HAMMOND LAKE

PRESERVING LAKE HEALTH

Friends of the Rogue - Environmental Study - August 2018

Friends of the Rogue - Environmental Study

August 2018

We are very lucky to live on a clean & healthy lake. We can swim, fish, and boat without worrying about the quality of water. But there are constant threats to the ecosystem that must be managed proactively. 

  • Invasive Zebra mussels

  • Chemical Pollutants

  • Septic Leaks

  • Algae Build Up

  • Motor Fuel

 HAMMOND LAKE WATER QUALITY RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Absolutely NO MOTORS of any kind on Hammond Lake

  2. Do not use commercial lawn fertilizers unless they are registered applicators

  3. Prevent Zebra Mussels - boats that have been in other bodies of water must be cleaned & dry-docked for 2 weeks before re-entry into Hammond Lake

  4. It is important to have septic tanks pumped out annually

  5. Lakefront residents should not use commercial fertilizer but rather the naturally nutriated lake water from your sprinkler

  6. Restrict the use of weed killer in the spring

  7. Do not over-water your lawn - this contributes to leeching and nutrient run-off, and lowers the lake level in the Fall

  8. Use household products with little or no phosphate. For the dishwasher use liquid Palmolive (3%) and Cascade (4.4%). For cleaning products: Fantastic, Tilex Soap Scum Remover, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Lysol Tub and Tile Cleaner, Palmolive Handwashing Soap, and Shaklee dishwashing detergent. Avoid products with ammonia. 

  9. Rake leaves out of the lake in the fall and spring. Decomposing leaves cause algae build up.

  10. Discourage Goose & Duck populations - do not feed birds because human food alters their feces

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The board policy is to co-exist with Geese as advised by the DNR. We pay to have goose droppings removed from the beach - especially during the “flightless” period in June/July. More information can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/WLD/Mgt/canada_goose_info_circular.pdf?rev=0965cce1a3be40aea90a0fd556972b67

  • Hammond Lake has been a no-motor lake since the association was formed in 1954. The deed restrictions specifically prohibit motors. In 2006 - the Michigan State Court of Appeals upheld a legal challenge to the deed restrictions. Furthermore, the vast majority of residents oppose motors.

  • Hammond Lake is spring fed - so it collects water 24/7. It’s also bowl shaped, which means we collect a a large amount of runoff. It’s estimated that for every inch of rain 2-3 inches of rain end up in the Lake. Our lake level control (Weir) is only 12 inches in diameter and is often obstructed, requiring frequent cleaning to manage the lake level.

  • The yellow, powdery film often seen on lakes during spring (May-June) is tree pollen which is harmless. It may form a bright yellow, slime-like layer on the water surface and along shorelines. It eventually becomes waterlogged and sinks.

  • White foam on lakes is commonly caused by natural organic matter—such as decomposing plants, algae, and fish—releasing compounds that reduce water surface tension, which then foam up from wave action caused by high winds.

  • Hammond Lake is extremely clean by any standard. The association tests for e-coli annually and has conducted advanced water testing that shows lake water is “practically” safe to drink, but we don’t recommend doing so!

  • Primarily Bass, Bluegill, Perch, Carp. Large Northern Pike (30-36 inches) have been caught in Hammond Lake in recent years.

  • The lake has a maximum depth of 200 (NW section) feet and other deep areas ranging from 100-150 feet in the middle. There is very shallow sand bar (3-5 feet) in the SE bay.