Horseshoe Lake Improvement Association

The Milfoil Situation, Spring 2010

The areas of treatment for Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) have increased from the fall 2009 survey indicators by about 200%.

As you can see by the proposed EWM treatment map, there are extensive areas of the shoreline that will be treated. It is critical that water traffic and fishing activity avoid those areas where milfoil is visible from the surface. Propellers and fishing lures only cause plant fragmentation and aid the further dispersal of the EWM. There are also floating stands of EWM in high traffic lanes that are in water deeper than 8 feet. One area of concern is the traffic lane beginning at the public landing to the main body of the lake. Due to the low water levels, the safe route of travel in this area has been narrowed. There are now either floating or slightly submerged stands of EWM in this high traffic lane. This is just one example of EWM stands that we have not had to contend with in the past. Pay attention to what exists in the top three feet of water where you are boating or fishing. If you do not know how to identify EWM, either check the hlake.org website or ask someone active in the EWM group to identify it for you.

If you are not active in the EWM group, you should consider becoming active. I would say from a personal perspective that the EWM problem is growing faster than efforts to contain it. We need volunteers to aid in three areas, physical, administrative and functional support.

The HLIA has purchased equipment to aid in the physical removal of the EWM. To date there has been very little indication of any interest in using this equipment. The ideal time for physical removal of EWM is between May 15th and June 30th. Because of the early warm weather, this timeframe is early by two weeks, in my estimate. If you are interested in physical removal of EWM, use the resources on the website to get started with the training necessary to use the equipment HLA has purchased and to make contact with those people already involved. There will be EWM removal activities every weekend on the lake until the beginning of July. Pay attention to flags used to mark where those people are working.

Administrative support is necessary for the interaction between HLA, government agencies and private contractors. The primary person performing these functions will be vacating that position at the end of this season and it would be a much easier transition if a replacement(s) were able to ease into the role and have a good amount of knowledge transfer. Without this critical role filled our efforts to control EWM are dead. If this becomes the case, those not involved with physical removal of EWM will want to stop by one of the areas maintained by those who physically remove EWM if you want an area for your family and guests to swim in, in the not so distant future.

Lastly, functional support. If you are unable to participate in the physical removal of EWM or do not have the skills to provide administrative support, we always need other skills, equipment or resources. We have a wonderful relationship with Matt Berg at the Grantsburg high School and his scuba diving club. They are scheduled to dive again this year on June 7th, weather permitting. We need people to provide surface support with pontoon boats and drivers. We need people to donate, prepare and serve food and beverages to that group. We need people to monitor the boat landing and serve as the first contact with people outside this organization on using our lake. We need people to make contact with those on the lake that do not participate in this effort to educate and encourage them to get involved or at least make a financial commitment. There is a large amount of resources that are being provided by a very small number of people on the lake and without an ongoing effort of everyone on the lake, the quality of the lake and activities on the lake will be greatly diminished.

Craig Nackerud

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