BEECHER LAKE PROTECTION & REHAB DISTRICT: Beecher Lake EWM Control Project

Purpose

The Beecher Lake District (the District) proposes to selectively control Eurasian water-milfoil (EWM) through chemical treatment, winter drawdowns, and preventative measures in Beecher Lake and Upper Lake during the period 2010 - 2013. The project elements and deliverables are specified in the District\2019s Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grant Application, dated August, 2009. The project includes conducting annual pre and post-treatment surveys to monitor the extent of EWM and efficacy of treatments, treating EWM infested areas with aquatic herbicides, creating GIS maps of the treated areas to guide future applications, and conducting winter drawdowns to examine the effectiveness of such actions as a control measure. Additional activities under the project include a survey of Beecher Lake for evidence of the native milfoil weevil and if present, its potential as a biological control agent will be evaluated. The District will also continue education and prevention activities to prevent further AIS infestations, participation in the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (CLMN) AIS monitoring, and conducting watercraft inspections. Watercraft inspection records will be entered into the State\2019s online Watercraft Inspection Database and CLMN AIS data will be entered into the Surface Water Integrated Management System. Annual progress reports and a final report summarizing the four-year project will be provided to DNR. If a consultant is to provide the final report, it is recommended that the Grantee provide the DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator with a draft for comment on the report\2019s adequacy prior to making final payment to the consultant. DNR will be provided with both paper and electronic PDF copies of the final report along with, or prior to, submission of grantee\2019s final payment request.

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Aquatic Invasives Grant
Aquatic Invasives Control
ACEI-073-10
2009
Complete
 
Reports and Documents
Beecher Lake has a well-developed and diverse aquatic plant community with an average floristic quality index of 34.7. The maximum rooting depth varies from 7 to 12 feet due to variations in water level and water clarity. Water clarity varies considerably from year-to-year based on the volume of tannin stained runoff from the lakes 2,800 acre watershed.Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) was discovered in Beecher and Upper Lakes in june 2007. Plant samples were collected and verified by the Freckman herbarium at UW-Stevens Point. A cursory survey of the lake in October 2007 found EWM was primarily limited to the Beecher lake basin with moderate to dense stands covering more than 6.5 acres.
Since the discovery of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in Beecher & Upper Lakes in 2007, the Beecher and Upper Lakes Protection & Rehabilitation District has been working to control the invasive plant in an effort to reduce its impact on the native plant community and recreational use of the lakes. In 2008 the District received an AIS Planning Grant to develop a comprehensive and sustainable aquatic plant management plan for Beecher & Upper Lakes. In 2010 the District received an aquatic Invasive Species Control Gant (ACEI-073-10.1) to implement the DNR approved Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Beecher Lake. The management plan includes a multi-faceted strategy to prevent Eurasian water milfoil domination in Beecher & Upper Lakes and preserve the diverse aquatic plant community. The strategy calles for EWM management via winter drawdown, selective use of aquatic herbicides, manual harvesting where applicable, and monitoring for the native milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei).
 
Activities & Recommendations
Monitor Invasive Species
Monitor Pre and Post Treatment
31142050
Aquatic Plant Monitoring or Survey
31142050
Monitor Invasive Species
31142050
Control Invasive Species
31142050
Watercraft Inspections Clean Boats, Clean Waters
CBCW-617000
Grant Awarded
ACEI-073-10
 
Watershed
 
Waters