WIXOM LAKE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER JULY 2012

ANNUAL MEETING IN AUGUST: There will only be one general membership meeting again this summer and it will be held on Sat., Aug. 11th at 10:00AM at the Eagles Club on Estey Road. The tentative agenda is: 1. Secretarys report Susi Najmowicz 2. Treasurers Report Rose Mallot 3. Tobacco Township Weed Treatment Update - Gene Kruger/Guy Savin 4. Wixom Lake Imp. Board Weed Treatment Update Kris Phillips/Paul Hausler 5. FEMA Flood Maps Status Bob Evans, Gladwin County Drain Commisioner 6. FERC Requirements On Dams & Spillways Bob Evans, Gladwin County Drain Com. 7. Marine Patrol Activities On Wixom Lake Deputy Ed Logsdon 8. Billings Township Water Rescue Al Vincent, Fire Chief 9. Election Of BOD Members & Officers 2012 DUES: Dues for the 2012 calendar year are $ 25 and can be paid at the annual meeting or sent to the WLA; PO Box 191, Edenville, MI 48620. This newsletter is going to current & former members; we encourage you to join us in our efforts if you have not already done so this year. As our constitution states: we are organized to improve, maintain & protect our waterways; provide a consolidated voice for the common good of the community; promote community awareness & concerns of the water flow-through, shoreline & neighborhoods and to provide a liaison between the WLA community, local townships, government & other agencies. THINGS WE CAN DO TO TAKE PROPER CARE OF WIXOM LAKE: 1. Conserve water: Conserving water in your home will extend the life of your septic system by increasing its ability to keep nutrient-rich human waste out of the lake. These wastes contribute significantly to the growth of weeds in the lake! 2. Maintain your septic tank: Have your septic tank pumped out every 3-5 years depending on whether or not you are a full-time or part-time resident. Keep your drain field clear so that it operates as efficiently as possible. 3. Handle chemical properly: Gasoline, oil, paint, pesticides & other toxic materials that get into your septic system will eventually end up in the lake & ground water! Materials spilled in your yard can also end up in the ground water & the lake. 4. Dont feed waterfowl: Areas of high populations of ducks & geese will very likely result in swimmers itch for swimmers! 5.Manage your shoreline: Dont burn leaves & grass clippings near the shoreline. Dont blow grass clippings into the lake. Use only phosphorus-free fertilizer; for example 20-0-10. Dont assume it is up to others to care for the lake; we can all contribute to preserving and improving the water quality on Wixom Lake!

WORK ON THE EDENVILLE & TOBACCO DAMS: According to Boyce Hydro there has been a change in the schedule to lower the lake 8-ft. to work on the Tobacco dam; the work is now scheduled to be done in 2017 rather than 2018 as it was scheduled earlier. This schedule change has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The schedule to lower the lake 8-ft. to work on the Edenville dam is the same as it was earlier, that will be done in 2014. These draw-downs will last approximately 3-months and will take place in the June thru Sept. time frame. The scope of work includes demolition and reconstruction of spillways, new higher capacity flood gates and all of the associated work required at both dams. 2011 BOATING ACCIDENTS IN MICHIGAN: . There were 125 accidents in 2011; 131 in 2010. Fatal accidents in 2011 totaled 23 vs. 36 in 2010. Fatalities in 2011were 25 (1 was a PWC) with 32 in 2010. There were 21 drownings in fatal accidents in 2011; 31 in 2010. There were only 10 people wearing PFDs in the fatal accidents both years. The statistics suggest that many lives could be saved if boaters wore their PFDs when on the water! PWCs were involved in 34 accidents. Most of the 125 accidents were collisions (45) followed by falls overboard (22), capsizing (14), struck by motor/propeller (7), and fire & explosions ( 6). There were broken bones in 15 accidents, lacerations (15), contusions (12), back injuries (11), hypothermia (10), head injury (9), and internal injury (4). Alcohol was a factor in 16 accidents. MEMBER SURVEY ISSUES & CONCERNS: Thank you to the members that included surveys with their membership checks. Results were as follows (all numbers are %): Weed control-81, weed cleanup-74, lake levels-67, water quality59, winter drawdowns-37, regular newsletter-26, boat noise-23, no-wake zones-19, boat speed19, boat size-15, jet skis-15, fish stocking-7, snowmobile noise-7, snowmobile hours-7, 2014 drawdown-7, buoys-7, erosion control-4, water sampling-4, cell tower-4 & stop mechanical harvesting-4. ,WIXOM LAKE ASSOCIATION WEBSITE: The WLA website (www.wixomlakeassociation.org) is now available for use. We have some information on it but expect to add more in the future. Please take a look at it; we would appreciate any suggestions you might have to improve it. Please call Carl Malott at 435-8100.

WLA BOD MEMBER LIST: Dave Ferguson President 435-9085 Larry Woodard Vice Pres. 517-646-6550 Susi Najmowicz Secretary 734-425-2150 Rose Malott - Treasurer 435-8100 C..Robert Beltz 689-5241 Gene Kruger 435-9411 Questions or comments? Call any BOD member. Carl Malott Jim Lambert Norm Ott Kris Phillips Scott Phillips John Schwartzly 435-8100 689-3638 689-5907 435-4784 435-4807 689-3343