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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | New hybrid may affect already weedy lakes
Water plant species could add to problems caused by Eurasian parent
By LEE BERGQUIST
[email protected]
Posted: Jan. 11, 2005
Scientists have discovered a new form of invasive aquatic plant species in Wisconsin that could make the job of controlling weedy lakes that much harder.
The Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that the new invasive species turned up in summer on 16 of 36 lakes across the state that were tested.
The new hybrid was pollinated from the seeds of the northern water milfoil, a native Wisconsin lake plant, and the Eurasian water milfoil, a troublemaker that has choked lakes, harmed fish populations and diminished the recreational experiences of boaters and swimmers for years.
The discovery only makes the job of controlling Eurasian water milfoil, and perhaps the hybrid, more difficult, according to Ron Martin, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the DNR.
That's because the hybrid is virtually impossible to differentiate from the Eurasian water milfoil, he said. One way to tell the difference: Spend about $50 for DNA analysis.
Eurasian water milfoil forms thick mats just beneath the surface of the water. In some cases, it nearly chokes out any other plants, wiping out plant diversity and harming the health of a lake.
The weedy environment also makes it difficult for predator fish to see smaller fish, driving up the panfish population until the lake can no longer support them.
The Eurasian water milfoil can be controlled by chemical spraying and is in about 400 state lakes. Martin said one way the DNR will find out whether the new hybrid is harming state waters is if spraying for the Eurasian water milfoil doesn't work. Only then will the agency find out whether it's the hybrid.
The hybrid has characteristics of both the Eurasian and native species.
Spraying doesn't affect native milfoils, and it is unclear how spraying affects the hybrid.
The plant was discovered in Wisconsin in 2003 by Michael L. Moody, a graduate student at the University of Connecticut. But it wasn't until this summer that the plant was discovered in more lakes than the state realized, said Laura Herman, an aquatic plant management specialist with the DNR in northern Wisconsin.
The agency said it found new lakes with Eurasian water milfoil last year, but it is believed the increase is due to better surveillance.
Invasive species are transported to new lakes and rivers primarily on boat trailers, in live wells on boats and in bait buckets.
From the Jan. 12, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Member
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Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI | It was only a matter of time before this was going to happen. Sad stuff to say the least. What are you gonna do? Tell people from other states and southern Wisconsin that they can't trailer thier boats up north? Not gonna happen. The spread of all these invasive species is getting crazy and out of control. With the ever increasing popularity of fishing, internet reports and the many tournys going on now, I can see a future that's filled with invasive species.
Please, Please Please, clean your trailers/boats and dump your livewell/baitwell water before moving from lake to lake.
Edited by Gander Mt Guide 1/12/2005 8:41 AM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | John,
What the DNR should have done is setup boat haul cleaning stations at every popular boat landing in Wisconsin and made it mandatory for everyone to use. I've seen a few of these around the state associated with the Great lakes. THEY WORK.
Trying to educate people and telling them to clean their hauls when they get home or letting the boats dry for several days DID NOT work.
I think that if the cleaning stations were in place people would use them.
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Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI | Dennis, I own a home on one of the most popular Musky lakes in NE Wis. I'm up there every other week and have yet to see any Inspection people. I fished 16 different bodies of water last season, including 5 tournaments, and never saw anybody checking anything. Matter of fact, I only got checked once last year for a license!
We can't rely on the DNR, and it's not thier fault, there's 15,000 lakes here. Anglers/boaters are going to have to take responsibility themselves. I really don't think a majority of people realize that a problem even exists. More awareness by advertising the problem and stiffer fines for folks who's trailer is found to have an Invasive Species always opens people's eyes. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I agree that part of the solution is more awareness by advertising the problem. This should have been done by the DNR. They have failed miserably on this! I also have no problem with stiffer fines (maybe the increase in revenue can pay for cleaning stations). But I would still like to see cleaning stations. It would help not hurt. I know some people will argue about cost to do this but I feel that our lakes are worth too much not to do something.
We're slowly destroying our lakes and streams. This saddens me tremendously. I can tell that you feel just as strong about it.
What bothers me even more are all the people who are refusing to address this problem and the problems of the evasive species. WE are all the bosses of DNR and state legislatures. Yet most of us turn a deaf ear to the problem and possible solutions.
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Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI | Why is it that the "hardcore" anglers, abeit Walleye, Musky or Bass, always seem to be the ones who run by the regs, rules and give a crap about what happens out there? Watch a landing in northern Wisconsin sometime, you'll see maybe 1-2% of the folks cleaning off the weeds or checking thier rigs before launching or leaving.
The DNR can put as many signs up at landings as they want, nobody reads them. The DNR reports what's happening with Invasive Species, but they don't have a plan to rid lakes and educate the general public about thier harm.
Maybe all these bad things are just supposed to happen and it's a part of the evolutionary cycle of lakes??? Will lake species like Walleye adapt?
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