Treatment History

There are 2 ways to attack Eurasian Milfoil;  with chemicals and hand pulling.  

When treatment for Clearwater Lake was first started in 2011, the amount of milfoil present was too large to consider hand pulling it all.   In 2011 and 2012 several individual home owners treated their own areas.   However, it became clear that a whole lake approach was necessary.

In 2013 Clearwater Lake Association Board (Now Clearwater Lake Conservancy) took over treatment of Eurasian Milfoil.   The Board evaluated the the options, talked with the DNR and discussed treatment approaches and success rates with other lakes in the area fighting Eurasian Milfoil.  The Board recommended a containment approach through chemical treatment using a professional to the Lake Association.
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A DNR permit is required every year that defines the area to be treated and what approved chemical will be applied.  The treatment is restricted to 37 acres for Clearwater Lake.  The DNR restriction is based upon the a lake's littoral zone.   The littoral zone is the near shore area where sunlight penetrates all the way to the sediment and allows aquatic plants (macrophytes) to grow.

Clearwater Lake's littoral zone is in yellow.
Original chemical treatment was a DNR approved 2-4-D based product.  In 2019, a test area was designated using a highly recommended DNR approved product called ProcellaCOR.  The test results were very impressive and in 2020 we treated all 37 acres with ProcellaCOR.    The following year, 2021 the results were stunning.   We treated only .67 acres with chemicals and hired a professional dive team to hand pull the remaining acres.   2022 we hand pulled all identified areas.

The Board remains vigilant in monitoring the lake, working with a consultant and keeping the Lake Associations Members aware of the status and treatment plans each year.

Maps of Infection

See the progression and regression of our Milfoil Infestation Maps here.  2022 Map Now Available!

Funding

The lake association asked for member donations and has pursued state, county and DNR grants to support our treatment plan.  There has also been a large donor, our Friends of the Lake that has been very generous.

Eurasian Milfoil Management Summary

Treatments Signatures

Chemical treatment requires the consent of the lake shore homeowner.  The DNR no longer requires an annual signature authorization for chemical treating. An implied consent is understood if guidelines are followed.

Tim Plude, Brainerd, DNR has confirmed we can notify owners by email, newsletter, flyers etc. of pending chemical treatment.   Those that do not want chemical treatment should inform us of their preference for non-treatment.   This is process we have followed for the last few years. 

According to the DNR, permission is not required for hand-pulling and chemical treatment greater than 150 feet from shore. 
If you want to let us know you will allow or deny
chemical treatment please contact.
Charlie Lick
[email protected]
612-508-3514

2022 GREAT MILFOIL REPORT

Eurasian MilFoil

Our Eurasian Milfoil survey showed very little Milfoil in our lake this year.   Thirty-nine  (39) sites were identified in the survey.  Twenty-six (26) sites / 4.8 areas was recommended eligible for chemical treatment.  The rest were all recommended as hand pulling.    Due to the limited infestation, the board decided to use Hand Pulling as a treatment for all 39 sites. No Chemical treatments were done in 2022.

You can see the maps on the Invasive Maps page and the full report on the Lake Reports page.

Curly Leaf Pondweed

Curly Leaf Pondweed did come back this Spring.   Due to it's limited area and that it arrives early and fades early, the Board decided not to treat this invasive this year.   We will continue to monitor the patch and review treatment next year.

Zebra Mussels and Spiny Water Flees

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Once again we came back as "Absent" for Zebra Mussels and Spiny Water Fleas.   See the full report on the Lake Reports page.   Clearwater lakes report card is on page 6.

Monitoring The Boat Landing.

2021 YEAR OF HIGHS & LOWS FOR INVASIVES

HIGH

2021 Plant Survey was completed by RMB Environmental Laboratories in July of 2021. The plant survey is part of the overall Clearwater Lake Management Plan and will be conducted every 3 years per our Lake Health Calendar.   See Health Calendar or in the Lake Management Plan.

This report was ordered as a followup to the 2018 report. The concern in 2018 was the perceived decline in native plant populations. The reports are a way to objectively quantify native and invasive plant life in Clearwater lake to determine the scope of the problem. The full 2018 and 2021 report are available on Lake Reports page or see 2021 or 2020 to access directly. The survey showed no significant plant life loss between 2018 and 2021.  We are stable at this time.

HIGH

Milfoil survey was performed in September, it showed GREAT SUCCESS!   The 36.4 acres treated in 2020 were almost completely eliminated.  This was no surprise to our residents that had large patches around their docks in 2020.  The report recommended treating 0.67 acres with a fall chemical treatment and hand-pulling a large number of small patches.  See the full Report on the Lake Reports page or here to access directly.  The survey and treatment maps are also on the Invasive Maps page. 
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Water Celery

LOW

Curly Leaf Pondweed is back!

A large patch of Curly Leaf Pondweed has grown in the NW corner of the most SW bay of Clearwater Lake.  A small batch was discovered in this same area several years ago. The patch is much larger now and has become a concern for the lake health and home owner use.

This is an early spring plant and it dies back by mid summer.  It is a very common invasive in MN.  It is treated in the spring.

HIGH

The following were approved by the Lake Board and have been implemented:
  • Leverage success of 2020 treatment using Procellacor/diquat along with 8 hours of divers hand-pulling invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil as outlined in the 2021 Eurasian Watermilfoil Delineation Report
  • Submitted 2021 Eurasian Watermilfoil Delineation Report and recommended treatment plan to Tim Plude with the DNR.  DNR approved plan and issued permit.
  • Contacted property owners in affected areas where required by DNR (within 150 feet of shoreline) and asked for approval to use either Procellacor/diquat and/or hand-pull invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil. All affected property owners approved recommended herbicide treatment options with two exceptions. 0.54 acres were treated with chemicals in 2021. The non-treated areas are noted on the treatment map and we ask that you take care in these areas when boating to minimize any spread of the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil from ProcellaCOR cuttings.  The Board is considering purchasing buoys to mark these areas.
  • Hired contractors to treat affected areas and hand-pull invasive Eurasian watermilfoil.
  • Chemically treat Curly Leaf Pondweed in the spring of 2022. 

HIGH

Our Lake Management plan costs were VERY low this year and almost completely paid by grants.
  • The cost for surveys and chemical treatment was $2050.   This was paid using a MN DNR grant.
  • The cost for hand pulling the invasive Milfoil was $2800.   This was paid using a Crow Wing County grant.
  • The remaining miscellaneous expenses were paid using Clearwater Lake Conservancy Environmental Funds provided by donations from our members.   Thanks to all who already made donations to our Environment Fund to cover these costs! 

Use our on-line donation option

2020

PictureMilfoil Mat in SE corner July 28, 2020

  • Milfoil Treatment was completed on 10/7/2020.  
  • Milfoil survey was performed in July.   See the full Report on the Lake Reports page or here to access directly.  The survey map is also on the Invasive Maps page.
    • Infestation was back up to 2015 levels with the worst progressing areas are in the SE shore of the lake.
    • The trial areas treated with Procellacor area in the SW corner (NW corner of the south most bay) improved dramatically.
  • Due to the success of trial area and other outside positive feedback; permits were requested and granted by the MN DNR for the recommended 37.5 acres of Eurasian Water Milfoil with Procellacor.  36.4 acres were treated after permissions were reviewed.
  • The cost was roughly $34,000 and was paid by state and county grants and Clearwater Lake Conservancy Environmental Funds provided by donations from our members. 
  • 2019: 
    • The DNR inspected our lake for the appropriate permits and approved 17 acres.  
    • Switched product to 2-4-D GRANULAR for a more direct application.  Results were very poor.   Could be our milfoil has become resistant to this treatment, or that the application failed for some reason.
    • Several undeveloped areas were left untreated as a control group to monitor. 
    • Permission to treat in front of a property was required.
    • Notified Lake Members with Treatment Plan Newsletter.  Read the Newsletter.
    • Did a test area with a new highly recommended product Procellacor. - Results were very good.
    • Did water testing after treatment to determine concentrations of chemicals.   See Water Testing Results.
    • Hired a Limnologist to review the treatment and water testing.   See his report Analysis of 2,4-D Treatment
2019 Treatment Newsletter
File Size: 14593 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
WaterTreatmentLabResults.pdf
File Size: 713 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
TreatmentAnalysis.pdf
File Size: 5998 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • 2018: No Treatment was done to allow the Board to do research on lake members concerns.
  • 2017:  Central Minnesota Aquatics has done an initial lake survey that shows great success; Letter from Central Minnesota Aquatics.   It is early in the year and another survey will be performed with the spring treatment.   It is estimated there will be 14 acres treated at a cost of roughly $15,000.
  • 2016: We did both a spring and fall treatment covering 23 acres.   The total cost was $20,600.   The state grants have been removed from the state budget. 
  • 2015:  A spring treatment of 37 acres was done in June, 2015.  State and county grants of $8,700 helped cover the treatment cost of $30,000.   The spring treatment was so successful, that the fall treatment was canceled.
  • 2014:  A fall treatment of 37 acres was done in 2014.  State and county grants of $8,700 helped cover the treatment cost of $26,400.
  • 2013:  One fall treatment of 10 acres was done in 2013.  A state grant of $1,500 received to help cover the treatment cost $8,000.  The treated area showed 70% reduction in milfoil.  Unfortunately, the treatment process revealed that we have many more acres of infection then previously thought.
  • 2011 & 2012:  Homeowner treatments.  Minimal success.