Northern Environmental Technologies completed an aquatic plant survey on Lower Ninemile Lake in summer of 2007, which identified twenty-four aquatic plant species. The most abundant aquatic plants identified during the survey were northern wild rice (Zizania palustris) and bushy pondweed (Najas flexilis), fern or Robbins pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii), and nitella (Nitella sp.). The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) is an index that uses the aquatic plant community as an indicator of lake health. Lower Ninemile Lake exhibited an FQI value of 29.02, higher than the Wisconsin Northern Ecoregion average (24.3).

Northern Environmental completed an aquatic plant survey on Upper Ninemile Lake in 2007, which identified eighteen aquatic plant species. The most abundant aquatic plants identified during the survey were northern wild rice (Zizania palustris), watershield (Brasenia schreberi) and common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris). The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) is an index that uses the aquatic plant community as an indicator of lake health. Upper Ninemile Lake exhibited an FQI of 25.25, higher than the state northern ecoregion average (24.3).

Lower Ninemile Lake - The Town of Washington is sponsoring a large scale lake planning grant to study Upper and Lower Ninemile Lakes in Vilas County with a study completion date of June 30, 2008. The Town of Lincoln, Town of Cloverland, and City of Eagle River, are project partners. The project will focus on developing an Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Plan for each lake. Project activities include: 1) Data review, project kick-off meeting and project final meeting 2) Develop public questionnaire and prepare educational article 3) Point-intercept (PI) survey of aquatic plants with 2 sets of pressed plants from Lower Ninemile Lake 4) Aquatic plant community mapping and analysis 5) Water quality sampling - secchi, P, Chla, DO, and Temp during survey period 6) Watershed and land use analysis 7) Develop APM Plan.

Upper Ninemile Lake - The Town of Washington is sponsoring a large scale lake planning grant to study Upper and Lower Ninemile Lakes in Vilas County with a study completion date of June 30, 2008. The Town of Lincoln, Town of Cloverland, and City of Eagle River, are project partners. The project will focus on developing an Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Plan for each lake. Project activities include: 1) Data review, project kick-off meeting and project final meeting 2) Develop public questionnaire and prepare educational article 3) Point-intercept (PI) survey of aquatic plants with 2 sets of pressed plants from Lower Ninemile Lake 4) Aquatic plant community mapping and analysis 5) Water quality sampling - secchi, P, Chla, DO, and Temp during survey period 6) Watershed and land use analysis 7) Develop APM Plan.

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