| July 18, 2005 |
With the sun shining overhead and no wind to speak of two technicians from EnviroScience Inc. released over 15,000 milfoil eating weevil eggs into Fletcher Pond. A preliminary vegetation sample found several adult weevils already in the lake. “This is a good sign,” Lisha Ramsdell, Watershed Coordinator for Huron Pines RC&D stated “it means the lake is suitable for weevils and the additional 12,000 we are adding to the lake will augment the existing population.” EnviroScience will come back in the fall to determine how effective the weevils are at controlling the EWM problem.
For the past four years the Fletcher Pond Improvement Association has been exploring ways to reduce the amount of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) plaguing Fletcher Pond. EWM is a highly invasive, non-native plant growing in Northern Michigan lakes. It grows early in the spring and by mid-summer it forms dense layers of vegetation across the lake choking out native plants, interfering with boating, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities. It has the ability to significantly disrupt the ecology of the lake by interfering with predator-prey relationships and out-competing native plants.
The Fletcher Pond Improvement Association is comprised of local, state and federal agencies; resource conservation groups; local business; and resort owners. The groups researched numerous Eurasian watermilfoil control options including chemical herbicides and biological control options. Because Fletcher Pond is such a unique, high-quality fishery and birding resource, the groups unanimously decided to treat with native weevils.
“Weevils are native to Northern Michigan lakes, the adult lays eggs on the EWM and when the eggs hatch the larvae burrow into the milfoil stalk and eat the plant. This effectively weakens and eventually kills the milfoil stalk” stated Ramsdell.
In order to release the weevils the Improvement Association needed to raise $22,000. Huron Pines Resource Conservation & Development Council is a non-profit, non-governmental resource conservation agency specializing in developing partnerships to meet natural resource and community development needs. The organization is administering the project including holding the tax-deductible funds for the project.
In addition to the weevils being released, the Improvement Association is conducting a boater education program. Grants were awarded from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund to develop and purchase educational materials and to erect an informational kiosk at the lake.
“Eurasian watermilfoil and other exotic species are oftentimes transported from lake to lake on boats, trailers, and other equipment” stated Ramsdell. It is very important that those using the lake inspect and clean their boats before and after launching into a lake. “We want to prevent more EWM from entering Fletcher Pond as well as prevent milfoil from being transported to other area lakes.”
Fletcher Pond is nearly 9,000 acres with EWM covering 75% of the lake. Additional weevils will need to be released in order to effectively control the problem.
“The first 12,000 weevils will determine if the program is successful at reducing milfoil. We still need additional funds to continue the project next spring with the hopes of establishing enough weevils to control Eurasian watermilfoil by 2007” Linda Klemens, Chairperson of the Fletcher Pond Improvement Association stated.
To learn more about the project or to make a tax-deductible contribution please contact Huron Pines RC&D at 501 Norway St., Grayling, MI 49738 or (989) 348-9319.
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Lisha Ramsdell, Huron Pines RC&D
989/348-9319 ext. 29
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| Fletcher Pond is located in Montmorency and Alpena counties. |
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