APRIL 2023 UPDATE ON WOODY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON MOWING OF WIXOM LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD JURISDICTIONAL BOTTOMLANDS

The Wixom Lake Improvement Board will be overseeing helicopter spraying of nuisance woody vegetation this summer in many parts of the main lake bottomlands within its jurisdiction. The treatments are tentatively scheduled for mid to late June. To increase the effectiveness of the treatments, leaves need to be present on the trees for the herbicide to be actively taken up and translocated throughout the entirety of the plant material (including the roots). Due to this process, the lake board is asking that you not mow areas beyond 50 feet from the original Wixom Lake shoreline (where the treatments will be taking place). It is expected to take approximately 2 months (until late August/early September) for the treatment to completely kill the trees after which mowing can resume in the Bottomland areas.   Efforts will be made to remove most of the remaining dead trunks prior to re-filling the lake. However, certain (deeper) areas may remain standing to serve as fish habitat pending discussions with MDNR. However, it is likely that much of the dead, treated, material will not be removed this year. Keep in mind, that management of nuisance woody vegetation is not a one-year effort, it is a multi-year effort with the ultimate goal of the bottomlands being ready for re-filling upon the completion of the dam in a few years. The Wixom Lake Improvement Board is asking that you please have patience in this process.