Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc.

By Zach Wilson, Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department

In 2019, the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department vouchered new curly leaf pondweed (CLP) populations on Pike Lake and the Turtle River. These new populations indicate that the aquatic invasive species (AIS) has moved downstream from the source population at Rice lake.  With the support of concerned citizens from Pike, Rice, and the Iron County Lakes and River Alliance, a group of individuals joined together and organized an aquatic invasive species response team. Through the Wisconsin Surface Water Grant program, the group wrote a grant for $20,000, over 3 years, to address the curly leaf pondweed threat. During the spring of 2020 the Wisconsin DNR awarded the grant to the Rice Lake Association (a sponsored qualified lake group).  Rice Lake graciously sponsored Pike Lake and signed an Early Detection and Response grant agreement for work done on Pike Lake and the Turtle River.  A private contractor (White Water and Associates) was hired to conduct AIS surveys, pre and post treatment, and point intercept surveys (aquatic plant surveys).  During the first week of June 2020, White Water and Associates conducted AIS surveys and reported locations to a volunteer working group trained in curly leaf pondweed identification and removal.  During the second and third weeks of June, volunteers along with the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, visited CLP sites and hand pulled all visible plants at said locations.  One additional location was identified upstream from the rapids at the Arrowhead Road Bridge. This site was also recorded, and hand pulled.

Volunteers also joined in on the Rice Lake CLP hand pulling team and spent two days pulling in the “South Bay” of Rice Lake/Turtle River.  In total, about 12 full garbage bags of CLP from the Turtle river and 3 bags on Rice Lake south bay were removed.  Both small patches of plants on Pike Lake were also pulled by volunteers.  During the last week in June, White Water and Associates will be conducting post treatment surveys.  Post treatment survey will indicate effectiveness in volunteer hand pulling efforts.   

Web based map showing locations pre and post treatment.  https://arcg.is/yKmfb