Hard studies across the country, by multiple major universities and independent science, have proven a cause of 'Fish Kills' to be Late summer, early Fall Weed Killer Poisoning. Though fish kills occur for various reasons, the most damaging (and most preventable) Fish Kill is the Winter Kill. When the ice thaws, thousands and thousands of fish are found dead. They have been suffocated by a lack of oxygen.

In Michigan, the largest (and most preventable) cause of winter kill is rooted to actions the prior fall season. Lake Associations and lake front home owners purchase and have weed killer distributed in the late summer and early fall. The incredible build up of weed killing poisons not only bond to the weeds, but it links to the gases in the water (CO2 breathed and O2 exhausted) near the weeds. As these plants die, their gases have toxic levels of the poison which usually dissipate into the air via evaporation throughout spring and summer.

However, In Michigan, in the fall, the denser air and soon enough, ice cover, prevents dissipation. The remaining oxygen is now poisoned. These concentrations are closest the very weeds that fish concentrate to receive their oxygen ! In winter, under the ice, with no sunlight or photosynthesis, the remaining weed's oxygen production is now at its lowest. The bacteria, that decay the dead weed, consume much of the remaining oxygen. Fish concentrate even closer to the toxic bottom and soon die, by thousands and thousands. This how you get 50 % fish mortality rates ! 

Next - in the spring, the fingerlings need something called COVER or forage to survive a year or two to grow to a defendable size. But when Lake Associations and  homeowners apply weed kill 2 or more times a year, they turn the public lakes to swimming pools, and with no cover, the fingerling are quickly consumed by bigger fish. Soon the big fish have no food, and they too die, effectively creating a dead lake. It is NOT Because of tournament bass fishermen (98.9 % released back to the lake alive / safe).

This petition is to restrict weed kill applications, not to exceed 1 spraying per year, per lake, And, no weed kill application to any Michigan lake, public or private, past July 10th. If the lake is sprayed in partitions due to size, then only two 25% partitions per year, and, no weed kill application to any Michigan lake, public or private, past July 10th.

Michigan lakes are owned by Michigan's public but managed by local authority. A law, or the restriction is needed to ensure they are being managed for the welfare of the living organisms in the lake, as well as, the people of Michigan. Please sign this petition to support good conservation and responsible lake management.