Chippewa Flowage Invasive Species Education and Management (CFISEM) Steering Committee

Minutes from the meeting of December 20, 2006

(Minutes taken by Deb Anderson and typed/edited by Erik Olson .)

(Minutes were taken in shorthand.)

In Attendance: Erik Olson, Craig Roesler, Douglas Kurtzweil, Dennis Clagget, Deb Anderson , Neal Kephart, Dan Tyrolt, Brett McConnell, Matt Bushman, Bruce Meyers , Jerry Smith, and Dan Pearson

Erik- Welcomed everyone and reviewed agenda. 

Erik- Set up Power Point presentation

·         Grant Update

·         Update of Education and Outreach

·         Future Education and Outreach

Doug- In reference to putting together an Invasive Species Conference for sometime in 2008 you could talk to Sawyer County Lakes Forum for collaboration.  And/or work with WAL to set it up.

Erik- It would be my intention to have a separate conference specifically for AIS held here at the college, and I would like to collaborate with SC Lakes Forum and WAL.

Erik- Also (Future Education) I am collaborating with LCO Conservation Department, UWEX, and LCO Tribal Historical Preservation Office (Jerry Smith) to set up a paddle down the west fork of the Chippewa River .  Would be in July and would cover water quality, AIS, and History of the river.

Erik- Update of Research, Gave a summary of the lakes and rivers surveyed in 2005 & 2006 by the LCOOCC & LCOOCC Extension and the potential waterbodies to be surveyed in 2007.

Craig- Radisson Flowage has AIS, which is down stream from the Chippewa Flowage which most likely means that AIS are moving down the river.

Erik- Yes, and we hope do document that in our river surveys. 

Erik- EWM Survey Update

Erik- Discussion of possible EWM decline from 2005-2006.

Doug- It really did appear to have decreased on the east side.

Erik- In conversation with LCO Conservation Dept. it did appear to have declined on the west side as well, though there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.

Erik- Finished update of EWM and Native Plant Surveys.

Erik- Purple Loosestrife Survey Update

Dennis- Bog pieces break off of main chunk and float to shore while infested and thus contributing to the spread.

Erik- We have seen entire bogs move to the shoreline and spread PL to shoreline.  Bogs are a major concern because the PL appears to do well on the bogs.

Erik- Updates on Management Activities.

Erik- Some collaborative efforts with different agencies on control.

Craig- Noticed lacewings in the PL beetle rearing enclosures and thinks that it could be possible that they are preying on the beetles.  Which would explain why the beetles are not completely knocking out the PL.  Beetles are not causing as much damage on PL and this could be due to predation.

Erik- Updates on other Invasive Species work.

Erik- Japanese Knotweed has been found on LCO and I believe there is some in Hayward .

Craig- Yes, there is a patch there near Marketplace.

Erik- Introduce and Update River Survey

Erik- Grant was written from comments made by the steering committee about a need.  We are surveying rivers and streams that flow into the Flowage and some waterbodies up river to see if they are a source of AIS entry into the flowage. Surveyed East fork from Barkers lake down and found an infestation of PL in the Flowage area of the river.  Surveyed the West fork of the Chippewa and found EWM and PL in Lake Chippewa North of HWY B, and found one infestation of PL on the river.  Surveyed the Northfork of the Chief River and found EWM down its length, thus showing that EWM is moving from Callahan and Mud Lakes into the Flowage via the Northfork.

Erik- Asks Agencies for Updates.

LCO Conservation Dept.

Dan- Moonshine Lake entry and Turkey Bar were treated with chemicals for EWM.  Can treat up to 50 more acres maybe this spring which is the best time to do chemical treatment.  The treatment near Moonshine seemed to have some severe damage on the EWM.

Brett- The problem is most likely not so big (EWM) on the west side as it is on the east side because of the deep thoroughfare.  The east side has many bars and shallow spots in areas where there is high traffic.  This traffic in shallow spots could be helping spread EWM and making it worse.  Chemical treatment should be focused on these areas.

Dan- Need to target large colonizing patches. Focus on areas that are helping colonize other spots.  Maybe the low water levels now will help knock back the EWM.  Moss Creek Bottoms was fairly thick with EWM.

Discussion

Dennis- Could it be that EWM infestations with a sand substrate will be more affected by low water levels than the muck, because the muck provides a good spot for seeds?

Erik- Possibly but there is most likely more to it.

Doug- With variability of weather it will take many years to figure out what the variable or variables are that has caused this present decline.

WI DNR

Craig- Beetles released in Flowage and by Winter on HWY 70, island on Radisson Flowage, Smith Lake , and Clear Lake .  Put out by volunteers on Spider Lake .

Craig- Supposedly someone found Curly-leaf Pondweed in Grindstone Lake

Craig- Also there was a report that there was zebra mussels near the Radisson Dam but this report was probably not valid.  Checked and followed up but could not find anything.

Craig- I think they could possibly be feeding on marsh cinquefoil in Lake Hayward and plan to test this hypothesis by trying to raise beetles on only marsh cinquefoil.

Erik- Was there any other plant?

Craig- I do not believe so.

Erik- Brings up terrestrial invasives.  Questions on activity of Japanese Knotweed and Spotted Knapweed.

Everyone- Very limited action with these invasives.

Neal- There are a couple volunteers pulling spotted knapweed on a roadside.

Erik- What about biocontrol for spotted knapweed?

Discussion about whether or not it is an issue.

Dan- We have been attempting to get funding to map spotted knapweed throughout the reservation, but have had no success.

Matt- The FS does some control in their old gravel pits by planting trees and shading the spotted knapweed.

Discussion moves to potential survey locations for next summer.

Erik- Possibly go back to Flowage and do 1,000 points to document change.  Possibly Cranberry Lake, Blueberry Lake , and Two Boys Lake .

Doug- River Survey of the North Fork North of Callahan and Mud Lakes . 

Craig- What about a Callahan Survey?  EWM is present and a survey could prove to be useful for management.  DNR did a partial survey of Osprey.  Mud Lake is another possibility.

Dan- Two Boys would be useful. PL and EWM have been seen near the mouth of the channel.  Blueberry Lake is on National Lake Survey soon and LCO Conservation is spending a lot of time on this lake next year.  Would be useful to have plant data to go along with the water quality data.

Craig- You could do less points on the Flowage, maybe 10% of your original points.  That would still allow you to show year to year variability and save you time.

Erik- Good idea.  What about Chippewa Lake North of HWY B?  I think it is possible that boaters are bringing EWM and PL up from the Flowage.

Doug- I think that is correct.

Craig- Consultant from Lake Assoc. did AIS survey of Ghost, Lost, and possibly Teal Lakes .  I will track them down for you.

Erik- Thanks everyone and apologizes for going over the time set. 

Next meeting will be sometime in February or early March.

Water Quality Home Page