2020 Letter to HLSIO Supporters
Higgins Lake Swimmer’s Itch Organization
P.O. Drawer 665, Grayling, MI 49738
Dear HLSIO supporter,
Forgive me if I seem thrilled to say …. As we come to the end of 2020 …..
I’m including here (attached) your HLSIO year–end report based on the 2020 work done by Swimmer’s Itch Solutions (SIS) on Higgins Lake. If there is a highlight to this calendar year it may be that Higgins Lake saw no Common Merganser broods on the lake this summer which contributed to another season of very low incidence of Swimmer’s Itch.
Our goals at the beginning of the season were to continue to do the things that have been successful for us in the past and to do the things necessary to be able to continue our successful program in the future. To this end, we once again contracted with SIS, Dr. Curt Blankespoor and Dr. Randy Dejong, to be in charge of monitoring the lake wide swimmer’s itch (SI) conditions and addressing the remedies to minimize SI at Higgins Lake.
We conducted two studies this summer to assess the infection of snails which are the source of the parasite that causes SI. On July 8th SIS examined 2063 Stagnicola snails, the species that pairs with common merganser ducks, and found none to be infected. This study was confirmed later in the summer when members of the HLPOA Environmental Committee collected water samples at 8 locations, on four different dates, for Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. While some samples showed a slight indication of DNA signal, the results also indicated that the existence of SI parasites was negligible.
A second snail study was done this summer as there has been recent evidence that Canada Geese and Helisoma snails can possibly introduce an SI parasite. We examined 257 Helisoma snails collected lake wide and found that none of these snails were infected. This was especially good news because we were not permitted this summer to do Canada Geese relocation as we had in the previous two years, due to state restrictions based on COVID concerns. We believe the potential for SI from Canada Geese is low based on the snail infection level that was found, but we still intend to relocate Canada Geese in the future so as to minimize potential of SI to the Higgins Lake community.
Looking ahead, we had new relocation sites assessed this summer for DNR approval to insure our ability to relocated mergansers in the future. The cost of this assessment was shared by Crystal Lake as their interests parallel our own to be able to maintain an ongoing trapping and relocation program.
Please take a minute and read the 2020 report to familiarize yourself with the details of what I have summarized here. The SIS summary conclusion is worth noting.
“Both avian schistosome metrics (snail infection levels and qPCR) strongly suggest the common merganser brood relocation program has, and will continue to, significantly reduced swimmer’s itch on Higgins Lake. There is every reason to believe that this program alone is responsible for the significant decrease in SI cases since 2015.”
This conclusion is also endorsed by the HLSIO board and is the result of the continued participation of our supporters. SI may never be totally eliminated but our past efforts have proven to be successful in reducing it to a level of minimal inconvenience. Your HLSIO board continues to work to achieve the best possible outcome concerning Swimmer’s Itch at Higgins Lake. And to this end, 100 % of the funding we receive goes to subsidize our program. HLSIO is a 501c(3) tax exempt organization. Donations mailed with a postmark by December 31st are eligible for a tax deduction and will help support our initiatives for future years. HLSIO’s mailing address is:
P. O. Drawer 665, Grayling, MI 49738
Thank you again for your support. Your contributions have been the basis for our success. Please visit our website, HLSIO.org for updates in the future.
Safe and Happy Holidays to all.
Greg Semack
President, HLSIO
Your HLSIO Board
Melanie Brown, Bill Carey, Neal Cooley, Phil Czech, Dale McDonald, John Ogren, Greg Semack, Bob Schneider