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Okauchee Lake operations report: harvest volumes up in 2024; residents press for weekend cleanup options
Summary
Lake operations staff reported 300 dump-truck loads of vegetation removed in 2024, compared with 348 in 2021 and lower totals in intervening years; residents asked about weekend cleanups, disposal sites and chemical treatments; the district said safety limits restrict machine work to weekdays and noted Procellacor spot treatments are expected to last three years in treated bays.
Lake Operations Supervisor Brady Mullikin told Okauchee Lake Management District attendees on Aug. 26, 2024 that the district removed about 300 dump-truck loads of aquatic vegetation in 2024, an increase from 201 in 2023 and 165 in 2022, but below the 2021 peak of 348 loads.
Mullikin said the crew prioritizes skimming surface floaters and barging dock piles and, with a full crew and functioning equipment, can complete a single loop of the lake in about seven weeks; the seasonal operational goal is to complete two full passes.
During public questions, resident Lauren Smith asked whether some cleanups could be completed on weekends to avoid disrupting weekend entertaining; Mullikin said for safety reasons the district currently conducts mechanical harvesting Monday through Friday because machine size and summer weekend traffic present hazards, though he said limited Saturday barging from about 9 a.m. to noon could be considered in the future. The board said Fridays are reserved for surface clean-up to help minimize pitchforking by residents.
Residents raised other operational and ecological points: Mike Schick said deep Chara beds make boat access difficult at some sites; Mullikin and commissioners responded that Chara is a beneficial native growth that helps suppress more problematic weeds and that the district is not permitted to treat Chara with chemicals. For targeted chemical control, the district reported using Procellacor in Tearney Bay in 2023 and said that treatment is expected to provide roughly three years of effectiveness; the district will monitor results and consider spot treatments if needed.
Residents also asked about long-term weed-disposal options; commissioners acknowledged disposal is an ongoing challenge and said the topic is discussed at monthly meetings, where they hope to find alternate drop sites and volunteers to help with logistics.
What happens next: OLMD staff will continue monthly operational planning, track the effectiveness of Procellacor where applied and consider limited weekend barging if safety protocols and staffing permit. Residents were invited to attend monthly meetings and volunteer.
