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Officials rid Ind. lake of invasive weed
2007-09-11
State wildlife officials are declaring success in their chemical campaign against an invasive weed that had threatened to overwhelm a northern Indiana lake. No hydrilla plants were detected in Lake Manitou during a survey in late August, Doug Keller, aquatic invasive species coordinator at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said Tuesday. The findings show that the herbicide Sonar had been extremely effective in eliminating sprouting hydrilla plants on the 735-acre Fulton County lake, he said. But Keller said the battle isn't over. He said he expected herbicide use will continue on the lake for at least two more years because tubers, or bulbous tissue from the plants, can lie dormant in lake sediment for years before sprouting into a new hydrilla plant. "Until all hydrilla tubers have sprouted and the resulting plants eliminated, control strategies must continue," Keller said. Last year, Manitou Lake became the first water body in the Midwest with a confirmed infestation of the invasive Asian plant. The DNR expects to spend nearly $500,000 this year alone to combat hydrilla on the lake about 40 miles south of South Bend and prevent it from spreading to other lakes. Hydrilla, an Asian plant commonly used to decorate aquariums, can spread to other lakes and rivers from bits and pieces of the plant on boats and trailers hauled between lakes. The state closed entrances at several locations along Lake Manitou last year, restricting access to people who live or rent pier space there. The Lake Manitou Association is working on plans to get watercraft off of the lake this fall without spreading the plant. Keller said a survey would be conducted this fall to determine how much the tuber bank has declined in this first year of chemical control.
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