Updates:

 

 

What is AIS, anyway ?

 

AIS stands for Aquatic Invasive Species. These are plants or animals that live in water and are native to other parts of the world - - usually Europe and Asia.

Because they are non-native, they often have a competitive advantage over our native species and are able to crowd them out. They may also enjoy an absence of natural predators, giving them an even greater advantage.

 AIS are accomplished hitchhikers. They frequently travel from Europe or Asia in the ballast tanks of ocean freighters. When the freighters empty their ballast tanks at a Great Lakes port prior to loading – bingo! The first leg of the hitchhiker’s journey is complete. Most AIS have gotten their foothold in the Great Lakes, then migrated southward by clinging to boat trailers.

 Secondary infestations have been concentrated around the population centers ( more people, more boats) of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Specifically, Madison and the Twin Cities. In recent years AIS have migrated to our own backyard - - Ham Lake, Long Trade Lake, and Round Lake are all infested with Eurasian Water Milfoil, one of the most feared AIS. As a result, Big Wood Lake is now considered to be a high-risk lake for Eurasian Water Milfoil ( EWM ) because of the frequent boat trailer activity from both our locally infested lakes and the Twin Cities infested lakes.

                                   

So what if we get EWM - - isn’t it just one more pesky weed in the lake?

 

Our native aquatic plants are a very important part of our lake’s ecosystem. They serve as a filter by trapping sediments that wash into the lake. They respirate oxygen, which is needed for all types of water animals.

Most importantly, they provide the habitat for fish and other lake animals to reproduce and find shelter. This area of the lake where aquatic plants grow extends out into the lake to a depth of about 10 feet and is called the littoral zone. All spawning and most feeding takes place in this zone - - it is extremely important to our lake’s overall health.

 

 EWM, however, is a complete disaster - - it’s stems are rooted in the bottom and grow to  lengths of 20 feet, forming dense mats on the water surface. These mats are so dense that the most powerful boat cannot pass through them. The deeper center of the lake would likely remain open, but dock access would be impossible. Fish populations would decline as fish would be virtually cut off from their feeding and breeding areas.

  

I’ve heard that EWM actually improves the fishing - - is that true?

 No! In some lakes where there is very little in the way of native aquatic plants, bass fishing has improved somewhat after an EWM infestation occurs.

                                       

But this is a short-lived phenomenon. After the EWM gets a foothold, it forms mats so dense that even fish can’t swim through them. After a few years fish populations crash - - no feeding areas, no spawning areas.

                        

Are there any AIS in Big Wood Lake now ?

  

Yes. Our lake has been infested with Curly Leaf Pondweed for many years. This plant is also a native of Europe/Asia and was likely introduced to the US back in the 40’s as a decorative pond plant.

So far, it has not become a problem in our lake but we need to continue to monitor it’s population and concentration. Clam Lake is spending lots of money each year and has two mechanical harvesters running all the time to control their Curly Leaf Pondweed problem. This plant is a serious problem for some lakes, but seems to have found some kind of a balance with native species in Big Wood Lake.

   

How can we guarantee that Big Wood Lake will not become infested with EWM or some other AIS ?

 

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to be 100% sure we won’t get infested. All we can do is to try and reduce the odds of infestation.

                                       

Your Big Wood Lake Association developed an AIS Prevention and Control Plan  last year and is working on implementation. The plan involves education of riparians, education of boaters/anglers, in-lake monitoring, boat ramp monitoring, and preparation for control treatment if/when needed.

 

We have benefited from the advice of DNR experts, University of WI limnologists, and our Burnett County conservation officer in both the development and implementation of our plan. We obtained a DNR AIS

Education Grant and a Burnett County grant which will reimburse us for 50% of our costs in the applicable areas.

 

We give an update on the status of our AIS Prevention and Control Plan at our spring and fall membership meetings.

  

If we get infested who pays for getting the problem fixed?

Lakeshore owners pay the bill. We might be able to get grants from the DNR to cover 50%  of the cost. DNR funds are limited and Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes,

so as the number of lakes infested goes up there are fewer dollars available for any one lake.

 

 How much would it cost?

 

Chemical treatment runs about $500 per acre. If we had to treat 100 acres, for example, that amounts to about $50,000.

 

EWM is not easy to kill, and treatment has to be repeated each year. At the spring Wisconsin Area Lakes conference we meet other lake associations and lake districts that are doing control treatment. Many are spending well over the $50,000 example above. One lake has spent over one million dollars over the past 14 years and still has AIS problems.

 

It is crucial that we do everything we can to prevent infestation. It is equally critical that we do everything we can to ensure early detection of an infestation. 

 

What can I do to help ?

 

Get yourself educated on AIS, especially on EWM. Study the enclosed EWM identification placard. Take it down to your dock and rake up some plants. You will be able to identify Northern Water Milfoil, which is a native species. Follow directions on the placard to learn how to distinguish EWM - - all you have to do is count the leaf pairs - - it is not difficult. We need all riparians to do this simple inspection several times each summer. Report any suspected EWM immediately to any BWLA director. Reporting  directions are included on the back of the placard.

Attend the Membership Meetings. Currently only about 20% of our members attend. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how we are doing on our AIS Prevention and Control Plan, and to get other useful lake information.

 

Learn how to properly handle your boat when loading it at the boat ramp:

 

        Remove all plants from boat and boat trailer.

        Remove all plants from anchor rope.

        Drain bilge water; leave plug out.

        Drain livewells and check inside for any plant fragments.

        Dump unused minnows and rinse out the minnow bucket.

 

If you are loading your boat from a lake infested with any type of AIS do the above, plus the following:

 

        Flush motor with clean water.

        Let the boat sit in the sun for 5 days before its next use.

 

It is illegal to launch a boat in Wisconsin with any plants on the boat or trailer. It is also illegal to transport fish in a livewell (use a cooler with ice to transport fish).

 

Be sure that anyone in your household understands the above procedure. Remember to inform any visitors you may have that are bringing boats in from other areas. They may or may not be aware of the AIS problem that we are facing in this area.

 

Bring any questions you may have to the Spring Membership Meeting. Hope to see you there!!