Hackert Lake Association

Membership Meeting Minutes

July 28, 1999

President, Paul Gerovac, called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.. Twenty-two members were present, as well as two guests: Nicholas Krieger, a candidate for State Representative from Ludington and Robert Schneider from Pere Marquette Township. Both saw the notice in the Ludington Daily News regarding a limnologist speaker at our meeting and came because of their interest in local lakes.

As a courtesy to the speakers Paul deferred our business meeting & election to the end of the meeting agenda. He announced that the Marine Safety officers scheduled to speak were unable to attend. He opened the meeting by indicating the order of speakers for the evening.

Erika Klemm, a junior in High School enrolled in the Mason-Lake, Oceana Math & Science Center program, was the first speaker. Her study of the northern pike in our lake was conducted at the suggestion of her instructor, Gary Anderson, who also lives on Hackert Lake. Between November 1998 and February 1999 she collected fish scales from fishermen on the lake and had them measure their catches.

From a sampling of 38 fish, her comparison to the Michigan State average sized pike at the DNR Harrietta Fisheries Station showed Hackert Lake pike to be very small. Pike samples from Hackert Lake have a mean growth index of -9.7, much lower than the satisfactory range of +2.54 centimeters to -2.54 centimeters. Mr. Snyder questioned if she knew why the fish were so small. She said that the Harrietta people suggested that maybe there's not enough food due to overpopulation.

Laura Hamilton asked if the DNR was notified of her study results. Erika said that they were very interested. She also said that during 1984 a fishery study of Hackert Lake was done and the results showed that our pike are smaller now than they were then. For further study, Erika recommends research in the areas of nitrogen level in the lake and how it affects the fish, availability of food and a population estimate of northern pike in Hackert Lake. Copies of her study are available from Jane Jesuale.

Our next speaker was Seth Hopkins, an Americorps member, working for the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship program. Seth demonstrated with his ground water model the movement of water through the ground. He clarified the meaning of terms such as aquifer, water table, confined and unconfined pressure in wells. He showed how contaminants we apply to our environment move into our drinking water wells, our lakes and streams. He provided copies of Home Assist booklets for reference.

Our main speaker, Dr. Richard Whitman, was next. Dr. Whitman is a biologist limnologist and the Field Station Supervisor of the U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Station. He now has a grant for working with the lakes of 300 national parks. He gave Paul, who worked with him for six years, credit for writing this grant and stated that Paul's paper on beach monitoring may make changes in our Great Lakes monitoring.

He introduced his guest, Dr. Tom Horvath who has his Ph.D. from Notre Dame and has spent time in Germany working at Max Plum University. Dr. Horvath demonstrated the various cycles of lake ecology and stressed the importance of keeping contaminants out of the lake. He advocates the monitoring program Dr. Whitman proposes.

Dr. Whitman's presentation began with a comparison of lake health to our own health care. He proposed that before we treat, we do an inventory of conditions and monitor those indicators or symptoms over a period of time. Our purpose is to know if conditions are worsening and to treat where and when needed before treatment becomes too expensive. He suggested that we use volunteers and the talents to be found in our community, the community college, government agencies including the Department of Environmental Quality and the experience of other Lake Associations. He stated that fixing a problem is part of the answer but prevention is the greater contributor to good health.

During the Question and Answer period Paul asked if we could start our own monitoring program. The answer was yes. The expenditure for the inventory stage including Secchi disc, phosphorous and nitrogen testing, oxygen content and temperature would be much less than hiring a professional. We would need a $600 digital oxygen monitor and volunteers to implement specimen collection. Analysis and interpretation of collected samples would require expert help. The assessment should include numerous sampling sites at frequent intervals. Erika thought some lab equipment might be available through WSCC. She mentioned Mr. Anderson and Dr. Brown as contact people.

During the discussion Frank Salas asked about the phosphorous load from geese. Dr. Whitman confirmed that geese are a factor. Seth reminded us that greenbelts, as opposed to smooth lawns to the water's edge, discourage geese.

Frank asked if we have any recourse in blatant violation of health regulations, especially referencing sewage and Laura Hamilton added earth-moving erosion. Dr. Whitman said that surely before property is sold it must be brought to meet regulations. Mr. Klemm, real estate agent, said that no such ordinances exist in our area and it's up to the buyer to investigate.

Discussion was closed and the business meeting took place. Because most of the officers were absent only the election took place. Shirley Salas was nominated and voted in as our new Secretary. The other officers were unanimously reinstated for the next year.

The meeting was adjourned and our new Social Committee, Cathy Iteen and Nancy Bradshaw served refreshments.

Written by Jane Jesuale

Shirley Salas, Secretary