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Freshwater Project Highlights Some of our Latest Work and Research   Curlyleaf Pondweed Management Whole-lake Herbicide Treatment Weaver Lake Conservation Association   Weaver Lake is a scenic 150-acre urban lake in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Over the past 15 years, the people living along its shores have seen curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) spread throughout their lake. As with many other lakes throughout the upper midwest, the curlyleaf infestation in Weaver led to severe nuisance plant growth that choked boat motors, created unsightly piles of stinky plant fragments on beaches, and turned the water green with algae. Beginning in the mid 1990's, the Weaver Lake Conservation Association (WLCA) began using hand-operated cutters and mechanical harvesting in an attempt to control the curlyleaf infestation. By 2000, the lake was showing no signs of improvement and the lake association began looking for new ideas. Freshwater Scientific Services began working with the WLCA in 2002 to improve their harvesting program and explore new curlyleaf control strategies. We used scientific survey methods to track curlyleaf pondweed growth from year to year along with curlyleaf turion production and native plant distribution. In addition, we conducted several research studies to test potential management options, including spring application of Aquathol™ herbicide in test plots and changes in harvesting strategy. Since 2004, Freshwater Scientific Services has been collaborating with both the Minnesota DNR and the WLCA to test the effectiveness of whole-lake fluridone (Sonar™) application as a curlyleaf control method. Since treatments began, Weaver Lake experienced no surface matting of curlyleaf pondweed, water clarity has improved, and the native aquatic plant community appears to be recovering.     Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Studies Elm Creek and Rice Lake Monitoring City of Maple Grove, MN In 2007, Freshwater Scientific Services collaborated with the City of Maple Grove to assess the flow of water and nutrients into and out of Rice Lake. The majority of inflow comes from Elm Creek, which is currently listed as an impaired water by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Freshwater Scientific Services developed water and nutrient budgets for Rice Lake based upon monitored inflows and outflows, computer model estimates for unmonitored runoff, and estimates for internal nutrient loading and phosphorus retention for Rice Lake. These water and nutrient budgets will serve as a foundation for guiding future management decisions and TMDL development. Curlyleaf Pondweed Assessment   Whole-lake Turion Survey Roberds Lake - Faribault, MN Roberds Lake  is a 625 acre lake just west of Faribaut, MN. The lake regularly experiences poor water quality and is infested with curlyleaf pondweed. In 2007, Freshwater Scientific Services conducted a curlyleaf pondweed turion survey to assess the density and distribution of curlyleaf propagules (turions) throughout the lake. The results of this survey will serve as a baseline for measuring the effects of future curlyleaf management activities, and may prove helpful in procuring funding from state and local agencies. Urban Runoff Monitoring Cannon River Watershed Partnership Northfield, MN The Cannon River Watershed Partnership monitored stormwater runoff in Northfield, Minnesota from 2003 to 2006. CRWP staff will used the information collected to determine the effects of urban runoff on the water quality of the Cannon River and to help promote best management practices designed to reduce those effects. Freshwater Scientific Services provided CRWP with technical guidance, equipment installation/removal services, and training to streamline their research project since 2003.

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