The Glen Lake Water Quality Committee casts a rake in four directions at over 250 sites in Little and Big Glen, Little and Big Fisher and Brooks Lake during June and July.  We are looking for invasive aquatic plants.  We are primarily looking for the invasive plants pictured below and here:  Hydrilla, Eurasian milfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed

Houghton Lake spent $3,000,000 to eradicate Eurasian milfoil a few years ago and now all riparians are assessed $60 a year to keep it under control.  If this invasive milfoil is found we hope to immediately implant it with a native weevil that loves to eat it.  The weevil is being used in 70+ lakes in Michigan.  Identifying its location early saves a great deal of money and a lot of recreational and water quality problems.  If you see any of the plants in your lake that look like the ones below, please call the Water Quality Committee at 334-3612.

* Be sure to use phosphorus free fertilizer if you feel you have to fertilize lawns and plants.  One pound of fertilizer containing phosphorus can produce 500 pounds of aquatic plants and/or algae if it travels into the lake via groundwater or runoff.  It also is utilized by zebra muscles to build their shells.

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Hydrilla

Filed under: Invasives