PLWF Council Minutes
August 30, 7 PM
FARR CENTER, ONEKAMA
Present: Council - Ted Lawrence, Jim Simons, Kathy Ervin, Mary Reed, Herb Lenon, Bee Capper, Susan Halloran, Other attendees - Kayla Knoll, Shaughn Barnett, Pat Lawrence
Call to order - Meeting was called to order at 7:05 by chair Mary Reed
Minutes - Bee Capper Secretary
Minutes of the June 28, 2016 meeting were distributed by email. Motion to approve by Simons, second by T. Lawrence – minutes approved by council.
Financial Report- Jim Simons, Treasurer
AES account - We are under budget in all categories.
MCCF Fund balances as of June 2016 are: Endowment Fund - $139,589 Annual Fund - 40,066
Wetlands Fund……….. 5,862
Fundraiser netted 8,000 plus or minus – there are still outstanding expenses and pledges
Motion to approve the financial report was made by T.Lawrence seconded by Simons. Approved by council. (Note: The 8,000 transfer from annual fund to AES was approved in June. Motion by Mrozinski seconded by Ted Lawrence. Approved by council)
Committee Reports:
Fundraiser – Jamie Meister – Summary report – will discuss in September
Education and Outreach -
Rain Garden – Rob Carson presented a program on rain gardens at the July 28
Portage Lake Garden Club meeting. Community was invited. News articles in the
Manistee Advocate in May, June and July about the garden.
Rain garden display at the Manistee County Fair
Clean Boats Clean Water – Participated in boat washing/educational events on July 2
at the Onekama Village Boat ramp & Aug 6 at the DNR Boat ramp
PLM Spring newsletter - copy of this Newsletter was sent in the tax notice
PLA Newsletters - Jan and Jun – Watershed articles by Kathy
WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP – Watershed program will be given by Kayla Knoll at the
Sept 15 Manistee Summit Meeting. “Everyone Lives Downstream”.
Straight Talk – Manistee Advocate article about the Portage Lake Watershed
featured on the front page in July.
Membership – Pat Lawrence – mailing list updates – one new membership received.
Water Quality and Environmental Monitoring – This committee met on August 23 and discussed shoreline and water quality issues. Very small amount of Eurasian watermilfoil has been treated this year. Surveys will be repeated in September and may treat again this fall. Phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow iris will be treated late September or October. Bull rushes, sedimentation, muck and narrow leaf cattails were also discussed.
Swimmer’s Itch Research Project – Study completed by Ted Lawrence, Tammy Messner- Report will be received in November. Attended swimmer’s itch meeting in Glen Arbor. The state grant will be administered by the Leelanau Education Center. We will continue to monitor state SI.
Wetlands – Working on signage for Eagles View Wetlands Preserve – meeting with DeeDee Miller and discussion at the August Parks and Rec Committee meeting.
5. New Business -
100 Women Who Care - At their July meeting this organization voted to support the Little Manistee Watershed and that the amount collected should be split with the Portage Lake Watershed. We are exploring using this money to do additional stream monitoring and possibly a small stream restoration project.
DNR Watershed grant - Plan to resubmit the grant application that was sent in 2015. Will need council approval for matching funds $ 5,000. Grant application is due September 14, 2016
Motion made by Ted Lawrence, seconded by Jim Simons. Approved including S,000 in budget.
Council elections – We will be voting in November for the officers and 4 council members. According to our bylaws, the nominating Committee is appointed by the chair. This will be appointed by September. Committee will present slate in Oct., Membership vote in November.
Watershed Scarecrow – Jim Simons volunteered that again this year, he and Frank English will be in charge of the scarecrow.
6. Old Business/Updates –
ciBioBase, - 2016 lake aquatic surveys completed by Chuck Reed in August- Charts can be
compared to those of 2013 and 2014. Less aquatic plant growth in some areas.
MCD updates – Kayla Knoll – reviewed upcoming events – stream surveys in October.
LRBOI updats – Shaughn Barnett – Sturgeon release Sept. 17. 117 sturgeon were
removed prior to sea lamprey treatment. Numerous fish were killed at the Gun
Lake fish hatchery due to vandalism.
Manistee County Planning Dept – Jennifer Scholl – Stream Road Crossings surveys
NWISN – Emily Cook -Japanese Barberry removal work was done on Hensel property.
2016 Clean up Projects – Jeneanne Fitzgerald, road ends, September 18 Garden Club
Al Taylor reports: Langland Park to be completed in 2 weeks.
Application for a permit to remove west dune has been sent
Drainage issues at Langland Park will be fixed this week
7. Meetings/webinars
Benzie Watershed Coalition – minutes, August 17 meeting
Sept 15 Manistee Summit meeting – Watershed Presentation.
Bear Lake – Aug 26 – sharing ideas for fund raiser
Glen Arbor Aug 24 – Swimmer’s Itch Partnership meeting
Introduction to Lakes -MSU extension 6 week course – Excellent for council members
8. Next Meeting: September 27, 2016
Respectfully submitted:
Bee Capper