On May 12th and 17th, spring plant surveys of the lake were conducted to evaluate native plant and milfoil growth, and the data collected was compared to the results of the fall 2024 aquatic plant survey. The map on the right shows the fall 2024 milfoil densities around the lake.

We are very excited to report that the amount of milfoil observed visually and via rake toss surveying was EXTREMELY low, and that our native plants are growing well. The one exception found during the spring surveys was a very large and dense patch of milfoil showing new growth along the western shore of Little Lake, which was also recorded in the fall survey. Based on these findings, and as was the case in 2023, a spot treatment will not be needed this year - and we’ll be focusing on our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team’s work for milfoil control in 2025.

A map showing the 2025 DASH and hand-pulling areas will be posted soon. Our DASH team will begin swimming through low density milfoil areas to hand-pull in June when the water temperature allows, and will begin full DASH operations on July 1st, working throughout the summer to keep the milfoil at sparse and controllable levels.

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of five components:

1. Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil. Each year, the LSCA holds a lake community meeting to discuss the control plan for the season, answer questions, and hand out a flyer with best practices for lake users to limit the spread of milfoil.
2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we encourage lake users, boaters, and volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil and remove it from the lake, along with encouraging property owners to remove detached milfoil, and hand-pulling any along their shoreline.
3. DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls milfoil by the roots from the lakebed. In sections of lower milfoil density, they will swim the area and hand-pull with mesh bags. In higher density areas, they will set up the DASH equipment which allows them to suction the hand-pulled milfoil up through a tube to a catch table on a boat. Milfoil is then placed in 17.5 gallon buckets for transport off the lake.
4. Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and number of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. However, there will be no spot treatments in 2025.
5. Water quality improvement programs. Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, the LSCA's work on Lake Wise on LSC, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, and improves overall water quality.

These efforts have resulted in the lowest percentage of milfoil cover and frequency of occurrence in the lake since the mid-2000s. Also, and just as importantly, we have seen many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil growth like have increased in frequency of occurrence, along with an increase in our plant species richness (the number of different plant species present in an ecological community). These results are exactly what we want to see! LSC has over 30 native aquatic plants which are necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Our efforts are focused on reducing the amount of milfoil in the lake so that these native aquatic plants can grow as they normally would.

What can you do to help?

• As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it.
• Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
• If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
• If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
• If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.

As you may be aware, there has been a lot of recent misinformation about milfoil, ProcellaCOR, the permitting process, and Lake St. Catherine in general. We encourage everyone to visit our Milfoil Control Program page: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

The LSCA has always employed evidenced-based decision making when evaluating lake related issues, and we continue to do so with our Milfoil Control Program. Working with the State and lake scientists & experts, following the science and the data, and evaluating the results of our efforts show that we are doing the right things for the long-term health of LSC. To our members, and all who love LSC, if you ever have any questions or concerns, reach out to us, we’d be happy to answer them. You can always reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you.