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� � <br /> MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT <br /> QUALITY OF WATER QUALITY OF LIfE <br /> M i Ifoi I Weevi I Bio-Control Stud <br /> Y <br /> Direct questions to MCWD AIS Specialist Eric Fieldseth <br /> efietdseth@minnehahacreek.org � (952) 471-7873 <br /> ,p W�u��ii� „ �`'"�w.� s� u <br /> �,, <br /> �I a� <br /> "� .;�i� i <br /> ;,. , <br /> ������{7���I�il'li' > <br /> � � . �"-�, , �, <br /> �� . , ,• <br /> "a� <br /> � <br /> <,, ,,� <br /> , . , <br /> � �� � `�� � r� '�: �u� , i :�-,����i�ei(I .���...,.. <br /> CrediY:Dudley Pond Nssociation Credit:Robert L.Johnson,Corceli�niversi_y <br /> Summary At a Glance: <br /> Eurasian watermilfoil is a major issue in lakes across the Minnehaha Creek Weevit facts <br /> Watershed District (MCWD). In nutrient-rich lakes, the plant grows in thick . Feed primarily on Eurasian <br /> beds and makes it difficult to boat, swim and fish. Its abundant growth also Watermilfoil <br /> upsets a lake's ecosystem and hinders native plant growth. • Nafive to Minnesota <br /> • Don't bit@, sting, �y or leave <br /> , On Lake Minnetonka and others throughout the District, lake associations the water <br /> and public agencies manually thin milfoil for recreation. Others use herbicide • Don't impact r�creafion; stay in <br /> to reduce the population. These methods are expensive, can impact the or near milfoil beds <br /> environment, and only ofFer short-term results. <br /> Sites (estimated weevil stock) <br /> Beginning this summer, the MCWD is contracting with the environmental • Christmas Lake (42,000) <br /> senrices firm EnviroScience to study the effectiveness of the milfoil weevil • Libbs Lake (24,000) <br /> to sustainably controt milfoil in Christmas Lake and two areas in Lake � Veteran's Cove (20,000) <br /> Minnetonka: Libbs Lake and Veteran's Cove near Big Island. <br /> 2012 Timeline <br /> • Blue Water Science conducts <br /> What are m i Ifoi I weevi Is? :nitial assessment in mid-May <br /> Stocking begins late May <br /> The milfoil weevil (Euhrychiopsis lecontei) is a small, native, herbivorous • Final assessment in mid- to <br /> aquatic beetle that specializes in feeding on milfoil plants, especially late-August <br /> Eurasian watermilfoil. It completes all life stages, egg to adult, fully • Analysis of data submitted by <br /> submersed in the water. These characteristics make the weevil very December 31, 2012 <br /> unique, as specialist herbivores are very rare among aquatic insects. These Desired Outcomes <br /> characteristics are precisely why the milfoil weevil has shown the most • Lake-wide milfoil control in <br /> promise as a potential bio-control agent and an alternative for herbicide three to five years <br /> treatments for Eurasian watermilfoil. • Sustaining population of milfoil <br /> weevils <br /> Even with large numbers of weevils in a lake controlling milfoil, it is highly <br /> unlikely for a human to notice one, since they are very small and live in Partners <br /> the milfoil beds. All weevils will be collected from local, non-zebra mussel • EnviroScience (Ohio) <br /> infested lakes and raised in labs. � Blue Water Science (St. Paul) <br />