Minong Flowage Eurasian Water Milfoil Education and Control Project

Minong Flowage Eurasian Water Milfoil Education and Control Project

Image courtesy of Matt Berg, of Endangered Resource Services, LLC

Minong Flowage Association Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) Treatment Program Background
In 2002, Eurasian water milfoil (EWM), an aquatic invasive plant species, was found in the Minong Flowage in Washburn and Douglas Counties. A subsequent plant survey determined that it had probably been present in the Flowage for several years before being detected. Predictions were made at that time that EWM would only grow to nuisance levels in about 100 acres of the Flowage in any given year. Plant surveying from 2008 documented nuisance level EWM growth in more than 300 acres of the Flowage. The Minong Flowage Association (MFA) contracted with SEH to prepare an Aquatic Invasive Species Education, Prevention, and Planning grant application and project description on their behalf. Included in this project was the preparation of an Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Plan. The project was awarded and work to complete the APM Plan for the Flowage with a focus on EWM control and management began in 2008. A 3-year APM Plan was approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in January 2009 making the MFA eligible for Aquatic Invasive Species Established Population Control grant funding.

SEH prepared the new AIS control grant application on behalf of the MFA and submitted it to the WDNR in February 2009. The original project was to have supported the 3-Year Minong Flowage Aquatic Plant Management Plan approved by the WDNR in January 2009. In late March 2009, the MFA was informed that they were to receive funding for their EWM control grant, however, the total monetary amount they were awarded was only 25% of what was requested. As a result, Year One (2009) of the original 3-yr Control Project was revised to accommodate the reduced funding. Another 3-yr AIS Control Project grant application was prepared by SEH on behalf of the MFA and submitted to the WDNR in August of 2009.

A substantial portion of the original three year project included educational activities like the establishment of an annual Lake Education Day, proper technique for the physical removal of EWM, watercraft inspection at all public access sites, and stressing the value of native aquatic vegetation. It also included substantial monitoring for other invasive species, water quality, EWM weevils, and residual testing for traces of 2,4-D, the chemical herbicide being used to treat the EWM. The MFA considers these activities to be extremely important for the overall success of the entire EWM management project. Therefore, none of these activities were removed from Year One of the project to accommodate for the reduced funding. Instead, the MFA chose to reduce the total area of EWM chemically treated in Year One (2009) to 68.5 acres.

The new 3-year EWM Control Grant Project was awarded to the MFA in full in October 2009 with implementation beginning in 2010. Knowledge gained in 2009, will be used to improve the overall EWM treatment program in the next three years. It also helped to refine the other activities related to assessment, monitoring, and education that are included in the approved APM Plan.

A great deal of volunteer time and donated services are necessary to offset the cost of the Minong Flowage EWM Control Project. Volunteers are needed to complete watercraft inspection at the public boat landings, monitoring the lake for the presence of a EWM eating insect, helping with fundraising, and a host of other volunteer opportunities. Please contact one of the representatives listed here for more information.

The MFA appreciates any and all input from lake property owners, lake users, and concerned citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact one of the representatives listed here for more information. Attending all public meetings associated with this project will also give your voice an opportunity to be heard.

Public Project Documents: