A number of people around the lake have seen large volumes of aquatic plants roll up onto their shores in the past several days. Most of the reports are coming from areas in Chicago Bay, and from first appearances, most of the plants seem to be the native northern milfoil.

This same phenomenon took place last summer when strong winds and waves tore up aquatic plants deposited them in piles on the eastern basin shores at the mouth of Barbertown Bay.

Northern milfoil and other native aquatic plants are occupying areas where they have not been observed before (e.g., sand bar at entrance to Musky Bay, small bay near Ashland point, south side of Wismo Point), and the density of all aquatic plants is increasing with time. This is the classic result of increasing phosphorus load to the lake.

Unfortunately, some have reported that COLA and the new Eco-Harvester are to blame for the floating mats of milfoil.

Fact check: COLA's Eco-Harvester has not been built yet - it will be purchased and delivered early next Spring. COLA is not involved in any machine-harvesting nor cutting of aquatic plants on Lac Courte Oreilles.

If you have any questions, please contact COLA. Please report any odd observations on the LCO Lakes using COLA's Lake Observation forms.

Thanks for your help.