05-23-2003, 05:21 AM
Lake weed harvesting canceled
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Boaters using Orchard Lake michigan will have to commit to memory the location of large weed beds, since it's definite now that there will be no weed harvesting this year because of the unavailability of a company to do the work.
This word came during the Monday, May 19 Orchard Lake City Council meeting, from Bill Wilson of the Orchard Lake Shore Property Owners Association.
Wilson reported to the council that the company that has done the weed harvesting for the last decade, Wittbolt, is downsizing and the owner is looking to sell off his equipment.
"At the last minute we let the city know he is no longer going to service our lake, and there is no one else out there that we've been able to find that is interested in harvesting the lake this year," Wilson said, also pointing out that there were no responses to recent advertisements seeking bids on the project.
A special assessment district will provide $21,000 this year and next for harvesting the weeds. The problem with getting the work done is apparently finding a company. According to Wilson, the 780-acre size of Orchard Lake is a little intimidated to harvesters. He said typical harvesting of Orchard Lake runs June to August, and necessitates six harvesting machines operating for 10 days. He said the closest to an available source for the work is Inland Lake Harvesting Co., of Bloomfield Hills, but Wilson reported the owner is hesitant because he feels he lacks enough equipment.
"(The owner of Inland Lakes Harvesting Co.) expressed to me he has no interest in doing it next year either because he doesn't have the capacity," Wilson said. "There is no one else I've been able to identify in southeast Michigan that has large enough or enough machines to do the lake."
Wilson voiced some concern to the council about how the current low lake level, which he said is about half a foot low, could contribute to the situation.
"It will be easy to navigate around the weedy areas if you know to navigate around them," Wilson told the council. "If you're pulling a water skier or something like that you can get tangled up. This will probably happen to some minor degree this year."
Wilson broached the subject of the city buying its own equipment, a suggestion quickly scuttled by the council.
The problem reverts to next year now. Wilson suggests that homeowners along the lake take a common sense approach to not contributing to the weed problem by limiting fertilizer use in their lakefront yards.
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[/#0000ff] Boaters using Orchard Lake michigan will have to commit to memory the location of large weed beds, since it's definite now that there will be no weed harvesting this year because of the unavailability of a company to do the work.
This word came during the Monday, May 19 Orchard Lake City Council meeting, from Bill Wilson of the Orchard Lake Shore Property Owners Association.
Wilson reported to the council that the company that has done the weed harvesting for the last decade, Wittbolt, is downsizing and the owner is looking to sell off his equipment.
"At the last minute we let the city know he is no longer going to service our lake, and there is no one else out there that we've been able to find that is interested in harvesting the lake this year," Wilson said, also pointing out that there were no responses to recent advertisements seeking bids on the project.
A special assessment district will provide $21,000 this year and next for harvesting the weeds. The problem with getting the work done is apparently finding a company. According to Wilson, the 780-acre size of Orchard Lake is a little intimidated to harvesters. He said typical harvesting of Orchard Lake runs June to August, and necessitates six harvesting machines operating for 10 days. He said the closest to an available source for the work is Inland Lake Harvesting Co., of Bloomfield Hills, but Wilson reported the owner is hesitant because he feels he lacks enough equipment.
"(The owner of Inland Lakes Harvesting Co.) expressed to me he has no interest in doing it next year either because he doesn't have the capacity," Wilson said. "There is no one else I've been able to identify in southeast Michigan that has large enough or enough machines to do the lake."
Wilson voiced some concern to the council about how the current low lake level, which he said is about half a foot low, could contribute to the situation.
"It will be easy to navigate around the weedy areas if you know to navigate around them," Wilson told the council. "If you're pulling a water skier or something like that you can get tangled up. This will probably happen to some minor degree this year."
Wilson broached the subject of the city buying its own equipment, a suggestion quickly scuttled by the council.
The problem reverts to next year now. Wilson suggests that homeowners along the lake take a common sense approach to not contributing to the weed problem by limiting fertilizer use in their lakefront yards.
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