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2017 Summer Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) Treatment Signature Waiver

MN DNR requires homeowner signature approval to treat Eurasian water milfoil. Previously, DNR has allowed signature waiver since there has been homeowner agreement for milfoil treatment on Clearwater Lake.
 
Tim Plude is our new new DNR officer. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Plude at Brainerd DNR this past winter and discussed our milfoil treatment history.
 
Ron Duy, Central Minnesota Aquatics, recently surveyed Clearwater Lake June 8. His estimate was Eurasian water milfoil was decreased ~40% vs. 2016 pretreatment. Please see recent EWM maps.
 
Per MN DNR, we have obtained signature waiver for EWM treatment in 2017 based on the following information:
 
Pest: Eurasian Water Milfoil
Herbicide: Navigate
Treatment dates: June 12- July 7
How To Opt Out of EWM treatment:
Contact Charlie Lick that you DO NOT WANT TREATMENT IN FRONT OF YOUR PROPERTY
 
charleslick@me.com
612-508-3514
To see see a maps of prior years and this years treatment locations go to Milfoil Infestation Maps.

Spring 2017 Report

The following report was provided to Charles Lick, our Invasive Committee lead by Central Minnesota Aquatics following an early spring survey.  Once again, GREAT NEWS!  Ron Duy congratulates our lake association on saving our lake, but the congratulations goes to you, all of members that have helped contribute toward the fight!
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

Automatic Renewal of Treatment Signatures

The past few years, Mn DNR has allowed us not to require signatures from each homeowner to approve Eurasian Water Milfoil treatment in front of their property since everyone has approved treatment in the past.

This is a MUCH easier process than going door to door to collect treatment approval signatures.  As part of that process, we need to see if anyone does not approve of treatment in front of their property each year.  If you do not approve of milfoil treatment in front of your property in 2017, contact:
Charlie Lick
Charleslick@me.com
612-508-3514
As in previous years, we will communicate this signature waiver message thru our website, direct newsletter email to each homeowner and at our annual homeowners meeting Memorial Day weekend.

Fall 2016 Report

2016 was another year of fighting the good fight against invasives.  Thanks everyone for all your help!  This is a whole lake effort.

The war against Eurasian Milfoil continued with Central Minnesota Aquatics.  They did multiple surveys, treating milfoil as it was discovered throughout the summer. They adjusted the treatment to account for the high water levels this year.
Once again, the board is happy to report that we have seen very positive success.  The areas that were treated last year show no new sign of milfoil.  Also, the areas treated earlier in the year did not require re-treatment.  With our and Central Minnesota Aquatics vigilant watch we hope to continue our success story.  You can see the 2016 milfoil progress on the Invasive, Milfoil History page.
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On another invasive note, Buckthorn has been added to our list of local invasives.  You can see a more information about this tree/shrub on the Invasive, Buckthorn page. 
 
This is the season to identify any Buckthorn on your property; it's the only plant with dark green leaves. Buckthorn is a very aggressive exotic species. Of most concern is the new shoots contain a toxin which kills native plants. In many areas around the lake large beds of trillium have vanished from the expansion of Buckthorn.