Greater Lake Sylvia Association

General Process for Treating Invasive Species

• In early winter, apply to Wright County Soil and Water for matching chemical treatment grants for proposed treatment of invasive species.

• In early winter apply for DNR grants for chemical treatment.

• Request permission for blanket notification to property owners of intent to  treat listed invasive species from the DNR using published legal notice, publishing the treatment information in the lake association newsletter, provide estimated treatment periods, and chemicals to be used. Provide information for the process to object to invasive species treatment and deadline for doing so.  Modify wording of blanket notice per DNR feedback. 

• Publish a legal notice of intent to treat each invasive species in the Annandale Advocate, chemicals to be used, estimated periods of treatment and method and deadline to object to treatment.

• Print notice of intent to treat each invasive species, chemicals to be used, and method and deadline for filing objections in the GLSA newsletter.

• Contract with an independent company to survey the lake at the appropriate time of year to identify areas that meet DNR minimum requirements for chemical application.  GLSA generally treats three invasive species each year. They are curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, and starry stonewort.

• Review and submit GPS coordinates of areas identified by the independent company that appear to meet DNR minimum treatment specifications (density) to obtain a treatment permit for each invasive species to be treated.  This results in multiple lake inspections by the contractor since each invasive species becomes active at different water temperatures and requires separate surveys.

• After submission to the DNR for needed permits, the areas requested for treatment by GLSA are greatly reduced by the area DNR office after the DNR inspects the proposed areas. Denial is based on DNR assessment of the magnitude of the invasive species and the ability of it to limit use of the lake in that area. The final permit lists the specific size and location of the areas permitted to be treated.  It is only at this point we can estimate chemical application costs.   

• Based on the DNR permit, a professional licensed chemical applicator is hired for application of the approved locations, the approved chemicals, and the approved amount of chemical.  

• Failure to follow the DNR permit can result in loss of licenses by those we hire and poses potential liability to GLSA.

• Curly leaf pondweed is the first invasive treated and treatment must be completed in May. 

• Eurasian water milfoil is generally treated in June or July. 

•  Starry Stonewort treatments are typically done at the public landing starting in June or July, depending on the amount found, and then the area is treated every 30 days, with independent inspections of the area after each treatment with four total starry stonewort treatments during the boating season. The AIS chairperson is present for each of the four treatments to insure that the treatments comply with the written agreement calling for icing of the liquid chemicals used and application in chemicals in areas where a previous treatment did not eliminate starry stonewort, typically near the two docks at the access.

• At the end of the treatment season late in the fall, a final all lake inspection is conducted looking for any starry stonewort located outside of the landing area.   It should be noted a lake survey does not involve inspecting every foot of lakeshore.  Typically it involves visual inspection from a boat and rake   heads tossed into the lake, pulling weeds up and noting any invasive species found and the estimated plant density as the boat cruises the shoreline of the lake.

• Submit final bills to Wright County Soil and Water and the DNR for all treatment activities for consideration of reimbursement.

• Follow submission of treatment invoices to insure GLSA is reimbursed consistent with Wright County Spoil and Water and DNR reimbursement agreements.

Protection of the lake from catastrophic expansion of existing, or of new introductions of starry stonewort at private landings is the number one danger to Lake Sylvia. Hired professionals cannot guarantee this from happening.  Each lake property owner and each watercraft owner has a responsibility to learn what invasive species look like and report new or unusual aquatic weeds located in the lake.  

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/aquatic_invasive/control-projects.html