Curly-Leaf Pondweed Treatment Set To Begin On Bass Lake In Plymouth From May 11 Until 22

Press release from the City of Plymouth:

May 11, 2020

The Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission is set to treat curly-leaf pondweed in Bass Lake in Plymouth May 11-22.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, curly-leaf pondweed is a prohibited invasive species in Minnesota.

MNDNR has granted to the commission a waiver of the requirement to obtain signatures of approval from lakeshore property owners. Instead, the commission has notified property owners of the treatment by posting public notice.

Treatment to control curly-leaf pondweed includes the application of the chemical herbicide Diquat by an MNDNR-certified applicator.

Landowners may contact the commission to request that control not occur within 150 feet of the shore adjacent to their property. To submit this request, email Nick Omodt of Wenck Associates at nomodt@wenck.com.

View more information on the commission’s website.

About Curly-Leaf Pondweed

Curly-leaf pondweed is non-native, rooted, submersed aquatic plant that grows in the spring and early summer. The invasive species overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants, which provide shelter, food and habitat for native animals.

Curly-leaf pondweed can produce dense mats at the surface of the water that inhibit water recreationists, and dead leaves from the plant may litter the shoreline mid-summer.

The plant’s coloration varies from olive-green to reddish-brown. Its wavy, lasagna-like leaves grow approximately a half-inch wide and 2-3 inches long, and have an obvious mid-vein, “toothed” or serrated edges, and blunt tips. The plant may mat at the surface, but does not have true floating leaves.

View more information about curly-leaf pondweed.

Stop the Spread

People spread curly-leaf pondweed primarily through the movement of water-related equipment.

Plant fragments and turions (reproductive structures of the plant, which look like brown, sharp, small pinecones and are typically a half-inch in size) can get stuck on trailers, motors, docks, boat lifts, swim rafts and inside watercraft such as boats, canoes and kayaks. Turions, which may be hidden in mud and debris, can stick to anchors as well as scuba, fishing and hunting gear.

Whether or not a lake is listed as infested, to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, Minnesota law requires water recreationists to:

• Clean watercraft of all aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species
• Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping them out during transport
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
• Dry docks, lifts, swim rafts and other equipment for at least 21 days before placing equipment into another water body

More information about aquatic invasive species prevention.

This press release was produced by the City of Plymouth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.