Douglas Lake eNews 05/27/2020

www.douglaslake.org

View this email in your browser

The eNews
Douglas Lake Improvement Association
PO Box 472, Pellston, MI 49769

www.douglaslake.org May 27, 2020

2020 Douglas Lake Boat Assist Team

The Douglas Lake Boat Volunteer Boat Assist Team consists of residents of DL, who have volunteered to assist boaters who are stranded on the lake due to a malfunctioning boat or motor. The volunteers are not professional boat mechanics, but are willing to lend a hand and get you to shore.

Team members live in several areas around the lake. If you need assistance please call a volunteer living near the area where you are stranded. Describe the type of problem you are experiencing, your location, type and color of your boat and how many people are on board.

Name	Phone Number	Residence Location
Dave Thompson	810-334-9381	North
Ed Grant	989-506-8651	North
Frank Spezia	231-537-2405	Northwest
Rich Gedert	231-537-3269	Northwest
Tim Davis	231-342-5407	West
Steve Sweany	231-626-1043	West
Paul Nowes	231-537-4419	West
Ron Kelemen	231-373-2614	Southwest
Bill Hartwig	517-282-0307	Southwest

Note: The Douglas Lake Boat Assist Team will function during the normal boating season from May 24 through September 7, 2020.
[Suggestion: snap a shot of this list and keep it on your phone. Also, remember to take your cell phone with you when you are out boating!]

Watercraft Speed and Noise Regulations
Summer Boating Laws & Responsibilities

Summer is finally back. Docks are in and boats and other watercraft are operating on the lake. Generally residents and guests enjoy boating on the lake and are respectful of safety of all. But here are some reminders of the regulations that govern watercraft.
Maximum watercraft speed is 55 mph which on an inland lake the size of Douglas Lake is very fast. Michigan law states that a person operating a vessel shall operate it in a careful and prudent manner and at such a rate of speed so as not to unreasonably endanger the life or property of any person.
There are also noise restrictions. Michigan law states that a vessel’s muffler or exhaust system must prevent noise in excess of:

90 decibels measured at idle from three feet away and
75 decibels when measured from the shore

Compliance with Michigan boating laws and responsibilities is overseen by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Compliance Officer for Douglas Lake is Matt Theunick who can be reached at (989) 732-3541. He has the necessary equipment to monitor noise compliance. In general the boating community on Douglas Lake is responsible and follows good boating safety requirements to keep all boaters, kayakers, canoists, paddle board users, swimmers and wildlife safe. As general courtesy, the first recourse is to speak with the watercraft owner about your speed and/or noise concerns. However, if you observe persistent unsafe boating speed and noise, contact the DNR Compliance Officer.

First Merchandise Sale is July 4th

The summer lake season is now upon us as temps warm up enough to get out on the water! This year has been a tricky one when it comes to getting new merchandise for our summer Douglas Lake Merchandise Sales. Because of that, I am sorry to say, we have had to cancel the first sale on June 13, but are planning to have the other four on July 4, July 25, August 15, and September 5 (Labor Day weekend). We will have some new apparel choices as well as a great cooler bag perfect for taking on the boat or for a picnic and vacuum insulated wine/beverage tumblers. And again this year, we will have new calendars for sale with scenes from around the lake taken by all of you!
If you would like to volunteer at these sales, please let me know. It’s a great way to connect with other Douglas Lake folks! You can send me an email letting me know you are interested: Kelly.Davis861@gmail.com
I can’t wait to see all of you on July 4 for our first sale! Location same as last year: Storage units behind the Pellston Lodge.
Kelly Davis
Douglas Lake Merchandise Manager

The 2020 UMBS Summer (Virtual) Lecture Series

The annual Summer Lecture Series at the University of Michigan Biological Station explores scientific topics and celebrates notable achievements. Our lecture series is free and open to the public, allowing interested community members to learn more about the natural world, and the Biological Station.
For 2020, lectures will be virtual. Speakers from all over the country and the UMBS Community are invited to participate and share their work. We encourage everyone, including our students, faculty, researchers, and the public, to attend.

All events start at 7 pm. Please join us!

This year's endowed lecturers are:
Dr. Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Hann Lecturer
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Pettingill Lecturer
Dr. Anton Reznicek, University of Michigan Herbarium, Bennett Lecturer

June 30: Dr. Patricia Brennan
July 7: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha (Flint water crisis)
July 21: Dr. Anton Reznicek

Link for Virtual Lecture Participation

PIEG Pesticide Spraying - How to Opt-Out

            Recently residents around Douglas Lake were notified by PIEG that they will be spraying with an EPA-approved pesticide to control tree growth under PIEG power lines. PIEG sprays to control roadside tree growth that could interfere with power line transmission, particularly during high wind and/or storms. Property owners may opt of this spraying if they manage tree growth themselves.
            Property owners interested in opting out of pesticide spraying on their property should call PIEG member services at (989)-733-8515 or 1-(800)-423-6634.
        PIEG will be spraying in our area very soon – you are advised to call now if you wish to opt-out. Please have your account number handy when you call.

Comment Due by June 4^th to Army Corps of Engineers Line 5 Tunnel Permit

On May 11th, 2020 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the public notice for Enbridge Energy’s application for the proposed oil pipeline tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The notice provides only a limited 20 day public comment period, which begins May 15th and ends on June 4th, 2020.
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (WC) is requesting your help to extend the public comment period and to ensure a public hearing is held on the application
During the COVID19 crisis, access to public comment opportunities may be sharply limited. It is extremely challenging, if not impossible, for individuals to provide meaningful comment or to devote resources toward engaging in this process amidst pressing health and family concerns. Compounding these challenges is the fact that many residents in Northern Michigan lack reliable internet access, rendering them unable to effectively participate in virtual hearings.
Even under normal circumstances, the Watershed Council believes that 20 days is insufficient to give this complex proposal the meaningful review and analysis it demands. The proposal involves many technological and scientific issues related to tunnel construction beneath in the bottomlands of the Great Lakes and petroleum transport, both of which threaten the ecology of the Great Lakes, including the Straits of Mackinac and adjacent wetlands.

Help protect our Great Lakes and Northern Michigan’s economy by urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do two things:

First, request an extension of the public comment period for at least an additional 120 days, or until no earlier than September 14, 2020.
Second, urge them to host an in-person public hearing to consider the application at a time deemed safe by our public health officials.

The WC suggests your comments be emailed directly to Katie.L.Otanez@usace.army.mil. Include your name, address, and file number LRE-2010-00463-56-A19 in the email.

Mackinac Bridge: Increased Traffic and Delays

Increased traffic over the Bridge as Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have opened up has resulted in traffic backups and delays at the toll booths. Since mid-March, the Bridge Authority stopped taking cash payments at toll booths. Until further notice, Bridge customers need to pay with a credit or debit card, or use a MacPass card or windshield sticker. Other payment types on phones, including Google Pay and Apple Pay, are also accepted.
On a typical week-end, northbound traffic is heavy on Friday between 2 and 6 p.m., along with southbound traffic Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To avoid delay frustration, customers might consider crossing the bridge at times other than these peak times.
Credit card/phone processing does take extra time.
The ‘no cash’ change was implemented to help slow the spread of COVID-19. “This change helps keep our customers and our staff safe, and we ask that customers be patient and kind to our employees who are just trying to do their jobs during this stressful time,” said Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary Kim Nowack.

Our Advertisers are waiting to serve you.
Click here for the list of our Advertisers
by Category
On our website, click the advertiser for more information.

Douglas Lake Improvement Association ─ Dues are $25 a year
Mailing address: DLIA, PO Box 472, Pellston, MI 49769

See the new Membership tab for the
New Member/Update Member Form
or send membership updates to membership@douglaslake.org

Send News Articles and Obituaries to info@douglaslake.org
The eNews is published twice a month on-season and
as needed (once a month) off-season.
The DLIA Newsletter is published twice a year - Fall and Spring.
The Spring Newsletter is distributed approximately mid-May. Deadline for news and obituaries for Spring Newsletter has passed..
Note: We appreciate the obituaries being brief (300 words or less)
and relevant to Douglas Lake. News articles should not exceed 700
words unless approved by the editor. Please be aware
that any article or obituary may be edited to fit into the layout.

Add to your contacts --> info@douglaslake.org
This will place the eNews and Newsletter into your Inbox.