COLA has completed its 2021 Aquatic Plant Management Plan. This plan will allow for COLA to maintain eligibility for WDNR aquatic invasive control grants and guide COLA, LCO, Sawyer County, and the WDNR in aquatic plant management for the lake over the next five years (2021 through 2025).
Curly leaf pondweed (CLP) was first discovered in the lake in 2005 and Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) was first discovered in 2017. Since the discovery of CLP, management efforts related to aquatic plants have primarily focused on controlling CLP and more recently EWM. To help address the issue of CLP the Courte Oreilles Lake Association (COLA) had an aquatic plant management plan completed for the lake in 2011. This plan updates that previous plan. It also identifies the issues and need for management, reviews past management aquatic plant activities and presents management options. By evaluating these components and issues, a sound strategy was developed for the management of aquatic plants in the lake which includes the following goals:
Goal 1) Control existing populations of AIS.
Goal 2) Prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.
Goal 3) Preserve the lakes’ diverse native plant communities.
Goal 4) Lake residents and users are made aware of the importance of native aquatic plants, the means to protect them, and the threat of aquatic invasive species.
Goal 5) Restoration and preservation of native shoreline vegetation
Goal 6) Waterfront residents will protect lake water quality and plant communities by minimizing runoff of pollutants from their lake property.
To see the full version of the APMP, click on the links below:
2021 COLA Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Appendix A - COLA 2018 Aquatic Plant Survey Report
Appendix B - COLA 2019 Aquatic Plant Survey Report
Appendix C - NR-109 manual mechanical removal requirements
Appendix D - NR-107.04 APM requirements