Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Activities

Jan. 8, 2024:  Just in case you were wondering about how to identify Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM), the most pervasive aquatic invasive species found in Forest Lake, click on the link below to view a very short video.  A message will pop up to Open Link in New Tab.  Click on that message and you can view the video.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXgUxiHRf1A

Even though the video talks about Minnesota waters, we have the same types of EWM - both the bad and the good (Northern Water Milfoil). So when you're splashing around the shore, if you see something that you think might be EWM, carefully take it out by the root (trying not to drop any of the little pieces of it) and dispose of it in the trash - far away from the water.  You'll be doing everyone a huge favor by taking out the small pieces so they don't become HUGE and need to be removed by the Diver Assisted Suction Harvest (DASH) boats and snorkelers.  Thank you.


Nov. 4, 2023:  Just a quick update (thank you, Tom Macak) as to where we are on the Lake Management Plan Update:

Onterra has gathered the majority of the data they need to  begin updating the plan.  That data includes;

  •  Stakeholder Survey
  • Water Quality Assessment (read chemistry)
  • Early Season AIS Survey
  • Late Season AIS Survey

They have yet to do the Watershed Characterization, crunch the  data, make their recommendations, meet with us to discuss, and       generate the document.
Our Expenses to date are $7,734.  The Foundation paid $875 a couple months ago and paid an additional $6,859 today.  The total       expense should be somewhat more than $14,000 and will be reimbursable at 66% once all the bills are paid.

 We will continue working on this as we get more info from Onterra.


Sept. 25, 2023:  Final Report from Aquatic Plant Management  Below is the final report from our Eurasian Water Milfoil removal contractor, Aquatic Plant Management.  Thumbnail sketch is 84 dives, 110 hours and a dump truck full (10.5  cubic yards) of milfoil was removed. Please see the map within the report that shows where all the work was done this year.  The cost of this year's work was $40,000.  Of that, $5,000 will be paid by the Association with the remaining $35,000 being paid by the Foundation.   Thanks, Tom Macak, for all the work you do to help keep Forest Lake the beautiful sanctuary it is and thank you to all that support the Association and Foundation.  Taking care of the Lake is an expensive investment.   We appreciate your past and ongoing support.


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