for Leelanau County’s water and environmental well-being. Meetings are held in the Leelanau County Government Center, Community Meeting Room (lower level) 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay. Leelanau County like many others in the State may be confronting a new threat to its precious water resources due to pressures for increased gas and oil exploration. Eight “frackingâ€? wells have already been approved in Solon Township, while over the last four years the State of Michigan has launched an aggressive leasing program in downstate recreational areas such as Yankee Springs and Lake Orion. Bills are currently being considered in Congress that could grant leases for wells on federally owned lands such as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With this as a backdrop Leelanau Clean Water welcomed geologist Jack Nowland and environmental attorney Jim Olson to its May 17 monthly meeting to address the issue of fracking in Northern Michigan. Nowland is president of SOS Analytical, a geological testing ďŹ rm and has been working in the environmental ďŹ eld since 1993. Olson was a
co-founder of Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council and most recently Flow for Water, a coalition of several nonproďŹ t, citizenbased organizations from Michigan, the Great Lakes basin, the United States, and Canada. Fracking is a method of injecting water and chemicals (many harmful) into shale formations to improve the collection of natural gas. Water use and potential accidents could impact the quality and ow of water in local wells and bodies of water. The key, said Nowland, is the implementation of rigorous, uniform water testing prior to and during fracking. SOS of Traverse City is doing the analysis work for residents on a lake in Michigan concerned about 20 oil wells and two injections wells in their area, using a protocol set up by Community Science Institute in the Finger Lakes Area of New York state. For testing to be most effective, he and Olson pointed out; baseline predrilling tests need to be conducted. Nowland, Olson and other groups such as Flow for Water are working with other interested groups to develop standard baseline testing and follow up protocols and standards. To understand the issues surrounding fracking and water, Olson says you must ďŹ rst understand some recent legal history. When water ow from the Little Muskegon River dropped as much as 35 percent after Nestle installed high capacity pumps at a nearby well, local citizens went to court. As part of the case settlement Nestle agreed to reduce the amount they pumped. Olson noted, “this not only saved the river it set other
cd&r
things in motion.� The Nestle case, along with a plan to ship water from Ontario/Lake Huron to China, initiated a discussion about who owns the water. People began asking, “if water is public, how does it end up in a container sold by a private company?� (Concluded on Page 15)
of many chemicals is better today as well. “We’re using much less when we spray, especially with the newer ones where we’re only using around two ounces per acre,â€? Grant said. “Plus they break down so quickly; the sun has them nearly gone in seven to ten days.â€? Herbicides also affected how ďŹ eld crops were raised. Without the need to plow, wind and water erosion were greatly reduced. According to Nugent, (Concluded on Page 15)
jewelers
Case-Daniels & Rae
7-12-12
Fracking expert Olson addresses Leelanau Clean Water at meeting
Craig Stallman, owner of Stallman Chemical, said that as people became more aware of the effect chemicals, they began to zero in on various aspects of pesticides and herbicides. “I think people today are far more conscious about what they’re putting down,â€? he said. Now certain chemicals require a license to purchase and apply, and more regulations continue to appear. Prices have increased nearly 15 fold since Stallman ďŹ rst began selling such products 37 years ago. The safeness
7X .SWITL 7X 7YXXSRW &E] ˆ
%P[E]W XLI YRMUYI ERH YRI\TIGXIH JSV ]IEVW
231.326.5249 Front Street • Empire
FINE MEXICAN FOLK ART Driving Dogs, by the Ortega family
OPEN DAILY 10 AM - 10 PM 2SVXL 1EMR 7XVIIX 0IPERH 1-
XEQTMGSXG$ESP GSQ
perennials • bedding plants vegetables • shrubs potting soils hanging baskets & so much more! Open Daily!
5-17-12
farmers the tools necessary to control weeds that otherwise would greatly hinder the growth of an orchard. This allowed farmers to plant sod between rows of trees rather than clean cultivating the orchard. “We plant Sudan grass, which helps control nematodes and build humus,� Grant said. “Then we can follow with others like rye in the fall or clover and alfalfa.� Farming in this fashion changed the sustainability of many farms by holding soil in place, keeping it out of
7-12-12
Farmers Jim Nugent and Joe Grant have observed good and bad agricultural practices during their long careers in farming — and agree that changes have beneďŹ ted the environment. They’ve spent their entire lives on farms, witnessing ďŹ rst-hand many of the changes that have taken place. Information and technology have helped shed light on not-so-safe practices of the past, and allowed farmers to change with the times. “There were just an awful lot of agricultural practices without a thought to the environment,â€? Nugent said. “The Dust Bowl was the initial changer and that brought into play organizations like the Soil Conservation Service that helped farmers think more about the land.â€? Nugent, a retired district horticulturalist and former coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station in Bingham Township, is well versed in the impact farming has had on the environment. Growing up on a farm in Benzie County and becoming owner of Sunblossom Orchard in Bingham Township has given him ďŹ rst-hand accounts of many practices that changed through time. “The single biggest change in practice is the way we manage the orchard oors,â€? the 61-year-old said. “It’s always been critical in raising orchards for us to control weeds, and before we had herbicides we had to till them.â€? The practice took its toll on soil over time and, by way of erosion, allowed fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals the opportunity to seep into streams and groundwater supplies. “I remember very well when I was young, when we’d get a hard rain storm the rain would create gullies so we ended up with a lot of soil erosion,â€? Nugent said. “That changed tremendously with the advent of herbicides.â€? According to Joe Grant, former owner of Grant Farm located south of Lake Leelanau, herbicides gave
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Compiled by Enterprise intern Corey L. Frost
For this week’s “What We’re Thinking” feature, we asked residents and visitors in Glen Arbor: Should governments in Leelanau County aggressively seek to find and open more public access points on county lakes, or do we have enough?
“Yes I think so. If they were going to do it, it should be a slow process, but it’s everybody’s “No, I feel we have enough as lakes and I think they should be it is. We’re at a good middle easily accessible for all.” ground.” Mike Patrick, Mike Brown, Greensburg, Pa. Leland
“Leelanau is such a beautiful place that I do believe that more access to the beaches and lakes would be beneficial to all.” Sue Stott, Suttons Bay
“Yes, I think there should be more because they can get pretty crowded sometimes.” Zachary Burns, Ann Arbor
“I think that any decent sized “I think access points are good, but I would not lake, if it can accommodate them, should have more access support eminent domain on land acquisition.” Melissa Schultz, points for boats.” St. Joseph, Mich. Hans Neuroth, Pictured with Karen Riley, Right Canton, Mich. "Super parenting for ADD—An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child" Ned Hallowell ADD/ADHD Enrichment Day Camp for Parents and Students July 16-20, 2012 at The Leelanau School.
Specials Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D., a child and adult psychiatrist, is a NY Times bestselling author, world -renowned speaker and leading authority in the field of ADHD.
Monday Happy Hour 4-close Burrito Night Tuesday Happy Hour 4-8 Tuesday Night Tacos $1 Wednesday Ribs Thursday Drafts $1 6pm-? 2 item 14” Pizza $10.00 Friday All you can eat Perch & Cod Fish Fry (Dine-in only) Karaoke Saturday Burger Special all day Sunday 35¢ Wings
Open to adults of all ages and professions and children entering grades 5 through12. Sessions to be held Monday through Friday July 16-20 9:00AM -12:00PM each day $950 per person
Glen Arbor, Michigan
Daily Lunch Specials Dine in or Carry Out Beer & Wine To Go!
228-7445
Downtown Cedar
For more information please call: 231-334-5800 or visit our website: www.leelanau.org and click on SUMMER PROGRAMS. 7-5-12
t a Wh ’re e W king in h T
Thursday, July 12, 2012
5-19-11
Page 14, Section 3
Thursday, July 12, 2012
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Section 3, Page 15
WEEKLY GOLF TIP 7-5-12
GOLF THE CROWN.com 231.946.2975
Jon Townsend of the Dunes Golf Club in Empire, Michigan has taught golf in Leelanau County for the past 18 years. Townsend has developed a somewhat unique “stabilized golf” teaching system which promotes both a solid foundation for beginning golfers and added longevity for seniors. Jon has held a free clinic for juniors over the past 3 summers. The clinic is for 8 to 14 year olds and starts every Sunday at 6:00 P.M. at the Dunes Golf Club. Additionally, Townsend is on the staff of SKLZ Corporation, a California company who markets golf training aids globally. Many of the SKLZ products are incorporated into his regular teaching sessions.
18 Hole Championship Course 4 Sets of Tees Driving Range PGA Golf Instruction Weekly Specials Senior and Junior Rates Off Silver Lake Rd. Between South Airport and Secor Mullligan’s Pub & Grill Dinner Specials Nightly
00
00I 0 om ar,6M C2e2d8. .c . golf e iv2e31 r g D a b ss ma
up nito
a
Dunes Golf Club
Two Man Best Ball Tournament
Northern Michigan's Premier Public Golf Shop
July 28, 2012
1:00 PM Shotgun (Register by July 23, 2012) $100 Per Team - 50 Team Limit
Prizes: 1st Low Net/1st Low Gross
9 4 7-11 7-1188 5
$800.00*
Year Round Golf Facility
nd
2 Low Net/2nd Low Gross
Voted #1 Public golf shop by Michigan section PGA – 3 time winner!
$250.00*
AREAS BEST SELECTION OF BRAND NAME EQUIPMENT & APPAREL AT THE LOWEST PRICES Ping • Callaway • TaylorMade • Titleist • Cobra Cleveland • Mizuno • Adams & More
Marvelous Mondays and Wednesdays are back for the Summer
$
49
SUGAR LOAF THE OLD COURSE
00
GOLF THE LOAF! DINNER AND GOLF
Includes 18 Holes with Cart & Lunch in the Clubhouse
$
49
www.leelanauclub.com
18 holes with cart and dinner at Sugarfoots.
Any day after 2pm. • Expires September 6th, 2012
Early Riser (before 9am) Twilight (after 2pm) Junior Clinics
Valid Mondays & Wednesdays thru August 26, 2012. Must present coupon
Call 271-2020 for tee times
Jon Townsend (231) 642-1609
7-12-12
Hot Dogs, hamburgers and pop will be provided. For Info or Registration Please Contact one of the following: Dunes Golf (231) 326-5390
$
42
Just 18 holes w/cart
$
10! Call 228-2040 for tee times
every Thursday 10:30am
ONLY
www.golftheloaf.com
6-28-12
• Outdoor Driving Range with Putting Greens & Sand Traps • Custom Club Fitting & Repair • Try Before You Buy • Golf Instruction by PGA Professionals als 3-Time Winner MI Owned & Operated by PGA Pro Doug Lichty Section PGA www.tcgolfcenter.com Merchandiser 6270 Secor Rd, Traverse City
*Based on 50 teams
6-7-12
Questions such as these, said Olson, led to the Great Lakes Compact. Passed in 2008, it is a legally binding interstate compact among the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The compact details how the states manage the use of the Great Lakes Basin’s water supply. The Compact also banned water diversion from the basin except for some clearly defined commercial purposes. An added provision, however, was less well defined. It permitted water diversion in a container and transferred out of the basin and intended for intermediate or end use consumers. “This could be anything!” Olson pointed out. It left international trade law to decide who would own water in the future and control it in the Great Lakes Basin. Olson said Flow for Water was formed partly to close that loophole. The major mission of Flow for Water is to educate everyone about the public trust of water, which protects private land owners and the public so they can enjoy and maintain the integrity, flow, levels and quality of water in their community. Given the growing demands on Michigan’s waters Olson advises that the public should insist on a moratorium on state oil and gas leases until proof is provided that there will be no harm or diminishment of water. Impacts of the drilling on the public’s water need to be known before leases occur and/or drilling permits issued. And unless this information is provided the leases should be void. To find the complete meeting notes on this and related issues the public can visit the Leelanau Clean Water page of the Leelanau County official website at www.leelanau.cc/lcwmeeting.asp.
u
8.60
goes back from the ball. At the top it is open to the fullest possible extent and from there, to get it closed again, you must roll the wrists to the left (right handed golfer) on the down swing. The swing is difficult enough without introducing any extra frills that make it harder. So--------keep the frills out!!!!!!!!
An exaggerated rolling of the wrists is the cause of many poor golf shots. I hear the word “pronation” all too often during lesson sessions. You not only don’t have to roll the wrists, but you positively should. not permit it. When you roll the wrists the club face opens too quickly as it
6-21-12
Continued from Page 13
.22 231
Wrist Roll
4-26-12
0 Cl
Continued from Page 13
Leelanau Clean Water
W
ee
Old agricultural practices erosion has become all but a thing of the past. “Today we’ve virtually eliminated soil erosion,” he said. An orchard will still undergo some tilling when being replanted. According to Nugent, process will occur about every 30 years, but cover crops are during the transition to limit erosion. “It’s not that we can’t have any erosion,” he said. “But the amount of erosion is a small fraction of what it once was. From an ecological standpoint, that’s the most significant change.”
m .coY lfA L P pas E itouM n O a mC go sage
6-28-12
SUDAN GRASS is one of many plants that are now put between rows to help keep orchards healthy and combat soil erosion.
7-12 -12
olfW
Jon Townsend
HY
Page 16, Section 3
THE LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, July 12, 2012
FUDGIE BEACH waters on north Lake Leelanau along M-22 just south of Leland on July 1 was as crowded with boats, boaters and visitors as most locals have seen the popular gathering spot in many years.
Clean boats one way to protect Leelanau County water ers. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (also called the Clean Water Act) prohibits the discharge of oil or oily waste on the water. The U.S. Coast Guard generally enforces such regulations, and may impose a $5,000 fine for each violation. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality may impose additional fines. Perhaps the most routine discharges of petroleum products into the water occur when boats are refueled while in the water, spilling gasoline and diesel fuel. A state-approved manual to teach boaters about this problem outlines how to avoid spills: • Fill tanks to no more than 90 percent capacity as gas from cool storage tanks will expand as it warms up. Sometimes, fuel overflows from a vent. • Rather than filling up a tank when returning to port, do so just as you leave port to avoid fuel expansion in tanks, and spills. • Fuel portable tanks on shore where spills are less likely to occur and cleanup is easier. • Use oil absorbent pads to catch all drips. • Slow down at the beginning and
end of fueling. An emergency involving leaking fuel from a boat that sank in the Suttons Bay Marina in 2009 showed how serious the situation can be. Emergency response teams from Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue, the State of Michigan and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were called in to contain fuel leaking from the sunken vessel and pump out any remaining fuel before it leaked into the water. There are also rules about vessels that have sunk. The bottom line is that if a disabled or sunken vessel is obstructing navigation or is polluting the water, it must be removed from the water or the owner may face stiff fines. How and where a boat is navigated may also have an effect on the environment. In many places around marinas, in narrow passages between lakes, and areas close to shore, “no wake” zones are posted. The zones required that boats slow down so that they are not causing waves.
In addition to protecting other vessels from being bounced around in the water, the “no wake” zones protect the shoreline from erosion, and delicate aquatic plants from damage. It’s also a good idea to avoid anchoring a vessel near or among aquatic reeds and grasses. Not only do anchors often fail to hold well in reeds and grasses, the plants could be damaged by anchors and lines. Finally, water pollution from boats also comes from discharges of human waste. Michigan law prohibits discharge of any sewage, treated or untreated, into the fresh waters of Michigan. Boats that do have toilet facilities must have a U.S. Coast Guard-certified Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) that is working properly. MSD’s authorized in Michigan waters always utilize some form of holding tank. Smaller MSD’s can be emptied at home in toilets, while pump-out facilities are available for larger holding tank systems at many marinas.
Are You Ready To Make Your Dream Home a Reality? Specializing in: • Custom Homes • Decks & Sunrooms • Remodeling & Additions • It’s a Buyers’ Market • Competitive Pricing • Small, Hands-On Company • Local References Available
Open Daily
a trusted expert for over 20 years
Over 200 Artists
Call for a free estimate
231.620.3 33 377 www.Ha www. ww w..Harb w Harbor Ha rborCo rb orrCons o Constr Co ns n struc tructi tr ucccti u tionNW ti tion onNWM. on NW N WM.co M..com M com co
Harbor Construction
4-19-12
5-3-12 HG
Downtown Empire (231) 326-5428 5-22-8
With 100 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and some 33 inland lakes, Leelanau County is truly a boater’s paradise. But with so many boats plying Leelanau waters, potential pollution from those boats is a very real concern. Although gasoline and diesel-powered boats can present a threat to clean water if they are not operating properly, another concern has come to the forefront in recent years — invasive species. Particularly if boats are trailered from one body of water to another, they can act as a carrier for invasive species. That’s why the Glen Lake Association has established a boat washing facility at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources boat launch on little Glen Lake. Boat washing can prevent the spread of zebra mussels and quagga mussels that attach themselves to boat
hulls and motors. In addition, a wide variety of aquatic vegetation can become attached to boats and may be introduced to aquatic habitats where they were not previously seen. A study done by the American Fisheries Society a few years ago in upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin showed that two-thirds of boaters do not inspect and clean their boat before entering another body of water. According to information provided by the Glen Lake Association, high pressure washing reduces the number of aquatic plants being transferred from body-to-body by 83 percent, and other aquatic organisms by 91 percent. An increasing number of boat wash stations in Michigan, including the one on little Glen Lake, use heated water. This is done to kill Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, a disease that kills fish and some birds. In addition, zebra mussels and quagga mussels cannot stand the heat. As for other forms of pollution from boats, state and federal law are quite clear about what is required of boat-
7-12-12
By Eric Carlson Of The Enterprise staff