Iola Lake District to pay for permits
By Holly Neumann
For the past two years, the Lake Iola Lake District has been working with Onterra LLC to develop a new lake management plan to help better control aquatic plants during the summer months.
This has primarily been done by harvesting plants in navigation lanes.
Last year, four channels were identified for herbicide treatments since these areas are more difficult to harvest compared to the open areas of the lake.
Herbicides were applied in two of the four channels last year, with positive reports coming from lake users.
“This year, the DNR will allow the same four channels to be considered for herbicide treatment,” said John Bertelson, chairman of the lake district. “They will also allow lake property owners to consider treatments around their pier.”
Bertelson said every lake property owner is allowed a clear path from the shore to open water.
Wisconsin Lake and Pond Resource (WLPR) would apply herbicides 15 feet on both sides of their piers extending out to open water.
“Normally only manual removal of the plants is allowed in this area, but this year the DNR will consider herbicide treatment if the amount of plants in the property owner path is considered excessive,” he said. “WLPR will be the herbicide applicator, and the total area treated will depend on a pre-treatment survey by the DNR.”
The lake district will pick up the costs for the DNR permit and the mobilization charge for herbicide application in the common use channels, but lake property owners will pay for the time and materials used around their own piers.
Costs associated with this would be between $45 and $63 per pier. WLPR needs a minimum of one acre to consider treatment.
Once potential treatment areas are identified DNR representative Ted Johnson will make a pre-treatment survey to approve.
Treatment will not be allowed in areas not considered to be navigation impaired.
Any Lake Iola property owner interested in this offer should contact the lake district by email at [email protected] or phone 715-572-9040 by June 3.