Rich Perry of SOLitude talks milfoil with Flat River group

By Justin Tiemeyer - Contributing Writer

16 Jan. 2025

The Lowell Friends of the Flat board met on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 6 p.m., for its first meeting of the calendar year.

Treasurer Diane Smith expressed her strong feeling that the organization have a post office box to make it easier for her to identify and thank donors. “I think it’s $165 every six months,” Smith explained. “I mean, I’ll pick up the tab. I feel so strongly about this.”

Smith and Vice President, Nancy Raymor, explained that they had also run into a complex process of identifying donors who deposited funds to the Lowell Friends of the Flat account at Lake Michigan Credit Union. “We’re still getting our sea legs here,” said President Craig Fonger, “or our river legs.”

Having entertained Jaimie Desjardins of PLM Lake and Land Management Corp in December, the board met with Rich Perry of SOLitude Lake Management to discuss how his group would manage the Eurasian milfoil problem in the Flat River.

Eurasian Milfoil - A highly invasive species that crowds native aquatic vegetation.

Perry was part of the initial conversation about invasive species treatment, in June and July of 2024, prior to the formation of Lowell Friends of the Flat, and he emerged as a favorite of member Steve Doyle, who noted at the previous meeting that Perry has a good handle of the situation, did a survey already, and lives on the river himself. “It is just a perfect storm, if you will, for this milfoil,” Perry said.

With a lack of rainfall and an abundance of heat over the past two years, areas on the East side of the Flat River are about two feet deep and nearly stagnant in some places.

Perry intends to use chemicals that will kill off both the milfoil and the curly leaf in the river, as this will make the project more affordable from both a chemical and labor standpoint. He proposed having his team come out three times, from April through August.

Perry explained that the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment, or EGLE, will only let you cover 50% of a body of water, which is no problem, because Perry intends to cover the entire East shore and spot treat the West shore. He explained that he has to submit all of the details to EGLE, and they will tell him how much chemical he can spray.

Perry will need written permission from every owner along the East shore. If anyone does not consent, the shore, and the area 100 feet offshore in front of their property, cannot be treated. “They cannot stop the whole thing,” Perry underscored, “just in front of their land.”

Perry noted that some native plants will be killed off, including some of the native lily pads, but animals, including humans, would not be affected. Board member, Annette Ritzema, specifically asked about the swans. “We’re very fond of the swans,” Ritzema added.

Ritzema explained that the swans have their babies on the island in the center of the Flat River, and Rich said he would want to note that. “EGLE’s not going to let us spray things that will kill things,” Perry said, “but, to me, it’s common sense. You don’t spray herbicides on baby birds.”

Since this is the first time Lowell is treating the river for milfoil, EGLE requires a full fishery review to determine if there are any protected or endangered species that could be potentially harmed.

Raymor asked what happens if spring brings storms and there is a lot of water coming down the river. Perry explained that they would wait. Not only would folks see less milfoil with the greater flow, but it would make treatment via fan boat much more difficult.

After speaking with Perry, Fonger announced that the bylaws are almost finished. He emailed a draft to the board members, but he had not received any feedback by the time of the meeting. He also mentioned that Bruce Matthews is working on some marketing material for the organization.

As for networking, Fonger is scheduling meetings with a number of area organizations, the board discussed the pros and cons of joining various groups, and Fonger mentioned a number of upcoming events like Lowell Community Expo in March.

In February, Lowell Friends of the Flat will interview their third and final vendor for the Flat River milfoil cleanup project and make their decision in time for application in the spring.