Milfoil Weevils Implant for Lake Scugog in 2014
We are ready to do our second implant of the bio-control, milfoil weevils, on Tuesday, July 22 this summer.
We finally have a site that meets all the criteria and it is in an area that will positively affect so many of you. It will be off Coulcliff Boulevard, just north of Rowing Club Bay (Kent Bay). The prevailing current and winds should carry the expanding populations of weevils mainly north and east as years pass.
To do this we need your help. The weevils plus the necessary science in advance and follow-up makes the initial implant expensive, but unlike any other control from harvesting to herbicides; weevils only increase their effectiveness as time passes. This is because once the lake temperature reaches 15 degrees celsius in the spring, female weevils begin to lay eggs, with multiple generations possible per year. All stages of the weevil spend the summer months in the water munching on watermilfoil and only emerge in the fall to overwinter in natural shorelines.
The overall cost this year will be $13,700 for 10,000 weevils, but should we obtain additional identified ‘weevil’ donations, we will use those funds to increase the number implanted either this year or next. You will receive a tax receipt for your contribution.
Now is the time to put dollars behind your wishes to improve the lake. Just make out your cheque to Scugog Lake Stewards, marked ‘weevils,’ and send it to:
Scugog Lake Stewards
237 Queen Street, P. O. Box 1282
Port Perry, Ontario L9L 1B9
Or, drop off your cheque or identified dollars at the Scugog Chamber of Commerce office at the above address.
This initiative has the full support of Ontario Waterways and will be closely monitored by them. We expect success and as a result; we anticipate Ontario Waterways will sanction similar programs — not only on our lake — but throughout the Trent-Severn Waterway. This will be a hugeaccomplishment achieved by many over a long period of time. But to do this we need your support. So dig into your funds to help reduce the overwhelming Eurasian watermilfoil problem in our beautiful lake.
We will keep you informed about our progress and of course, will give you the preliminary results this fall. Remember, this is not an instant fix. It is a plan to slowly use nature to remediate. We look forward to hearing from you.
Barbara Karthein
President, Scugog Lake Stewards