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5/1/2017
Clearwater Lake is naturally unique in that it has very clean clear water that allows for deep sun penetration. The native plant community does not appear to be unnaturally affected by manmade fertilizers that contribute to excessive native plant growth.
Central Minnesota Aquatics, Inc. first began treating limited areas of Clearwater Lake for the control of Eurasian watermilfoil within approximately 10 acres during 2013. Lake surveys have been performed yearly at no charge to identify as many Eurasian watermilfoil plants as possible and all allowable plants have been treated. Very noticeable positive results were obtained within the 2013 treatment areas. Approximately 37.8 acres were treated during 2014, 37 acres during 2015 and 23 acres during 2016. All of the treatments have yielded significant reductions in the amount of Eurasian watermilfoil plants being identified in following years.
Past Minnesota Department of Natural Resource persons have been very supportive of Clearwater Lake association's permit requests and the association board has been very instrumental in allowing for and achieving successful treatment results.
Curlyleaf pondweed, another exotic aquatic plant, was identified within the southwest most bay during one of the 2016 lake surveys; it was within a permitted Eurasian watermilfoil treatment area and was indirectly treated along with the Eurasian watermilfoil. A limited lake survey was performed on April 29, 2017 and no curlyleaf pondweed plants were identified within the survey areas and no thriving Eurasian watermilfoil plants were identified. Even though it is too early in 2017 to perform a lake survey that would indicate this year's amount of viable exotic plants, the limited lake survey performed on April 29, 2017 is encouraging in that another year of significant exotic plant reductions may be achieved.
Clearwater Lake Association's efforts have, in our mind, clearly saved Clearwater Lake from certain explosive Eurasian watermilfoil growth and we recommend continued lake surveys to identify these exotic plants and perform treatments where applicable.
Ron Duy, Jr.
Central Minnesota Aquatics
Clearwater Lake is naturally unique in that it has very clean clear water that allows for deep sun penetration. The native plant community does not appear to be unnaturally affected by manmade fertilizers that contribute to excessive native plant growth.
Central Minnesota Aquatics, Inc. first began treating limited areas of Clearwater Lake for the control of Eurasian watermilfoil within approximately 10 acres during 2013. Lake surveys have been performed yearly at no charge to identify as many Eurasian watermilfoil plants as possible and all allowable plants have been treated. Very noticeable positive results were obtained within the 2013 treatment areas. Approximately 37.8 acres were treated during 2014, 37 acres during 2015 and 23 acres during 2016. All of the treatments have yielded significant reductions in the amount of Eurasian watermilfoil plants being identified in following years.
Past Minnesota Department of Natural Resource persons have been very supportive of Clearwater Lake association's permit requests and the association board has been very instrumental in allowing for and achieving successful treatment results.
Curlyleaf pondweed, another exotic aquatic plant, was identified within the southwest most bay during one of the 2016 lake surveys; it was within a permitted Eurasian watermilfoil treatment area and was indirectly treated along with the Eurasian watermilfoil. A limited lake survey was performed on April 29, 2017 and no curlyleaf pondweed plants were identified within the survey areas and no thriving Eurasian watermilfoil plants were identified. Even though it is too early in 2017 to perform a lake survey that would indicate this year's amount of viable exotic plants, the limited lake survey performed on April 29, 2017 is encouraging in that another year of significant exotic plant reductions may be achieved.
Clearwater Lake Association's efforts have, in our mind, clearly saved Clearwater Lake from certain explosive Eurasian watermilfoil growth and we recommend continued lake surveys to identify these exotic plants and perform treatments where applicable.
Ron Duy, Jr.
Central Minnesota Aquatics
