2013

Good news! The proposed Lake Vegetation Management Plan required by the DNR was approved in February 2013. Typically, the DNR will allow an average of only 15% of a lake to be treated per year. The CLID’s proposed plan approved by the residents in 2011 was more aggressive and a report needed to be written and submitted to the DNR for approval. Melissa Bokman of Scott Watershed Management Organization and Keegan Lund of the DNR wrote the plan and submitted it to the DNR. The DNR approval allowed the more aggressive annual treatments which can be found under Lake Mgmt Plan on the Home Page. This plan includes a timeframe for treatment and acreage per year with each section being treated for at least three years for effective control of the curly leaf. Melissa and Keegan also had to take vegetation readings from Cedar Lake at various times to accompany the written plan. Ongoing vegetation studies before and after the yearly treatments and water quality monitoring will be required during all years of treatment. The plan is written to treat the invasive species on the entire lake through 2018.

In 2013 (per the approved plan), PLM was able to treat 200 acres on June 4, 2013, which included the second treatment of the East Bay and first treatment of 100 acres on the south end of Cedar Lake. Melissa was successful in obtaining an Aquatic Invasive Specifies grant from the DNR for $20,000 which was applied towards the 2013 treatment. The remaining cost was then split between the CLID and SWMO for a total cost of only $4,672 each. Earlier in the year, Melissa requested bids from treatment companies to treat the DNR-approved areas for the next three years (the maximum bid period). Three companies submitted bids with PLM being the lowest bid for all three years (2013-2015). A contract was submitted and signed by PLM, SWMO and CLID.

Feedback on results of weed treatment were very positive. In the East Bay area that was treated for the second time, an improvement was noted within 48 hours of the application. Additionally, the weed growth in 2013 was significantly less after 2012’s first treatment. Since there was a small area of weed growth observed, the board felt the 3-year treatment plan should continue to be followed. Others indicated there was a noticeable difference in the treated and non-treated areas on the south end of the lake in Area 2 within a couple days after the chemical was applied. The area slightly north of the treated area remained thick with curly leaf for a few weeks after the treated area had vastly improved.

In 2014, the plan includes treating 400 acres which is approximately half of the entire lake.

August 13, 2012

One of the two major projects for the Cedar Lake Improvement District (CLID) is the treatment of the lake to eradicate the curlyleaf pondweed. Through grants from the DNR ($15,000) and matching funds from Scott Watershed Management Organization ($2800), CLID was left with a cost of $2800 for spraying an initial 100 acres in May of 2012. DNR receives funds every year for treatment of invasive non-native weeds on Minnesota lakes. These funds vary greatly from year to year and applications from lake organizations must be made annually in order to receive grants from them. Requests are many so receiving grants from the DNR is a huge financial benefit but one that can't be counted on every year.

The plan was to spray 100 acres during 2012 in the east bay as the initial test area. That area will be chemically treated until the curlyleaf pondweed is under control and the native plants return that bay to a healthy state. Typically it takes approximately three years of treatment to reach that point so the plan/budget allows spraying that bay for the next two years as well. The CLID and Scott Watershed Management Organization are currently creating an overall treatment plan to present to the DNR for their approval. The hope is that next year an additional area (acreage amount unknown at this time.) will be approved to be treated for the first time (followed by two more years of spraying of that acreage) . The length of time to complete the project is dependent on the amount of acreage allowed to be sprayed each year and how many times a specific area will require treatment. Again, three years per area is a typical average but other lakes have experienced anywhere from 1-7 years for additional treatments. The CLID will be recommending that the amount of acreage to be sprayed each year will be approved and increased so Cedar Lake can be fully treated in approximately ten years. At this point, there is no permanent removal of this invasive species but it can be controlled by annual treatments so the curlyleaf pondweed won't take over the lake as it did this spring. Once the lake is fully treated, monitoring to spot treat active growth areas will be required.

The contract to treat the lake in 2012 was awarded to Professional Lake Management of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.