Aquatic Plant Management (APM)
May 13
Initial Weed Harvesting Started
Harvesting began with the arrival of the leased weed cutter and the transfer barge. Early season mechanical setbacks have delayed our initial operations. Our team continues to make improvements to equipment and hope to be at full scale operations as soon as possible.
Navigation Treatment Map
May 23
Harvesting Operations Complete
Harvesting operations have been completed in Conservancy Bay and the back sandbar along the river and towards the narrows.
Mechanical issues with the transfer trailer. Wheel bearings are currently being repaired.
Week of May 23
Notifications to Riparian Owners
Postcard notifications are being sent to riparian owners about herbicide treatments in their areas. Riparian owners have until June 3rd to opt out of these treatments in their areas.
Week of June 6
Herbicide Treatments Begin
Herbicide treatment to begin in navigational channels in Buena Lake, Fowlers Bay, Lake Tichigan, and parts of the river north of Fowlers Bay.
June - September
Mechanical Harvesting Continues
Full operations continue with the following pieces of equipment out on the waterway: Leased mechanical harvester, leased transfer barge, EcoHarvester, and transfer trailer.
Aquatic Plant Managment
Managing weeds
We are acutely aware of the explosive growth of weeds throughout the waterway. Here is an update on our plan of action and what we currently know. First, we are not alone with seeing this early season growth of weeds. Similar situations have been reported on many southeastern Wisconsin lakes. Despite heavy snow and ice coverage this winter, an early ice-off, and abundant sunshine have led to this rapid growth. Secondly, the DNR requested we not treat weeds until after the EcoHarvester demo as they want to see it in operation on healthy weeds (they will get that for sure).
Below is the plan of action:
Wednesday, June 2nd - EcoHarvester Demo
We ask that riparian owners avoid these areas during the demo as we do not want to increase soil and water turbidity. Turbidity is the primary concern for the DNR. Check out Facebook for live updates we provided. We are still awaiting DNR approval.
Week of June 7 - Initial herbicide treatments.
(This includes the pilot project to target Eurasian Milfoil blooms in Buena Lake). Treatments should be completed by 6/10/21
Week of June 14 - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (D.A.S.H.) treatments approved for specific areas of concern. Note: this is an added mitigation strategy we did not anticipate having to utilize this year, but the weeds didn't really cooperate this spring.
RIGHT NOW - Mechanical Cutting across the waterway. We are leasing a mechanical cutter for 30 days to tackle as much as we can in navigational channels. Note: this was not anticipated, but absolutely necessary this year.
Pending approval from the DNR, which may take 7-14 days to render a decision on the EcoHarvester will begin operation once it is delivered from the manufacturer and approved for operation by the DNR.
We recognize this is a complex plan of action, but we are looking at all options available to us to mitigate weeds in navigational channels. If you have an access point on the waterway where the conveyer trailer could get to the water please let us know as the more locations we have, the more efficient we can be in our approach this year. Be sure to sign-up for our newsletter to stay up to date on plans, strategies, and dredging updates. Also, encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.