This report discusses aquatic plant management activities completed by the Horseshoe Lake Improvement Association (HLIA) and Lake Education and Planning Services (LEAPS) during the 2014 season and provides a proposed hybrid watermilfoil (HWM) control plan for 2015. The 2014 treatment proposal provides the Association with the information needed to contract with a certified aquatic herbicide applicator to complete the necessary WDNR permitting and herbicide treatment.

Slide show of annual meeting

In 2006, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources identified the presence of Hybrid water milfoil (HWM) – a cross between Northern and Eurasian water milfoils (Myriophyllum sibiricum X Myriophyllum spicatum) in the lake, and the Horseshoe Lake Improvement Association (HLIA) has been actively managing to control this invasive exotic species since 2008. Following the 2012 fall HWM bed mapping survey, the HLIA, under the direction of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH), decided to chemically treat eight areas totaled 3.5 acres or 0.9% of the lake’s surface area (Figure 1). On June 10-11th, we conducted a pretreatment survey to gather baseline data from the scheduled treatment areas and to allow SEH biologists to finalize treatment plans. Following the June 17th herbicide application, we conducted a July 24th posttreatment survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. We also conducted an October 6th and 13th HWM bed mapping survey to determine where HWM control might be considered in 2014. This report is the summary analysis of these three field surveys.

annual summary reports and final report