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Title:	Selective control of Eurasian watermilfoil in Houghton Lake, Michigan: 2002-2006
Authors:	Smith, Craig S. Getsinger, Kurt D. Poovey, Angela G. James, William F. Netherland, Michael D. Stewart, R. Michael. Heilman, Mark A.
Keywords:	Aquatic plants Eurasian watermilfoil Fluridone Herbicides Houghton Lake, Michigan Milfoil weevils Native plants Systemic herbicides
Publisher:	Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	ERDC/EL TR ; 12-15.
Description:	Technical report Houghton Lake is the largest inland water body in Michigan, covering a surface area of nearly 9,000 ha (22,000 acres). The lake is a major natural and recreational resource for the region with activities including sport fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and habitat for migratory water birds. Problems resulting from the proliferation of the submersed invasive plant, Eurasian watermilfoil, in Houghton Lake led to the development and implementation of a plan for managing that invader and restoring the native vegetation of the lake. The Houghton Lake Management Plan offered several alternative strategies for managing Eurasian watermilfoil within the limits of available funding. The Houghton Lake Improvement Board adopted an integrated strategy for managing Eurasian watermilfoil in the lake. The first phase of the strategy occurred from 2002 to 2004. The selected strategy used a whole-lake application of the aquatic herbicide fluridone in the first year to selectively control Eurasian watermilfoil. A second phase (2004–2006) employed targeted, relatively small-scale treatments of systemic herbicides (i.e., 2,4-D and triclopyr). As Eurasian watermilfoil populations recovered in subsequent years, milfoil weevils were introduced to help maintain control. Native plants, particularly elodea, were to be replanted if the initial impact of the whole-lake fluridone application warranted such re-vegetation. In 2005, the diversity of aquatic plants was manifested by the occurrence of 23 species of aquatic plants in lake-wide surveys, while in 2006, 27 aquatic plant species were recorded. Overall, less than 3% of the total lake area was treated with herbicides for Eurasian watermilfoil control in 2006, indicating success of the maintenance control strategy. Because of the success of this management strategy, a second year of whole-lake fluridone applications was unnecessary.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/6853
Appears in Collections:	Technical Report