Most of us choose to live on Bald Eagle Lake because of the water-related activities we enjoy. It is a beautiful, healthy lake. Let's not jeopardize that by inadvertently harming it.

Lawn Care The Natural Way--Basic Weed Control
In a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer mix:
One cup of any shampoo with
One cup Hydrogen peroxide with
Two tbsp. of instant tea
Fill the balance with plain water and spray your lawn

Keep zebra mussels out of our lake.

Keep your septic tank clean

Skip the fertilizer and weed killers

Rake your beach

Bag your leaves

Waterfront care

Build a buffer along the shore to keep the lake clean.

Beach sand

Seawalls

Zebra Mussels Boats, jet skis and waterbikes can all be carriers of these pests. Zebra mussels have become a problem in the Great Lakes and are showing up in lakes in Oakland County. These mussels will attach to any smooth surface and multiply rapidly. If you take your watercraft to any other body of water, be sure to rid it of mussels before putting it back into Bald Eagle Lake. There are two ways of doing this:

• If you let your craft sit out of the water for several days the mussels will die.

• If you can't wait that long then you must wash down your craft and trailer thoroughly with a mixture of water and a small amount of chlorine bleach

Cleaning the bilge is also important since you could have inadvertently put larvae into it. This matter should not be taken lightly. In no time at all these pesky little critters could take over our small lake.

If you have an inboard, they can attach to your outdrive and if you don't use it often they can cause considerable damage. On outboards they can clog exhaust holes. The practice of washing your craft should be done any time you go from lake to lake.

Eurasian milfoil was spread this way. Once the mussels have been introduced it is too late. So, please, take the time to clean you craft before launching it back into the lake. If you allow guests to put boats into our lake, be sure their boats are free of mussels.

Keep your septic tank clean Most septic tanks need cleaning every two or three years. If you have a garbage disposal you must have your tank cleaned more often. It is recommended that you do not use a garbage disposal.

Skip the fertilizer and weed killers.
Anything that greens your lawn also greens the lake. Chemicals put on a lawn eventually wash into the water. Weedkillers and pesticides are harmful to the fishÐwhich are eaten by many lake residents. A lush lawn may be a status symbol in other places, but around a lake it is a sign that the owners don't care about the lake.

Rake your beach You can help the overall health of the lake and improve your own beach if you rake out the weeds. A large, heavy landscaping rake will do the job in deeper water. Pull out the weeds by the roots if possible and churn up the bottom. Bag the weeds for garbage pick-up or use them them as compost elsewhere on your property. Pieces of weeds left in the water can root elsewhere, so please remove all of the raked leaves. Landscaping rakes can be purchased at nurseries and hardware stores.

Bag your leaves Burning leaves release ash containing phosphorus which, when it falls in the water, fertilizes the weeds, not to mention the damage toxic, smoky air does to people with respiratory problems.

Waterfront care If you do any work in the lake you must first obtain a permit from the Michigan DNR.

Buffers Building a buffer of plants along your shoreline can help keep the lake clean.
For information on plants to use near lake shores go to
Springfield Township Native Vegetation Enhancement Project

Beach sand Because any sand being put into the lake can possibly carry harmful parasites, residents are greatly discouraged from putting sand into the lake. You must get a permit, the sand must be DNR approved washed sand, and the DNR will decide if you really need to add sand. Usually, by raking your beach area you can create a good bottom.

According to the Inland Lakes and Streams Act, reasonable sanding of beaches to the water's edge by a riparian owner is allowed without a permit.

Seawalls If you build a seawall you must get a permit from the DNR. Usually the contractor building your seawall does this for you.