Last week we had two confirmed cases of Variable Milfoil floating on the surface of the lake. One of the BLIA’s volunteer Weed Watchers found it and sent it to the state for identification. I received this email today from Amy Smagula, Limnologist/Exotic Species Program Coordinator, for NH Department of Environmental Services:

“I had a team out this morning to do a full lake survey, back and forth in the photic (light zone) of the lake.  They found nothing…no rooted milfoil, no floating fragments.  I find it very odd that we’ve had two summers in a row with fragments floating in the lake, and no finds of growing plants (I did a thorough survey myself late last summer).  At this point there is not much we can do but watch the lake for any rooted growth.  Please keep Weed Watchers at full alert, once a month for the rest of the summer, into October if they can, doing their surveys.  I’ll be out in the fall to do a full sweep one more time before the end of the growing season.”

This is great news but we must remain vigilant! Our Weed Watchers will be doubling their efforts and our Lake Hosts will also be watching for Milfoil LEAVING the lake.

This is what Variable Milfoil looks like. It can grow up to 20 feet which means it can reach the surface on the majority of Beaver Lake and then grow across the surface.
It really does not look like any other aquatic plant. It is very green, looks like a baby bottle brush and has a very red stalk.

Please help us! If you see it growing or floating please bring it to the boat ramp for ID by a Lake Host or contact the BLIA at blia@beaver-lake.org and we will follow through.

I want to thank Weed Watcher, Ginny Legare, for her dedication; Dan Scharlach for his swift response, and especially Amy Smagula for caring enough to respond in a week. As Amy says, “Early detection/rapid response is the best, and I give priority to those situations.”

Please respond at blia@beaver-lake.org if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks everyone,
Rob