Highlights from Glen Lake Association’s post-storm workshop

From staff reports

In case you missed the Glen Lake Association’s post-storm workshop on Aug. 29, you can watch the following video of the workshop.

Also, listed below are some highlights and suggested guidelines, compiled by watershed biologist Rob Karner, for your review and consideration.

1. Take your time. Don’t be in a rush to implement a plan without careful consideration of a successful plan. This is not a race to see who restores their property first.

2. Do not burn accumulated brush – rather, chip it and use it as mulch as a way to prevent forest fires

3. If trees were destroyed on or near a septic tank or drain field, have your septic hauler do an inspection. If the septic system has been damaged, have it repaired as soon as possible

4. Whenever possible, leave stumps/root balls. They are your “starter kit” for natural restoration. If removal is required or desired, grind the stump as a second choice and as a last resort, dig out the stump and haul it away.

5. You must obtain a permit from the MDEQ when removing tree stumps within 100 feet of the shoreline. Give strong consideration to leaving stumps at the water’s edge and plant around them.

6. Treat trees with bark or limb damage with a coating to prevent insect disease. (Foresters differ with this – just another layer for the tree to heal over and it doesn’t allow the cells to compartmentalize and dry out which is desired.)

7. Successful restoration includes planting a variety of tree species that will do well in Northern Michigan.

8. Ideally, plant trees in the spring or fall and plan on providing each tree with plenty of water during the acclimation phase of the planting process.

9. Work together with neighbors to help with clean up costs and the sale of timber for lumber to ensure the best leverage for bartering power.

10. Take every effort to prevent erosion – especially on land with a slope. Mulch bare soils in the early going with chipped brush or bark mulch.

11. Consider landscaping with a Northern Michigan “look” vs. the suburban “look”.

12. Take advantage of native plant/tree sales in the spring and fall at the Leelanau County Conservation District. Stay tuned to the Glen Lake Association website where we will post the dates and locations of these native plant sales.

13. Take care not to over fertilize plantings in the first and second years of growth and to wean plants off any fertilizers in the third and subsequent years. Only use zero phosphate fertilizers within 100 feet of the shoreline.

14. Re-growth of plants/trees will take time before you see measurable results and to understand that your property will likely be much different that it was prior to the storm.

15. To avoid “blue stain fungus” from damaging your lumber logs, only cut trees from their stumps when you’re ready to process/sell the logs. This avoids having sellable logs be down graded for quality and thus, reduce their value.

16. The Farm Services Agency administers the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). It looks like the county level FSA administers it for all natural disasters other than drought and insects. More info about the program is at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-forest-restoration/

17. Landowners should also be able to apply for financial assistance through the normal EQIP programs at their county NRCS office.

18. Seek advice and help from professionals – either a forester, arborist, landscape
architect, landscape installer, permit specialist from the MDEQ, or watershed biologist.