The study by the U’s Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center looked at 13 years of vegetation survey data collected from about 1,100 lakes by the Department of Natural Resources.

The surprising results: Researchers found no evidence that having a diverse plant community somehow keeps invaders such as curly-leaf pondweed or Eurasian milfoil from taking hold.

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Fishermen certainly appreciate a good balance of both milfoil and hydrilla for bass populations. Less vegetation and it doesn’t provide enough cover for juveniles, and too much makes it too difficult for the fish to navigate – and for the fisherman to locate them. Too much vegetation also causes difficulties for swimmers, skiers and boaters, as well as clogging powerplant intakes and municipal water systems.

Another definite drawback to a lot of milfoil is low oxygen content and increased eutrophication caused by the decaying of the plant.

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Indian Lake Watershed Project Received New Weed Harvester

Aquatic Invasive Species: Eurasian Watermilfoil

Definition of “Waters of U.S.”

The Importance of Restoring Your Shoreline

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The aquatic weed harvesters are used for establishing things like navigation lanes and clearing out areas of varied plant growth, like impacted boating or swimming areas and the weed harvester can remove a lot of plant material.  Alternatives would be more time consuming and expensive!

Funding for the 18-year old program is now in question as concerns were raised whether the harvesters are contributing to the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil by fragmentation in Lake Champlain.

However, an environmental analyst with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation said that there’s no hard scientific evidence outside of anecdotal observation to suggest that harvesting is causing the spread of the milfoil.  There are no data sets to answer whether the two lake weed harvesters are the major spreaders of the invasive plant species when there is plenty of boat traffic making waves and cutting through the invasive vegetation.

As part of a summer-long effort to cut a channel in Black Lake (New York), the Black Lake Association used an aquatic weed harvester to cut and remove invasive Eurasian watermilfoil.  On one September afternoon, the Black Lake Association harvested roughly 6,000 pounds of invasive wet weeds in less than two hours.

The harvested vegetation was taken to a local dairy farm to be used as fertilizer.

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Green Lake Township has for years collected a special assessment tax to pay for Eurasian watermilfoil treatments in Duck Lake, an effort to keep the species’s signature mats of floating vegetation from building up. But not every lakeshore resident thinks it’s worth the trade-off, given other plant species are now gone and certain algae have appeared.

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The Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District is in charge of lake management and its program consists of many pieces of aquatic weed harvesting equipment. It is apparent that an autumn harvest cuts back the milfoil, which is flourishing under the ice, to allow native plants an opportunity to grow.

Pewaukee Lake is about 5 miles long and 1 mile wide and covers 2437 acres. It has a maximum depth of 45 feet and is known for its inland sailing races and abundance of fish. It is a premier lake for Musky, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass.

Pewaukee Lake’s aquatic plants have been monitored since 1988 in an effort to aid in lake management. The lake has a diverse plant community that is dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil but has many native species including Pondweed, Coontail, and Muskgrass.

300 feet out on January 9th, 2013 the Eurasian milfoil is quite healthy and seems to be flourishing under the surface of the frozen lake. This portion of the lake remains untouched by the aquatic weed harvester and the District does not apply aquatic herbicides.

The effective management of the lake has kept the milfoil in check and allowed native species to survive An autumn harvest helps to cut back the dominant milfoil and provides the native plants an opportunity to grow.

75 feet out in 4.5—5 feet of water the crews were able to perform a “deep cut” cutting near the lake bottom. As you can see, there is very little milfoil growth. During the 2011 harvesting program, 11,412 cubic yards of plant material was removed from Pewaukee Lake.

Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states.  TVA maintains 29 power generating dams with reservoirs in addition to another 17 non-power dams that are used solely for flood control and recreation.  TVA is certainly no stranger to invasive species.

Management of invasive plants is necessary to keep the right balance between the diversity and density of plant growth. TVA has been managing invasive plants since the late 1950s, when it began to address the problem of milfoil. In the 1960s, TVA began to use helicopters to chemically eradicate weeds.

One of TVA’s management options is prevention. In some communities the spread of invasive plants have been prevented by quarantining boats on specific bodies of water to prevent transfer.

• Physical management including the use of mechanical weed harvesters or barriers such as plastic to prevent sunlight from reaching the plants.

• Biological methods include the introduction of grass carp to eat the weeds.

• Chemical management includes the use of herbicides to kill the weeds.

• Mother Nature is perhaps the most effective force in managing invasive plant growth. Many of the invasive weeds are susceptible to cold. The past few mild winters in the region might explain the increase of invasive plants on TVA waters.

In a recent workshop on the issue of aquatic invasive species, over 200 people turned out to not only voice their concerns on the growing weed problem, but to learn how they can help in the management.

As a response to the increase of invasive species in Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources in 2009 created NR40,  Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Identification, Classification and Control Rule, to teach people how to identify invasive species as well as ways to prevent their spread.  The rule allows the department to take quicker action against a potential or known invader, as well as to ensure that any actions are consistent.

There are currently 70 NR40 regulated plants in Wisconsin, not to mention a large number of insects and animals.  Some of these include Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic plant that forms dense mats of vegetation on the water’s surface; the northern snakehead, this fish can breathe air and survive up to 14 days out of water has a voracious appetite for fish; and the round goby; a small fish that outcompetes native fish for food and a predator of eggs of native fish.

Preventative steps and invasive species identification are the first and perhaps most important steps in attacking invasive species in Wisconsin.  Your ability to identify and properly report an invader is vital to tracking and removing invasives.  According to the DNR there are five best practices for landowners and land users to be aware of: prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, monitoring, and restoration.

Prevention

Prevention is the safest and easiest way to ensure that are an area remains invasive free.

• After completing outdoor activities inspect clothing and shoes for plant material.
• Avoid traveling in areas where invaders are known to be.
• Clean all equipment used during outdoor activity such as bicycles, lawn mowers, boats, and chainsaws.
• When gardening, do not plant seeds or seedlings that are not native to the area.
• Properly dispose of landscaping materials you will not compost.
• Never transport firewood beyond 25 miles of where you bought it.

Early Detection and Rapid Response

Early detection means a rapid response can be mounted.  If you come across an invader, report your sighting by calling your nearest DNR office or following the steps on their website.

Early detection allows the DNR to formulate the best course of action and may save hours of labor and preventing undue ecological and financial strains.

Containment and Removal

When an invader is found, the best prevention and control method is often an integrated pest management method.  This means using destructive methods on the invaders while performing preventative measures in the affected area to prevent spread.  First it is important to slow and prevent further spread of the invader.  The control method depends on the invader found; a complete list of available methods is available on the Wisconsin DNR website.

Monitoring

After containment and removal activities are completed, a good monitoring strategy can help reduce the likelihood of and invaders return.  Regular checks on previously infected areas as well as surrounding areas will provide early detection if the invasive have returned.

Restoration

By following the DNR’s best practice guidelines, it also helps prevent re-establishment.  Restoring the affected areas of the invasion is an important step to restore its vitality and to help balance the ecosystem.

A Team Effort

Anyone who lives, works, or plays in Wisconsin serves an important role in the battle against invasive species.  Whether you are monitoring your own land, volunteering to pull garlic mustard plants, or merely cleaning plant material off clothes and equipment before leaving an area; they all serve as important steps in preventing the spread of invasive species.