What your Improvement Board is doing about Aquatic Plant Control?

What was done in 2007: Grid survey completed and will be improved in 2008

To better locate Eurasian milfoil beds in Lake Mitchell, an 11-hour survey of the lake was conducted on June 5^th, during which time a lake grid of 267 points was checked for milfoil. A rake head attached to a rope was tossed in likely milfoil areas in an effort to find evidence of the weed. No milfoil was found at depths greater than twelve feet. At this time of year most plants are small and not-visible at depths greater than five feet so dragging a rake across the bottom is the only method of detecting deep water plants. Initially 239 acres of milfoil was found and subsequent surveys revealed more milfoil. By season’s end 305 acres was treated with 2-4-D. Areas where the plants resisted the first treatment were dosed again with 2-4-D at no charge.

The result was that there was less milfoil visible during the summer, but the lake board is still concerned about the amount of milfoil that could be seen in mid-summer. Visible milfoil beds were marked by GPS readings in the late summer and fall and will be treated in 2008. In addition the grid points will be recalibrated putting them closer together which will allow a more comprehensive examination during the early summer boat survey.

Lake Cadillac has been treating Eurasian milfoil since 2006. To learn more about their program check out their website.

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/wexford/LC/index.html

Thirty-one acres, predominantly in the Franke and Little Cove area, were harvested in late June. Weed cutting is done where weeds grow so thick that normal boating is impaired as vegetation fouls propellers and is sucked into engine uptakes. The harvester blades are prohibited by law from digging into the bottom because that would legally be considered dredging. The harvesters cut rather than uproot weeds. Typically within a month to six weeks after a cutting has been made, the weeds grow back. It appears, in some cases, that they grow back thicker than the original crop. For this reason harvesting is only used in areas primarily near docks where boating has been made difficult because of the presence of vegetation.

The Lake Mitchell Improvement Board will continue to deal with Eurasian milfoil and nuisance weeds in 2008 by following the Board’s

stated objectives for aquatic weed control. In order of priority these objectives are stated as follows:

1) Control Eurasian milfoil in the main part of the lake.

2) Remove vegetation that hinders boaters’ access to the lake.

3) Clear thick weeds away from ends of docks.

4) Provide roadside pick up for weeds.

To meet these objectives the Board held a public hearing on January 13^th 2007 for the purpose of raising the property owners’ assessments and getting feedback from members of the Lake Mitchell Association.

Early June – comprehensive survey of lake conducted at 267 GPS grid points to locate Eurasian milfoil and determine harvesting needs

Mid-June - 2-4-D applied in all areas that are more than 250 feet from shore. (2-4-D cannot be used within 250 feet of any shallow wells.)

Milfoil and nuisance plants near the shore, will treated with Renovate and Reward chemicals. For more information see "Chemical Treatment and Harvesting Procedures."

Late June - In addition to chemically treating thick vegetation in coves, harvesting will be done in late June to remove the vegetation near docks and to provide navigation paths so boats can enter and exit the coves. As the harvesters cut the weeds, they will collect them so the weeds do not pile up and clog these waters. For more information see "Chemical Treatment and Harvesting Procedures."

July – Surveys done to determine effectiveness of chemical treatment and harvesting and where deficiencies are noted, corrections are made.

The roadside pickup program will continue to operate starting the week before Memorial Day and ending the week after Labor Day. For more information see "Roadside Pickup."