wisconsin dnr – Aquarius-Systems

Lake George Herbicide Use Raises Questions on Long-Term Impact

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:41:53 +0000

The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is using an aquatic herbicide at two points along Lake George in New York State. At both sites, the problem is growth of Eurasian Watermilfoil, an invasive plant species that grows quickly in water bodies it’s tracked into.

The APA conducted monitoring and said the herbicide eliminated all traces of Eurasian Watermilfoil and found no significant impact on other plants, or degradation in wetlands. However, not every group tasked with caring for Lake George or the Adirondacks is convinced about ProcellaCOR EC yet. There isn’t enough long-term evidence of the herbicide’s safety. Some factors have to be measured over a lot of time.

In some cases, other states have made their own observations about the effectiveness of ProcellaCOR EC and the drawbacks that could manifest. From a document on the herbicide’s use by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

“It is important to note that repeated use of herbicides with the same mode of action can lead to herbicide-resistant plants, even in aquatic plants. Certain hybrid Eurasian watermilfoil genotypes have been documented to have reduced sensitivity to aquatic herbicides. In order to reduce the risk of developing resistant genotypes, avoid using the same type of herbicides year after year, and utilize effective, integrated pest management strategies as part of any long-term control program.”

Read More https://www.news10.com/news/north-country/inside-the-herbicide-that-may-see-use-in-lake-george/

Hand Pulling Starry Stonewort Helps Protect Native Plants

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 22:03:03 +0000

Heidi Bunk, a water resources management specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said while the long-term effectiveness of hand pulling the invasive species starry stonewort is still being evaluated, it can be advantageous because it allows for the removal of starry stonewort without harming native species in the way chemical treatments might.

She said lakes that are over-managed with chemical treatments, which can kill native plant species, can actually increase the spread of some non-native species. She said while the treatment may temporarily reduce a starry stonewort population, it also opens the door to future spreading by potentially killing native plants that would otherwise compete with the invasive species.

Study Finds Herbicides for Eurasian Milfoil Can Harm Native Aquatic Plants

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 22:28:16 +0000

Lake managers might be hurting native aquatic plants – instead of helping them – when they use chemicals to control invasive plants on entire lakes.

New research by Wisconsin DNR Lakes and River Team Leader Dr. Alison Mikulyuk shows native plant communities can struggle when chemicals are used to target invasive Eurasian watermilfoil.

It appears the effects on native plants are worse than if there were no treatment at all.

Fate of Upper Spring Lake in Court

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 18:02:33 +0000

In 1970 Beth Martineau fought the Conservation Commission (the predecessor of the Department of Natural Resources) over access to Upper Spring Lake in Palmyra Wisconsin as they attempted to add the property to the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Now, the fate of Upper Spring Lake is once again back in court. The original dam was washed out while the current owners were under negotiations to buy the property out of bankruptcy. When the deal went through, the owners worked with the DNR to rebuild and improved, modern dam; spending about $1 million in the process.

As part of the dam permitting, the creek became a navigable waterway and canoers and kayakers were allowed to portage past the dam. As more visitors arrived, some quite carelessly and with little respect for the water and surrounding lands, the owners posted “Private Property” signs. It will be up to the courts to decide if in the fact it is private property or DNR land.

Beth Martineau was ruled to own “as much land as the water covered when the water at the old dam was 13 feet, 4 inches deep. Because it was somewhat lower in 1972, the judge said Martineau also had a strip of dry land varying from 6 to 50 feet around the water’s edge.” The DNR is claiming the owners are exceeding the 13-foot-4-inch water level behind the dam, meaning more water is impounded and trespassing on state forest land that surrounds the lake.

Wisconsin Phosphorus Rules Target Algae and Water Quality

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:15:00 +0000

In December, 2010 Wisconsin became the first state in the country to adopt phosphorus water quality standards for lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved Wisconsin’s revised rule as a revision to Wisconsin’s federally-approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program under the Clean Water Act.

Under the new rules DNR determines the phosphorus discharge limits based on the condition and quality of a watershed. Limits can vary depending on whether a waterway is already impaired by phosphorus, among other factors.

Already this summer, many Wisconsin lakes are experiencing algae blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth, both of which are fueled by phosphorus pollution. The excess nutrients increase the populations of algae, which can multiply in waterways particularly when the water is warm and the weather is calm.

Algae is typically not harmful to humans, however, some species produce toxins which can affect people by causing illness so swimming and other water activities should be avoided in areas where algal is present. Blue-green algae blooms have been blamed for the deaths of many dogs which are more vulnerable because they often drink the contaminated water or swallow the algae as they clean their coats.

Almost 175 Wisconsin waters are officially listed as “impaired” due to excessive phosphorus levels. The new rules will help clean up those lakes and protect the others. The new rule is in addition to a smaller effort from 2009 which restricted the sale of fertilizers containing phosphorus and banned the sale of dishwasher detergents with phosphorus.