Contractor to begin work on invasive growth in Sherwood Pond

Zach Goodhart of Michigan Lake and Pond gave a presentation on the vegetation treatment he will begin on the fishing dock, swim area, and area south of the beach at 17-acre Sherwood Lake.
This was at the July 22 meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees.
He said he will focus on the vegetation close to shore to begin the eradication of the milfoil invasive species in one acre of the lake. He said it is late in the season for this and he will begain the main program in April, when he will have six treatments a month apart.
He said he will notify the township before the treatment and post yellow treatment signs at the lake. He said while the herbicide is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state, he will post a 24-hour swim restriction and three-to-four day irrigation restriction.
He said five to seven days after treatment the plants start to wilt and in 10 to 14 days they are falling down. After three to four weeks, there is a marked difference.
Trustee Tim Rush asked if they should do aeration of the pond and Goodhart said anytime you add oxygen it is good for the lake. He said if they decide to add bacterial matter to fight the algae, adding aeration will help to disperse the material.
Supervisor Tim Bowman asked if it wouldn’t be better to just dredge the lake and take everything out so it won’t come back, instead of just treating and treating.
Goodhart said that milfoil spreads by fragments.
Supervisor Bowman agreed a little would break off, but it still would be a better procedure.
Goodhart said the treatments cost less than dredging because the state requires the plants be buried in specific landfills or, if at the site, rules for how the hole must be lined.
He said to treat it repeatedly is like mowing your lawn. He said he has yet to survey the whole lake.