Berry Lake EWM Update

Received a e mail from the people in charge of fighting EWM at Berry Lake. JFYI, I did leave out some comments directed towards pictures and maps.

The DNR just informed us that they intend to have a team inventorying the aquatic plants on Berry Lake this "Wednesday or Thursday." They write, "This will be an identical survey to the one we collected last year and in which we discovered Eurasian watermilfoil." Circumstances such as weather could change the day(s) of the inventory.

In last year's survey, the DNR sampled 140 points with points in a grid 50 meters apart. The attached DNR map of Berry Lake shows the 140 points and the location of the EWM which they found during last year's survey.

A whole lake aquatic plant inventory is one important measure in determining the health of the lake. Aquatic plants are a very important part of a lake's ecosystem. Aquatic plants contribute to clean water and a robust fishery.

Last year's DNR aquatic plant survey not only found the Eurasian water-milfoil in an early stage, it reported that Berry Lake has an excellent aquatic plant community. The aquatic plants are diverse and include some rare species.

A healthy aquatic plant community is an important aid in defending against the establishment and spread of aquatic invasive plants. Established natives reduce the area available to the invasives. Established mature natives can out compete newly arrived invasives.

Our EWM monitoring program is underway. The results of past pulling and treatment continues to be very positive, although we expect to discover EWM plants as the summer progresses.

Thus far, we located one single small EWM plant (which the diver removed) but we have a lot more surveying to do before we are in a position to speak with confidence about how the lake is doing. Yesterday and today we found some plants that could be the good native Northern Milfoil but have some Eurasian water-milfoil characteristics. We are investigating the possibility that these may be Northern/EWM hybrids.

The DNR's aquatic plant survey is not nearly as exhaustive as our EWM monitoring surveys. The DNR may find more EWM but even if they don't, we should not feel secure until we have had an opportunity to conduct more monitoring surveys of our own.

A couple of comments.

One, it is good everyone involved with fighting EWM is seeing some results. A big Thank You to all the volunteers.

Two, I cringe with the above comment of "The aquatic plants are diverse and include some rare species." How rare before someone would tell us they are so rare that boats will have to come off the water to save the plants? Just putting it out there.

Three, I just get the heeby jeebies when I hear the WDNR will be close. The dnr is helping us get through this which is good. I know one of the WDNR people and he is a good hard working guy, Hats off to him. Thank you for your help!

I just get that feeling whenever the word WDNR is spoken. The feeling is they just want to take away property owners rights, etc, etc.. They have more power then law enforcement and just get the feeling they could do more harm then good. No, no one is doing any harm to the environment or our lake, we all care for Berry Lake, but it's just the WDNR has a bad reputation even if it may not be so.

So to the agents from the WDNR that will be helping on our lake I at least say

Thank You for your work.

P S, Sorry, I will be away at work.