TREATMENT
After 2-1/2 years of phone calls, meetings, Lake Management Plan changes, Grant Applications, Surveys and Water Sample testing, the WDNR finally allowed PLPOA to treat the milfoil in Pine Lake. The lake was treated in July by Wisconsin Lake and Pond Resource (WLPR).
Instead of paying WLPR for the follow-up service, board members personally took after-treatment water samples three hours, six hours, nine hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after the treatment. These samples were taken from four points around the lake, saving our membership $2,000.
FISH STUDY
The Board also allowed UW Madison (UWM) to conduct two fish growth studies before, during and after the treatment. The study was designed to determine if the ProcellaCor used to treat the milfoil was detrimental to fish larvae. In addition, water samples were taken at six points around the lake by UWM grad students, with the UWM sample sites being different from the sample sites taken by our board members.
POST-TREATMENT
In August, a post-treatment point survey was conducted WLPR. The milfoil treatment appears to have been very successful. Four weeks after treating the milfoil, the post-treatment point survey showed a 90 plus percent rate of success.
The large concentrations of milfoil were gone with only a few sporadic plants spread out around the lake.
Both sets of water tests came back with very, very low concentrations of ProcellaCor remaining (parts per billion).
FISH STUDY RESULTS
The test fish did very well in both studies, our regular fish population had no ill effects that could be detected, and native plants were starting to grow in the treated areas.
OUTCOME
It would appear our treatment was very successful with no ill effects to the lake.
GRANT MONEY
PLPOA submitted paid invoices to WDNR in late September after receiving and paying the invoices for this year’s treatment. This year our membership spent $34,905 in total to treat the lake. The WDNR gave us an advance payment of $10,384.50 and an additional payment of $15,794.25 for a total of $26,178.75. This represents 75% of the money spent, the agreed to amount in the grant contract. PLPOA’s 2023 out of pocket expense came to $8,726.25.
The remaining Grant money we have in our agreement with the WDNR for the next two years is $15,359.25. To get that remaining grant money we need to spend approximately $20,479 more.
ADDITIONAL MONIES
The board has also sent copies of our paid invoices to Springwater Township for consideration at their November meeting. Our request has been added to the November meeting agenda. Springwater Township has supported our efforts in the past and we are hoping they will do so again this year. Watch the web-site (www.pinelakeproperty.org) for news of any additional monies received.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Koch