Treatment for curlyleaf pondweed (a non-native, invasive aquatic plant) will be completed on Upper Prior, Lower Prior, and Spring lakes on Thursday, May 19th. It is recommended that you wait three days after treatment to use lake water to irrigate lawns or gardens.
The District completed aquatic plant surveys this spring that identified several areas with high concentrations of curlyleaf pondweed for treatment. Treatment areas are numbered and marked on the maps below in orange for Prior Lake and purple for Spring Lake.
Why treat? As is common with non-native, invasive species, curlyleaf pondweed is one of the first things to grow in the spring. Unfortunately, this gives it a head start and allows the curlyleaf to crowd out native aquatic plants that are good for the lake. Treating the curlyleaf gives native plants a chance to grow. Another problem that curlyleaf presents is its early die-off, which typically occurs in mid-summer. This die-off provides an additional source of phosphorus during a time of year when algael blooms are already more common, potentially leading to stronger blooms.