SQUASH LAKE ASSOCIATION

Sunday, August 16, 2009

[Thoughts, Happenings and Things]

Eurasian Water-Milfoil Update

There are many different ways to potentially eliminate the Eurasian Water-Milfoil from Squash Lake and selecting the best treatment method that is suitable for the lake is complex, to say the least. Kevin Gauthier, who is the DNR's Lake Management Coordinator, is guiding the Squash Lake Board of Directors and Community every step of the way. Kevin's knowledge and attention to detail has been reassuring to us that we are doing the best for our lake.

Before we can select the most suitable treatment option, a complex and comprehensive study of the lake's aquatic plant community and ecosystem must be completed. This will be completed by Kevin, his staff, and professional consultants. In the mean time, DO Not Pull Any Weeds from the lake!!! Every plant needs to stay in place until the comprehensive plant survey is done!!

Grant Money:

Squash Lake qualifies for the State of Wisconsin's AIS Early Detection and Rapid Response Grant. This grant has a cap up to $20,000.00. The state pays for 75% of the cost of the project and the remaining 25% will be provided by the Squash Lake Association in the form of cash, time, services or "in-kind" items. Grants operate on a reimbursement basis and we may request an advance of up to 25%.

What is the Grant Money Used For:

The grant money is used to pay for field work performed by a professional lake management consultant that we, SLA, hire. These firms specialize in gathering data about our lake, performing a comprehensive Aquatic Plant Mapping, Aquatic Plant Point-intercept Survey, grant writing, provide recommendations to the DNR and us about the best method of getting rid of EWM, and helping us to develop a management plan.

Kevin recommends that we obtain the lakes data now:

#1 - The aquatic plant mapping should be done now- due to aquatic plant growth, it is best done by the end of August. Kevin provided us with a resource of professional lake management consultants.

#2 - Obtaining an Aquatic Plant Point-intercept Grid Survey. Kevin informed me that he and his staff will be able to do the survey the week of August 31st.

#3 – We also need to provide Kevin with the Squash Lake Association By- Laws as needed for the grant.

Once the above information is gathered, we will discuss the best option for treating the milfoil and developing a management plan.

DO Not Pull Any Weeds from the lake!!!

Every plant needs to stay in place until a comprehensive plant survey is done!!

Posted at 8/16/2009 1:21:21 pm by janetza
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Saturday, July 11, 2009

[Thoughts, Happenings and Things]

MISSING

DID ANYONE THAT ATTENDED THE ANNUAL MEETING PICK UP A KODAK CAMERA BY ACCIDENT?

I HAD MINE ON ONE OF THE PICNIC TABLES IN THE TENT AND JUST REALIZED THAT IT DIDN'T COME BACK HOME WITH ME.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR STUFF TO SEE IF IT GOT MIXED IN BY ACCEDENT.

THANK YOU

JANET APPLING

282-5884

Posted at 7/11/2009 6:43:36 pm by janetza
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Friday, July 03, 2009

[Thoughts, Happenings and Things]

THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO SQUASH LAKE!!!!!!!!

NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUND

EURASIAN WATER-MILFOIL

IN OUR LAKE

PLEASE HELP MONITOR THE LANDING SO OUR LAKE

WON'T LOOK LIKE THESE

Posted at 7/3/2009 6:08:12 pm by janetza
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[Thoughts, Happenings and Things]

This is a very important and devastating

announcement that is going to affect each and

every Squash Lake Property

Owner and Recreationalist.

Eurasian Water -milfoil has entered our beautiful

Squash Lake.

Please read this full story!

What is Eurasian Water-milfoil?

EWM halts recreational activities on water bodies by forming mats on the water surface, and alter aquatic ecosystems by displacing native plants.

What can be done to prevent the spread of Eurasian water-milfoil?

Milfoil is spread from one body of water to another primarily by the introduction of plant fragments. A milfoil fragment only a few inches long can form roots and grow into a new plant. The most important action that you can take to limit the spread of milfoil and other aquatic invasive plants is to remove all vegetation from your watercraft before you move it from one body of water to another.

Here is where I found it.

Tuesday evening I found a suspicious looking weed floating by our pier. As I pulled it from the water, my heart sank as it looked very much like Eurasian Water-milfoil (EWM). I took it to the house, put it in a zip-lock bag, filled it with water and compared it to all of my EWM resources, but I was still uncertain if it was EWM or the Native Water Milfoil.

The next morning I took the water-filled zip lock bag into the DNR service station and DNR employee Laura Herman inspected the plant very closely and stated that she was about 90% certain that it was Eurasian. Laura is going to Madison next week and will take the plant with her to the state lab for positive identification and will then notify me of the results. I'll tell you, I was impressed at how fast the folks at the DNR office move to get an aquatic invasive plant identified as this is as serious of a concern for them as it is for us.

Laura instructed me to:

Search the lake and if we find anything suspicious for EWM we are to turn it into the DRN or any Aquatic Invasive Species official.

If we find anything we are to pull it out BY THE ROOTS and get as much of the roots as possible.

Be careful not to break any6 pieces off because a 1 inch piece can root and start an infestation.

We are to mark the exact location of where the EWM was fond by either marking the exact spot with a brick, GPS, or any other kind of marker that you can come up with.

Why are we to make the area: because the DNR will need to check that area for the next several years for further EWM.

In addition, Marj Mehring and I were working at the boat landing last night (inspecting watercrafts for aquatic invasive species) and we found another possible EWM and this time it was on the beach.

Please look at the attachments of EWM information and become familiar with it. If you have questions, please ask.

Please see the attachments for more information.

Stephanie Boismenue, 6981 Long Lake Road

715-282-5079

Posted at 7/3/2009 11:04:08 am by janetza
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[Thoughts, Happenings and Things]

Eurasian Millfoil

Stephanie found what she thinks is Eurasian Millfoil in the lake. The DNR is taking it to Madison to verify, but they think so also.

WE AREN'T IMMUNE!!!

WE NEED HELP MONITORING OUR BOAT LANDING!!!

Dear Squash Lake Friends,

I am begging for volunteers to please give

2 hours

of your holiday weekend to help

inspect

boats at the boat landing for Aquatic

Invasive Species.

It's fun, easy, an opportunity to be outside, and

an opportunity to foster stewardship to Squash

Lake.

Here are the critical monitoring times for this

weekend. However, I realize that the SLA

annual meeting and picnic will interfere with

Sundays schedule

Friday July 3rd: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Saturday July 4th: 12:00pm - 8:00pm

Sunday July 5th 6:00am - 8:00pm

Below is a sign-up schedule. If you can help,

please sign-up below under the appropriate

date and indicate the 2 hour (or more) time slots

that you will be at the landing and email it back

to me. The times that I will be at the landing will

be good times to train anyone who needs

training or refreshing.

Thursday July 2nd : 8:00am - 8:00pm

6:00pm-8:00pm Marj Mehring

Friday July 3rd: 8:00am - 8:00pm

8:00am -12:00pm Marj Mehring

5:30pm -8:00pm Steph Boismenue

Saturday July 4th: 12:00pm (or as soon as the parade is

finished) to 8:00pm

2:00pm-4:00pm Steph Boismenue

6:00pm-8:00pm Steph Boismenue

Sunday July 5th 6:00am - 8:00pm

Please help be a caretaker of Squash Lake, we

owe it to the lake

Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to

hearing from you.

Stephanie Boismenue

715-282-5079

Posted at 7/3/2009 1:48:48 am by janetza
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