When the non-native common reed—which can reach up to 10-feet tall—becomes rooted along a water’s edge, it blocks light to other plants and inhabits much of the growing area, consequently creating a monoculture. Phragmites can multiply at an astonishing rate because it gives birth at both its head and its base. Seeds are airborne, while root systems spread along and below the ground upwards of 30-50 feet per year.

Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions will be applying herbicide to the Betsie Bay, Betsie Lake, and Betsie River shoreline to control invasive phragmites between Sept 24 and Oct 10, 2011. Our target date for this project is September 27th, but weather conditions must be conducive for a foliar spraying by a State licensed aquatic applicator from Wetlands and Wildlife Solutions, of Traverse City.

This collaborative effort for the 2011 season has been funded by several grants from the Nature Conservancy through the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and the Cooperative Weed Management Area on behalf of the Friends of Betsie Bay. This will be the first of likely a 3-year project to control phragmites.

Phragmites is controlled using glyphosate, imazapyr, a surfactant and a tracer dye. Application will occur by foliar spraying with a backpack sprayer, by boat or using a tank sprayer with an ATV. Signs will be posted to all treated areas stating the date of application and listing water restrictions.

PLEASE NOTE: Water access is restricted for 24 hours during the application process to avoid contamination. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause for the many fall recreational activities such as fishing, boating, etc. We’re hoping this minor inconvenience will be far out weighed by the future health of this bay area.

A risk/benefit statement concerning herbicide treatment is available at the municipal offices of Elberta, Crystal Lake & Gilmore townships and Frankfort. Or visit the Friends of Betsie Bay at www.friendsofbetsiebay.info. Also check this edition of the Record Patriot’s legal ads for an abridged version of the statement. For more specific information on the herbicide application procedure or timing of application, please contact Wetlands and Wildlife at (231) 943-0762 or visit wildlife@wildlifewetlands.com.

27th: Invasive Species In Your Back Yard
Glen Lake Library, Empire, 6pm
Liz Padalino 882-4391
www.garlic-mustard.org.

30th: Natural Shoreline Landscapes
Grand Traverse Conservation District, Boardman River Nature Center
9AM – 1PM
www.gtcd.org

MAY
6th & 7th: FLOW for Water Coalition
Great Lakes Forever
Park Place & NMC’s Milliken Auditorium
Featuring: Maude Barlow, Wenonah Hauter,
Jim Olson, Jon Groveman, Terry Swier & music
www.flowforwater.org

Garlic Mustard Madness Events
5th: Pull Elisabeth Parr Preserve 10 am-12pm
Visit: www.gtrlc.org
6th: GPS Training & Scouting 10 am-12pm
Benzie County’s Railroad Point Preserve
Liz 882-4391 or stop.invasives@gmail.com
www.garlic-mustard.org
7th: Region Invasive Plant Awareness 10am-1pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort
Workshops & Lunch
www.gtrlc.org

14th: Natural Shoreline Landscapes
Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort
9AM – 1PM
www.gtcd.org

24th: Plant it Wild 7pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort
Identification & Control of Non-native Invasives
www.plantitwild.org

2009 Beach to Beach clean up crew.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23rd
Earth DayWork & Play on The Bay

12th ANNUAL BEACH-TO-BEACH CLEAN UP
9:00am-10:30am
Start: Elberta Farmers’ Market Pavilion
End: When Trail & Beaches are cleaned!
Bring: Friends and Neighbors, Gloves and Enthusiasm

VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.friendsofbetsiebay.info
friendsofbetsiebay@gmail.com

Waterlife is an award-winning documentary that will further illuminate some of the ideas expressed in previous Record Patriot articles leading up to this Water Festival. That we should be concerned and engaged in the process of preservation is a given. How to do it and go about it will evolve as we all become better educated and inspired. Waterlife won the best documentary cinematography award in Canada and the Toyota Earth Grand Prize in the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2010. But, it is about our Great Lakes. It is “the story of the last great supply of drinking water on earth”.

Karen Roberts will introduce the film and explain the recent threat to Betsie Bay that she discovered while viewing the film. Additionally, The Friends of Betsie Bay work on annual beach clean ups, invasive species issues and undertakes cooperative and partnership projects with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, the Benzie County Water Council, Benzie Grand Vision, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and the Northwest Michigan Cooperative Weed Management.

For the complete schedule of events for the Water Festival, please visit Water-Festival.org. Download the Waterlife Event Poster.

Our calender is on sale for $13.95 with no tax needed due to our non-profit status.

2011 Betsie Bay Calendar PRICE: $13.95

What could possible encompass both of these aspects…? A calender, of course! This is our first fundraising effort of this kind and offers us a way to remind our supporters and their friends and family just what a nature’s paradise we have in the surrounding Bay area!

Or send check to:

Friends of Betsie Bay
P.O. Box 528
Frankfort, MI
49635

If you’d like to order but need them to be mailed, there is an additional postage cost. GREAT gift for all those stocking stuffing needs!

Monday, SEPTEMBER 13TH
Join us along the way… BIKE the Betsie Trail from Thompsonville to Beulahs’ pavilion on Crystal Lake for a bring-your-own picnic lunch. BIKE the trail to River Road. Hop in your canoe or kayak and PADDLE or BIKE to Betsie Bay and the Elberta Farmers’ Market pavilion with a celebration dinner at 5:00pm Food provided, free-will donations for MCWC encouraged… Want to do your part? Want to ride or paddle, too?

Call 231-275-2244 to get on the schedule.

Join in the fun and find out how you can generously donate on-line … http://www.firstgiving.com/peggycase …OR… You may also send checks to: MCWC c/o P.O. Box 132, Honor, Mi 49640

Ryan Locke, National Park Service’s Invasive Species Interpreter
“PHRAGMITES IN THE BETSIE BAY AREA”

What is it? How does it affect the Bay? What can we do about it?

Open to the Public! Local food samplings…
Need more info? Call Suz @ 231-352-7669

SATURDAY, JUNE 19th

ELBERTA FARMERS’ MARKET PAVILION

4:00pm-5:30pm

Featuring Speaker…

Thomas Kelly, Inland Seas Executive Director

“Invasive Species and the Future of the Great Lakes”

Tom began sailing at age 14 on White Lake, Michigan and developed an awareness of water pollution problems at this early age. His experiences on the sloop Clearwater doing environmental education programs in the Hudson River Valley led to the formation of the Inland Seas Education Association in 1989. Tom has been a Great Lakes limnologist and a Sea Grant Marine Field Agent, where he did consulting work in fisheries and water quality fields.  “My greatest joy comes from bringing the wonders of the Great Lakes to those who have not experienced them before.”

CELEBRATE THE BAY!

Come, EAT good food and Join us for one of Tom’s GREAT presentations, complete with gorgeous slide show of our beautiful surrounding bodies of water!

PROPOSED FRANKFORT DEVELOPMENT LEGAL UPDATE

In an effort to clear up some of the confusing legal issues left with Judge Batzer’s ruling of November 20th, on the Tobin project, the Friends of Betsie Bay attorney, Jim Olson, filed a Motion to Reconsider in December with Judge Batzer. Not too surprisingly, Judge Batzer, on Monday, February 8th, denied FoBB’s motion.

As you may recall from our late November update, Judge Batzer’s ruling of November 20^th, was favorable for the City of Frankfort and Mr. Marshall Tobin to enter a long contested ‘Consent Judgment’ that was based partially on a claim of Mr. Tobin’s that the Frankfort Zoning was unconstitutional. Judge Batzer also ruled the Friends of Betsie Bay, would no longer be considered as long term Interveners in support of the City’s efforts to uphold it’s Master Plan and Zoning Ordinances. This decision also prevents any citizen efforts for a public referendum which would allow the voters to decide this issue.

The Friends of Betsie Bay can now bring this matter to the Court of Appeals. We will continue to keep you updated as information becomes available.