Fall 2014 Volume 6, Issue 3 http://www.longlakepreservation.org Long Lake Preservation Association Newsletter The Long Lake Preservation Association is dedicated to enhancing, preserving and protecting the quality of Long and Tittle Lakes including the north and south channels for future generations through effective environmental and education policies. PRESIDENT S PIER I think it goes without saying, this was really an odd summer from a weather perspective. But now fall is upon us. The leaves are changing color, the evening temperatures have dropped, the Packers are playing, the Brewers are not and Charlie Benson can, once again, be seen rowing up and down the lake in his annual quest for that ever elusive trophy walleye. Well, I am about to get more long winded than usual! There is a great deal of information that we feel we need to share with you so have opted to present things in a bit of a different format than is normal. We will revert back to our traditional format in future editions. This newsletter is also going to take a slightly different track than past editions have taken primarily because of some concerning activities that we feel it important to communicate to our membership, lake property owners and other interested parties. During the past several weeks, I have personally received at least two dozen phone calls and email messages because of an editorial that appeared in the most recent version of the Fishing Club s Newsletter. Pretty much universally I have been asked if leaders of the Fishing Club have concerns about the Invasive Species Treatment Program, why don t they just get together with leadership from the Lake Association and figure it out? Good question! Earlier this year we became aware that two members of the Fishing Club Board had objections to the use of herbicide to treat for invasive species on Long Lake. This awareness did not come because either of the individuals or the entire Fishing Club Board decided to come to us directly to express their concerns. Instead it appears there was a deliberate behind the scenes scare campaign waged with property and business owners. The campaign featured partial, and we believe inaccurate, information. This activity was particularly disconcerting because the Fishing Club has historically been a partner in the battle with invasive species on the lake, working to support the Lake Association s activities since the Association was formed in 2006. In fact, the Fishing Club has been one of the largest financial supporters of this ongoing project since that time and Fishing Club Members were actively engaged in helping to create the Lake Association.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 2 of 26 My recommendation to our Association Board was to take the high road,. We thought the best approach was to invite the entire Fishing Club Board to a meeting where the environmental consultant could provide factual information on what activities have taken place regarding treatment of invasive species and why they had taken place. In addition, we would be able to share what was required of us by the WI DNR to plan for future activities. We thought that sharing facts rather than rumors would be the best approach and provide an opportunity to gauge what the entire Fishing Club Board s thoughts were. We thought this direct approach represented the adult way to communicate and would be helpful in opening a dialog and getting the two organizations working together again. So invites went out, and the meeting was held in May. We had a great turn out and we had hopes for the start of a good dialog. Unfortunately, only two individuals were particularly vocal. They appeared to have a separate agenda and read a prepared statement that appeared as an editorial in the most recent Fishing Club Newsletter. Unfortunately, many of the basic premises described in the statement are only based upon part of the story of Lake Elwood. So our first attempt at a meaningful dialog to resolve matters failed. A key deliverable in securing a State of Wisconsin Grant to help finance the next phase of our ongoing project involves completing a comprehensive environmental study of the lake and its watershed. Our goal was to assemble a team to participate in the project which would be led by the Environmental Consulting Firm, Onterra. So, we made a second attempt at resolving differences by inviting the Fishing Club to participate and asked that four Club representatives be identified to make up half of the working group. The idea here was, if you don t like the direction of things, why not participate and help set the direction. The Fishing Club s President appeared to be enthusiastic about his club becoming actively engaged and having a voice in the process. Two of the Club s Board Members were not very enthusiastic and ultimately, we were told, convinced or coerced the balance of the Board that the Fishing Club should not participate and apparently did so in an off agenda board vote during a meeting their Club President was not able to attend. One of the Fishing Club Board Members has used Lake Ellwood in Florence County, WI as a Poster Child for what they site as a bad outcome from chemical treatment for invasive plants. In fact an article was written that discusses the recovery process required on Lake Ellwood driven by herbicide treatments. The Club Board Member sites this article as gospel and has even suggested that Onterra, our environmental consultant was responsible for the problems experienced on Lake Ellwood. The Fishing Club Editorial specifically challenges Onterra to explain their actions relative to the condition of the lake. This individual fails to reference several other articles that were recently published that provide a much more balanced point of view. When one reads all of the available information, it is hard to not reach the conclusion that several of the folks involved with the original publication including the Florence County DNR Fisheries person, made the determination that herbicides treatments were guilty for a problem lake without carefully collecting, assessing and presenting all of the facts. Good news is a comprehensive study is taking place through 2017 to evaluate the cause of reductions in fish population on Lake Elwood. Currently the reduction in the fish population from drought, herbicide treatments and even wooden fish cribs (identical to those placed on Long Lake) are within the scope of the study as candidates for negatively impacting fish populations.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 3 of 26 The Lake Elwood Association received treatment permits each year from 2003 through 2013 and targeted treatments took place for Hybrid Water Milfoil (a cross between Eurasian water milfoil and the native, northern water milfoil). No lake wide eradication ever took place, intentionally or by error. In fact, for the 10 year period mentioned, treatment only occurred in 7 of the years and out of 130 acres of water, only an average of 5.1 acres were subject to treatment. Neither the LLFC board member nor the article ever mention that Lake Ellwood had undergone a reduction of up to 30% of its water volume since 2003 due to unusually low levels of annual precipitation. After the fact Onterra was contracted by the Lake Association in 2007 upon the recommendation of local officials to oversee development of a proactive plan with additional guidance from the Department of Natural Resources to get the lake into recovery mode. The lake s fisheries are in recovery the data indicate that the aquatic plant community has been in recovery during the HWM control program and never required recovery because of the program. We look forward to learning more as the more comprehensive study is completed in 2017. We took the time to complete some extensive research on Lake Ellwood including phone conversations with property owners on that lake, identifying several other articles that provide a more balanced perspective than the article the Fishing Club board member is using as Gospel on the subject and reviewed numerous scientific studies on the lake. In addition to providing what we believe is a well balanced and more accurate assessment of the problems faced by Lake Ellwood, we have also posted all of the supporting articles, reports and presentations on our Website. You can also do your own research by checking out the Lake Ellwood Association Website and other resources listed on the LLPA Website. Regardless of where you stand on the issues, we ask that you gather as much information as you can and draw your own conclusions based upon all of the facts not just partial truths, rumors and innuendo. Moreover, the heads up on the issues faced by Lake Ellwood is important information as it serves to reinforce the importance of the careful, well planned and executed approach that has been employed right here on Long Lake since the inception of the Lake Association. We fully appreciate and understand the impact of imprudent use of herbicides and have taken the steps recommended by the experts to avoid unnecessary damage to non target plant and animal life. Read more about this further on in this newsletter. We also have information and testimonials from lakes right here in our own backyard and the fisherman, boaters and property owners who use them. Although Long Lake is unique, we feel these local lakes are far more representative and comparable to Long Lake since they share boat traffic, lake users and geographic proximity. Locally, just like Long Lake, both Forest and Kettle Moraine Lakes have had active management programs in place for some time that were much more aggressive than ours in terms of herbicide treatment yet yielded outstanding results. Auburn Lake does not have an active management program and folks on the lake have reported that much of the lake is inaccessible due to extensive infestations of Curly Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil. Experts agree that ultimately these plants will diminish the health of the native plant ecosystem required to sustain the fish and wildlife populations native to these lakes. Because we collectively spend a great deal of time each summer at the State Park Boat Landing related to Clean Boats Clean Waters work, we took the opportunity to interview many fisherman on Long Lake. A
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 4 of 26 number asked to remain anonymous but many agreed to have their names appear in our newsletter. Check out the testimonials in the articles on each respective lake. On Long Lake, fishermen consistently report that the lake is outstanding in terms of fishing productivity. Long lake has a reputation for being a premier fishing lake. Finally, we have interviewed and are maintaining an open dialog with DNR officials including the local Fisheries Biologist and have that information in this newsletter as well. Overall, we hope you will find the various articles in this version of the newsletter to be both informative and interesting. We hope you will find the contents to be helpful in providing you with the facts as fairly as we are able, but again, encourage you to read the source material (available on the LLPA Website in the Newsletter Tab) and explore the Internet on your own so you can come to your own conclusions and form your own opinions. If you do not have access to the Internet and would like a copy of any of the cited resources in this newsletter, please contact me directly and I would be happy to provide you with a copy. I have every hope that you and your family are happy, healthy and ready to enjoy everything the lake has to offer both in and on the water, and yes.on the ice soon to come! Please do call or email any time. I am always happy to listen to your concerns, answer your questions if I am able and find the answers if I am not. Warmest Regards, Mark Patton LLPA President WHAT WE ARE DOING ON OUR LAKE IS PART OF A BIGGER STATE WIDE STRATEGIC PLAN! The state of Wisconsin actually took the time to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to address the issue of invasive species on land and in our lakes & streams. According to State of Wisconsin Statutes, Invasive Species are defined as nonindigenous species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. The state plan was developed to provide a framework of objectives to help guide governmental agencies, jurisdictions and organizations in deploying cost effective means to minimize the introduction of invasive species into Wisconsin and carefully manage the species already established here. Currently, invasive species have been confirmed in more than 700 lakes in Wisconsin. These include both plant life and animals. As we have seen in Long Lake, Zebra Mussels, Curly Leaf Pond Weed and Eurasian Water Milfoil have created both economic and environmental hardship in numerous lakes.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 5 of 26 The map at left identifies lakes where Eurasian Water Milfoil is known to exist. There is a long list of other invasive species, both plant and animal known to exist in Wisconsin waterways. Since 1997, 3918 permits have been issued by the State for chemical treatment of invasive species in Wisconsin waterways. Extensive searches on the Internet have not identified any reported problems with unplanned collateral damage to native plants or animals. Discussions with DNR representatives confirmed that they have no evidence of the kind of unplanned destruction suggested by scare stories some property owners on our lake have been told. The State funds which have been made available to us here on Long lake are part of a larger financial commitment that Wisconsin has made to prevent invasive species from decimating native species and causing economic hardship. Invasive plants and animal life are typically quite adept at taking over gaps in an ecosystem and ultimately becoming dominant. The Curly Leaf Pond Weed we have been fighting in our lake emerges much earlier than native species. This gives it a great advantage as it has a head start each season and can then shade out native plants. This early emergence might also be considered a weakness as well because it provides a window where we can either treat the plant with a targeted herbicide or use other means to remove the plants and minimize the impact on natives because they have not yet started to grow. Early treatment of emerging invasive also ensures that there is little biomass to decay from the plants. This is an important element in the treatment plan as heavy decaying biomass (dead plants) reduces the oxygen content of the water and can harm animal life in the lake (fish). Unlike the old days, securing a permit to use herbicides in any state lake is very tightly controlled. There are specific steps that must be taken to demonstrate the necessity for treatment documented by environmental experts. A plan must be developed which accurately identifies the location of the invasive species to be treated using GPS and defines the concentration of the chemical which must be used. A licensed treatment vendor must be used to administer the herbicide and they are required to apply only in the pre defined areas at the approved concentrations. We complete pre treatment and post treatment surveys with Onterra to: 1. Determine the effectiveness of the treatment process on targeted invasive species 2. Measure any collateral damage to native species that might have been in the target zone 3. Measure to presence of the applied herbicide and gauge its dissipation rate In addition to the treatment component of our project, we are also required to: 1. Maintain a Clean Boats Clean Waters Program to educate boaters on invasive species control and monitor boat traffic launching and landing boats on our lake and log a minimum of 200 hours each season manning lake landings. 2. Capture CBCW boating data and submit to the WI DNR database 3. Conduct ongoing surveys for an entire host of possible invasive species which includes both plant and animal life. 4. Provide ongoing educational and information material (newsletters, brochures and the Website are examples) 5. Conduct annual informational and educational meetings Although we believe the methods of what appear to be a limited number of individuals have employed to voice their objections and the incomplete information being disseminated are sophomoric at best, we agree that chemical treatment is serious business and concerns need to be addressed. We do believe we are conducting our program in a controlled, safe and thoughtful manner but want to be sensitive to the concerns of others as well. In addition to the
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 6 of 26 existing checks and balances inherent in the State mandated process currently in place we will add some additional steps. We have approached the DNR Fisheries Biologist in our area and asked if he would be willing to provide an additional review of the treatment plan each year prior to submitting it for permits so that we are able to secure a biological (fish and critters) perspective beyond botanical (plant) health to make sure we are not missing something. He has agreed to serve as a sounding board and if he feels additional expertise is required, point us to additional resources at his disposal. Additionally, we will also be sure to secure estimates, where possible, of means other than chemical treatment to deal with controlling invasive species. These additional steps will ensure we are able to make the most intelligent and informed decisions possible. This year marked the fourth and final year of our Wisconsin Invasive Species Control Grant. While we have had to continue to fulfill our obligations under the existing grant, working on a parallel track, we have ramped up those activities and are now focused on the deliverables required to secure a new grant and funding required to fulfill our continued war against invasives. We have had several public sessions recapping what we have achieved to date and outlining the effort of the initiative which lies ahead of us. Eurasian Watermilfoil In spite of non reliable information we have at hand regarding the decline of invasive plants from active management programs, more complete studies are required and are under way to determine the outcomes variations between doing nothing and proactive management. The State of Wisconsin has sponsored a long term study to evaluate the differences. Data that we capture here on Long Lake is part of this effort and is regularly entered into the project database. We are in the midst of completing a comprehensive environmental assessment of the lake and development of an updated plan which will guide us for the next five years. Early next year we will make application for a new grant. We will be sure to post the Completed Environmental Plan on our Website. Rest assured, the Lake Association supports a carefully considered and Curly leaf Pondweed monitored approach to dealing with the health of Long Lake, both plant and animal life. This is why we have contracted with expert resources to help plan, manage and implement all activities. Since the origination of the association, ongoing water and plant sampling has taken place to assess the impact of all treatment activity. Check out each of the lake specific articles in this newsletter to get more details. A copy of the entire State of Wisconsin Strategic Plan referred to in this article is currently available on our Website in the Newsletter Tab for your review.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 7 of 26 WHO OR WHAT IS ONTERRA? Onterra, LLC is a lake management planning firm we were made aware of through a list of potential firms provided by the Wisconsin DNR. They were able to provide us with an extensive list of strong references and success stories. In their own words: Onterra, LLC offers objective, science based lake management planning services at a reasonable cost. The firm provides a variety of lake related services ranging from diagnostic/feasibility studies to comprehensive lake management planning projects consisting of aquatic plant inventories, shoreland habitat assessments, stakeholder education, watershed and water quality analysis, and implementation plan development. Onterra also works with lake groups to develop realistic control programs for aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as Eurasian water milfoil and curly leaf pondweed, along with designing and implementing the appropriate monitoring strategies to evaluate the desired result and selectivity of the management action. Onterra s lead aquatic ecologist and founder, Tim Hoyman is one of four North American Lake Management Society Certified Lake Managers in Wisconsin and holds a Master of Science Degree in Limnology. Onterra also employs three full time ecologists, Eddie Heath, Dan Cibulka, and Brenton Butterfield, each with a Master of Science Degree in a natural resource discipline. Mr. Heath has been with Onterra since its establishment in 2005 and directs all AIS monitoring and control strategy development projects. Mr. Cibulka manages numerous lake planning projects while focusing on fisheries, water quality, and watershed assessments. Mr. Butterfield also manages numerous lake planning projects and focuses upon water quality and aquatic plant assessments. The firm s Lead Field Technician, Todd Hanke, has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Water Resource Management. It is important to note that Onterra does not receive compensation for any actual treatment process on the lakes they manage. Suggestions that the firm benefits from more treatment on our lake are false. Other firms licensed and experienced to treat invasive species with mandated herbicides must be contracted with by the LLPA to complete the actual on lake activities required to eradicate targeted invasive plants. The LLPA Board secures multiple bids each year and selects a vendor with the experience and certifications required to complete our treatment projects.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 8 of 26 WHAT IS THE HERBICIDE USED TO TREAT INVASIVE PLANTS AND IS IT HARMFUL? Overview There are two products commonly used to target aquatic invasive plants. We have used them both on Long Lake. 2,4D is used to treat for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Endothall is used to treat for Curly leaf Pondweed. Both of these products have been in use for decades. Numerous studies have shown that each of these herbicides dissipate rapidly and have not been found to accumulate in fish or animals. Numerous published studies have been done on both by organizations like the EPA and the World Health Organization. When used properly they are have been found to not be harmful to non target plants and animal life. This includes wildlife and domestic animals. This is all about common sense, using sound management processes. Proper application procedures and carefully monitoring results. Read all of the detail below. The Details The most common products used to treat aquatic invasive plants are 2,4 D or 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, dimethylamine salt and Liquid Endothall. On Long Lake our contractors use liquid Endothall to target the invasive Curly Leaf Pondweed and 2,4D to target the Eurasian Watermilfoil Endotholl Endothall is a selective contact herbicide that has been used to manage submerged aquatic vegetation for over 50 years. The herbicide damages the cells of susceptible plants at the point of contact but does not affect areas untouched by the herbicide, like roots or tubers (underground storage structures). It is selective in the sense that some plants show greater susceptibility to Endothall treatment than others; for example, hydrilla is very susceptible and elodea, a common native plant is not. Endothall is applied as either a dipotassium salt or an amine salt, which then breaks down after application to Endothall acid, the form that acts as an herbicide. Either the dipotassium or amine salt can be used in aquatic applications Is Endotholl safe? The use of any aquatic herbicide poses risks to non target plants and aquatic organisms. However, federal and state pesticide regulations and strict application guidelines are in place to minimize exposure of non target organisms. Aquatic organisms will only receive short term exposure to Endothall in the water as a result of dispersion, dilution and microbial degradation of the chemical into carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and organic acids. The dipotassium salt formulation of Endothall applied at the concentrations approved by the US EPA (0.5 5.0 ppm) has not been found to be toxic to waterfowl and wildlife. Standard toxicity studies, required to fulfill EPA registration requirements for pesticides, have been conducted on mammals (rats, guinea pigs, rabbits; as reviewed in Extension Toxicology Network 1995) and birds (bobwhite quail, mallard ducks; as reviewed in Mattson et al.2004). The concentrations of Endothall found to be toxic to these animals far exceeds the rate of application and the concentrations that would be encountered by organisms in the aquatic environment. The toxicity of the dipotassium salt formulation of Endothall as applied in the water has also been tested on a number of non target aquatic organisms, including aquatic invertebrates (water fleas and scuds; dragonflies and damselflies), fish (walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegills), and softshell turtles.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 9 of 26 Lethal effects were observed in the invertebrates and fish only at very high concentrations that far exceed those experienced under labeled treatment concentrations (US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs 2011; Paul et al 1994); softshell turtles did not experience any lethal toxic effects (Paul & Simonin 2007). Endothall does not concentrate in animal tissue, that is to say, it does not bioaccumulate. Fish and livestock that incidentally consume treated water will rapidly excrete Endothall; it does not concentrate in meat. There are no restrictions for catching and eating fish from treated waters. Endothall has not been found to cause neurological damage or cancer (US EPA 2005). No human deaths and very few incidents of illness have been reported due to Endothall. Generally, reports have been limited to skin or eye irritations in people occupationally exposed to concentrated Endothall. 2, 4D Introduced in 1946, 2,4D herbicide has been used for more than 60 years for control of non desirable plants on land and in the water. It is a primary ingredient in many popular lawn care products including Weed B Gone. The product has been touted as completely safe by chemical industry lobbying groups and suggested as being responsible for a host of human diseases and negative impact on animal life by over zealous environmental groups. Thus far the research seems to point to a truth somewhere in the middle. Like most everything in life, moderation is always the most prudent approach. 2,4D has been used extensively by the farming industry world wide to control annual, biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds that compete with crops and threaten yields. In 2004, the Henry Ford Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting visionary leaders and organizations on the frontlines of social change, listed 2,4D as one of the 75 most important innovations of modern times. The combination of its effectiveness in controlling yield destroying weeds, along with favorable human health and environmental profiles, has made this one of the most trusted and effective tools for modern agriculture. 2,4D is considered one of the most extensively studied products with over 60 years of research indicating the herbicide is not persistent in soil, water or vegetation. It breaks down rapidly and exhibits low acute and chronic toxicity to animals in the environment. Studies have been completed by The US Environmental Protection Agency, The World Health Organization, The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States, The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency, The European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumers and many others. It is also important to note that not all 2,4 D products are created equal. There are multiple variations of the herbicide available on the market. As an example, the ester formulation of 2,4D which is often cited in studies concerning toxicity is not what we use in our lake. Because the goal of our treatment program is to target only specific plants and avoid collateral damage to native plants we use the amine version of the herbicide as it is regarded to be far less toxic. Similarily, the dipotassium salt formulation of Endothall has a different toxicity threshold than the amine salt.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 10 of 26 For the purpose of controlling aquatic invasive weeds, the most important factors include its ability to effectively kill target invasive plants at concentrations that have a minimal impact to native plant species and animal life. Currently, water temperature, product concentration and timing is used as a means to minimize collateral damage to native plants. Aquatic treatments take place at water temperatures when invasive plants are emerging and native plants are still dormant. The herbicide has been found to dissipate and degrade rapidly. Dissipation takes place as the result of water flow, wind movement and depth of water. Essentially, once applied in an aquatic environment, the herbicide become diluted quickly. Studies also indicate the herbicide degrades quickly as well. Degradation is the process by which the product physically breaks down into inert and un harmful components. This takes place through exposure to light and microbes depending upon the type of product used. Again, the key is carefully measured, professional application timed correctly to treat the target invasive plants when they first emerge. 2,4 D is largely used to treat EWM/HWM. On Long Lake, our contractors have used 2,4 D to target the Invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil and liquid Endothall has been used to target the Curly Leaf Pondweed. Be sure to check out articles on 2, 4D and Endothall on our Web Site in the Newsletter Tab along with a long list of other articles, studies and resources on the herbicides. LAKE ELLWOOD THE ENTIRE STORY Lake Ellwood is located in Florence County in northern Wisconsin. The 130 acre lake is classified as an oligotrophic seepage lake. Water levels are dependent upon seepage from immediate local precipitation each year. Being oligotrophic indicates that the water type itself is not highly productive so it is not unusual to have low levels of native plant growth. Unfortunately this can create opportunity for invasive species to secure a foothold. Although no historic data is available, this water type suggests that the lake likely has never had a robust native plant population. Low precipitation in this part of Wisconsin during the past decade has resulted in fairly dramatic reductions in water volume and depth. One study conducted by Master s Candidate Chris Walkons from Michigan Technological University suggests that the lake has lost roughly 25 percent of its overall water volume or 125 million gallons of water. Walkons also suggests water depth reductions of approximately four feet. Another study completed by Onterra, LLC reported even higher reductions in water volume and water depth of 30 percent and
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 11 of 26 up to five feet respectively. These dramatic shifts in water volume and depth certainly would have had a detrimental impact on the viability of native plant species. As an example, one method for controlling weed growth in impoundment lakes has been to do annual water draw downs. Essentially, open up the dam, remove a significant percentage of the water mass and expose large areas of the lake bottom to the air and winter temperatures. The practice typically kills off weed growth. For those of you who have visited some of the flowages in Wisconsin in the fall, you may have seen this practice first hand. In a natural lake like Ellwood, the reduction in water volume and stress on native plants created an opportunity for more aggressive invasive species to take hold. In addition, the reduced water levels would impact the fishery in multiple ways: 1. Previously accessible marsh areas were no longer available as spawning beds 2. Submerged shoreline water cover so important to many fish species were now completely exposed and no longer accessible. Given the average of 5.1 acres of treatment during 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012 it is highly unlikely the treatment process was responsible for the decline in the fisheries population. A study conducted by Gaeta in 2014 evaluated the impact of receding water levels on fish populations within Oligotrophic Lakes with their typical low aquatic plant specific density and found that after a reduction of just 3.6 feet in water depth (much lower than realized on Lake Ellwood), about 76 percent of the submerged cover was no longer available for use by a lake s fish population. In this particular study, midway through the project after just 10 percent of the cover was unavailable due to water level reductions, the lake s perch population disappeared. Likely the result of removing the perch s normal prey fish and exposing the perch to larger fish higher on the food chain.like bass, northern pike and walleye. It does not take a great deal of imagination to envision the negative impact on a lake s fishery that would be realized by such a dramatic decline in water volume and depth. Beginning in 2007 Onterra was contracted by the Lake Ellwood Association as a proactive means to gain control of the condition of their lake. As water levels fell, invasive species, primarily Hybrid Water Milfoil became more prevalent and the fishery population was in decline. Essentially the goal was to get control of the invasive species and empower the native plants to gain a foothold. Herbicide treatment was used from 2007 through 2012 and additional hand pulling employed in 2013. The following chart demonstrates the progress realized between 2005 studies conducted by the DNR and then in 2013 following implementation of the control plan. The WDNR 2005 point intercept survey indicated that aquatic vegetation was sparse in Lake Ellwood, and while the 2013 data revealed an increase in the occurrence of aquatic vegetation, the aquatic vegetation total rake fullness (TRF) ratings recorded in 2013 indicate a low biomass of aquatic plants in most areas where they are present. Also notice the florescent blue crosses on each of the maps. They represent the part of the lake that is over 16 feet deep. In 2005, this was a much larger area than in 2013. This shows that the lake levels have continued to lower since 2005.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 12 of 26 During the 2013 point intercept survey, aquatic plants were found growing to a maximum depth of 16 feet, the same maximum depth of growth observed by the WDNR during the 2005 survey. Lake Ellwood has relatively high water clarity, allowing sunlight to penetrate to deeper depths and sustain aquatic plant growth. In 2013, 275 sampling locations fell within Lake Ellwood s littoral zone, compared to 157 in 2005. The difference in the number of littoral sampling locations between 2005 and 2013 is due to differences in water levels between the two surveys. Comparing water depths recorded at the sampling locations indicates that water levels were between 3 5 feet higher in 2005 than in 2013. Aquatic plant communities are dynamic, and the abundance of certain species can fluctuate from year to year depending on climatic conditions, herbivory, competition, water levels, and disease among other factors, and fluctuations in the abundance of species are to be expected over time. As mentioned previously, water levels have receded approximately 3 5 feet between the 2005 and 2013 point intercept surveys, and it is believed that this is the primary factor that led to the higher occurrence of aquatic plants in 2013. As water levels decline, Lake Ellwood s littoral area has increased in size, and areas that were once too deep to support aquatic plant growth became habitable. Using the WDNR data, an estimated 60 acres of Lake Ellwood were at or below a depth of 16 feet in 2005, while an acoustic bathymetric analysis conducted by Onterra in 2012 indicated approximately 100 acres of the lake were now at or below 16 feet. The distribution of aquatic plants in Lake Ellwood from the 2005 and 2013 point intercept surveys changed. In 2005, 161 (50%) of the 321 sampling locations were deeper than 16 feet, compared to 37 (12%) of the 321 sampling locations in 2013. As water levels declined in Lake Ellwood, aquatic plant communities have expanded lake ward, now occupying areas of the lake that were once too deep for adequate sunlight to penetrate and support aquatic plant growth. The article used as the center piece of the Long Lake Fishing Club Board Member s argument against chemical treatment as a means to control invasive species fails to consider any of this data suggesting there may have been a predetermined agenda for its publication. As stated in concluding the annual report to the Lake Ellwood Association, Onterra wrote: The Elephant in the Room the article in the Wild Rivers Guide, titled Back from the Brink The restoration of Lake Ellwood, Florence County by Eric Engbretson with comments by Greg Matzke, Dr. Jennifer Hauxwell, Dr. Andrew Rypel and Dr. Greg Sass. On a positive side, I believe this article makes folks think hard about the consequences of the management actions that are being taken on a lake. Decisions need to be made that balance the risks of what will happen to the lake if the AIS is left unchecked with the risks associated with the control action itself, in this case herbicide use.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 13 of 26 The author of this article s thesis (main point) is that the herbicide treatments have caused a reduction in aquatic plants that have led to a demise of the fisheries. This is where we find the article misleading and by omission of applicable data, not factual. A reader of this article is lead to believe that the Lake Ellwood Association willy nilly applied herbicides to their lake resulting in the fishery issues. This article also misleads readers into thinking that the regional and state WDNR staff would permit the use of herbicides without monitoring conditions. When in actuality, both these statements are false. The Lake Ellwood Association contracted with Onterra in 2007 to create a comprehensive lake management plan, which includes an herbicide treatment and monitoring strategy. This plan was approved by the WDNR and the association secured a WDNR AIS EPC Grant to carry out these actions. A whole lake point intercept survey was conducted prior to the implementation of this activity, and again at the end of the project. Annual subsample point intercept data were collected within areas treated each year. Again, the article s failure to mention and include this data, although directly being sent it, may suggest motive and/or agenda. As outlined within the final report for Lake Ellwood, and if one takes the time to read it, you will find that in actuality the data that were collected do not support the thesis that native plants have been decimated over this time period. Actually, the pretreatment point intercept survey in 2005 shows that the lake contained a low population of native plants before the start of the coordinated herbicide control strategy. This could be due to the fact that the lake has dropped approximately 8 feet and lost approximately 30% of its water volume resulting in changes in plant community structure as well as various lake related processes. This seepage lake (no inlet or outlet) is also oligotrophic (low phosphorus) and likely never contained large quantities of aquatic plants. One may suggest that this article reaches for the low hanging fruit. Onterra has partnered with the association and WDNR research to investigate the cause of this fisheries demise. Along with investigating the populations/impacts of rusty crayfish and Chinese mystery snails within the lake, the research will collect a plethora of data and will not be ruling out the impacts of the herbicide control program entirely. The Lake Ellwood Association can confidently tell its stakeholders that they have been very conscious of the impacts the Hybrid Water Milfoil control program could have on the native plant community of the lake. For that reason, they have been thoroughly monitoring the native plant impacts both within the areas treated as well as lake wide. The Lake Ellwood Association has been ahead of the concerns brought forth in this article and the stakeholders should be aware of this. Regardless of the facts surrounding Lake Ellwood, it simply does not represent a comparable case study for Long Lake. Unlike Lake Ellwood, Long Lake is an impoundment with multiple sources of water and water levels controlled by a dam. The lake itself is incredibly fertile, has a robust population of plant life, a large proportion of the shoreline is undeveloped and given the pressure it receives from fisherman each year while still producing healthy catches, the fish in our lake appear to be quite prolific. Read the article on Long Lake in this version of the Newsletter. The following documents are available on our Website in the Newsletter Tab for your review: 1. Back from the Brink The restoration of Lake Ellwood, Florence County by Eric Engbretson 2. Lake Ellwood Part I Hank Murphy Florence County Mining News 3. Lake Ellwood Part II Hank Murphy Florence County Mining News 4. Investigating Receding Water Levels at Lake Ellwood by Chris Walkons, MS Student 5. Lake Ellwood AIS Control Project Report 2014 Eddie Health of Onterra, LLC
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 14 of 26 LOCAL LAKE 1: AUBURN LAKE Auburn Lake lies just to south west of Long Lake and is also in Fond du Lac County. It consists of two bodies of water connected by a shallow channel for a total of 90 water acres and a maximum depth of 29 feet. Although the lake is natural (not an impoundment) it is fed and drained by several small streams. The lake does not currently have a lake association and consequently is not being actively managed. The lake has robust populations Eurasian Water Milfoil and Curly Leaf Pond Weed which is not surprising given the number of boats that move between our local lakes. According to a report from local fisherman Rich Mueller: Fishing has deteriorated on Auburn Lake due to the introduction of Eurasian Water Milfoil from boat launching at the public boat launch. Each year, along the shore, it has gotten worse creating poor navigation. It was so bad in spring there was a two month period when I could not fish the lake. Prior to becoming Auburn Lake, there were two lakes, Little 15 and Big 15 with a channel between them. In 2014 the channel has been closing in making it very difficult to boat between the two bodies of water. Some property owners have tried to form a lake association on the lake but have not been successful as they cannot get enough of them to step up to form one. Without a coordinated effort to find a solution, the quality of Auburn Lake will continue to decline. Fisherman Brian Anderson said: Auburn used to be one of mine and my father s favorite fishing lakes. Between 10 and 15 years ago we used to fish the lake several time per month and had great success with Bluegills, Bass and Northern Pike. During the past five years or so the fishing has been bad and it is nearly impossible to navigate to places we used to fish regularly due to the floating vegetation. LOCAL LAKE 2: FOREST LAKE Forest Lake lies just to the South East of Long Lake. The lake has a total of 51 surface acres and a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake s water supply comes from seepage and springs. The lake has a history of invasive plant problems dating back to 1992 when Eurasian Watermilfoil was originally documented. The Forest Lake Association contracted with Onterra, LLC in 2010 as their environmental engineering firm. A genetic study of the plants that had taken over much of the lake determined the original invasive species had mutated into Hybrid Watermilfoil. This created some challenges in terms of finding a solution to control this more resilient plant Under Onterra s guidance, an environmental study was completed and a treatment plan was developed, a three year state grant was secured and treatment took place in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Results in 2011 and 2012 were positive in terms of their impact on the invasive plants but 2013 did not make further inroads. Given the now diminished population of the Hybrid Milfoil, Onterra has recommended a hold on further herbicide treatments.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 15 of 26 Local Fishermen John and Sandy Miller said: Forest Lake was in really rough shape. A new weed began to take over the lake. It was almost impossible to get to what had been our favorite fishing spots. Our kids didn t want to swim when we spent the day at the lake because of all of the weeds. During the last couple of years, the Forest Lake association has been using an outside company to help get these weeds under control and the fishing, swimming and boating has never been better. Jeannie Gremminger, a Forest Lake Property owner wrote: I live on Forest Lake, where we have always had beautifully clear water and great fishing. About 12 years ago we began to notice a new weed not seen in our lake before. It was identified as Eurasian Water Milfoil. Our lake association discussed possible solutions with Aquatic Biologists and Onterra, LLC. However, many people on our lake were afraid to do any type of chemical treatment. We tried some type of milfoil weevil. Unfortunately, they didn t survive the winter. We then tried placing mats on the bottom to cover the areas with the worst problems. This too, did nothing to stop the growth. The weeds were now so bad that an aerial view looked like we had manly island. It was getting difficult to boat or swim. Finally, after much debate, we decided to do a trial of 2,4D attacking just the most aggressive areas. Our lake also has a unique PH balance. This chemical only works at a certain temperature and PH level. This combination gave us about a one week window to try. It worked amazing. No problems with pets. Fishing was great. The next year everyone agreed to treat the whole lake. It has been several years since. Now we just do spot treatments as needed. Fishing is great! Lake clear and beautiful again. Couldn t be happier.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 16 of 26 LOCAL LAKE 3: KETTLE MORAINE LAKE Kettle Moraine Lake lies just West of Long Lake and with a maximum depth of 30 feet has 227 acres of surface area. The lake is a seepage lake so depends upon local precipitation each year to maintain water levels. Because of its very shallow average water depth (6 feet) has a robust crop of aquatic vegetation each year. Eurasian Watermilfoil was documented as early as 1995 and Curly leaf Pondweed in 2004. The Kettle Moraine Lake Association has sponsored active herbicide treatment for Milfoil since the late 1990s while Pondweed treatment began in 2003. In August of 2012 Onterra helped the lake association secure a five year grant. In 2013 a lake wide approach was used to treat for both specifies of invasive plants with final results determined to be successful. Dramatic decreases in the invasive species were noted and little collateral damage of native plants, all supported by comprehensive pretreatment and post treatment surveys of the entire lake. According to Bill Wagner: The fishing on Kettle Moraine has always been awesome. I fish it in the summer and always nail some really nice bass. Although there are lots of weeds, the local association has done a great job of keeping the invasive weeds in check. For a while about a decade ago, the lake was completely overgrown. In the winter I always do well on the ice for Northern Pike! Roger Bataglia wrote: I used to fish here as a kid with my Dad. We would rent a boat at Frank s. The fishing was always great. Then in the nineties, the lake kind of was taken over by a new type of weed. According to friends who have a place on the lake, the association has been raising funds and hired a professional company to create a plan and get permission from the State to fight the weeds. Now the lake is much better and I bring my kids here to fish. We land our boat at the big resort on the lake and have been really happy with the Bass and Pan Fish we catch.
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 17 of 26 LOCAL LAKE 4: LONG LAKE According to Wisconsin DNR records, Long Lake is 423 acres with a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake is actually an impoundment resulting from a dam originally built in the mid 1800s at its south end. Generally water levels are quite stable due to careful dam management. On rare occasion, high levels of rainfall occurring in relatively short periods of time have caused high water conditions of roughly 8 12 inches over normal levels. The lake receives a fair amount of fishing pressure due to public landing facilities at a state park facility and multiple private boat landings. Much of the lake s eastern shoreline consists of undeveloped state forest land as well as undeveloped land on the northern and south eastern shorelines. Water enters the lake through multiple streams and exits at the dam in the south. A great deal of marshy areas as well as sand and gravel bottoms in many areas of the lake provide ample spawning sites for the lake s abundant fishery. Due to efforts of the local fishing club and the Wisconsin DNR there has been active fish planting for a number of years (See the DNR Biologist Interview Article in this newsletter). The fishing club has also been active in placing habitat in the lake (cribs) to provide cover for smaller fish. The lake has been a great fishing lake for many years. Those of us who have spent time on the lake for the past four plus decades know that the lake has always been regarded as a premier fishing and water sport lake. You LLPA President has many fond memories of fishing on the lake as a Boy Scout then later participating in numerous fishing tournaments on the lake, even managing to take a win or two in those tournaments. The tradition continues today with numerous successful fishing tournaments held on the lake throughout the summer and winter and a great deal of summer and winter lake activities and events taking place. During the past decade, Curly leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil, both invasive species were confirmed on the lake. In many areas of the lake Pondweed growth was so thick early in the year, that it prohibited access between the shoreline and main body of the lake. Areas with shallower water were particularly impacted by this growth. This included the entire area in front of Chinatown (north eastern shoreline), the channels between Long and Tittle Lakes and much of the Eastern shoreline of the main lake. Multiple growths of Eurasian Watermilfoil existed throughout the lake but in far less concentrations than the Pondweed. In 2006 a group of individuals comprised of a number of the local groups including the Long Lake Fishing Club and Long Lake Haven Association (Chinatown) teamed up to form the Long Lake Preservation Association. They realized that a broader base of individual property owner and lake stakeholders would be required to deal with the invasive species problem along with a group specifically focused on the lake environment. The primary goal of the association was to build a membership mass, financial capability intellectual capacity
The LLPA is a 501-C3 Organization. Your dues and contributions may be tax deductible Page 18 of 26 to deal with the invasive plants identified on the lake. They recognized that navigating the State level requirements to secure support with funding initiatives (grant dollars) and approval for treatment plans was a complicated process. So the LLPA was born. During 2007 2010 selective herbicide treatments were completed in an effort to begin dealing with the problem. In 2010, the association was able to secure a Wisconsin Invasive Species Grant for 2011 through 2013 that would reimburse up to 70% of the cost for planning and treatment. We were then able to secure a one year extension to help with 2014 activities. Since 2007, the chart below provides approximate acres treated. Year Acres Treated Areas Targeted 2007 14 Long/Tittle Channels for Pondweed 2008 0 No Treatment 2009 12 Long/Tittle Channels & Chinatown for Pondweed & Milfoil 2010 22 Long/Tittle Channels & Chinatown for Pondweed & Milfoil 2011 40 Long & Tittle Lakes and Channels for Pondweed & Milfoil (through grant) 2012 50 Long & Tittle Lakes and Channels for Pondweed & Milfoil (through grant) 2013 53 Long & Tittle Lakes and Channels for Pondweed & Milfoil (through grant) 2014 19 Long& Tittle Lake Channel and Southern Channel for Pondweed & Milfoil As mentioned in multiple previous articles, any actions to deal with invasive species on the lake are part of a carefully configured environmental planning and management process. An entire series of pre and posttreatment surveys are conducted that evaluate location and density of invasive species as well as desirable native plants. Careful mapping of the entire lake takes place and all target zones are identified using GPS technology. This provides a roadmap for the licensed treatment vendor to follow with specific plans locked into their onboard computer systems. The plan defines exact locations, concentrations of herbicide and limitations based upon water temperature and air speed. The map at left is the planned treatment plot for 2014 we were planning on targeting 50 acres but were only able to complete about 19 acres. Concerns of devastating the entire lake are not realistic. The largest amount of product we have ever applied on Long Lake in any one year is 329 gallons. According to Onterra, a safe full lake treatment for Long Lake similar to what is done on Kettle Moraine Lake would require nearly 3000 gallons of product to achieve a