Lake management report spring 2020

LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

                                                          SPRING, 2020

Clean Boats, Clean Waters Inspections

Last December, Mark Schlitter submitted a successful DNR grant application to hire a summer Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) inspector for the 2020 season.  However, because of Governor Evers’ COVID-19 stay-at-home order, use of CBCW grant monies has been suspended until June 1.  However, in an effort to be proactive in keeping Lipsett Lake from becoming infested with zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species, the Lipsett Lake Association Board of Directors decided to move forward with hiring a weekend inspector who we will pay from our treasury until we are allowed to use the DNR grant monies.  Our 2020 monitor is Kathy Hudson who is the wife of our 2019 monitor, Leonard.  Kathy did CBCW inspections on Birch Island Lake last summer, so she has had considerable experience.  She is following CDC Guidelines with latex gloves and a face mask available for use, and is social distancing while doing inspections.  We are fortunate that Kathy was willing to begin working for us with the ongoing Corona Virus pandemic.  She began her weekend inspections on Saturday, May 2, the Wisconsin Fishing Opener.

Our decontamination station at the public access was opened for the season on April 23.  However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, use of the pump sprayers by the public could be a health risk.  Consequently, Aaron Tempel kindly built a hand-sanitizing station, with a lock box to prevent theft, that was mounted adjacent to our decontamination station.  Aaron also donated several bottles of hand sanitizer so that the station could be maintained for the public.  See the photo below.

The Burnett County Sheriff will be issuing citations in 2020 for people who fail to comply with the county ordinance requiring decontamination. Each violation that is documented with a photo of the boat registration number or the vehicle/trailer license plate will be issued a warning letter for the first offense, followed by fines for any/all subsequent offenses at a rate of $150 for the first repeat offense, $250, for the second, and $350 for the third with added court costs of approximately $150 with each citation.  On the fishing opener Kathy Hudson reported one violator who refused to decontaminate.  That individual should be receiving a warning letter from the Sheriff, with hefty fines for any subsequent violations.

Zebra Mussel Update

Last fall when plate samplers were taken out of all 3 McKenzie lakes, the density of zebra mussels on the Big McKenzie samplers was such that is was impossible to get an accurate count. However, they were clearly in the rang

e of 2,000/sq.ft. or possibly higher.  The data from Middle McKenzie show that the density of zebra mussels has increased from less than 1/sq.ft. the fall of 2018, to 45/sq.ft. fall, 2019.  One piece of positive information is that all 5 plate samplers deployed in Lower McKenzie had no zebra mussels. 

All of the plate samplers on Lipsett Lake contained only snails, algae, and a freshwater sponge in the fall of 2019. Fortunately, no zebra mussels were detected.  Plate samplers were hung from Sally Nelsen’s, Frank and Mary Hull’s, Chuck and Sandy Edwards’, and Ruth and Bob Baker’s docks.  In addition, during the 2019 season the DNR conducted sampling for zebra mussel veligers (larvae) and eDNA (environmental DNA) on Lipsett Lake and all results showed no signs of zebra mussels.  Veliger tows and eDNA sampling are scheduled to be repeated again during the 2020 season.  In addition, the Lipsett plate samplers are once again in place for the season.

Purple Loosestrife Update

In 2019, no purple loosestrife was found around any portion of the Lipsett Lake shoreline.  Most years, plants are found along the southwestern shoreline.  It is not uncommon to have a “down” year with little or no purple loosestrife detections, so we will keep a watchful eye for it this July and August.  If anyone notices a showy purple flowering plant after July 4, please contact Bob Baker so that it can be checked out and removed if it is indeed invasive purple loosestrife.