Plan

In 2007, in partnership with Gleason Lake Improvement Association (GLIA), the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) began a lake vegetation study to assess the extent and removal of curly-leaf pondweed over a five-year period (2007-2011). During the first three years of study (2007-2009), the whole lake was treated with Endothall (an aquatic herbicide). The last two years of the study (2010-2011), Endothall spot treatments were applied to infested areas of the lake. This project will allow the MCWD to demonstrate whether the herbicide application is a viable long-term solution to control claspingleaf pondweed.

 

Hints to identify: Has small "teeth" visible along edge of leaf; begins growing in early spring before most other pondweeds; dies back during midsummer; the flower stalks, when present, stick up above the water surface in June; appears reddish-brown in the water, but is actually green when pulled out of the water and examined closely. Easily confused with claspingleaf pondweed, which has leaves with no "teeth" around their edges.

Management strategy: See DNR regulations. Like Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed is not native to the United States and often causes problems due to excessive growth. When control is necessary, herbicides and harvesting can be effective. Grants are available for control efforts on a lake-wide basis.

 Importance of plant: Provides some cover for fish; several waterfowl species feed on the seeds; diving ducks often eat the winter buds.

 

">curly-leaf pondweed and improve the water quality of the lake. The project data will also be used to study the impacts of herbicide application on other native vegetation and fish in the lake.