NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION ! DAVID E. LONGFIELD, PRESIDENT THOS. J. REED, SECRETARY-TREAS. JON SCOTT, VICE-PRESIDENT 3733 APOLLO DRIVE TRAVERSE CITY, Ml 49684 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th, 1985 PHONE: 616/943-8343 GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT,___________ACME Our next meeting will be a very special one in that we will be permitted to play golf on the new Jack Nicklaus "BEAR” course, at the Grand Traverse Resort. Jack’s Involvement in golf in Northern Michigan has helped to make this area, a great golfing mecca as well as a beautiful area to live in. Jon Scott CGCS, the golf course superintendent of both fine courses, has gone all out to get starting times from 10:00 A.M. until approximately 2:00 P.M. To make your reservation for starting time and cart, please phone 616/938-1620. Doug Grove is the golf Professional and this is the number in the Pro Shop, located in the same building as the Sand Trap. Lunch is available in the Sand Trap and the food is highly re conini ended • As usual, there will be the usual little golf tournament so get out a few bucks for this tournament when registering. Dinner will be served in the hotel building which is north of where the intersection of U.S. 31 and M-?2 is located. It is not in the Sand Trap. A cash bar will be set up at the hotel for "Happy Hour" or a place to relax for those coming for dinner and the meeting. Dinner will be served at 7:00 P.M. While golf is restricted only for N.M.T.M.A. members (no Guests) guests are permitted for dinner so, if you have a prospective member please bring them along for dinner and the speaker. The speaker for the evening will be a very interesting person since a lot of our decisions of what we do on the golf course are decided by this speakers recommendation and he is none other than "Bill" Rogers, Weatherman for WPBN-TV - Channels & 7. We all need to know more about weather. We must advise the Grand Traverse Resort of the number that will be there for dinner. It is very important in this case that we have an accurate number and are assured that if you say, "you will be there", that you will. We would also like to have your postcard back by September lUth, so that we are accurate in the number coming, so PLEASE, get your card in the mall without delay. We would like to repeat that only members will be permitted to play golf on the "BEAR" golf course, no guests however for dinner, you may bring guests. Last year when we had our October meeting here, only 9 holes of this new course was available. This year we get the full treatment and you will enjoy ever yard of it. October 8th, will be our following meeting and it will be at Lincoln Hills Country Club, Ludington. Lincoln Hills is a beautiful course along Lake Michigan and under the care of Brian Hamilton, golf course superintendent. ***«******«*«**«*«**«*»«*»«#«»«#«####«#»##*««««#«« it*########*##»»##»* Septerabe FIELD DAY, Equipment Show and Auction, M.S.U. Robert Hanoook SY5T8Í roh Center. Registration at 9»9Q A.M. Cooperation of both BEARD It's possible to make a sound argu- COLLECilON ment without making a lot of noise. Biological controls entail finding safe and effective natural Aquatic Vegetation & Control methods for controlling weeds and algae. Although some by John Lebedevs methods have shown promise, most involve the introduction Of Turf Products, Ltd. exotic organisms with unknown long term ecological conse­ Aquatic vegetation is found in most lakes and ponds and is quences. An example would be the White Amur which have __/ beneficial to the natural ecosystem. It provides food and cover been introduced as an aquatic herbivore (weed and algae eaters). for aquatic organisms, produces oxygen, and stabilizes bottom Unfortunately, there is not enough known about their repro­ sediments. ductive potentials, competitiveness and habits. Chemical Aquatic plants are often referred to as “Weeds”. This is im­ method — The use of chemicals is the most common and effec­ proper terminology. The definition of a “weed” is — any tive method for controlling nuisance weed and algae growths. undesired plant that grows so profusely as to crowd out more Chemicals offer longer lasting control than mechanical methods, desirable plants, or detracts in some way from the usefulness involve less physical labor, and ultimately cost less. Certain and/or appearance of an area. Unfortunately, many ponds and chemicals and application rates selectively control only target lakes develop overabundant aquatic vegetation which interferes weed species, hence; the applicator has the option of treating with recreational activities, and destroys aesthetic values. This, only specific nuisance weeds. then is a “weed problem”. The next step then in solving your “aquatic nuisance pro­ First of all let’s look at the Aquatic Plants, or in this case, blem” is to identify properly the algae and or weeds present weed’s home. Whether it is a pond, lake, creek, or river its in your body of water. home is a body of water that is constantly changing. Aquatic Algae are small primitive plants. They do not have true leaves plants and algae contribute to this change by Photosynthesis. or flowers, but reproduce by means of minute spores or by con­ In the process they contribute to the dissolved gases in the water, tinued vegetative growth. They can be found floating or attached and add inorganic nutrients, contributing to the food cycle of to submerged surfaces in most lakes, ponds, and streams. the body of water. They modify the physical environment, pro­ Depending upon the nutritive value of the water, algae viding protection and habitats for other plant and animal life reproduces very rapidly; especially in hot weather. There are in the environment. But ponds and lakes change in another, more three types of algae generally found in most lakes, ponds, and \ . profound way. Nature never intended that they exist forever. streams. There are classified as: From the day they were formed, their life processes lead them 1) Filamentous Algae inevitably toward their destruction. This process is known as 2) Unattached or Planktonic Algae and 3) Branching Algaea euthrophication, a natural aging process whereby silt and decay­ 1) Filamentous Algae are commonly referred to as pond scum ing plant and animal materials gradually fill in the depression and consist of growth of long stringy, hairlike strands. Most that formed the pond. All plants require nutrients and sunlight of the green and brown scums are slimy or cottony in for growth. The depth of sunlight penetration limits the depth appearance. to which plants can grow. At the same time, the amount of 2) The Unattached or Planktonic Algae are those types * nutrients available, basically nitrogen and phosphate, will limit which cause green or reddish-brown water and are more or less the quantity of vegetation which can grow. free-floating. When these organisms decompose they often give Unfortunately, nutrient enrichment of water bodies or as I off foul odors in water. They are normally found at or near the said autrophication, is enhanced by man’s agricultural, in­ surface of the water, where there is sufficient light intensity to dustrial, and domestic activities. The smaller and more fertile permit them to grow luxuriously. the pond is, the faster this process takes place. Aquatic plants 3) Branching Algae are the most advanced forms of algae. and algae are the largest contributors to the process, and each They grow from the lake bottom with stems and branches and season’s addition speeds up the process by releasing additional have a gritty feel. Chara and Nitella are the principal types of nutrients. It is a never ending cycle. Man has greatly increased branched algae. Chara has a musky odor and is usually found the rate at which eutrophication occurs. Run off from fertilized growing in hard water, in shallow water and on a gravelly bot­ fields and in some cases, effluent from sewage systems reaches tom. Common names of Chara are Muskgrass and Stonewart. these bodies of water. The resulting high nutrient level of our Chara and Nitella are often mistaken for underwater weeds such ponds encourages algae and plant growth at a rate well above as coontail or milfoil. These algae are sometimes difficult to normal. Without corrective measures, in the form of good pond kill even when the proper chemical has been used. management, these ponds and lakes would die much more rapid­ Most aquatic weeds can be classified into: Floating plants ly. The selective control of plants and algae is a vital part of and Submersed plants. this management. 1) Floating plants include those that are not attached to There are basically three corrective methods available for anything and freely float on the surface of the water. Duckweed, removal of aquatic weeds: Mechanical, Biological, and principally, and watermeal, to a lesser degree, are floating plants Chemical. Mechanical removal involves physical methods used which often form a green blanket on the water surface. Duckweed has tiny leaves called fronds with rootlets that hang to remove plant material from bodies of water. Techniques in­ down in the water. Watermeal appears as tiny green grains or clude pulling, raking, digging, skimming, cutting, shading, granules floating on the surface of the water. They are com- draining, dredging, etc. Equipment costs can range from prac­ monly found growing together. Wind currents will concentrate tically nothing to an investment of thousands of dollars. Pull­ duckweed and watermeal in certain portions of a pond or lake. ing or cutting weeds can, however, compound the problem by reestablishing themselves from fragments into new areas. CREDIT: THE BULL SHEET (cont’d. p