“Significant rates of plant sloughing and leaf turnover, as well as the decomposition of high biomass at the end of the growing season, increase phosphorus and nitrogen in the water column.”

“Stagnant water created by Eurasian Watermilfoil mats provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which carry West Nile virus. Eurasian Watermilfoil interferes with tourism and recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling and water skiing.”

“Eurasian Watermilfoil in the broadest sense is composed of pure and hybrid forms, because Eurasian Watermilfoil frequently hybridizes with native Northern Watermilfoil. It is clear that hybrid watermilfoils can be more invasive than pure Eurasian watermilfoil.”

“Although freezing can have a dramatic impact on some plants, Eurasian watermilfoil is known to survive under ice.”

“Chemical treatments have had some success, especially for small areas.”

“Barrier material applied over the lake bottom to prevent plants from growing. Bottom covering materials such as sand-gravel, polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic rubber, burlap, fiberglass screens, woven polyester, and nylon film have all been used with varying degrees of success.”

““Hand-pulling and removal of rooted, submerged plants is a labor intensive control method. This method involves digging out the entire plant with its roots… Hand pulling can begin as soon as Eurasian watermilfoil can be easily seen and identified – generally in the spring or as soon as it is discovered in the water body.”

“Divers operate portable dredges with suction heads that remove plants and roots from the sediment – essentially vacuuming the bottom of the lake.”

Stay tune for more information about how EWM will be treated at Bear Lake – coming in 2020.