Douglas Lake eNews 10/6/2021

Farewell Summer 2121: DL Boat Ramp Dock Coming Out 10/16

The DLIA Boat Ramp Committee is gathering Saturday morning October 16, 2021 to conduct a ramp clean-up and dock removal. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to plan removing your dock and getting boat(s) and other recreational water craft safely housed on land. DLIA residents and the general public who enjoy boating on Douglas Lake owe thanks to Stuart Case and his diligent volunteer group for keeping an old ramp in working condition this summer.

Thanks to Otto Busard: The 2021 Loon Season on Maple Bay

          The DLIA Loon Committee and DLIA thanked long-time DLIA member Otto Busard in a very special way recently. Thanks to Otto’s generosity, memorial contributions made to DLIA in memory of Otto’s late wife Pat, were earmarked to purchase a new 4G camera and peripheral equipment and placed on the loon platform in Maple Bay at the beginning of the 2021 loon nesting season.
          Photos from the camera were featured attractions on the DLIA website loon program page throughout the nesting season. Two chicks were born on the Maple Bay platform this summer. While DLIA places 4 loon platforms on the Lake, only the Maple Bay platform camera will be technologically able (4G capable) to upload pictures directly to the website.
          Holly Gedert took photos from the 4G camera, and a few from other DLIA’s talented photographers, to follow the loon pair through the season, annotating the pictures with text explaining parent and chick behavior along with the day, temperature and circumstances of the photos. With Holly’s creative talents, Otto received a personally-dedicated “Maple Bay Loons 2021” book that captures a special season on Douglas Lake. Holly presented Otto with his new book on Monday, October 4^th at his home. Otto thanked Holly and DLIA for their work in support of the loon preservation program on Douglas Lake warmly recalling the many years Pat and he enjoyed watching the loons on Maple Bay.

[2021 Annual Committee Reports (continued from 9/15/21 eNews)]

2021 Merchandise Annual Report/On-line Sale Begins November 1

               The 2021 summer sales season was definitely a good one! Everyone seemed to enjoy the new designs, especially the lake neighbourhoods depicted on sweatshirt hoodies and the “loon-atic” design for children’s wear. Despite continued COVID related supply shortages, we eventually were able to get all the sizes and colors we liked.
   The online store will open again this year for holiday shopping around November 1^st and stay open until December 15^th. Quantities are limited so shop early to get what you want. December 15 will be the FIRM cut-off date to allow me to get everything mailed and hopefully to you by Christmas. Watch for an eNews near the end of October that will announce a link to the online store. This link also will be posted on the DLIA website under the Merchandise tab.
   The DLIA November Newsletter will feature a more detailed report about DLIA Merchandise season.
Submitted by Kelly Davis

DLLIA Merchandise Manager

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Douglas Lake Improvement Association
2021 Membership Report

As of September 30, 2021, DLIA has 373 memberships. The number at 12/31/2020 was 358. There have been 20 new memberships in 2021 and 5 deletions, for a net gain of 15. All but 21 of the 373 memberships have paid 2021 dues; two of the 21 also owe for 2020. 56 have paid in advance for 2022 and beyond.
Dues collected through 9/30/2021 total $9,525.
Submitted by Gwen Kuehn, Membership Administrator
September 30, 2021
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Little Traverse Conservancy Stewardship Liaison Report

Mark Paddock and I attended quarterly virtual LTC Stewardship Committee meetings in 2021 (February, May, and September). The meetings discussed naming preserves, permitted activities on preserves, and updates to stewardship guidelines. Future projects involve trail and observation platform building (including the construction of barrier free trails to facilitate access for people with mobility issues), tree planting, erosion control, and promotion of special features --for example Dwarf Iris at the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve in Cheboygan. No agenda items directly concerned Douglas Lake. LTC negotiations to purchase land in the Bessie Creek watershed is ongoing.

Submitted by Sharon Fortner, Liaison to Little Traverse Conservancy. (Mark Paddock previously served as Liaison; he continues to be a resource to the DLIA Executive Board.)
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Join the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Celebrating SepticSmart Week

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared this week, September 20-24, SepticSmart Week in Michigan. In collaboration with federal, state and local governments, and private sector partners, the U.S. EPA celebrates SepticSmart Week each year to raise awareness on the importance role that proper maintenance of septic systems plays in effectively protecting our water resources.

Michigan has between 1.3 and 1.4 million onsite septic systems and 35 percent of its residents rely on septic systems. Michigan is the only state that does not have a statewide septic code, but there are local ordinances that relate to septic systems. However, after septic systems are installed, most local governments have no program to make sure they function properly.

Federal figures put the nationwide failure rate at 10 percent. But localized studies in Michigan show far greater cause for concern. MSU studies suggest that at least a third of septic systems are not working properly. Michigan State University researchers who tested 64 Michigan waterways discovered that those with the most nearby septics had the highest levels of human fecal bacteria.

[Editor's note: yes, Septic Week has passed but the above statistics call attention to very serious aging septic system problems. The tips below are valid year round and are worth sharing. Credit to the Watershed Council for calling these to our attention.]

You can help protect our waters by being “SepticSmart” and making sure your septic system is properly working. Follow these simple tips:

Douglas Lake Improvement Association ─ Dues are $25 a year
Mailing address: DLIA, PO Box 472, Pellston, MI 49769
See the 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
Send pictures/photos for DL calendar to pictures@douglaslake.org
The eNews is published twice a month in-season and
as needed (~once a month) off-season.
The DLIA Newsletter is published twice a year - Fall and Spring.
The deadline for November DLIA Newsletter is October 1, 2021.

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.
Please add the addresses below to your contacts list to ensure that DLIA electronic communications are delivered to your email Inbox and are not marked as spam or junk mail:
membership@douglaslake.org
info@douglaslake.org

This will place the eNews and Newsletter into your Inbox.