As noted in the previous post, the two predominant invasive plant species on our lakes are Eurasian milfoil and curly leaf pondweed. Curly leaf pondweed, which can be seen in mats on the surface of the water, emerged in both of our lakes early this year and sank by mid-June as expected.
In early to mid-June our harvesting crew successfully eliminated as much curly leaf pondweed as possible according to our DNR permits in order to minimize the addition of both phosphorous, which feeds algae, and decaying plant mass, which contributes to muck, in our lakes. According to the Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society, when curly leaf dies it releases a pulse of phosphorous which can lower lake oxygen levels, cause fish kills and lead to algae blooms.
Our mid-May spraying operation targeted 69.7 acres of Eurasian milfoil along specific shores on Whitewater Lake with ProcellaCOR, advertised as a three-year solution for managing Eurasian milfoil. Our harvesting team subsequently has found only modest amounts of weeds on Whitewater Lake. We last used ProcellaCOR on Whitewater Lake in 2021. The DNR-approved spraying map can be found in the "Operations" section of this website.
Weed pickups are on Monday mornings on Whitewater Lake. Please have your weeds on the end of your pier by 8 A.M. on Monday and make sure your weed piles are free of sticks, gravel and sand.