Aquatic Invasive Species at Pike Lake

There are several aquatic invasive species in Pike Lake, in the Turtle River watershed upstream of Pike Lake, and several others in nearby waters that could pose a threat to Pike Lake.

Curly Leaf Pondweed is the most critical threat. Recent surveys have also uncovered Yellow Iris and Aquatic Forget-Me-Not on the shore of Pike Lake.

Yellow Iris is established in several locations on Pike Lake.

Eurasian Water Milfoil is well established in Long Lake, which drains through Long Lake Creek and the Turtle River upstream of Pike Lake. It has not yet been observed in Pike Lake. In the future, we can expect this to spread downstream, and could be introduced earlier by boat and trailer contamination.

Other invasives of concern are Spiny Water Flea (which is in the Gile Flowage and Lake Superior), Zebra and Quagga mussels, and Rusty Crayfish. It’s important for everyone to observe clean boating and fishing practices to avoid their introduction to Pike Lake, and to prevent spread to other area lakes. Boat transportation and bait laws .

Curly-Leaf Pondweed

Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) is well established in Rice Lake just upstream of Pike Lake, and occurs in many spots in the Turtle River between Rice and Pike Lakes. It has been found in Pike Lake near the Turtle River inlet, and in a few other spots. CLP will be the major concern of Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc.

If unchecked, CLP has the potential to clog the shallow areas of the lake with matted surface growth, impeding boating, fishing, and swimming. As it dies, it creates large amounts of decaying vegetation, releasing nutrients which feed algae blooms, resulting in worsened water clarity, slime, and odor.

Curly Leaf Pondweed spreads rapidly via turions, which are vegetative structures that are released, float, and then sink, remaining viable for several years. If unchecked in Pike Lake, CLP will spread downstream to Lake of the Falls, and then to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, both of which have far more shallow habitat where it will thrive.

ArcGis Map

The image above shows the location of Curly Leaf Pondweed recorded in the 2022 survey. Click on the image to go to an interactive map which can show and compare AIS locations which were mapped in 2019, 2020, 2021, and/or 2022. The Details panel on the left allows you to select different Contents for the map.

This map is maintained by the Iron County Land and Water Conservation department.

Photo and Video

This is a photo of a small portion of a patch of CLP in the main basin of Rice Lake, taken in the early part of the growing season on May 29, 2021. A significant portion of Rice Lake is infested with CLP to this degree.

This is a video taken by the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, in 2021 on Rice Lake, and posted to their Facebook page.