Treatment for Aquatic Vegetation, Organic Matter, Nuisance Algae

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY:

Indian Lake is located in Sections 30 and 31 of Silver Creek Township (T.5S, R.16W) in Cass County, Michigan. The lake surface area is approximately 499 acres (Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 2001) and may be classified as a eutrophic aquatic ecosystem with a central deep basin and a moderate-sized littoral zone. Indian Lake has a maximum depth of 30.0 feet (confirmed by RLS in 2014 through depth contour mapping). The lake bottom consists primarily of sandy substrate, along with marl and organic matter deposits. Indian Lake has a lake perimeter of approximately 4.65 miles.

Indian Lake is a well-recreated lake and is utilized by many for fishing, swimming, boating, and waterfront living. In recent years, the lake has become dominated by aggressive hybrid watermilfoil growth and nuisance cyanobacteria algal blooms. Previous aquatic plant herbicide and algae treatments have proven ineffective and the local residents have desired a more holistic approach to addressing both the algae and aquatic plant issues as well as the dissolved oxygen depletion issues associated with lake stratification later in the summer season on the lake.