Strength in Numbers
Monitoring the Manitowish Chain of Lakes for Aquatic Invasive Species is a challenge feat and you can help. Learn how to identify our biggest threats and look for them when you are out on the water. Record your hours on our form below and submit them.
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Eurasian Watermilfoil was first detected in summer of 2023 and has since been detected in Upper Trout River, Alder Lake, Lower Trout River, Manitowish Lake, Little Star, Spider, Stone, and Fawn lakes. The majority of the population maintains in the Lower Trout River, followed by Manitowish Lake.
Manitowish Waters Lakes Association
Visit their website to learn more about ongoing projects on the Manitowish Chain of Lakes.
Most Recent AIS Mapping
Eurasian Watermilfoil was first detected in summer of 2023 and has since been found in Upper Trout River, Alder Lake, Lower Trout River, Manitowish Lake, Little Star, Spider, Stone, and Fawn lakes. The majority of the population maintains in the Lower Trout River, followed by Manitowish Lake.
Curly-leaf Pondweed was first detected in 2010. Over the past decade variety of control efforts have been used and the population is maintained today by a combination of hand-harvesting and diver assisted suction harvest (DASH).
Purple Loosestrife has been managed using biocontrol since 2005. Galerucella beetles are reared at the North Lakeland Discovery Center and released on purple loosestrife populations on Rice Creek, Wild Rice, Vance, Rest, and Alder Lakes. Other methods used include hand-digging purple loosestrife when there are few to single plants, and clipping flower heads in larger clumps to reduce the spread of viable seeds.
Reports
The comprehensive plan for the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes was developed by Onterra, LLC and approved in December 2020. The planning committee was comprised of board members from Manitowish Waters Lakes Association, North Lakeland Discovery Center, and riparian property owners.
The comprehensive plan for the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes recommends periodic vegetation monitoring updates. Following the same phased approach as the first series of planning efforts, aquatic plant data has been collected and findings are reported below.