(Spirit Lake)– As we reported previously, with the exception of perhaps one more application, treatments for eurasian watermilfoil on the lower chain of the Iowa Great Lakes have been completed. Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources told the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors today (Tues.) the priority now is going to be on monitoring for any new infestations of the invasive weed, especially on Big Spirit Lake and West Lake Okoboji where it has yet to be discovered…
“We have some strategies for spot treatment and spot control and then thinking ahead if eurasian watermilfoil is here or is going to be here to stay, we’re going to have to think about some long term control of the plant instead of thinking eradication. Right now the focus has been on eradication. The next step if we did not eradicate it or if it’s in West Okoboji or Spirit Lake already then we’re going to have to start thinking about control for the long term.”
Asked about preventative measures that could be taken, Hawkins says putting in boat cleaning stations likely wouldn’t be feasible for several reasons…
“We’d have to pass an ordinance or some administrative rule that would force people to use them, I think, to be really effective. Other states have done that but where those types of things are very successful is where you have very limited access, one or two roads going into a lake system. The lakes out west are positioned really well for that and they’ve done a good job of keeping good biological control coming into their lake systems. We’ve got too many accesses here to try to try to control any and all of that.”
2,300 acres in the lower chain of the Iowa Great Lakes were treated with a special herbicide in an operation that began in September of last year, with the most recent application being made April 20th.
Mike Hawkins addressing Dickinson County Board of Supervisors on eurasian watermilfoil during their meeting Tuesday.
