Lake District Considers Second Weed Treatment in 2013

The warm weather gave the weeds on Little Muskego Lake an early and robust start, which kept harvester crews busy as early as May. Those crews are suggesting that a second application of chemicals may be what's needed in the future to control them.

The Little Muskego Lake District (LMLD) board met Thursday night to discuss what the additional cost of chemical treatment in later summer could mean to their budget and to the assessments for riparians. While an estimate of a second treatment in certain areas along the lake's west side and in Kingston Bay on the south end of the lake could run $15,000-$20,000 in additional costs, board members said less staff may be required to cut weeds over the year.

Previous budgets indicated when the district took a three-year break from chemical treatment (2008-10), payroll costs were about $97,000; in 2011 $13,000 was spent on treatment, and payroll decreased to $87,000. The additional cost could mean as much as an additional $26 in assessment for lake residents.

The matter will be brought before the district residents as a resolution for the September 6 meeting and public comment session. The lake district annual meeting is on October 4 and will feature a vote on the budget as well as other resolutions.

Other matters discussed at the meeting:

• New Berlin has granted a conditional use permit to the district for development of land on Calhoun and Beloit Roads. The n collaboration with the Little Muskego Lake Association and the Muskego Lakes Conservancy to protect the watershed and also to use for weed tipping. The permit will allow the district to construct an entrance road and culvert into the property so trucks can access the land.
• The board decided to leave out a resolution to reserve money in 2013 for land acquisition after some debate. While board member Fay Amerson felt "if an opportunity exists to buy land to protect the lake, we should be ready for it," others said future dollars should be project specific to avoid the creating a slush fund.
• Complaints about low lake levels and the need for a no-wake ordinance were discussed, but board member Tom Reck said sources at the Department of Natural Resources said such measures were unusual. "Normally high water conditions create the need for no wake rules, because of the increased wave action on the water. Truthfully, one good storm creates more damage than a summer's worth of boaters on the lake," he said.
• The will be 'christened' on Tuesday, August 7 at Park. The machine replaced the oldest in the district's fleet, which was about 36 years old. The new harvester cost approximately $175,000, which was offset in part by a grant from the state.