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Okauchee Lake district cites heavy rain for green-algae spike; to plan milfoil treatment and shore operations
Summary
Commissioners and residents discussed a recent green-algae spike and returning Eurasian watermilfoil, reviewed Lake Operations equipment and staffing, and described a Clean Boats launch-education effort while staff and contractors plan any herbicide treatments.
The Okauchee Lake Management District heard resident concerns about recent green algae and the reappearance of Eurasian watermilfoil at its June 8 meeting, and commissioners outlined operations and next steps for treatment planning.
Resident Tom Motl reported seeing a noticeable amount of green algae. Chair Tom Godar attributed the bloom to a recent storm, saying, "it rained 9 inches in under 24 hours, this results in extracting all of the nutrients from the soil and mixing them into the watershed. Many people have noticed and it will dissipate on its own." Commissioner John Foley said he will follow up with Lake Operations Manager Brady Mullikin and Keenan at Solitude Lake Management about planning any future ProcellaCOR treatment; resident Susan Lincoln said ProcellaCOR was used about three years ago and that Eurasian watermilfoil is beginning to reappear.
Brady Mullikin, who was absent but submitted a report, described equipment and repair status: barges and the skimmer are in the water; boats C2 and C3 are operational; C1 is waiting on repairs from Inland; a new paddle wheel for C4 has been ordered (it is on back-order) and additional paddle wheel motors have been procured for inventory. Mullikin reported staffing should be complete by the end of June, with roughly 75 percent of employees returning from last season, and that cutting operations had not yet begun but barges were in service and crews would attempt to skim algae where feasible.
Commissioner Brian Sichi described a new Clean Boats public-launch effort: a staff member named Ben will staff the public launch two days each weekend roughly from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to ask boaters which lakes they have visited in the prior five days, log boat types and origins, and provide education on removing plant fragments and emptying bilges and ballast tanks. The program will focus on the public launch in year one, with possible expansion to the Golden Mast launch in year two.
District leaders identified next steps as: Foley will contact Mullikin and Solitude Lake Management to confirm treatment history and any plan for ProcellaCOR or other measures; Lake Operations will continue skimming and complete equipment repairs; the district website has been updated with algae information and will be used to notify residents of any planned treatments.
The board did not take a formal vote on treatment at the meeting; staff follow-up and contractor coordination were assigned for planning.
