Where are the weeds?

[Gilligan]

My favorite inland lake used to have lots of weeds; a variety of milfoil, coontail and cabbage.

The local lake association has conducted massive weed cutting efforts the past 5 years to accomodate the sailboaters and other pleasure boaters several years nearly cutting every weed in the lake. (weeds are the only cover on this lake) Pressure from sportsmen and tackle shops have put an end to this practice but now the only weed that is prevelant there is milfoil.

What happened to the cabbage and coontail? Did the extensive cutting damage them that they didn't return? Is this just a natural occourance? Or as some are suspecting are they poisioning the weeds and the poision dosen't affect the milfoil?

[Gilligan]

Anyone?

[Nofish]

Hey Gilligan,

Milfoil (Eurasian Milfoil) is an exotic plant and will eventually take over native vegitation.

Several of the lakes I used to fish regularly are vastly different now. Where there used to be vast flats covered with Cabbage weed, now are choked jungles of milfoil.

Weed cutting only intensifies this process. When you cut milfoil, each and every fragment can sprout a whole new plant. Kinda like kicking a fuzzt dandelion. You temporarily wipe outy that one plant, but end up with several where the one once was.

Mechanical weed cutting is a b ad way of eliminating the weed problem. It only serves to further destroy the lakes natural balance and accelerate the spread of an exotic weed. Thus making the problem even worse. Once you start weed cutting, you cannot stop doing it.

Kind of ironic huh? The people who squeel and whine about too many weeds, actually only make it worse.

Then, the DNR, under pressure from all the lake owners, skiers and swimmers grants permits to start the process. Many states such as Minnesota and now (finally) Wisconsin, are actively starting to address this problem. However, weed cutting is still done on a regular basis.

Good luck.......R