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Harper Lake Day Saturday, July 1, 2023 See EVENTS tab on left for details or visit our Facebook page Harper Lake History
....."I can tell you back when there were two shacks on the lake." The shacks stood on the shoreline of Harper Lake and were built in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Each was about............continue reading...go to History FIND US ON FACEBOOK |
Gypsy Moths at Harper Lake
Aerial spraying to combat the gypsy moth population took place Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Please email us at harperlakeassociation@gmail.com with questions or updates. May 2022 spraying notice to property owners.
Background:
Many Harper Lake homeowners have noticed that gypsy moths have returned to our area in the last few years. The HLA board has heard from several members questioning whether the association has investigated aerial spraying to control the gypsy moths.
In March, the board hired a certified arborist to visit our lake and assess the gypsy moth situation and provide an analysis and options. Three board members spent the morning walking around the lake with the arborist learning about gypsy moths and helping inventory the egg masses found on trees. There are a few areas that have elevated levels of egg masses; however, most areas have only minimal masses.
While most homeowners are most concerned with the nuisances of the feeding caterpillars, arborists focus on the health of the trees. Healthy trees can withstand 2-3 years of defoliation before tree health is impacted. We’ve heard several reports of unpleasant conditions due to the caterpillars chewing on leaves and the droppings they leave behind, but we haven’t heard reports of widespread or significant defoliation in our immediate area.
The arborist who visited Harper Lake recommends monitoring the situation this year and to reassess the situation in the winter of 21/22 for any necessary action next summer. Aerial spraying is not recommended in this case because the gypsy moth populations are not anticipated to harm the trees, and spraying can artificially reduce the population and possibly prolong the overall outbreak.
The HLA Board met recently to discuss the recommendations and has decided to follow the recommendation to monitor the gypsy moths and not pursue aerial spraying at this time. While the primary impacts of gypsy moths this year will be the feeding caterpillars, it remains to be seen if here is any detrimental impact on the tree health.
Even without aerial spraying, there are several ways that homeowners can reduce the populations and the impact on their trees and property: destroying egg masses, slippery/sticky/burlap bands applied to the tree trunks, biological pesticides and traps can all help keep the population under control until natural predators and disease reduce the population to non-noticeable levels. There are also contractors that do truck-mounted spraying to individual homes.
Davey Resource Group Analysis/Recommendation
Gypsy Moth Control Options for Homeowners
HARPER LAKE RULES
Copies of the Lake Rules are available or you can run your own copy.
- SLOW, NO WAKE for all motorized watercraft shall be between 7:30 pm and 11:00 am
- Speed boating, water skiing, and operations of personal watercraft shall be between 11:00 am and 7:30 pm
- All watercraft must circle the lake in a COUNTER CLOCKWISE direction
- Discourteous and / or reckless boating conduct should be reported to the Lake County Sheriff /Marine Division. Include the MC numbers, if possible, and location when calling the Sheriff. 231 745 2711
- 100 FOOT RULE: SLOW-NO WAKE speed must be maintained within 100 feet of a shoreline, any watercraft, docks, fisherman, rafts, swimming areas, and swimmers. SLOW-NO WAKE is required in waters less than 3 feet.
- All watercraft covered by the Michigan Marine Law must be registered and the license must be displayed. Approved personal flotation devices are required.
- All watercraft shall stay at a reasonable distance from fishing boats and shall pass on the deep side of boats fishing the shallow waters of the shoreline.
Copies of the Lake Rules are available or you can run your own copy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!??
Harper Lake Water Quality Report - download the 2017 report here.