Category: Environment

The water quality report from volunteers in cooperation with LDCA has been published.  See the details here.

This year LDCA again obtained an EGLE/DNR permit to inventory and manage the volume of Canada Goose families on the waterways of Lake Diane. Trained members of LDCA and volunteers will be canvassing the shorelines of Lake Diane and adjoining tributaries under permit throughout April.

If you see a nesting pair of Canada Geese (not other water fowl) please notify one of the LDCA board members with the location and when you saw the pair. All activities MUST be inventoried under permit to avoid undue impact to our ecosystem and balance.  The goal is to manage the population for proper ecological balance (fecal levels), not eradicate waterfowl.

For information about the permit, intended outcomes, and program in general, please see : https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-permits/canada-geese-permits

As of 2pm EDT 03/11.2026: 

The levels of Lake Diane have risen to 40cm (just under 16″) above the low water level from October 2025.  

Levels appear to be rising slowly – some docks and piers and shorelines have been inundated with very minor flooding 

Surface temperatures are near 50’F although wind changes can cause uplift and changes

Rainfall over the last five days :  upwards of 3.5″ ; 2″ of that was in the last 20hours

July 15 – re-treatment

July 15-19 – avoid irrigation inclusive

Solitude will be on site at Lake Diane to touch up areas that are needed for re-treatment.  A survey was done along with participant reports and through our contract we will have those areas touched up to ensure the intended outcome of weed management.

Advice is to turn off irrigation systems for July 15-19 or as directed on the posted yard signs that will be put out in the coming days in areas of treatment.

Skin contact avoidance recommended for 24hrs – see yard postings for exact specifications in your area.

(updated with most recent EGLE posting)

Map of participation

Treatment scheduled for Tuesday June 17th

Flag Posting has occurred and is used for:

1.  notify the public and landowners of the treatment and restrictions as a result for the safety of animals, plants, and humans
2. help the navigators on the boats see where the GPS locations are for treatment and non-treatment.  

Flag placement will not be accurate to the lot lines of your property.  Treatment is done via GPS navitgation.   Flags are also places in regions to be treated and regions to not be treated.   For example, 10 lots in a row may only have two flags.   Flag color changes are there to help the navigators know boundaries of treat and skip (e.g. moving from a green section to a pink section means that is a boundary or vice versa) .   Moving the flags will not cause a change in treatment as it is only used to help orient the navigators and not the GPS location of treatment.   If you feel a section is grossly incorrect (ie. an entire area is skipped) please notify the LDCA board to have it corrected ASAP.   An example of an error to notify is if there are no signs on your lots or neighbors lots and there is supposed to be a spray and non spray in that area.    Another example would be if you see a color change pattern that does not map to the drawing above.   Do not notify if your lot is missing a sign – check the signs around you to the map as it may be part of a larger region of multiple lots. 

Here is an example flyer

Please ensure your irrigation systems are turned off Monday and follow the posting on your lawn or check back here or with LDCA for restrictions

The LDCA is happy to announce that the permit and logistics for approval for weed treatment has been granted.

The association has been made aware that there are reports of water fowl that have been subject to Avian Flu.  This is a harmful virus that can affect humans.

1. Remain away from odd acting water fowl (or any bird) and their excrements
2. Report any such behavior or suffering or deceased fowl to LDCA for tracking or as below

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Regarding Canada Goose population.  We. have elected to continue to pursue nest destruction this year under permit and by trained officials.  If you notice a nesting pair, do NOT approach or interrupt their nest. If it very important to manage the nesting a specific way otherwise the birds will re-nest in a more hidden location and avoid population control.  Please Notify someone with LDCA with the location of the pair  so we can have a trained official assess the nest and condition of any eggs.

Here is the list of members and residents who have paid for lake weed treatment.  Payment was due on May 20th.

Updated :June 10,2024

Last Map for June 17th Spray

Restrictions:

• No human skin contact (swimming) until 06/18/2024 (24hrs after treatment)
• No irrigation until 06/22/2024 (food) 06/19/2024 (flowers/lawn)

Treatment

• Tribune – Diquat Dibromide
• Propeller – Flumioxazin
• Cygnet+ – Adjuvant

Treatment provider has adjusted the schedule to the Week of June 17th (due to an equipment failure from treatment company) Signs will be posted Friday June 14th or Saturday June 15th.  It is IMPORTANT to keep these signs on your waterfront until at LEAST the day when human contact with the water is allowed.

Teal = Members and volunteers who submitted payment before May 20th

Red = Late additions negotiated with treatment company

Blue = Additional volunteers who were added after treatment company had to reschedule (additional ~10%)

The H.C.R.C. with the help of federal grants is replacing the St. Joe (of Ohio) river bridges west of Lake Diane.

From the Michigan Department of Health, Branch/St.Joseph/Hillsdale County

The Lake Diane Community Association has been notified by the Director of Environmental Health of Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph CHA that tests of Lake Diane final results have come back as non-detect for harmful toxins.

Thank you to the community for reporting this to community health agency and for all those in the community that helped communicate the information.

In the 1960s, the lake we know of now as Lake Diane was terraformed from the dredging and flooding of lowlands that surrounded two natural lakes. See our History for more. Below is a picture roughly showing what was (according to old maps) and what is now according to the Hillsdale GIS system. Enjoy this mix of history and present.