1. Bear Lake Association

2. Agenda Quality of Bear Lake – Sam Lake survey results Treatment plans Zebra mussels update Lake water levels Lake quality readings Muck pellet reports Septic tank pellet report Fish stocking Treasurer's Report - Phil Association account SAD report Other Discussion Items - Inaugural Michigan Inland Lakes Convention – Sam Loon report – Mary (Our Loon Ranger) Fitness class - Jo Website resources, classified, rentals, & pictures – Sam Open Q & A / Discussion Raffle Drawing - Jo

3. Quality of Bear Lake – 2013 Survey Results From PLM Lake & Land Management Corp: In 2013, ~3 acres (2012: ~8acres, 2011: ~4.3acres, 2010: ~4.75acres) were treated with Renovate OTF. This has been the product used each year as it can be used close to shore and will attack the root system. A small Phragmites treatment too place towards the end of the summer (near Eleanor Bay). The treatments have been kept minimal on Bear Lake with routine surveys and the use of systemic, selective herbicides.

4. Quality of Bear Lake – 2014 Treatment Plans From PLM Lake & Land Management Corp: Systemic herbicide treatments - depending on size of treatment bed and location and due to new industry knowledge on milfoil species cross breading (hybrids) - application rates will remain at the 160lbs/acre plus). Pending location, introduction of other systemic herbicides may be used in order to maintain an integrated approach into the management on Bear Lake.

5. Quality of Bear Lake – Zebra Mussels Update From PLM Lake & Land Management Corp PLM is still working at getting a treatment approved and moving from test plots to larger scale treatments but there’s been no official update on this for a while. I would say we are still a few years away on this.

6. Lake Water Levels

7. Lake Classifications & Productivity Index Lake classifications: Oligotrophic – deep & clear with little aquatic plant life. Mesotrophic – in between Eutrophic – shallow, turbid, and support abundant aquatic plant growth. A lake’s ability to support plant & animal life defines its level of productivity or trophic state. Trophic State Index (TSI) is a mathematical equation that describes and indirectly measures that productivity. TSI values under 38 define oligotrophic lakes. Secchi depth readings deeper than 30 feet have TSI values under 28. Phosphorus readings under 5 μg/l (micrograms per liter), or ppb (parts per billion) have TSI values under 27. Chlorophyll-a readings under 1 μg/l have TSI values under 31.

8. Lake Quality Readings - Transparency Secchi DepthCarlson Number ofRange TSI SD ReadingsMinMaxMeanMedian(transparency) number of lakes219 201 Bear2013926.032.028.728.528.7 average149.117.812.712.3 max1934.049.028.929.028.6 min10.05.03.53.059.1 Bear201211.023.036.029.528.0 Bear 201117.021.042.032.631.027.0 Bear201017.025.039.032.433.027.0 Bear200915.023.027.024.0 31.0 Bear200618.017.029.025.727.530.0 Bear200518.031.050.042.246.523.0 Bear 200417.023.045.534.136.526.0

9. Lake Quality Readings - Phosphorus Total Phosphorus Carlson Spring SummerTSI Vol (summer TP) number of lakes148182 Bear2013-630 average131237 max708067 min3327 Bear20122732 Bear 2011<3 <27 Bear20105630 Bear20094527 Bear2008-4<27 Bear200782<27 Bear 200611630 Bear 20059527 Bear 20046732

10. Lake Quality Readings – Chlorophyll-a Chlorophyll-aCarlson MayJuneJulyAugSeptMeanMedianTSI CHL number of lakes118127132130 124 Bear2013 1.71.0 average3.33.84.54.9 4.23.840.8 max21.0 28.058.052.026.419.260.5 min1.0 0.50.027.8 Bear20121.51.21.11.21.30.232.0 Bear 2011<1.01.21.11.41.31.10.432.0 Bear20101.0<1.01.31.42.31.30.733.0 Bear2007-1.0<1.81.0<1.21.00.6<31.0 Bear20061.61.41.31.12.01.50.334.0

11. Lake Quality Readings - Conclusions Bear Lake is classified as oligotrophic (clear & healthy) because it consistently has TSI values under 38 in the following criteria: Transparency (a short distance of visibility means that there are suspended particles or algae cells in the water, an indication of nutrient enrichment) at TSI values of 23-29 are among the best of all lakes in program. Phosphorus (the most important nutrient affecting lake productivity) at TSI values 27-32 are among the best. Chlorophyll-a (a component of the cells of most plants and can be used to measure the concentration of small plants in the water) at TSI values 31-33 are near the best All readings have maintained their levels for the last 10 years. Your support and care for the lake is working. We have a lot for which to be proud.

12. Muck Pellet Reports (3) Board members tried them last year Mixed results Still can be purchased

13. Septic Tank Pellet Report Started last year 49% complete Volunteers will be asking for your help

14. Fish Stocking Per DNR 4,940 rainbows were stocked on April 28 th. The average length was 7.32 inches. 16,800 browns were stocked on May 21 st. The average length was 7.9 inches.

15. Treasurer's Report – Association Account

16. Treasurer's Report – SAD Account

17. Inaugural Michigan Inland Lakes Convention Invasive Species in Inland Waters Summary: There has been a huge growth in hybrid milfoil – a genetic cross between Northern watermilfoil (native) and Eurasian watermilfoil (invasive). The hybrid grows faster and is less susceptible to normal chemical treatments of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). So it’s important to identify it correctly and prescribe the correct treatment plan. Impact to Bear Lake: We have no known hybrids in the lake; however, I will ask PLM to ensure this is the case during this year’s surveys. Summary: There was a huge kill-off of zebra mussels around the state in the 2010-2012 seasons. This was primarily due to increased water temperatures during those summers. They have somewhat rebounded last year. Impact to Bear Lake: Due to our generally cooler lake temperatures, we probably did not have any reduction in zebra mussels, in fact, we probably had more. From many property owners’ reports I get, they have now nearly encircled the entire lake. We still wait for a DNR approved treatment.

18. Inaugural Michigan Inland Lakes Convention Portable Boat Wash

19. Inaugural Michigan Inland Lakes Convention Lake Management A to Z Summary: This lecture discussed the Manistee Lake case study to manage, primarily, the overgrowth of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). Other goals included a reduction of the white sucker population which accounted for over 50% of the biomass in the lake. It addressed the methodology of planning, monitoring, funding, treating, and evaluating a plan to address the issues identified. For the EWM, they decided to use weevils in lieu of chemical treatments. What surprised me was that weevils are only effective in reducing the canopy of the plant and does not, usually, kill it. So after about 15 years and $150,000 of weevils (about $1 each), the plants continue to grow and spread. Personal comment: It seems that they have exchanged increased plant densities and poorer fishing conditions with safer boating. Impact to Bear Lake: Obviously, we took a different approach. We have been very successful in killing the EWM and have greatly reduced the size and number of plants without affecting the health of the water itself.

20. Loon Report - Loon Ranger – Mary Vervisch

21. Fitness Class - Jo Rahaim

22. Website Resources, Classified, Rentals, & Pictures Our Bear Lake Community cards Many resources and information available Your contributions make the site friendly and useful Need pictures

23. Q & A / Discussion