C H A I R M A N ’ S C O V EAs we begin the transition from summer to fall, activities on Silver Lake also start to change. We saw much recreation this season and as we put summer to a close, there is less swimming but still much time to enjoy the beauty of the lake this fall as the trees begin to change color.

I would like to acknowledge key accomplishments by our SLIA board and membership this year.

* Loon preservation, purchasing and implementing buoys to warn folks away from their nest was successful and we were rewarded by being able to observe a hatched chick grow up before our eyes.

* Drain preservation. We still have more work to do but needed repairs were made to the drain which helped keep our high levels controlled.

* Independence Day Regatta and The Great Big Silver lake Beach Ball were another highlight.

* Our adopt-a-road volunteers continue to keep East Silver Lake Road in great shape.

* The lost and found g-mail continues to be a great tool for returning possessions to their owners.

*Finally, our environmental coordinator continues to address and keep the milfoil treatment going.

It takes many volunteers, and we have a great board and association membership with a “Can-Do” attitude. Thank you all – we are a “Community”.

Ken Kaufman, President

F A L L 2 0 1 9

The Great Big Silver Lake Beach Ball, Year 8

First of all, I would like to thank the Silver Lake community for not only purchasing the annual beach ball, but for supporting it as well. Year #8 was another very successful year. I was able to locate the ball all over the whole lake this year thanks to the light winds. Only one hole was put in it, and it only took me two days to find it! There was no need to call out the “Beach Ball First Responder Team (my family) this year, but they were on standby if needed.

I am not sure that I have ever

seen so many signatures and messages – and so many people taking “selfies”, sometimes having to get in line to do so. The feedback is that the beach ball is one of the most popular Silver Lake attractions – I am so pleased to see so many enjoy it, it definitely makes it worth

the effort put into it. The ball also made its final yearly appearance at Annual Meeting to collect more signatures and selfies.

Chuck Hathaway, Beach Ball Committee Chair

Years ago, the SLIA sponsored a fishing tournament with great participation, especially among the “Youngsters”. Over the years it fizzled out as these kids grew up! It seems like a good time to resurrect this popular event! We are looking at free fishing weekend next summer on June 13th or 14th, 2020.

The thought would be to have different divisions or age groups with appropriate prizes. I would appreciate replies from you indicating your interest in such an event, as I work on firming up the details over the winter in time to publish in the spring newsletter & gmail.

Report from DNR – 30,000 Walleye

Fingerlings are scheduled to be planted in Silver Lake in the spring of 2020. If they have a surplus in the spring, we are priority on list to receive those. (Keep your fingers crossed, it has happened before!)

Tom Thompson, Fisheries Committee – tthompson@tcfire.org or 231-944-2953

WELCOME TO SILVER LAKE!

As a new SLIA board member I have volunteered to chair the welcoming committee and am

looking forward to this effort. Our goal is simple – to personally welcome our new lakefront residents, present them with valuable information to enjoy our beautiful lake, while at the same time sharing how we can protect our environment to be preserved for our children as well. I feel that membership in our association helps us to accomplish these goals with strength in numbers!

One difficult part of this job is receiving contact info quickly to make these visits. When you have new neighbors it would be much appreciated if you could forward their names, addresses and phone numbers to me so I may welcome them to our community! If you are a new resident and haven’t been contacted, please let me know so I can welcome you in person.

Jim Bock, Welcoming Committee jimbotc1@aol.com

Silver Lake Celebrates Independence Day!

It was a beautiful day and the whole community turned out! There were 25 boats and a young lad on a jetski parading in the Regatta, joined by a flock of geese on the north end. Youngsters on rafts, floats and tubes, armed with water blasters, balloons, or just waving as we passed, with families joining them in the water, on docks or on shore, many with score cards – it was truly grand! See the following 2 page layout of pics of the occasion - you may see yourself there, and thank you for your participation! Mike Reed, Regatta Committee Chair

Let’s have a fishing contest on Silver Lake!

Independence Day Regatta on Silver Lake

2019 proved to be yet another wonderful year for the annual Silver Lake 4th of July Regatta. The Silver Lake community and friends again put on a dazzling show for hundreds of shoreline spectators and judges. Red, White and Blue banners and flags aplenty, a splash of Sunkist orange, Fire trucks, and Wild Horses! As I watched the parade there was even a boat playing patriotic songs following the parade!

Congratulations to our winners and a special thank-you to all who participated in the parade.

Thank you also to the judges for taking on the task of rating the entrants, and to Chuck Hathaway for his role of collecting registration forms and organizing the Flotilla. A group effort well done! See picture layout with captions in next pages.

We did receive reports of balloon pieces washing up on shore and will ask that next year we use equivalents like super-soakers instead as we are all interested in protecting the environs of Silver Lake. Advised there are some good long-range super-soakers out there! Following is a link to a recent local news story regarding the effects of balloons in the water.https://www.9and10news.com/2019/06/17/thousands-of-balloon-waste-pieces-being-found-in-great-lakes/

If you have comments or suggestions, please contact me at mreed980@hotmail.com.

"Welcome to Silver Lake!" As a new SLIA board member I have volunteered to chair the

welcoming committee and am looking forward to this effort. Our goal is simple – to personally welcome our new lakefront residents, present them with valuable information to enjoy our beautiful lake, while at the same time sharing how we can protect our environ-ment to be preserved for our children as well. I feel that membership in our association helps us to accomplish these goals with strength in numbers! One difficult part of this job is receiving contact info quickly to make these visits. When you have new neighbors it would be much appreciated if you could forward their names, addresses and phone numbers to me so I may welcome them to our community! If you are a new resident and haven’t been contacted, please let me know so I can welcome you in person. Jim Bock, Welcoming Committee, jimbotc1@aol.com.

1st Place – Berden Family – “Wild Wild West”

3rd Place – Brethauer Family – “Fire Rescue”

2nd Place – Geskus, Hoover, Babbs, VZ Families – “Silver Lake Splash”

4th Place – Vance, Cerny, Rucker, Byers, Elsenheimer Families – “4th of July Picnic”

Bring It On ... We’re Ready

See Me? I’m Parading, Too

Ringside View, We’re Lovin’ It

Beach Ball Selfie

I Could Just Paddle Along With You We’re Ready For The Parade

I Could Join You With My Flamingo

SHORELINE ENTHUSIASTS IN ACTION

THANK YOU JUDGES

Green, Grin, Kaufman, LaFaive, Lamb, Wickstrom

Families

... and the Winners Are ...

Silver Lake “On Parade”

Salaur Built Boat – Romzek Family

America - Bembeneck Family

Stars & Stripes

Happy 4th Of July

Silver Lake Lead Boat – McNamara Family

Happy Birthday USA – Kleinrichert Family

Patriotic B & Balloons – Perry Family

Patriotic Flag – Family Enjoyment

Sunkissed – Machuta Family

Proud To Be American – Ogden, Sei Family

‘Merica – Richey Family

Sparty Salutes Uncle Sam - DeNoyer Family

‘Merica – Vozza, Perun Family

Sunkissed – tube they pulled – Machuta Family

USA – Finch Family

4th of July – Asher Family

Patriotic Flags

Joining In

Red White and Blue - Suzucki Boat Family

REGATTA ENTHUSIASTS ON PARADE

THE GRAND FINALE

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEESRon Grin Adopt-a-Road 231-715-0920

Sherry McNamara Loons 231-313-2769

Chuck Hathaway Beachball 231-943-3912

2019-20 SLIA BOARDJim Bock 231-943-4808

Denny Bogard 231-342-8515

Gary Borucki 517-281-5200

Bill Helke 231-944-6123

Ken Kaufman 989-859-4616

Nancy Knight 231-943-9487

Jon LeJeune 231-943-8907

Ed McNamara 231-313-2779

Scot Ogden 231-463-9365

Mike Reed 231-943-4171

Kelly Smith 248-252-7022

It was a pleasure to have our Drain Commissioner as a speaker at our Annual Meeting on August 3rd.

As featured in our spring newsletter, Steve, along with volunteers from Silver Lake did extensive cleaning and maintenance on the drain last fall.

(If you did not see this article, go to website under newsletter, Spring 2019).

At that time it was determined that work needed to be done at the outlet. Steve reported that he had completed a report to the DEQ that the outlet pipe is rotting and needs to be slip lined and replaced, the DNR has given a timeline when they expect these repairs to be completed.

Steve is obtaining several quotes to best serve the Silver Lake Residents. With these numbers, he will be working on a special assessment to cover these costs, this assessment will likely appear with our winter taxes, but would be spread over a period of time. There will be a public hearing before this is accomplished to inform residents.

Again, with the high waters we have experienced this spring, we are so grateful for our drain!

PO BOX 2133 • TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685-2133 www. s i l ve r l ake improvement . com

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSPerhaps you are new to the lake, perhaps you have been away for awhile or maybe you just decided to join us, whatever the reason, we

welcome our new SLIA members!Nick & Molly Agostinelli

Scott & Nicole BlonshinePaul & Darcy Britten

Norm & Peggy CampbellBrian & Kelly Case

Carol HarriganRobert & Susan IslesDavid & Judith Reed

Silver Shores AssociationShirley Wehre

Paul & Lisa WileyJack & Cathy Wunderlich

EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL UPDATE - 9/2007This past spring, Chuck Hathaway found a second patch of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) in the northwest corner of the lake, offshore from 1412 N. West Silver Lake Rd. The new patch and the original infestation near the boat launch were treated with herbicides in early July. We were particularly concerned about the new patch because it was in a fairly shallow, heavily trafficked area of the lake. As the EWM grew to the surface it would be chopped up by passing boat props. Each fragment of the plant has the ability to establish new growth so there was a likelihood of rapid spread if we didn’t act quickly.

We scrambled to get the new patch treated quickly. We had to hire a contractor to apply the herbicide. The Michigan Department Environmental Quality permit had to be amended. We had to get funding (thanks again to Garfield Township for funding the additional treatment) and we had to get written permission from property owners.

Getting written permission from property owners proved the most difficult task. We opted to get the required signatures from several owners either side of the patch in case the EWM infestation was more extensive than expected. The Burritts personally collected the signatures from the property owners within the known area. Mediocre response was received from mailings to others nearby (thanks to those who did respond). If the infestation had been more wide spread we wouldn’t have been able to treat all of it.

As a consequence, and because we don’t know where EWM will pop up next, we decided to get permission from every property owner on the lake so we would to be ready to act quickly when the next patch of EWM appears. Permission slips were mailed to every property owner and brought in roughly 100 signatures. At this writing we have signed permission from 132 of the roughly 350 required.

An aquatic vegetation survey, by Professional Lake Management in early September 2007, identified three new areas of EWM. Patches of EWM were found scattered along the stretches of shoreline described below The stretches are:

1. The area off the Northwest and North shores of Campbell Island. That includes 302 to 338 Roman Dr. (roughly 1100 ft of shoreline).

2. From 425 to 578 Brakel Point Dr (roughly 2500 ft of shoreline).3. From 5284 Van Petten Dr. north including 391 S. West Silver Lake Rd. to 100 N West Silver Lake Rd. (roughly

5000 ft of shoreline).

The vegetation surveys aren’t perfect and precise, therefore, EWM may exist beyond the areas described.

H E L P !Your written permission is required by law before Eurasian Watermilfoil can be treated on your bottomlands. Please fill out and return the permission form mailed with this newsletter if you have not already done so.

No one can predict where Eurasian Watermilfoil will pop up next so we need permission from everyone on the lake. We urge you to encourage your neighbors to return a form as well. If their bottomlands are not treated you will suffer the consequences too. A form is also available on the new website (silverlakeimprovement.com). Any questions call Chuck Hathaway 943-3912 or Russ Adams at 947-5502.

H AV E A Q U E S T I O N ? C A L L :Publicity, newsletter – Pat Adams – 947-5502 Lake Monitoring – Russ Adams – 947-5502 Exotic Weeds – Russ Adams - 947-5502Fishing Issues – Kevin Gagnon – 943-5226 Township Liaison - Peter Haddix – 943-8825 Drain Liaison – Bill Helke – 943-4779 Historian – Nancy Knight – 943-9487 Webmaster – Wayne Knight – 943-9487 Welcoming new residents – Robb Raetz – 943-4358 Membership – Janet Wheeler – 943-4443 President SLIA – Dick Bogard – 943-4845

If you would rather email us our address is:info@silverlakeimprovement.com

H AV E A Q U E S T I O N ? C A L L :

RUMORS – RUMORS – RUMORS“The reason the lake levels are so low is because they are draining all of the water out of Silver Lake through that *$#%* dam”

Folks, we want to reassure you that these rumors are entirely unfounded but easily believable when indeed the water levels are down – so we’d like to share a few facts and some history with you.

If you watched TV7&4 recently, they had a special interview with the Army Corps of Engineers because of public concern that the Great Lakes are down, especially Lake Superior – they also cited area lakes and the bay with pictures of the beach at Old Mission. The Corps’ answer was that levels are largely cyclical with some influence of drought, hot summers and light winters.

Now to Silver Lake – the SLIA was formed in 1965 because the levels were at an all time low in this century (much worse than now). They petitioned the county to divert water from Bass Lake to raise the levels. After 3 years in red tape and petitions, by ‘68/69 the levels were rising so the effort died.

In 1974 the levels were extremely high, people were flooded, sandbagged and trees died all along the shoreline. Again the county was petitioned to establish a level – this time it was contested because it would require pumping groundwater back into the lake if the level went down and would have been an ongoing high cost to riparians, so this effort also died and the waters receded.

In 1986 the levels were higher than 1974 - more sandbags - add pumps, flooded septics and some evacuation of homes. This time a more educated plan was presented to the county – set only a high water level and only an overflow dam. This was accomplished in early 1987. The cost was shared fairly and the maintenance has been manageable.

In 1993 the levels were again high in the great lakes and other lakes according to the representative of the Corps of Engineers, although not to the extremes of 1974 and 1986. Silver Lake was a little high in the spring that year, but drain down during the winter and early spring months prevented a potential problem for Silver Lake residents.

And then came 2007 . . . .This drain works only as an emergency drain off when the water cycles high, but does nothing when it is low – which was the intention – it is doing it’s job! Read back through this article and notice that the cycle has hit high or low in mid-decade for the last 40 years. “We don’t really understand it all - it will come back” as the gentleman from the Army Corps of Engineers said when asked.

To dispel ideas of what a normal drain looks like with water flowing out of it as most of us perceive, let’s take a look at the Silver Lake dam. Our dam doesn’t look like a normal dam, it looks more like a glass of water set in a bowl – rising up out of the water, it is an “overlow” dam, it only drains when the water rises higher than the rim of the glass (drain). The drain is operated with a valve which is shut off in May or June when the water temp reaches 68 degrees. THERE HAS BEEN NO WATER DRAINED OUTTHIS YEAR, with only a minimal amount in the early spring for several years, as the levels have been receding in their cyclical fashion.

This information was taken from old SLIA minutes and records and court documents. Submitted by Nancy Knight

LOON-IE TUNESLOON-IE TUNES, which actually sound more like a yodel, combined with the “penguin dance” are loon’s way of chasing away other birds, water craft and silly people. (The “penguin dance” is when they splash with their wings and kick their feet so they’re walking on water.) My son was out swimming and not aware of the loons nearby, when Daddy loon started in on him. My son decided to yodel back and flap his arms - it was quite a hilarious show.

Loons lay 1 - 2 eggs in June on island type areas near water. Incubation time is about a month. They often carry their chicks on their backs to avoid predators such as sea gulls, eagles, crows and turtles. They are also very territorial. The loon family you see at the north end of the lake is a different one than you see further down by Brakel Point.

Besides being fun to watch, like when mommy loon is teaching chick to dive, they eat leeches!

Loon trivia: The loon is the state bird in Minnesota; and Mercer, Wisconsin is the Loon Capital of the World!Submitted by Cathy Kuhn

Thanks to everyone’s efforts our lone Loon chick has survived and is doing well. His plumage is now very similar to the winter plumage of adult birds, grey/brown and white without the very distinctive black and white markings we see all summer.

Our Silver Lake Loons will depart and migrate to their wintering grounds soon, the parents usually in September or October. Michigan Loons migrate through the Great Lakes, either to the Atlantic waters or fly the Mississippi Flyway to the Gulf of Mexico. A long trek but they can fly up to 90 mph with their five foot wingspan. Chicks are not able to fly until about 12 weeks of age, so our chick will not completely fledge until about mid-September. That said, the chick will leave on its own in October, or as late as November, before the lake freezes. He will instinctively know where to fly for the winter and will stay down in those waters until he is about 2 years old. In March/April we will again hear their haunting call as they return to Silver Lake.Sherry McNamara, Loon Ranger

LOON UPDATE

MEMBERSHIP FORM ENCLOSED

The membership form for 2019-20 is enclosed with this newsletter. If you have already paid your dues – “Thank you” and please disregard. If you haven’t joined yet – today would be a good day to do so!

The reports in this newsletter regarding treatment of invasive species, maintaining the drain, gmail advisements, website, and many more – please know all of this is possible only from the contribution of dues by residents who care to maintain the environment on this beautiful lake!

SLIA GMAIL TO MEMBERSOne of our most successful programs in recent years has been our communication with SLIA members via email.

We have been able to notify residents regarding important issues such as safety issues, invasive species treatment dates, meeting dates and much more. It is also an easy way for you to contact us with your concerns.

The most popular & beneficial has been the Lost & Found, quickly reuniting many people with their property!

Send in your membership form today with your email address to start receiving these valuable messages. (We will not share your address.)

DRAIN REPORT

Unsafe boating practices article coming in Spring newsletter.

WHO DO YOU CALL?

Life threatening or dangerousViolations.......... 911

Boating violations, Wildlife harassment (MC number required), Launch site violations

Central Dispatch.........231-922-4550

General Marine questions (Leave Msg) Sheriff’s Marine Division

231-922-2112

DNR Traverse City Office 231-922-5280

Lost and Found TC.Silver.Lake.Association@gmail.com

More information at www.silverlakeimprovement.com

ENVIRONMENTAL This past spring, we scheduled the survey and treatment for Eurasian Milfoil (EUA) in mid June, to alleviate the problem of conflicting with the July 4th weekend activities. Unfortunately, April, May, and June were very cold. This slowed the lake weed growth down to almost a stand still. The survey only turned up 1.6 Acres of noticeable EUA. Since then we have had a warm summer and the weeds, including EUA, have taken off like gangbusters. Restorative Lake Sciences is scheduled for the fall survey on August 26th. I am planning to join the team for that survey. The treatment is scheduled for the week following Labor Day, weather permitting. I am anticipating several acres of EUA.

With the coming of fall, we will all be preparing for our annual fall foliage drop. Please remember to dispose of your leaves away from the water. If you are hiring a company to do your leaf raking, insist that they haul the leaves away. Leaves in the lake become another layer of muck on the bottom.

… and remember, for fall fertilizing - be sure to use Phosphorus free fertilizer! Scot Ogden, Chairman Environmental Committee

This past spring, we scheduled the survey and treatment for Eurasian Milfoil (EUA) in mid June, to alleviate the problem of conflicting with the July 4th weekend activities.

Unfortunately, April, May, and June were very cold. This slowed the lake weed growth down to almost a stand still. The survey only turned up 1.6 Acres of noticeable EUA. Since then we have had a warm summer and the weeds, including EUA, have taken off like gangbusters. Restorative Lake Sciences is scheduled for the fall survey on August 26th. I am planning to join the team for that survey. The treatment is scheduled for the week

following Labor Day, weather permitting. I am anticipating several acres of EUA.

With the coming of fall, we will all be preparing for our annual fall foliage drop. Please remember to dispose of your leaves away from the water. If you are hiring a company

to do your leaf raking, insist that they haul the leaves away. Leaves in the lake become another layer of muck on the bottom.

… and remember, for fall fertilizing – be sure to use Phosphorus free fertilizer! Scot Ogden, Chairman Environmental Committee

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SLIA GMAIL TO MEMBERS

.. One of our most successful programs in recent years has been our communication with SLIA members via email.

.. We have been able to notify residents regarding important issues such as safety issues, invasive species treatment dates, meeting dates and much more. It is also an easy

way for you to contact us with your concerns. .. The most popular & beneficial has been the Lost & Found, quickly reuniting many people with their property! .. Send in your membership form today with your email address to start receiving these valuable messages. (We will not share your address.)

VISIT OUR WEBSITE Current Events, Calendar, Environmental, Lost & Found, Fisheries, Wildlife, Rules & Regulations, Drain Information, Prior Newsletters, History of Lake and SLIA, Link to contact us – it’s all there plus more!