On May 26^th, over 29 acres of Pelican Lake and Little Pelican were sprayed for Curly Leaf Pond weed, an exotic weed. This aquatic submerged weed that invaded the lake due to high sediment and high levels of Phosphorus entered the lake. The cost was about $400 per acre and is recommended to be repeated over the next four years.

The weed causes plugging of boat motors, heavy weed concentration and accumulation on the shore line. The rotting weed when it dies mid summer creates a foul odor and so thick neighbor could not get their boat away from  the dock..

The chemical does not get rid of all the weeds, as it is specific  for Pond Weeds and a few  others. It does not affect habitat for fish, not does it kill fish. The good weeds remain for fish.

In order to maintain property values, and a clean lake the PGOLID board approved  the chemical to be sprayed by Ron  Duy, Jr,  Minnesota Shoreline Restoration Inc of Nisswa Mn. They used a chemical called Reward that they had be using for the last 21  years. Ron Duy had tested the chemical last year on Victory Beach with good kill results

The chemical is environmentally friendly. The reason for no swimming for one day is so  that the chemical can settle  on the plant. Boat activity, and delayed boat dock installation is necessary to be delayed for 4  hours after application. The sign giving warnings may be taken down immediately after spraying.  It is a 5 day wait for irrigation. 

The area of treatment is within 150 feet of the shoreline and in an effort to minimize the spread of the exotic plant we are asking next year not to install your docks and boat until after May 26^th, 2007 next year.  You may take down the warming sign immediately after the posting if you wish.

We were very fortunate to have a windless sunny day to spray when the weeds were  about two feet high underwater. Some probably were 3-4 feet high near the Pelican River.

You may call Ron Duy,Jr, the applicator at  218-963-0132 if you have any questions.  The chemical Reward  is approved by the Federal Environmental Protection  agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Department  of Agriculture.   

You may also call Skip Duemeland, PGOLID board member  at 542-5601 if you have any   questions.