What you need to know about… Invasive Aquatic Weeds
Dear Lake Wawasee Residents,
Whether we are fishermen, sailors, surfers, skiers, kayakers or swimmers, we all love the lake’s recreational opportunities. Invasive aquatic weeds, primarily Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and Starry Stonewort (SSW), are nuisances that can negatively impact these uses. Left unchecked, they could overtake all good weeds, ruining our favorite pastimes and negatively impacting our property values. WACF oversees the yearly maintenance for these nuisance weeds in the heavily used recreational areas of the lake, and funding for treatment in past years has primarily come from grants from DNR’s Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) for EWM and from Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for SSW. DNR has been advising us for the last several years to develop a steady funding stream for weed treatment as grant funding may no longer be available, and we have seen a reduction in grant funds recently. Through the generosity of many WPOA members, donations in the past two years have supported the cost-share of these treatments. Sadly, for the first time ever this year, these grants were not fully awarded, and fewer acres of each species were treated. So, a new funding solution is needed. Here are a few key points to give perspective on the situation.
Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), while invasive and a nuisance, can choke out other weeds but will not ruin fish habitat.[BM1] EWM has been treated with a new selective chemical, ProcellaCor, for the last four years. While more expensive than other chemicals, its effects last longer, helping us to manage larger acreage of EWM while treating fewer acres per year. Results have been very positive. Annual EWM treatment has historically been paid for by a matching grant from DNR-Lake and River Enhancement (LARE). The LARE grant pays 80% of the treatment cost, and the remaining 20% is paid by donations to WACF. However, in 2023, WACF was not awarded the requested grant for treating EWM because “DNR must work within a budget, and the grants are competitive” based on the comparative problem in each lake. While EWM is a nuisance, our past work to control it means it’s not currently interfering with recreation.
Starry Stonewort (SSW), first found in a Johnson Bay channel in Lake Wawasee in 2008, spreads fast and is difficult to control. Left untreated, it forms dense mats that can impede watercraft and swimmers. It also chokes out native weeds and can ruin fish habitat. Because it spreads mainly by fragmentation, it should not be harvested mechanically. Based on annual surveys, the frequency of finding SSW in Lake Wawasee is increasing while the EWM frequency is decreasing. There is no chemical known to kill SSW, and it is very hard to control. SSW treatment historically has been funded 100% by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which is administered through DNR. Treatment concentrated mainly on heavily traveled areas and was applied twice a year. As more Midwest lakes become infested, GLRI funding is spread across more lakes and is preferentially reallocated to focus on recently infested lakes. Consequently, for the first time this year DNR funded one treatment in June but did not fund a second treatment. WACF has been advised by DNR and Aquatic Weed Control to find alternative long-term funding sources for weed treatment as GLRI funds are reallocated to recently infested lakes across the Midwest.
Both EWM and SSW can have devastating effects on the recreational quality, on native plant and fish life in our lakes, and on our property values. While we cannot completely eradicate either one, it is vital that we do everything we can to manage their spread. We have reached a critical point between continued weed growth and diminishing funds to treat them. To provide a long-term steady funding stream for weed treatment, WPOA is adding to our dues for 2024 for the first time in many years. This incremental $25/member will go into a separate fund for aquatic weed treatment of the heavily used recreational areas of the lake (does not include treating channels). WACF will continue to oversee the weed treatment, and these special WPOA funds will be used to pay for them. Through this partnership, both organizations are working together to maintain the high recreational value of our beloved Lake Wawasee.
Sincerely,
Beth Morris
WACF Ecology Committee Chair and Board Member
Former WPOA Board Member
Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) is a submerged, rooted perennial that overwinters and grows rapidly in early spring. It reproduces sexually and asexually and also spreads from the regrowth of plant fragments. This makes mechanical harvesting a poor option for control.
Starry Stonewort (SSW) is an algae with no true root system. It is very brittle and fragments easily. It reproduces sexually, asexually and through fragmentation. SSW also forms clones that result from “bulbils” that look like tiny white stars that can remain dormant for years. When you squeeze a handful, you can hear a “pop.”