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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Jill Jedlicka is Executive Director Of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. The river hit rock bottom in around 1969 when it was functionally declared biologically dead by the federal government. Nothing could survive in the river, there was no oxygen in the water, not even Sludge Worms were living in the bottom of the river, it would change color, it would occasionally catch fire.

What was once a civic embarrassment is now a symbol of renewal. Over the past decade, a torrent of organizations has worked hard to restore the river. One of the most visible signs of life are the aquatic vegetation recently planted along the shore. From an environmental standpoint the re-establishment of sub aquatic vegetation and emergent vegetation is an indicator for the health of the river.

The Swamp Devil Aquatic Vegetation Cutter (formerly known as the Cookie Cutter) has been used on Lake Victoria since 1998 to help control dense mats of water hyacinth. A film crew from National Geographic visited our base in Kisumu for three days to shoot exciting footage of the equipment in action. While they were out on the lake, they happened to film a rescue made by the Aquarius staff, who retrieved two fishermen who had been trapped in their boat for two days, stuck in the dense weed growth.

The exotic water hyacinth has severely impacted the Lake Victoria region from both an environmental and an economic perspective.

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Instead of a hardened seawall aimed at protecting shores from erosion, living shorelines use vegetation and other natural elements like oyster shells to stabilize estuarine coasts, bays, and tributaries.

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The last several decades have been unkind to wild rice in Wisconsin.

The resource has deep cultural roots in the state, especially for Ojibwe tribal members. But it has been disappearing on lakes and rivers.

The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission estimates about half of the wild rice that once grew in Wisconsin is now gone. Five or six percent disappeared in the last decade.

Now, the Wisconsin DNR and a group of partners are trying to bring back what was lost on Spur Lake.

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The abuse began in the 1800’s during the lumber era when sawmill debris was tossed into the lake waters and continued in the 1900’s as foundries and factories further contaminated the waters by dumping countless tons of wood, foundry slag and wastewater into the lake.

Muskegon Lake has been contaminated with heavy metals, petrochemicals, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls from municipal and industrial discharges. The lake was an open sewer for industry up until 1973 when a massive wastewater management system began treating industrial sewage.

Over the past several decades, cleanup efforts have transformed Muskegon Lake into a one of Michigan’s best inland fishing and recreational lakes. A new project will help toward removing the lake from an area of concern by removing large debris such as tires, metal and chunks of concrete from the lake bottom. The project also includes restoring 10.3 acres of wetlands and 325 feet of shoreline.

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How to Improve Your Properties Shoreline:

• Install a buffer zone – Leave or plant a buffer of natural vegetation can reduce erosion, maintain water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife

• Native plants. Leave or plant native aquatic plants to help support lake wildlife and minimize erosion

• Limit turfgrass- turfgrass has shallow roots and requires lots of maintenance

• Minimize impervious surfaces such as concrete or asphalt- this will decrease the amount of run-off containing chemicals from getting into the lake

• Leave fallen trees- fallen trees in the water will provide habitat for fish and wildlife

• Use minimal sand- minimize the size of your sandy beach to allow for more natural vegetation onshore and in the water

• Practice bioengineering- also known as lakescaping, is a method using native plants, biodegradable products and other natural materials (rock) to provide a stable shoreline

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