Goodrich- More than fish may soon be growing in the village mill pond.
While the village council approved the continuation and renewal of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources permit to spray the mill pond with chemicals for excessive weed growth’they do not intend to order the application.
‘Next year there will be no spraying,? said Ed York, village council president. ‘For the last several years we’ve sprayed the mill pond for weeds’now there’s just no money for it anymore.?
The savings will be about $4,000 per application, York said, adding that $7,500 was allocated in the budget.
‘There’s enough for two applications,? added York. ‘It’s going to be a wait-and-see situation, which may result in a not-so-pretty mill pond.?
York added that several years ago, prior to the implementation of the village sewer system, run off from septic systems caused growth of plants in the pond.
‘It may not be so bad,? said York. ‘It’s going to be a wait-and-see.?
Nick Barnes, pond water manager for Aqua-Weed Control, Inc., a Holly company that has specialized in chemical aquatic plant and algae control in lakes and ponds since 1975, emphasizes that weed growth depends on several factors.
‘A lot depends on the nutrients in the water’each pond is different,? he said. ‘Many times the depth of the water and the current play a big factor. The deeper water has fewer weeds, because sunlight can’t reach the bottom of the pond. Similarly, stagnant water also contributes to weed growth, coupled with debris in the water prompts weed growth.?
Barnes is uncertain if weeds will overgrow the mill pond, and a lot depends on the weather.
‘If weeds get going in May, then it could be real bad come June and the summer months,? he said. ‘However, if they get a slow start, a cold spring’sometimes weeds are stunted.?
Barnes recommends pondside residents utilize non-phosphorus fertilizer and keep a buffer.
Kelley Stonerock, a mill pond resident, said that in 1995 more than $4,000 was collected from area residents and businesses to pay for weed control in the pond. The money was part of the Mill Pond Improvement project.
‘The mill pond is a feature that belongs to the people of the community,? said Stonerock. ‘It’s not going to look real good for those who come through our town, when weeds are growing in the pond.?