New invading noxious weed
Fast growing: Purple Loosestrife recently found in lakes
These purple plants are a recent introduction to the Briggs chain.
Now is a good time to stop the spread before they become too established!
We need to keep finding and removing them to prevent a resurgence.
Please report any sightings! (See home page under "Contact Us")
What you can do to control purple loosestrife (along with reporting)
- Digging, Hand-pulling and Cutting. Pulling purple loosestrife is best when the infested area is small. ... (permits not required)
- Chemical Control. Herbicide can be used to spot treat small infestations of purple loosestrife. ... (permit needed - free)
Removal project complete - please report any new cases
A crew from Waterfront Restoration spent Friday (8/13) removing massive amounts of this invader mostly from the bayou area. Now we need to use education to keep things under control in the future. These plants may be pretty but they are trouble..
Golden Clam Study - Briggs Chain of Lakes
New AIS in Briggs (aparently not an imminent threat)
In 2020 summer, volunteers with a Sherburne SWCD monitoring program found an interesting species of clam at the public boat access on Briggs Lake. This clam, the golden clam (sometimes referred to as Asian Clam or by its scientific name, Corbicula fluminea), is not native to North America and may have been accidentally introduced because of its use in the food and aquarium industries or as a “hitchhiker” in the transfer of other species. The golden clam is not thought to be able to tolerate Minnesota’s harsh winters; until recently they have been only reported as being found in open water systems such as major rivers that infrequently freeze over or near power plants where cooling water discharge keeps the waters warmer. The Briggs Lake golden clams are the first known discovery in a Minnesota inland lake where live individuals were discovered with the potential for over-winter survival to have occurred. Currently, the clams are not known to exist in other places of the Briggs Chain but it is entirely possible for them to exist elsewhere.
The most prominent impact of golden clam in the areas it invades is biofouling (clogging) of infrastructure. While the Minnesota climate seems to be unlikely to support populations that would lead to widespread, severe impacts this discovery warrants further investigation. Sherburne SWCD is partnering with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) to study the golden clams in Briggs Lake. We will be visiting Briggs Lake monthly in the next year to document water conditions and observe the survivability of the clams. Before we begin our study, we would like to gain knowledge on where in the lake chain these clams are occurring. With that, we are circulating this notice to ask for your help in finding clam populations. If you would like to assist us with this study, please follow the procedure below:
Review the attached golden clam (aka Asian clam) identification sheet or visit the MAISRC Identification Guide online and find the clam on page 34.
Full report to follow soon...
2021 end of year Golden clam sampling
EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL remains in Big Elk (2021)
Additional Information
2021:
New survey shows increased EWM over 2020. Chemical treatment was done in late August, 2021. The EWM was found along the south shore of Big Elk. After treatment survey showed no full EWM plants, (but some fragments). Water was not clear and should plan for likely regrowth in 2022. Download the ELK EWM survey report (listed below) for more details.
2020 (fall) :
Two rounds of hand pulling done and chemical treatment is recommended in 2020.
The poor shape of the plants makes it less likely chemicals would help now.
More plants than expected with multiple heads implies this was here last year.
The fast flow in the spring may mean trying to treat a little later when flow is settled down.
There were about 5 five gallon buckets of plants removed by hand.
Area residents should learn how to identify this invader and keep a watchful eye out for plants that should be removed quickly. Especially in the river outlet which was not part of the survey.
At the end information was relayed to DNR . 9/18/2020 - 9/20/2020
Notice
Curley-Leaf spray update:
Took place 5/5/21
Only moderate results observed.
ALSO
Granular control product ordered from Lake Management:
Follow directions carefully as to do no harm. (for you're fishing friends)
Thanks!
EWM NEWS
IS EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL ERADICATED ON RUSH LAKE?
Once Eurasian watermilfoil is established (as it was in 2013), it is nearly impossible to eradicate.
In 2019 there were suspected plants reported in a single location and when I went to hand pull them they were not found.
The precaution was taken to hand rake the entire area and remove all plant material within 50 feet of the suspect spot.
Since there was nothing found no treatment was performed.
2021 and 2020 surveys were unable to locate plants to treat as well meaning no treatment or hand pulling two years in a row.
A followup look will take place in August as was done last year to be sure.
We also hope that residents keep an eye out and report any sightings of the plants.
Identification information can be found on page 11 of the Welcome to Community Information (2018) (pdf)Download
under the membership section of the BriggsLakeChainAssociation website.
The 2020 version did not include that information due to printing costs.
Response from DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist:
"We would consider it successful if it is not observed after 5 years.
Technically we have been without EWM for for three of those five years.
This year there is increased native plant growth which can help prevent EWM from taking hold again.
Sherburne County park plans on Elk Lake
Additional Information at SCTIMES.com...
High-risk oak wilt season is now: Do not prune oaks
April marks the beginning of the high-risk season for oak wilt.
Do not to prune oaks from April through July! This is the best way to prevent the spread of the deadly oak wilt disease.
Oak wilt is a nonnative, invasive fungal disease that kills all species of oak in Minnesota. It spreads two ways: above ground by sap-feeding beetles and below ground through connected roots. By avoiding pruning or cutting oaks in spring and early summer, people prevent fungus spread by sap beetles carrying spores from infected trees to fresh cuts.We live in Oak Wilt territory and are in the highest danger season April, May and June for spreading Oak Wilt. While all species of oak can be affected, oaks in the red oak group (oaks with pointed lobes on their leaves) are by far the most susceptible and are probably the most abundant tree in our yards. Northern red and pin oaks can die within two to three months of infection. White oaks are the most resistant and may survive for years after infection. Bur oaks are intermediate and may die within two to three years of infection.
For more details on oak wilt prevention and how best to deal with infected trees and wood, see the DNR’s oak wilt management webpage.
Winter is the time to get the dead oak branches trimmed and removed.
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has killed millions of ash trees since 2002.
Minnesota currently has the largest Ash tree population in the United States.
Don’t move firewood to or from your lake home from long distances.
(You typically can’t see if firewood is infested or not, so why take the risk?)
Emerald Ash Borer is on its destructive path (CLICK HERE FOR KARE 11 STORY)
It is spreading too! Now only 6.5 miles east and southeast of Elk River: (CLICK HERE FOR MAP)
Early detection is critical to minimizing tree loss and the subsequent loss of environmental benefits.
EURASIAN MILFOIL ON RUSH LAKE.
Eurasian watermilfoil closeup (EWM)
Eurasian watermilfoil closeup (EWM)
Eurasian watermilfoil closeup (EWM)
- (EWM) was detected on Rush Lake during the survey to map the 2014 treatment areas for the invasive curlyleaf pondweed that infests Briggs, Rush and Julia.
EWM Handpulling bagged plant
Eurasian watermilfoil closeup (EWM)
Eurasian watermilfoil closeup (EWM)
- Make double sure boats, trailers, jet skis, docks, swim platforms, etc. are carefully inspected, properly cleaned and dried before they are transported from our lakes.
EWM Handpulling diver
EWM Handpulling diver
EWM Handpulling diver
Determining weather there is EWM or Northern milfoil takes practice.
EWM Handpulling
EWM Handpulling diver
EWM Handpulling diver
Please learn about identification, prevention and treatment. We need everyone’s help.