This page collects information and resources for the ongoing project to control Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), specifically Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) at Pike Lake and in the Turtle River watershed. The Pike Lake Neighbors Inc. organization was established specifically for the purposes of managing this project. We work with several other organizations in this effort. The Turtle River Volunteers is a google group which organizes efforts across the watershed.
Current Status
Invasive Curly Leaf Pondweed is established in many lakes throughout the USA, and it has recently been expanding in our area. Many local lakes have known infestations, and probably many others have not yet been discovered. Our efforts to control its spread by volunteer hand-pulling have slowed its spread, but have not halted it.
- CLP was discovered in Rice Lake in the 2010s, a mile upstream of Pike Lake, and Rice Lake is heavily infested. The Rice Lake Association has organized very large manual control efforts and has now invested in a mechanical harvester to clear boat channels, dock accesses, and other areas.
- Despite significant manual weed-pulling efforts in 2020-2024, the Turtle RIver between Rice and Pike has many well-established sites, and there are several sites downstream of Pike Lake.
- Pike Lake has several infested areas. We have had good success controlling some of them manually. However, some have proven very difficult, and others are being discovered every year. Pike Lake has the great advantage of being very deep, so that most of the lake will not be choked by CLP in the same way as Rice Lake, Lake of the Falls, and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. However, the shallow bays on the west side and the shorelines around the whole lake are still at risk.
- The CLP has spread downstream through the Turtle River and into Lake of the Falls.
- The largest concern now is to slow its spread from Lake of the Falls into the Turtle Flambeau Flowage.
Strategy
In 2000, 2001 and 2002, we used an Early Detection & Response Grant from the Wisconsin DNR to pay for professional surveys and other expenses, and used volunteers from Pike Lake and others to hand-pull CLP Plants.
After 2022, the DNR grant has completed. Our forward strategy is to:
- Use volunteer efforts to discover and hand-pull CLP plants.
- Continue to strengthen Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc., to focus on AIS in Pike Lake.
- Cooperate with other organizations in the Turtle River Watershed to plan and control AIS together.
- Organize through turtlerivervolunteers@googlegroups.com. Volunteer.
- Encourage and rely on lakeshore owners to control CLP in their own riparian shoreline areas.
- Communicate and organize local efforts on Pike Lake using the Pike Lake Pikers Facebook group. Pi
Plan
Every Pike Lake lakeshore owner must learn how to identify CLP and distinguish it from native plants.
Make every effort to find and pull any CLP plants along your shorelines. The best technique for shallow water is to hand-pull them. Follow and remove their rizomes (runners). Using a mask and snorkel is very effective in moderate depths. For deeper water, use a long handled rake. Collect all broken pieces (floaters) and turions. Do not remove native plants, as this opens areas for CLP to invade.
It is also critical to avoid transporting CLP and other AIS to other lakes and to other areas within the lake. Clean your boats and trailers thoroughly. Avoid boating through infested areas. If your fishing line pulls up CLP plants and fragments, collect and dispose of them as garbage. Do not throw floaters back into the water.
Use the Pike Lake Pikers Facebook page to ask for and contribute help for areas that are hard to control individually.