Who oversees the plant control program?
Plant control activities are coordinated under the direction of the lake board's environmental consultant, Progressive Companies. Scientists from Progressive conduct GPS-guided surveys of the lake to identify problem areas, and detailed plant control maps are provided to the plant control contractor. Follow-up surveys are conducted throughout the growing season to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Who conducts the herbicide treatments and mechanical harvesting?
Herbicide treatments and mechanical harvesting work in Long Lake are conducted by PLM Lake & Land Management Corp.

Who determines when and where treatments and harvesting will occur?
The timing and scope of plant control work is based on where nuisance plants are found when scientists from Progressive Companies conduct their surveys.
 

What plants are targeted for control?
The plant control program on Long Lake focuses primarily on invasive plants, such as Eurasian milfoil, starry stonewort, and curly-leaf pondweed. Invasive plant species have the potential to spread quickly if left unchecked.

How about a pre-emptive strike?
To be effective, aquatic herbicides must be applied directly to the plant beds  when the plants are actively growing. There are no pre-emergence aquatic  herbicides like there are for agriculture.

Why are there still plants in the lake following treatments or harvesting?
In managing aquatic plants, it is important to recognize that most plants are beneficial. Aquatic plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis, help  stabilize shoreline and bottom sediments, and provide cover and habit for a  variety of fish. The main objective of the plant control program on Long Lake is to control nuisance invasive species while maintaining beneficial plants. We do not want to remove all plants from the lake. This would negatively impact the fishery and cause many other problems such as algae blooms.

Are permits required?
In Michigan, a permit must be acquired from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) before herbicides are  applied to inland lakes. The permit lists the herbicides that are approved for 
use, dose rates, use restrictions, and indicates specific areas of the lake where treatments are allowed. Permit requirements are designed to protect public health and the environment. Usually, no permits are required for mechanical harvesting. However, because the pugnose shiner, an endangered fish species, occurs in Long Lake, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires a Threatened and Endangered Species Permit (TE 445) for the use of mechanical harvesting to cut and remove nuisance exotic and native aquatic plant biomass in the lake.

​

Can I apply herbicides myself?
If you have a permit from EGLE, you can treat your own shoreline, but we don’t recommend it. In most cases, it is best to have herbicides applied by a licensed professional applicator rather than attempting to apply herbicides yourself. If applied improperly, herbicides can do more harm than good.

How do herbicide treatments impact swimming and fishing?
All herbicides, except algaecides, formerly carried a 24-hour swimming restriction, but only in the area where treatment occurred as indicated by state-required posting signs. As of 2025, the State of Michigan no longer restricts activity in treatment areas. However, most applicators include language on the required postings asking people to avoid treatment areas on the day of application to prevent interference with treatment activities and to avoid unnecessary movement of water that could reduce treatment efficacy near the treated plant beds. If there are no posting signs, or the sign indicates that only algaecides were applied, there are no water use  restrictions. There are no fishing restrictions for any herbicide treatments.

When can I water my lawn following a treatment?
If you draw water from the lake for irrigation, be sure to read the sign posted along your shoreline at the time of treatment. Most irrigation restrictions do not apply to established lawns. However, it you water flowers or a garden, you should adhere to the irrigation restrictions posted on the sign.

Why didn’t my property get a treatment notice sign?
If there is no sign posted along your property, it means your area was not treated and there are no use restrictions. State regulations require that areas within 100 feet of treatment areas be posted with a sign that lists herbicides applied and the associated use restrictions. Not every property gets treated every time; which properties get treatment depends on where the plants are found during lake surveys.

Is there a permanent fix to the problem?
If conditions are favorable, aquatic plants will grow. However, there are steps property owners can take to help minimize plant growth in the lake such as limiting the use of lawn fertilizers and maintaining natural vegetation along 
the shoreline to prevent nutrients from washing into the lake.

What can I do to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Long Lake?
To help prevent the spread of invasive species, state law requires drain plugs to be pulled, water to be drained, and plants and debris to be removed from boats and trailers before trailering. If you trailer your boat to other lakes, be sure to thoroughly wash your boat, motor, and trailer before launching back into Long Lake.