Welcome to The Gravel Lake Association Web Site

Sewers are upon us!

With the coming of fall, we close another season at the lake but get closer to the construction of our sewer system. The Lakes Area Sewer Authority is hopeful that construction will begin in 2009. This group is working hard to meet aggressive timelines that keep our project moving forward. There's still not a final word on when and if there will be public hearings, but we will notify all Gravel Lakers when exact details are known.

Looking forward, we must keep in mind that our project is a major public works effort. Construction of this magnitude will cause at least some inconveniences. However, our engineers and contractors will work to minimize these effects. "You've got to break some eggs to make a cake" - that will be how we get to a well-maintained, septic free lake.

Questions or comments about our sewer project, and the Gravel Lake Association in general, can be directed to me at cucad4@hotmail.com.

Here’s to yet another great summer at Gravel Lake.

Craig DeSimone
President - Gravel Lake Association

The sewer project continues to roll along. Of interest is the recent inclusion of the Village of Marcellus to the project. Our sewer system will be taking on a percentage of Marcellus's sewage. Effectively, Marcellus will become a customer of our system and will share in the cost of construction.

Public hearings may occur this October. Additionally, as funding is necessary to start the project, the Lakes Area Sewer Authority is working to expedite the process and hopefully be able to start assessments this winter. The Gravel Lake Association will communicate any news as soon as it becomes available.

In other news, the authority voted to reappoint all of its officers (to be differentiated from its members). Wendy Elsey of Volinia Township announced her resignation from both the LASA as well as the Volinia Township Board (Finch Lake) for personal reasons. The Volinia Township Board will be responsible for appointing a new member to the LASA.

Any questions can be directed to Craig DeSimone at cucad4@hotmail.com.

Gravel Lake Management Program Update and Comparison

Gravel Lake, like thousands of lakes, ponds and reservoirs across the U.S., has become a home to exotic weed species. Exotic species are invasive/nonindigious vegetation that are not naturally occurring in this geographic location and can negatively impact fisheries, recreation, water quality, native plant diversity, and property values. One of the most common exotic species in Michigan is Eurasian watermilfoil and this species happens to be the primary focus of management on Gravel Lake.

With any lake that has exotic species, there is always going to be a need for management. Exotic species cannot be eliminated completely but can be managed to a level where the negative impacts they create are reduced. Currently there are four herbicide control options available for Eurasian watermilfoil management, each having an appropriate time and place pending abundance, distribution and location of exotic plant growth.

Lakes that have Eurasian watermilfoil usually follow a pattern/cycle of management consisting of whole lake treatments followed by 2-4 years of spot treatments. Although this pattern of management has a high cost in the year of the whole lake treatment, it is usually followed by 2-3 years of smaller scale treatments at a much lower cost. In 2004, Gravel Lake had a considerable amount of Eurasian watermilfoil and a whole lake treatment was conducted using Sonar A.S. (fluridone) at a very low and selective rate for Eurasian watermilfoil. This treatment was highly effective and provided longer than expected control. Eurasian watermilfoil was not found on the main lake until late in the 2006 season. In 2007, Eurasian watermilfoil was present but not at levels where another whole lake treatment was feasible or necessary. In 2008, a similar strategy is being used but steps are being taken in preparation for another whole lake treatment in 2009.

Compared to other lakes, Gravel Lake has responded very well to treatments and control has been maintained for an extended period of time. Typical Michigan lakes that are highly used for recreation and have public access usually see Eurasian watermilfoil re-growth in the year following a whole lake treatment. Often, these lakes require whole lake treatments every three years. Gravel Lake is currently on year five following a whole lake treatment and had no re-growth nearly three years following that treatment. This level of control is not common and results were better than expected.
As with any lake that has Eurasian watermilfoil, it is only a matter of time before it begins to take hold again. Although Gravel Lake has gone several years with minimal management, Eurasian watermilfoil is beginning to establish in different locations on the lake and spot treatments can only slow its spread. Based on these conditions, it is likely that another whole lake treatment may be required in the near future thus starting another management cycle and maintaining Eurasian watermilfoil to the minimum extent possible.

October 10, 2008 - 1,000 walleye were stocked in Gravel Lake. - Photos by Ken Hochsprung

Happy fishing!

Public Access Work to stop shore erosion

Fourth of July Events: The Results

BOAT PARADE

1. RIMES FAMILY
2. PLANKENHORNS FAMILY
3. PINKOS FAMILY

The GLA would like to thank Apollo Marine and
Willow Beach Grocery for kindly donating the prizes.
We couldn’t do it without their help!

PADDLE BOAT REGATTA

PADDLE BOAT CLASS

1.EMILY MOORE, DANCING DANNI (DANNI YOUNG)
2.EMMA DYREK, CHRISTEN DYREK
3.CHRIS SEPUT, ZORAYA CUNAT
4.DAVE PARAMSKI, PAUL DRAGOVICH
5.MIKE PIKE, JOSH BUCK
6.PATRISHA BARKER, JENNIFER MILLER
7.ABBY OSBORN, ERIKA RAU
8.KATE SADOWSKI, TAYLOR FICIE

9.LORI CASKEY, CAROLE DESIMONE
10.JANE CHRISTENSEN, JENNIFER KITZMILLER
11.PAUL WALTER, CONNOR WALTER
12.JOHN STOGIS, CAMRON SCHLEWITT
13.ASHLEY MICHELI, KATIE DALY
14.HANNAH DASEY, ERLUCTER MCKAY
15.DAVE SUTTON, KEVIN SUTTON
16.HARLEY REEDER, BEV REEDER

DNF
1.EMILY GRAHAM, TONI GONZALA
2.CRAIG BENES, ZACH BENES,
KURT KUSERELLIS, LUKE BENES

KAYAK CLASS
1.RYAN BROWN
2.ERIC HERCHENROECHER
3.HARRY LASKI
4.CARLIE DESIMONE

DNF
1.BOO REEDER

CANOE CLASS
1.AARON MESCHKE, LUKAS MESCHKE
2.STEVE PARAMSKI, STEVE O'LEARY
3.MIKE SADOWSKI, LAUREN SADOWSKI
4.KATHY SCHLUETER, STEPHANIE SCHLUETER

Thanks to our volunteers:
Gia Laski
Maggie Eggers
Dana Mauro

Thanks to all who came out to support the best Paddleboat Regatta yet! See you all next year!