Lake improvement District

 Maps of the surveys used for spraying of Curley Leaf Pondweed. 
    We will be starting a new plan this year and there will be lots of maps to review so we can get it right...

Click on download for survey map.

(2020 updated is to meet DNR max allowed requirements)

Curlyleaf sprouts in the fall and grows over winter limited only by how much sunlight is blocked by the ice. When the ice goes out in early spring, curlyleaf grows fast, forming dense mats blocking sunlight to native plants which have not yet started to grow. In this way curlyleaf out-competes and displaces the native plants. 

Biomass in curlyleaf stands is often much greater than in native aquatic stands which can impair recreational use of lakes and displace native aquatics. 

Curlyleaf decays in early summer (around July 4th), which releases its larger biomass (nutrients) into the water increasing algae blooms and degrading water quality. This decay allows the buds (turions) to become detached and spread planting themselves in the sediment. During the decay sufficient levels of nutrients can ocurr making some areas devoid of oxygen. Low oxygen can cause fish kills and foster blue green algae growth (unsafe for dogs). Lack of oxygen can also lead to chemical reactions resulting in once sequestered phosphorus being released from sediment. 

It is important that any control of curlyleaf pondweed not damage native plants, but rather maintain or increase their abundance. Abundant and diverse native aquatic communities host a variety of helpful organisms. A diverse aquatic plant community can help sustain water clarity by providing a refuge for zooplankton (food for fish), sequestering nutrients (phosphorus for example), reducing sediment resuspension(muddy water), and decreasing algae abundance.

2021 no hand pulling needed (again) due to no EWM found to remove - Rush

However ELK shows EWM increase (see 2021 report and Hand pulling report in News section of BLCA website).

Click on download to view files.

Most current reports (note survey year in title)