This is a short update and request for help from the Higgins Lake Swimmer’s Itch Organization (HLSIO). As we strive to maintain our success in managing Swimmer’s Itch (SI), we need your support. You can make a significant difference in our efforts to understand and mitigate Swimmer’s Itch in our beloved lake.As you know, HLSIO has made great progress in reducing Swimmer’s Itch over the past decade. Unfortunately, the US Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) has suspended our Merganser Relocation program for 2025, which is a key piece of our efforts to reduce SI. We are also aware there are at least a couple Merganser broods on the lake. While this increases the likelihood of higher rates of Swimmer’s Itch in 2025, we remain optimistic the impact this year will be relatively low due to our prior efforts. We are talking to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), USFW, as well as our state legislators in hopes of better news. However, the DNR/USFWS have been largely unresponsive and our efforts with government representatives will take time. Please know, we are still doing everything possible to be able to control SI on Higgins Lake!
HLSIO conducts several initiatives that help us track our progress minimizing Swimmer’s Itch. These are all critical steps to understanding the elements impacting Swimmer’s Itch, as well as it’s prevalence.
They include:
Merganser trapping/relocation —as mentioned above, suspended once again by DNR/USFW due to risk of spreading Avian Flu — we are working on alternative solutions to present to DNR/USFW
Bird surveys —tracks quantity and types of birds on the lake
Snail infection rate studies —measures how many snails have the parasite causing Swimmers Itch
Water exposure study —tracks frequency of Swimmers Itch cases among regular users of the lake
Canada Geese Nest/Egg Destruction— Spring removal of nests and eggs has been conducted for several years. No action on hatched/hatching nests.
HLSIO.org website —for communications, as well as reporting of Swimmer’s Itch cases and merganser broods.
Over the past few years, we conducted the Higgins Lake Water Exposure Study. We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who participated in prior years’ studies. Their enthusiasm as citizen scientists has been inspiring. We are gathering valuable insights allowing us to track Swimmer’s Itch outbreaks and better manage their occurrence. Understanding the affected areas helps us identify the causes and works towards effective solutions. However, we are eager to accumulate as much data as possible, as it will help in our efforts to demonstrate to the DNR and our Representatives the impact of Swimmer’s Itch.
So… what can you do?
Participate in our survey! We need more volunteers in 2025, particularly as we are concerned there will likely be an increase in Swimmer’s Itch cases due to more broods of Mergansers on the lake this Spring.
Here’s the process to share your experience:
First, sign up for the study at (https://forms.gle/SkuHfzymrxQnNXZD6).Then, after your time in the water, we kindly ask that you please fill out a short survey at (https://forms.gle/RSRfPVptroXVJ56J9) You should fill out the survey, regardless of how long you were in the water or whether or not you got Swimmer’s Itch.
The survey is quick and easy, and anyone using the lake can participate. Ideally, we encourage you to complete the online survey after each visit or whenever your friends and family spend more than a few minutes in the water.
If you think you are more likely to remember to record data if you had something at the beach or on the kitchen counter, we are offering an old-fashioned paper record! Just let us know and we will send you a paper sheet that you could keep in a convenient place to make your recordings. Then all you have to do is take a photo and send it to us, and we will enter in the data!
Other ways to support our efforts:
Stay informed: For further information on our initiatives regarding Swimmer’s Itch, including results from last year’s Higgins Lake Water Exposure Study, please visit our website at www.HLSIO.org. There, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of our work and the steps we are taking to address this issue. Knowledge empowers us to make informed decisions and drive positive change.
Donate: you can donate to us directly through the www.HLSIO.org or join us at our annual Fundraising Dinner at Witt’s Barn, Thursday August 14th. Tickets are for sale, reach out to Greg Semack at cmak3@msn.com, or higginsswimmeritch@gmail.com. It’s a fun evening with a lovely dinner catered by Fred’s and 100+ of your new best friends. Please join us for a little Swimmer’s Itch education, great food, and some nice music in an amazing place. Here is more information. If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at higginsswimmersitch@gmail.com.