Residents

AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT IN KATHRYN LAKE

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, (WDNR), recently surveyed Kathryn Lake to determine the species of aquatic plants which reside in the lake. The Lake Kathryn Association (LKA), requested this survey as the first step in trying to reduce aquatic plants which are overabundant and a nuisance in many places, and to reduce algae which seems to be getting worse.

Preliminary results of the WDNR's survey indicate NO invasive plant species are present in Kathryn Lake, and this means the funding available to remove invasive species is not available to us. In fact, the management plan to remove invasive species, for which we have already been awarded funding, is no longer necessary, so we will cancel our grant application and return funding we have received.

Excessive aquatic plant and algae growth is due to an abundance of nutrients in the water.

There are some things individual property owners can do to help:

• Prevent the runoff of nutrients contained in grass clippings, etc by creating a 10 foot barrier along the shore where no mowing is done. It's important to make sure no grass clippings are allowed to find their way into the lake. Grass clippings should be removed and transported to a location well away from the lake such that when the material decomposes, the nutrients will not be carried into the lake via runoff.

• Restrict use of fertilizers. When it rains after we fertilize our lawns and other plantings near the lake some of the fertilizer can run off into the lake providing additional nutrients to already abundant plant-life and algae.

• Rake leaves, etc. which could find their way into the lake. As with grass clippings, this material should be removed and transported to a location well away from the lake such that when the material decomposes, the nutrients will not be carried into the lake via runoff.

• Remove aquatic plants along the maximum allowable thirty feet of your shoreline. WDNR allows us to "rake" the lake to remove plants and eliminate the subsequent nuisance they present for thirty feet of shoreline per property. As above, aquatic plant material removed from the lake should be placed well away from the lake so that the nutrients it contains will not be carried back into the lake via runoff.

• Refer to the WDNR's Healthy Lakes and Rivers website for more details and more sophisticated ways to improve lake health. Here's the link - https://healthylakeswi.com/

There is another point we all need to keep in mind. The plants in the lake need nutrients, and, judging by the abundant plant life, we have lots of nutrients. However, if we remove too many plants, the nutrients will serve to feed algae, which would be a step backward. We need to be patient and make sure whatever we do does not make matters even worse. Due to this delicate balance, the WDNR will NOT permit us to perform a mass removal of plants from the lake, that is more than the allowable thirty feet per property, at this time.

Remember, we are the last line of defense in the battle to protect the health of Kathryn Lake. Let's all do what we can to protect the lake and our investment.

Thank you!

Dennis Renaud

Vice President, LKA