HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquatic Invasive Species Committee - Minutes - 8/16/2023MINUTES
August 16th, 2023 (to be approved)
Present: Nan Olson-Chair & Lakes-related Business Representative; Sally Pease-Vice Chair & Friends of the
Eau Claire Lakes Association; Karen Austin-Landing Coordinator for Pike Chain of Lakes and Lake
Delta; Mike Higgins-Town of Iron River-Pike Chain of Lakes Association Board; Larry Fickbohm-
County Board Supervisor; Andrew Teal-AIS Coordinator/Surface Water Conservation Technician;
Jim Giffin, Lake Minnesuing-Douglas Co; & Melissa Kraft-LWCD Assistant
Absent: Ben Dufford-Director of Land & Water Conservation Dept.; Alex Selle-Lake Superior AIS Coordinator
w/ DNR; Jacob Coe-Environmental Technician with the Red Cliff Treaty Natural Resources Division;
John Rautio-County Board Supervisor; Ramona Shackleford-Northwoods Cooperative Weed
Management Area Coordinator
Call meeting to Order: Nan Olson called the meeting to order at 9:03am
Introductions: Introductions.
Public Comment: Karen Austin presented current statistics on landings. The smaller landings have been more active
while Twin Bear has been less active. Campgrounds are less active as she believes more people are more
comfortable with traveling farther since COVID-19 has decreased. She mentioned that the DNR website does not
seem to be up to grade. She has had lots of complications getting into the SWIMS database and has noticed the data
she is entering is not accurate to what the system is computing, especially with the Lake Delta landing. Karen ended up
hand tallying the hours to get an accurate count. She has contacted the DNR several times and some of it has been
fixed but not all of it. Twin Bear has exceeded the 200 required hours needed at 358 total, Hyde’s Landing currently
has 141 hours, 149 hours have been completed at Buskey Bay Town Landing so 51 hours need to be done yet, Delta
has 152 hours therefore needs 48 more hours. Every landing should meet the required 200 hours by the end of the
season. $1500 is the approximate amount of cash match needed from Long Lake Property Owner’s Association and
the Pike Chain of Lakes Association will need to provide approximately $3500 in cash match. Karen noted that John
Coffey has been instrumental with the salary processing for CBCW. Karen discussed Eurasian watermilfoil chemical
treatments using triclopyr with a limno curtain. It has been very effective, and she has not heard any complaints about
the use of the curtain and herbicides.
Jim Giffin discussed herbicide treatment they used on curly-leaf pondweed, and it went well. They also had snorkelers
come in and hand pull for 5 days, and they were sent home after 3 days because of how sparse the plants were. The
snorkelers and other volunteers didn’t find much where it had been previously documented. They think it was possibly
due to the heavy snow load and late snow melt not allowing as much light down into the water, preventing it from
growing as it normally would have. The yellow flag iris is still present and not as bad, but they are continually
monitoring and remove it when they see it.
Approval of Minutes from 02-15-2023 and 05-24-23
Motion by Mike Higgins, 2nd by Sally Pease, to approve the minutes from February 15th, 2023.
Motion carried.
Motion by Mike Higgins, 2nd by Larry Fickbohm, to approve the minutes from May 24th, 2023. Motion
carried.
Grant Updates/Discussion/Possible Action: LMPN/AIS#8 & Clean Boats Clean Waters-Iron River grants:
LMPN/AIS#8 – Grant funds are mostly used up for the year. Nov 15th is the deadline for 2024 grant application.
Clean Boats Clean Waters-Iron River – Current amount of $6200 remaining in CBCW grant.
Mike Higgins and Jim Giffin discussed concern regarding deep wake boats, pointing to studies in Michigan,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin investigating the impact these boats have on shorelines and lake bottoms.
Discussion/Possible Action: Arrow arum discovery on Cable Lake and action recommendations: A small patch
of arrow arum was discovered last year on Middle Eau Claire Lake. Recently, a large area with multiple patches
(approximately two dozen populations) was discovered on the northern shore of Cable Lake. Andy noted that it is not
listed as an invasive species; however, it is clearly spreading, and waterfowl can move it readily. Andy suggested to
keep an eye out for it on all other lakes.
Discussion/Possible Action: Suggestions of drone flight areas to search for non-indigenous plants: Andy
asked the Land Records Department to conduct a drone flight between the bridge and dam on Namekagon Lake
(excluding National Park Service property) for purple loosestrife and yellow iris. If there are suggestions for other areas
to conduct drone flights in search of invasive plants, please let Andy know. Jim asked how well a drone can see into
the water, Andy responded that it seems to depend on weather conditions and water clarity-the bottom of Cranberry
Lake was used as an example.
AIS Coordinator Report: Andy Teal discussed his report, in detail, which is on file. Some highlights he noted were as
follows:
Went out in early July pulling curly-leaf pondweed in Lower Eau Claire Lake using the DASH boat which went well. Did
a Citizen Lake Monitoring Network training with the Diamond Lakers Association with Alex Selle. Have had two
Invasive ID days and two more are scheduled. Andy also noted he has been working on mitigations and stormwater
management plans plus site visits in conjunction with Zoning, which has been a record year. Worked with Diane
Menard to handle purple loosestrife beetle release: three pots were deposited at Cable Lake, and the remaining pots
were handed over to Jacob Coe from Red Cliff Treaty Natural Resources Department. Jacob released the beetles
along Emil Road.
Larry Fickbohm left the meeting 10:03 a.m.
Partner/Department Reports:
Sally Pease- Town of Barnes AIS Committee meeting held on Monday. Barb did not attend so there was no update on
landings; there are also challenges with obtaining Clean Boats Clean Waters landing data due to previously mentioned
SWIMS database issues. Treatment on Tomahawk Lake seems to have been effective on the Eurasian watermilfoil.
Sandbar Lake will need to be done again next year. Shunenberg Lake now has curly-leaf pondweed, with suspicions
that Swett Lake has a source population, because the discovery was made in the flow of water. Unfortunately, it would
be difficult to impossible to get the DASH boat up into Swett Lake if needed, due to shallow water depth. Brief
discussion on Cranberry Lake purple loosestrife and beetles.
John Rautio- Unable to attend meeting.
Nan Olson- Asked whether something formal should be done regarding the DNR SWIMS database issues and the
Committee agreed. Andy will contact Erin to find out to whom an official complaint should be directed.
Karen Austin- Discussed White River native crayfish, noting that they seem to be aggressive and capable of moving
over land. Andy requested that if they see this behavior from such a crayfish again, to capture one as he would like to
examine it. First time they had seen one was at Lake Delta and they later found them in the Pike Chain, although their
numbers seem to be low.
Future AIS/Surface Water Activities:
• Invasive Species ID Days at the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, remaining dates are
August 25 and September 29 from 1-4pm • Planning to conduct early detection surveys on Bismarck, Carroll, Mullenhoff, and Richardson Lakes
• August 25, & September 29 (Sally will do the September date for the Lake Ecology Education Program
(LEEP)).
• AIS Snapshot Day, Saturday, August 19th, statewide
Adjournment: Meeting ended at 10:30 a.m.
Future meeting date(s) for regular AIS Committee meeting:
• Nov 15th, 2023 at 9AM in the EOC
• Respectfully submitted by Melissa Kraft