A Message from Our Leader: Turning Over a New Leaf

Are Misconceptions Making Our Lakes Sicker?

Managing Hydrilla Without Harming the Lake

Muskrats and Aquatic Habitat Balance

Upcoming Conferences

• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• Washington State Lake Protection Association 38th Annual Conference
• Oregon Lake Association Conference
• North American Lake Management Society 45th International Symposium

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A Message from Our Leader: Nature Always Prevails

Hidden Dangers Increase Drowning Risks in Reservoirs

Invasive Species Demand Cooperation, Not Quick Fixes

Balancing Ecology and Community Needs

Upcoming Conferences

• Wisconsin Stormwater Week
• California Lake Management Society 39th Annual Conference
• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• Washington State Lake Protection Association 38th Annual Conference
• Oregon Lake Association Conference
• North American Lake Management Society 45th International Symposium

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A Message from Our Leader: “More rum than fun!”

A Wake-Up Call for Our Waters

The Hidden Water Cost of AI

Wake Surfing – All Eyes on Wisconsin

Upcoming Conferences

• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• California Lake Management Society 39th Annual Conference

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A Message from Our Leader: Clean, Drain, Dry Keeps Lakes Healthy

July is Lakes Appreciation Month—Let’s Celebrate!

When Waterway Management Turns Harmful

Anglers & Boaters are Champions Against AIS

Upcoming Conferences

• Aquatic Plant Management Society 65th Annual Meeting
• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Symposium

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Flint Lake on Valparaiso’s north side is in trouble. Invasive aquatic weeds, especially Eurasian milfoil, have become so overgrown that they’re even interfering with fish population surveys. During a recent Department of Natural Resources (DNR) survey, biologists had to stop two or three times just to clean the weeds off their boat’s propellers.

Herbicide Treatments: A Short-Term Fix with Long-Term Consequences

While treatments for Eurasian milfoil might seem like a good solution, they often come with serious environmental trade-offs. Herbicides do not actually remove the plants—they simply kill them where they grow. This leaves large amounts of decaying plant matter in the water, which can significantly reduce oxygen levels. As the plants rot, they consume oxygen that fish and other aquatic life depend on, potentially creating dead zones that are uninhabitable.

To make matters worse, the milfoil in Flint Lake is becoming more resistant to the most commonly used chemical treatments. And if the herbicide isn’t specific to milfoil, it can endanger beneficial native plants as well.

Native Plants: Critical for Young Fish and Water Quality

These native aquatic plants are more than just vegetation—they’re lifelines for young fish. “Anytime you damage these plants, you’re killing hundreds of thousands of babies,” DNR specialist said. Smaller fish use these plants to hide from predators and as feeding grounds. Destroying them reduces fish survival rates and upsets the balance of the ecosystem.

Mechanical Removal Isn’t a Silver Bullet Either

Even mechanical methods have their risks. Fragmenting Eurasian milfoil—chopping it up—can actually help it spread. Each small piece of the plant has the potential to take root and grow elsewhere in the lake.

A Call for Smarter Management

The situation at Flint Lake underscores the urgent need for responsible and effective aquatic plant management strategies. It’s not enough to kill the plants—we must remove them in a way that protects fish habitats, promotes water quality, and prevents further spread.

The newly discovered Salvinia spp. in Lake Victoria likely entered the lake through contaminated fishing gear, boats, or water currents connecting nearby ecosystems. Unlike the regular water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), which forms thick mats on the surface, Salvinia spp. spreads faster and is more resilient under varying environmental conditions. It depletes oxygen more aggressively, suffocating aquatic life and reducing biodiversity. This variant poses a greater ecological threat and requires immediate control measures.

The species negatively impacts fishing, tourism, and water supply, making urgent action necessary.

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A Message from Our Leader:  Honored to Receive the Jim Flynn Outstanding Corporation Award

Spike in Mosquitoes Tied to Invasive Giant Salvinia

First Time Golden Mussels Found in North America

Invasive Species Spell Trouble for New York’s Tap Water

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A Message from Our Leader:  Global Warming Accelerating Environmental Change

Not All AIS Trigger Negative Impacts

River Declared a Living Entity

Wetlands Have Ecological and Economic Value

Upcoming Conferences:

• North American Lake Management Society International Symposium
• Upper Midwest Invasive Species

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A Message from Our Leader: Human Activity and Lake Management

Wildfires Destroy & Pollute

Harvester Removes 35,000 Cubic Yards of Eelgrass

Anglers Say Invasive Plant Spraying is Harming Lakes

Upcoming Conferences:

• Florida Lake Management Society Technical Symposium
• Oregon Lake Association & Washington State Lake Protection Association Joint Conference
• California Stormwater Quality Association Conference
• North American Lake Management Society International Symposium

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A Message from our Leader: Small Change Can Yield Significant Problem

Hundreds of Thousands of Dead Fish

Northern Hydrilla Subspecies Invading New Waterways

Voracious Eaters: Consume Very Little or Everything

Upcoming Conferences:

• Association for the Sciences of Limnology & Oceanography Meeting
• Society for Freshwater Science Annual Meeting
• Federation of Vermont Lakes & Ponds Seminar
• American Littoral Society Sunset on the Bay 2024
• Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference

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