AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AND BLACK OAK LAKE

Eurasian Watermilfoil on Big Sand Lake in Phelps, WI.

Click pictures above for more information!

Overview

Ever heard of a Spiny Water Flea? How about Curly-leaf Pondweed? Zebra Mussels? NONE of these are in Black Oak Lake. Rusty Crayfish? Those we have had for decades and they are rather benign. The Wis DNR did a 2007 study of Black Oak’s Rusty crayfish which is summarized HERE. But then there is Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM). So far, we are free of that but our luck could very well run out. If you want to see how bad it can get take a short drive to Phelps and head north on Highway 17 just a few miles to the Big Sand Lake public landing. Look into the water at your feet and at the milfoil mats blocking in the docks to your right. And consider that a two-inch segment can start a whole new colony.

Underwater plant growth is important to the health of a lake in that it absorbs nutrients that are naturally present in any water body. Without a healthy absorber the nutrients will fuel algae growth, which clouds the water and reduces sunlight penetration. There are other types of milfoil (mostly Northern Milfoil) that are present in Black Oak Lake but, like all our other lake weeds, they die off in the fall and start over in the spring. The unique thing about the Eurasian variety is that it just keeps growing – even under the winter ice. This causes it to form surface mats that will stop boats and kill off most life below by stopping sunlight penetration. It also breaks off into free floating mats that drift to shore, rot in the sun, and exude a putrefying stench.

How quickly can an infestation spread? Lake Minnetonka in Minneapolis went from no detected EWM at all to the current status of five harvesters operating all summer long in just three years. This 14,500 acre lake has areas where the milfoil is solid all the way to the bottom in 15’ of water! Read this whole sordid story at http://www.lmcd.org/pages/eurasian.htm.

 Is EWM just a waterfront owner’s problem? Not at all. Obvious economic victims of milfoil would be tourist sensitive businesses – which describe just about all the businesses up here. Less well known is the fact that 92% of the Vilas County tax base is the waterfront property. Pull up www.co.cass.mn.us/esd/intralake/bsu_study.pdf to see how property value varies directly with water quality. If EWM forces waterfront values down, the off-water properties would have to make up the resulting shortfall in property taxes. Other information-loaded sites are http://www.protectyourwaters.com./ and http://vilaslandandwater.org/ais_home_page.htm.

 Should EWM ever get started in Black Oak Lake it would not be the end of the world. If it is found early enough the plant(s) can be plucked carefully from the bottom and the site monitored closely in the future. A buoy would keep boats away that might chop it up. Forest Lake is facing this situation and has kept their EWM relegated to its original areas. The reason EWM got out of hand on Big Sand Lake’s 1400 acres is that it was not identified for decades. By the time people realized what it was it was far too late. For this reason we have established the “Milfoil Vigilante Program”. And to keep it out of the lake in the first place we have set up a Boat Landing Inspection effort. Additionally, we periodically commission professionals to thoroughly go over the lake to check for the presence of EWM and other AIS. To see the summaries of those searches go to the main INVASIVE SPECIES page and select the survey you’d like to see.

EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL / AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PLAN FOR BLACK OAK LAKE

GOAL	ACTION	TIME FRAME	COST	RESPONSIBILE
Conduct a yearly lake inspection with qualified expert		September	$450.00	Kathy Fall meander checks
	Ask Susan Knight to work with Conserve Science Department and students on EWM check spring 2008	Notify Susan September 2007	$50.00	Kathy
Maintain a constant awareness of the issues of AIS
	Maintain contact with Ted Ritter to stay abreast of Northwoods issues concerning AIS	Ongoing	0	Joe
	Use the BOLROA website to update the association	Immediate and on going	0	Dirk calendar Kathy Letter and info from experts Report from fall inspection Joe Vigilantes  Ted Ritter news Barb plan outline
	Email vigilantes all winter with up-to-date AIS information	Ongoing	0	Joe
	Ask Walt to remove photo from website to help dial-up users	Immediate	0	Tom
	Write AIS experts with questions raised by Susan Knight	Complete 8/30/07	0	Barb and Board
	Post answers from experts on website	Fall	0	Kathy
	Write articles for BOLROA Newsletter	Fall Spring	0	Board/Bob/ Joe, Dirk, Kathy
	Post interviews Inspectors Frawley, Surpless and Hall on website and include in BOLROA newsletter	Immediate and continuing	0	Barb
	Think about possibility of milfoil placemats for restaurants	Spring 2008	0	TBD
Prepare a workplan for the Watercraft Inspection. Project Post and email to all membership		September	0	Barb/ Board
	Prepare the draft for Board with presentation at September 8 meeting	Complete 9-8-07	0	Barb
	Donate general fund dollars to Foundation. Pay all EWM bills from Foundation	9-08-07	$5000.00	Parry/Jim
	Act as Watercraft Inspection Scheduler	Report 9-8-07 19 volunteers 129.3 hours 100 fishing and 54 other boats 1 milfoil	0	Dirk
	Prepare windshield cards to use at landing	Complete	$53.00	Kathy
	Determine vehicle for funding and prepare email letter and US mail for all members asking for donation to hire Watercraft Inspector	Guarantee funding of $3200 from Foundation Letter January 2008	46.80 stamps $250.00 envelopes and printing	Kathy. / Barb
	Prepare and send postcard acknowledgement of hours and dollars recieved	Prepare card Fall 2008 Send cards as returns received	$80.00 0	Barb Sara
	Follow up letter with phone calls to non-responders	February 2008	0	Jim/Ed
	Track all incoming and outgoing Watercraft Inspection funds	January 2008 ongoing	0	Sara
	Write position description for Watercraft Inspector	Fall	0	Jim/Barb
	Advertise for Watercraft Inspector Border Bulletin	March 2008	$ 25.00	Jim
	Hire Watercraft Inspector 4hours 5 days May thru September Hire with contract	April 2008	0	Kathy/Jim
	Track all hours, volunteer and paid, worked at boat landing	Spring-Summer-Fall 2008	0	Dirk
	Act as liaison with Conserve School to work with students and Susan Knight to inspect watercraft spring, fall and possibly summer	Fall	0	Kay
	Prepare at least one training session at the beach for new Watercraft Inspectors	Spring 2008	$30.00	Joe, Kathy, Dirk
	Institute a buddy system to help new Inspectors feel comfortable with their task. Use current volunteer force as buddies	Spring	0	Dirk
	Research possibilities for boat washing station	Fall	0	Tom