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water finding food such as
plants, nuts insects, etc.
On April 22nd, Brian waited until the afternoon
when the hens would be off the nest
and he climbed up into the tree to
check on the nest boxes. There were over 80 eggs between the two of them!
Now, two females did not lay all those
eggs. Females lay 6-11 eggs each.
However, wood duck females are known to “nest dump”, where several
females lay eggs
in the same nest.
It can happen more frequently
when there are
few nesting loca-
tions available.
As a way to en-
courage more
wood ducks to
call our lake home, Brian is offering to build wood
duck nest boxes for all of our lake
neighbors who would like one, no
charge. So if you have a nice location, near woods, shrubs or up in mature
trees and would like a box, email us at
[email protected]. We will make
sure to help you get these up so that next Spring, there will be even more
wood ducks on our lake.
May 2018
Friends of Portage Lake Our Mission
To learn, study and monitor the
condition of Portage Lake and take
steps to keep it healthy and viable.
2018 Board Members
Greg Dedes - Secretary
Nancy Lane & Snug Harbor
Richard Flegel Klines Resort
Kevin Hughes Treasurer
Davis Drive [email protected]
Chris Miller Lake Ave.
Mark Parks President
North End [email protected]
Frank Peterman -South end
Elayna Stierhoff
www.friendsofportagelake.com
.
by Elayna Stierhoff
This month, my husband,
Brian and I were excited to
look out our window toward the lake and see five beauti-
ful wood ducks along the
shore, and four more up on
big limbs in our two sugar maples.
That’s right, ducks in trees high off the
ground. Wood ducks are the only
ducks to nest in tree cavities. These, however, were attracted to two nest
boxes that we had put up for them,
hoping the ducks would take to them.
Wood ducks are probably the most beautiful duck in
Michigan. The
male is multi-
colored with white striping and a red
eye. The female is
a warm-toast color
all over with a striking white eye
ring. The male has
been known as the
“bridegroom drake” because of all his beautiful markings.
These ducks are a bit smaller than a
mallard and are really shy. They will
often take flight if they see you, with the female making an alarm call as she
flies. Wood ducks prefer shallow wa-
ter wetlands, lakes or ponds surround-
ed by woods. They are “dabbling ducks”, meaning they feed in shallow
Our Beautiful Nesting
Wood Ducks
Over 50 Years on Portage Lake: Meyer/Peterman Family
P a g e 2 P o r t a g e L a k e R e p o r t
By Frank & Helen Peterman
Our family has had an amazing
relationship with Portage Lake for
over 50 years. Our saga
began in the 1950’s, when
the Meyer’s began renting
a cottage for a week every
summer at Hines - later
Klines - Resort. Bernard
& Marian Meyer were
joined by Bernard’s
brother Jim (and Ruth)
from Memphis, and
Marian’s brother Bud
(and Mary) Brouwer.
We all had fun during
that week at the resort.
We rented three of the old
heavy steel rowboats and fished eve-
ry day. We mainly caught crappies,
trolling with hot shots along the
shoreline in front of the resort. On
Tuesday and Thursday our fish fries
would feed 15 to 20 family mem-
bers. Aunt Ruth served her famous
hush puppies, Mom Meyer always
made applesauce and Aunt Mary her
delicious coleslaw.
As the cousins grew older, an in-
flux of friends joined the gatherings,
including Frank Peterman, who be-
gan dating Helen in 1960.
Before long another generation
was enjoying the lake, as Frank and
Helen’s sons - Scott & Jim - created
their own memories here. As teenag-
ers they joined their resort friends on
Mrs. Weinberg’s detasseling crew. It
was hot, hard work, but they all had
fun working together!
By the time Scott and Jim married
and started families, we were renting
two cottages from May to October to
accommodate the whole family.
What fun our six grandchildren - Jes-
sica, Josh, Kaylee, Erin, Anna and
Heather - had at the
lake. Everyone enjoyed
the nightly campfires
and all the stories and
memories from past
years. There was always
hot chocolate, popcorn,
hot dogs, or whatever
we were hungry for that
night.
The grandchildren loved
to go to the camp store
to see Mrs. Kline
(Joyce). That was a
highlight of the day, coming back
with a fist full of Hot Balls! They re-
member the playground “HIGH”
slide that got so hot our grand-
daughters complained that their
“fannies stick to it.” Softball games
pitted kids from Michigan vs. Indi-
ana; between innings someone would
run over to check the pike lines cast
nearby. Our sons made so many
friends each summer.
The years passed, and in 1998 the
resort cottages were retired. After 40
wonderful years at Klines Resort, the
Peterman family needed more room.
So we bought a year-around home
across the lake. Now we are introduc-
ing our great-grandchildren to the
Portage Lake life at our Lake Ave.
home. Our campfire nights are filled
with memories and stories from long
ago at the resort.
It was so rewarding last summer to
be tubing with two of our grand-
daughters and their kids, our great-
grandkids.
What a deal! Photos: Middle: Picnic at the cottage Bottom: 4 man water skiing
P a g e 3
Save These Dates!
May 24: Spring dinner: 6 pm
June 6: Fishing School 6:30pm
June 16: Fishing Derby: 7 am
July 1: Memberships Due
July tba: Fireworks Spectacular
July 4: Boat Parade: 1 pm
Sept 27: Annual Dinner Meeting &
Elections: 6pm
Dinners will be held at the Clubhouse
at Klines Resort .
Do You Have a Private Water Well?
With the high water that we experienced in Feb-
ruary, some of you may have had surface water
infiltrate into you drinking water well. This may
call for the well to be “shocked” or decontaminat-
ed. If you don’t know much about your well,
don’t worry. The Rural Community Assistance
Program (RCAP) has a free private well program
available to all of us at Portage Lake.
Part of the free service is a program where one of
their Technicians comes to your house to assess
your well. Since their staff member is coming
from a distance, they like to assess several wells
at one visit. I will be coordinating with RCAP to
have my well assessed and can include you well,
too. Just email me that you are interested in hav-
ing your well assessed ([email protected]).
The Technical Assistant can help recommend so-
lutions for identified issues and provide assistance
to access federal, state and other funding for well
constructions and repairs.
RCAP also provides online education to help own-
ers understand their wells and what they need to
know to ensure safe drinking water. The website
has a wealth of information to help you know
how to ensure your well is providing you with
clean water. The information can be found at
http://privatewellclass.org/ Check it out.
By Rick Flegel
Our efforts for the past 8 years have focused on controlling
those aquatic invasives that limit lake use and/or enjoyment
(i.e. - pleasure boating, fishing, swimming, wildlife watching,
etc.) The usual suspects are Curlyleaf pondweed, Eurasian
water milfoil, Cabomba (fanwort), Starry stonewort (a major
focus), and various algae (as needed).
But other invasive plants and animals found in the Midwest
have yet to find their way into Portage Lake. We want you to
be aware of these new invasive species so immediate ac-
tion can be taken.
The watch list plants include Hydr illa, Water Chestnut,
Brazilian Elodea, and Water Soldier. Watch list animals in-
clude the New Zealand Mud Snail, Snakehead and various
invasive carp. You may already know about the invasive Red
Swamp Crayfish found in Sunset Lake near Vicksburg.
The Red Swamp Crayfish is on the ‘watch list’ as well.
If you find any of these ‘watch
list’ Aquatic Plants, please report
them to the Aquatic Nuisance
Control Program 517-284-5593
or email: [email protected]
(pictures required for positive ID).
If you find any of the ‘watch list’
Aquatic Animals, please report
them to DNR Fisheries Division, Seth Herbst 517-284-
5841. Email: [email protected]
Michigan’s invasive species website has additional infor-
mation on the subject of plants and animals of interest:
https://www.michigan.gov//invasives
Note: Invasive plants & animals already identified and being treated (as
listed in first paragraph above) need not be reported to the DNR or DEQ
Pictures and/or
handouts about these
new invaders will be
available at the
Friends of Portage
Lake Dinner meeting
on May 24th.
“Watch List” of new threats:
Observe & Report New Invasives
FPL Spring Dinner Thursday, May 24th
Klines Resort Clubhouse
Dinner at 6 pm Info Meeting: 6:45 pm
Main entre’ (pulled pork/fried chicken) and
beverages provided. Bring a dish to pass (salad or dessert)
and your own table service. Free / donations accepted.
Join us to hear about ways you can help in 2018!
9th Annual JULY 4TH BOAT PARADE
Join “FRIENDS OF PORTAGE LAKE” for
our July 4th boat parade!
Decorate your boat in any patriotic style.
Or be creative with any theme!
YOU MIGHT WIN THE “PATRIOT CUP” TRAVELING
TROPHY. Winner’s name will be engraved on it for 2018
and you will be able to display it proudly all year!
OR COME UP WITH YOUR OWN IDEA and win the
“MOST CREATIVE” trophy that you get to keep!!
TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND JOIN THE FUN
TIME: 1 PM starting in front of light house
Every participant will receive a souvenir trophy at the fall dinner.
For more information contact:
Kevin Hughes Phone: (269) 649-9535 Email: [email protected]
FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
Date tba
PRESENTED BY KEN KOOLE
Ken does a great job each year with his display!
Donations Accepted (269)569-0248
Spring is here… Finally!
Now is the time to renew your
Friends of Portage Lake Member-
ship for 2018. If you become a
first time member, or are a new
owner / access site owner on Por-
tage Lake, we would welcome
you! Upon joining FOPL you will
also receive a color contour map
of Portage Lake. You can find the
2018 membership form with this
newsletter or on our web site.
The annual membership fee re-
mains just $25 per home/parcel.
Members are a key part of the de-
cision making process for our
board. Please consider joining by
the July 1st deadline.
Current Balance:
$12,138.65
Expenses covered by this fund
include the following: Liability
insurance, Trophies for Boat Pa-
rade, Spring and Fall Dinner ex-
penses, Membership in MLSA,
Spring MLSA conference, Fees to
the State of Michigan.
In addition, these funds would be
used to cover any shortfall in the
assessment fund in the event that
our lake treatment needs exceed
the balance in the township as-
sessment account.
Kevin Hughes, Treasurer
Treasurer’s Report
Portage Lake Fishing School & Derby
School: Wed. June 6, 6:30 pm
Meet at Resort tent
Derby: Sat. June 16 from 7 am - 12 noon
Register at old resort boat landing
in front of Kline’s house.
QUESTIONS? Call Jim Hamrick 269 -649-5339
0r email: [email protected]
