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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2018
SPIRIT LAKE - The
record breaking late ice on the Iowa Great Lakes delayed curlyleaf pondweed
growth in the Iowa Great Lakes, but it will top out in portions of East Okoboji
Lake and other lakes this week.
“The plant is only a foot or so below the water’s
surface in most locations and looks to be growing in the same areas where we
saw it last year,” said Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department
of Natural Resources (DNR). “We had hoped that the long winter would knock it
back, but it looks like it just delayed its growth.”
Curlyleaf pondweed is a non-native plant first
discovered in the Iowa Great Lakes more than 70 years ago. This fall
germinating plant does best with late fall ice-up and low early snow cover. The
past few years have provided optimal growing conditions in lakes around the
region.
The management plan developed by a community
working group last fall is being implemented.
The first step was to treat two 10-acre areas in
the north bay of East Okoboji Lake and Lower Gar Lake with an herbicide on May
9.
“We’re monitoring these treatments, but early
indications are that they were successful. We’re seeing very few plants in these
areas,” Hawkins said.
The second step includes expanding mechanical plant
removal from 20 acres last year to 40 acres this spring. Mechanical harvesting
efforts are just getting started.
These treatments are strategically placed to
create lanes for boat traffic and ease access at boat ramps and from private
docks. Iowa Great Lakes homeowners and lake users have expressed concern about
plants washing to shore and piling up around docks and hoists.
“A lot of loose, curlyleaf pondweed was floating
on the surface right after ice out this year. This was probably caused by the plant being caught in the shifting ice
and being pulled up,” said Hawkins. ”We have witnessed a lot of plants being
cut by boat and barge propellers. There was concern that clippings from
mechanical harvesting are to blame, but that
material is removed from the lake when it is cut and composted at approved
disposal sites.
“Eradication of the plant is not feasible. We need
to work together as a community to help lessen some of the impacts with the few
options we have.”
Private application of herbicides by homeowners in
public water is strictly prohibited and can be dangerous if not done correctly.
Lakeshore residents can remove plants around their dock and hoist by mechanical
cutting, pulling or raking without a permit. Dispose aquatic plants on the adjacent property or haul them to a
disposal site. Transportation of plants
and zebra mussels is allowed by obtaining a free permit at the Iowa DNR’s Spirit
Lake Fish Hatchery.
The East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation and
the City of Orleans have been active partners in this project, providing
funding and contracting services for the work.
Additional funding has come from the Marine Fuel Tax fund used to
improve and maintain boating access in Iowa.
Media
Contact: Mike Hawkins, Fisheries Biologist, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, 712-336-1840.
Booneville,
Iowa - Bridge construction that began last year over the Raccoon River in
Dallas County is creating a hazard for paddlers.
The construction site, just a few miles downstream
of the popular Booneville River Access, has steel pilings and debris spanning most
of the river. Paddlers and river users should avoid paddling from Booneville to
Walnut Woods until the debris and equipment is removed in about six weeks.
“You can still start your paddle trip at the
Puckerbrush Access about eight miles upstream of the Booneville Access and then
end the trip at Booneville,” said Todd Robertson, River Programs outreach coordinator
for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
A map of the North
Raccoon River Water Trail is available on the Iowa DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Canoeing-Kayaking/Water-Trail-Maps-Brochures
Media Contact:
Todd Robertson, Iowa DNR River Programs Outreach Coordinator
at 515-243-3714.
LANSING, Iowa
- The Village Creek public boat ramp, south
of Lansing, will be closed July 5 through Oct. 31, 2018 for improvements.
Improvements include paving the roadway
and boat ramp parking, installing a vault restroom, building sidewalks and
adding ramp extensions to improve ramp access during low water conditions.
The project is a joint project between
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries and State Parks bureaus and the
Marine Fuel Tax program.
Alternate Iowa ramps include New Albin Army
Road, north of Lansing and Heytman’s Landing, south of Lansing.
There are many ramps on the Wisconsin
side of the river. The Big Slough and Winneshiek Slough Landings are directly
across the Lansing Bridge in Wisconsin. Blackhawk Park area has multiple ramps
and Dairyland Power access south of Genoa has plenty of parking.
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