BMLDM120500
Big Muskego Lake/Bass Bay & Rehabilitation District Unapproved
Board of Deputy Commissioners
Minutes of Meeting Held Tuesday, December 5, 2000.
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 PM by Chairman Al Bing.
Commissioners present: Al Bing, Andy Grunfelder and Curt Klenz.
Lake District residents present: Leonard Pilak and Jean LaFratta
Staff present: Scott Toshner and Craig Helker (Wisconsin DNR), Tom Zagar (City)
It was noted that the meeting had been noticed in accordance to the Open Meeting Law.
New Business
Al Bing introduced Scott Toshner, Water Quality Biologist for the DNR. Scott
introduced Craig Helker who holds the same position in another area. Scott summarized
the history of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) aquatic plant management on the Big
Muskego Lake/Bass Bay system:
Drawdown of ’96-‘97
’97 weevil stocking
’98 2,4-D treatment
’99 2,4-D treatment
Scott indicated that he had talked with his predecessor, Dan Helsel, about the previous
weevil stocking and said that Dan hypothesized that the weevil population crashed after
’97 because they consumed too much of their food source (EWM). Scott said he thought
the availability of leaf litter areas, weevils’ over-wintering habitat, was the limiting factor.
Tom Zagar mentioned this was also the conclusion from Enviro-Science. Scott said 2,4-D
is a chemical selective to EWM, although Bladderwort and lily pads are somewhat
susceptible. 2,4-D knocks back EWM in 7 to 10 days and gives 1 to 1.5 years of control
(before the plants come back). 2,4-D doesn’t bioaccumulate and does not persist in the
environment. He said 2,4-D treatment generally costs about $400/acre plus permit costs
($25/acre & $20 permit).
Scott also discussed SONAR as a treatment alternative but indicated this relatively new
strategy was rather costly. Random Lake, a 212-acre lake, spent $60,000. This product,
typically applied in fall, has a longer contact time and actually kills the entire plant
(whereas 2,4-D doesn’t kill the roots). Therefore it can give 2 to 3 years of control.
However it kills some native plants and DNR permitting usually requires replanting of
natives after treatment. Pre and post- treatment surveys are therefore also a requirement.
Costs for these surveys can add up. Tom asked if financial assistance was available and
Scott said the Waterways Commission provided some grant money but there was a lot of
competition for limited funds.
Scott then discussed weevils as a control strategy. He said weevils should control EWM
if the population exceeds 2 weevils per EWM stem. Tom and Scott both agreed that the
current weevil population is not able to build to sufficient numbers through the season to
attain control and that it may be possible to boost weevil density by augmenting the
population through a stocking in spring.
Strategy for 2001 EWM control was then discussed. Scott suggested an aquatic plant
survey should be done before and after treatment to assess the treatment results. He
indicated that he could assist Tom Zagar and District members in an initial survey and give
instructions so that Tom and District volunteers could perform future surveys. Deputy
Commissioners agreed that EWM would be treated primarily in Bass Bay and that isolated
populations in Big Muskego Lake would also be addressed – particularly those near major
access points. It was agreed that a weevils and 2,4-D would both be utilized for control in
2001. This would be set up as an experiment to assess the effectiveness of each strategy.
The Deputy Commissioners agreed that weevils could be stocked in two or three areas
within Bass Bay where there was not an adjoining riparian or heavy boat traffic. 2,4-D
would be used in the remaining problem areas.
Curt Klenz agreed to begin the permit application process upon receipt of materials from
Scott. Scott suggested contacting EnviroScience to get their input on using this combined
strategy. Tom and Scott indicated that they would cooperate in writing up a management
plan for the Lake and Bay. Tom volunteered to begin writing the plan if Scott would
assist by editing and adding to it. District residents would be notified of the next meeting
date so that they could inquire/comment on chosen control strategies and treatment areas.
Scott said he would attend this meeting as well.
Old Business
Curt Klenz asked about the status of remediation plans for the failing dike on the Lake’s
southwest end. Tom and Leonard said that they heard of nothing new to report. Leonard
said that the Little Muskego Lake Association may be able to provide a loan or even a
donation to help the Lake District come up with its share of dike repair. Curt Klenz
suggested using launch fee revenues to assist in nuisance plant control and dike repair
costs.
Adjournment
Curt moved to adjourn at 8:22 p.m. Al Bing seconded, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Zagar
Lake Projects Coordinator
City of Muskego