2026 Carp Mgmt & Lake Water Quality

2026 Carp Management & Lake Water Quality

Dear Community Members,

The Board would like to provide an update on the carp project that took place this past fall, share what’s next in our carp management efforts, and outline how these initiatives fit into the broader topic of lake water quality.

As part of our ongoing work to better understand the factors affecting water quality, the Board is currently in discussion with the Department of Natural Resources and PLM Lake & Land Management. Topics being reviewed include carp activity, reduced fish populations, boating impacts, decline in aquatic vegetation, sediment resuspension and shoreline erosion, all of which influence lake health and clarity.

Community involvement is important to the success of these efforts, and we welcome your input and volunteer participation on these matters. Below are updates from our Lake – Fish & Wildlife and from our Lake – Weeds & Water Quality Board members, who are actively working on these initiatives.

Thank you for your continued interest and engagement in the care of our beautiful lakes.

Sincerely,
The ESLA Board

Carp Management

As many of you know, the Carp Project did not capture as many carp as we all hoped. That said, there is a positive takeaway: we gained valuable information about our current carp situation only being in the hundreds and not thousands, which is helping guide a plan forward.

See attachment of the Carp Solutions Report.

After extensive back-and-forth discussions, we negotiated a reduced cost of $7,000 for the three-day electrofishing survey, down from the original $13,000. Following careful consideration, the Board has decided to end our relationship with Carp Solutions and will not pursue any further action with the company at this time.

Based on research conducted both before and after the project, we believe there are effective steps we can take as a community. By cutting ties with Carp Solutions, we are now able to use the remaining carp funds and take a community-based approach to managing our carp population. We are working toward a volunteer-driven plan that we believe could be effective in maintaining control of the population.

Taking action is critical. Without ongoing management, we risk a rapid and damaging increase in carp numbers due to the fact that our carp population is a breeding population as reported in the completed electrofishing survey.

Although we are still in the early planning stages, we are moving aggressively to influence the upcoming spring spawning season. We are assembling a volunteer team to be co-led by Michael Geluso and me.

The strategies currently being explored include:

Shoreline cages with bait designed to attract carp (one-way entry, no exit)
Equipping our current team of carp sharpshooters with specialized equipment, to support carp control efforts
Use of large carp nets to potentially capture multiple carp at once
Carp shooting contests

If you are interested in volunteering or have suggestions, please reach out to me. Feedback and community involvement are both welcome and encouraged as we move forward with this effort.

Laura Pacifici

Board Member

Lake - Fish & Wildlife

Facebook & Website Administrator

Lake Water Quality

Community members as well as Board members have noted a decline in water clarity in both Emerald and Sylvan Lakes over the past several years. This has been confirmed by Secchi disc measurements performed on a regular basis on each lake.

There are many factors that have been identified as possible contributors to the decrease in the water clarity of our lakes. Among those include algae blooms, shallow lake depths, sediment resuspension, loss of native aquatic vegetation to invasive species, shoreline erosion, storm water runoff, and use of fertilizers containing phosphorus on lawns and gardens.

In response, the Board approved participation in a Water Quality Management Program at an estimated cost of $1800 for 2026. This program would evaluate the chemical and physical properties of the lake water and identify those items that may be contributing to the decrease in lake clarity. The information acquired through this program will enable the Board to make data driven decisions as we address these issues.

The Lake Management budget for 2026 was reviewed by the Board, with projected expenditures as determined by our lake management partner, PLM Lake and Land Management, ranging from $9550 to $17,250. The range is influenced by the variable severity of invasive and nuisance weeds requiring treatment. The Board approved budget for 2026 lake management is $12,000 (in line with past budgeted expenditures) which includes the cost of the Water Quality Management Program.

To further address community concerns, the Board is coordinating with the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association to secure a guest speaker for the June 27, 2026 Annual meeting. The objective is to provide science based guidance on current regulations and best-practice recommendations related to water quality issues including the influence of wake-enhanced water crafts. In addition, the Board is preparing a detailed bathymetric map of the lakes to support educational outreach to wake boat owners to assist in identifying areas of the lakes appropriate for vessel operation as recommended by the DNR.

Community involvement remains an important component of this effort. Those interested in volunteering or providing suggestions are encouraged to reach out to me and join the effort to improve the water quality of our lakes. Community participation and feedback are welcome as we move forward.

Bill Weatherhead

Board Member

Lake - Weeds & Water Quality