Invasive species among the topics to be discussed

Keeping the number of non-native and invasive species down, and the overall general health of Lime Lake, will be the main topics of discussion at the Lime Lake Members annual meeting Saturday.

MARSHALL MEYER, president of the Lime Lake Members group,
stands in front of his dock and boat in the Cleveland Township lake.

The meeting will be held in the American Legion Hall on County Road 667, just south of M-22. A social time of 8:30-9 a.m. will be held, with the meeting starting at 9 a.m.

Marshall Meyer, president of the members group, said the meeting usually attracts 50 to 55 Lime Lake property owners annually.

“We talk about many issues, from water levels and quality, to stopping invasive species and policing boater activity on the lake,” he said.

Regarding the water level, Meyer said that last year residents on the lake had a problem with beaver dams on Shetland Creek. “Those dams raised the water level nine inches, which was quite a problem,” he said. The problem has since disappeared, with Lime Lake experiencing no unusual water levels this year, he said.

The lake is fed by streams from the Cedar swamp and from springs. It feeds into Shetland Creek, which empties into Little Traverse Lake before Shalda Creek drains the basin into Lake Michigan.

Meyer said the association is also trying to raise awareness of boaters transporting invasive species into the lake. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has posted signs at its launch site off Co. Rd. 667 advising boaters to empty ballast water from their boats before going into a new body of water.

“We aren’t going as far as the Glen Lake people are (involving ordinances), but there are some suggestions for how people can help stop the spread,” Meyer said.

The lake has had noticeable zebra mussel presence for many years, but Meyer said the invasive species is starting to lessen. “Our new concern is the Gobi fish (though) we haven’t seen any in our lake as yet,” he said.

The meeting is for Lime Lake property owners and association members only. Speaking will be Dane Hyde, an emergency medical technician with North Flight, Inc., who lives in the Lime Lake area. Brian Price of The Leelanau Conservancy will also speak.

Members will also elect officers for the coming year. Current officers are Meyer, president; Ann Sommerville, vice president; Molly O’Toole, secretary; Mark Fisher, treasurer; and Nello Valentine, membership. The hospitality and publicity committee is made up of Lu Capra, Diane Jayco and Loraine MacLean.