FOR THE ANTIGO TIMES

The Unified Lower Eagle River Chain of Lakes Commission (ULERCLC), with support of the Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association (ERCLA), has hired DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting) Aquatic Services, LLC., to hand-pull the aquatic invasive species Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM).

Efforts began on June 14, 2021.  The diver hand-pulls the EWM at its roots and immediately suctions the plants onto the boat in to garbage bags to prevent plant remnants and seeds from spreading.

Specific areas have been strategically designated this year for hand-pulling, and include Cranberry Lake, Catfish Lake and Yellow Birch Lake (picture attached).  Hand-pulling has allowed ULERCLC and ERCLA to maintain a manageable population of EWM from year to year.

To learn more about DASH, view the ERCLA interview with Alan Pahnke, Owner of DASH, as he worked with ERCLA and the Wisconsin DNR to remove AIS from Scattering Rice Lake.

ABOUT ERCLA:

The Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association, Inc. (ERCLA) is a non-profit, voluntary lake organization with the purpose of maintaining, protecting and improving the quality of the lakes and connecting waterways from the Burnt Rollways Dam to the Otter Rapids Dam on the Eagle River Chain of Lakes.

ERCLA provides educational resources regarding issues important to the Eagle River Chain of Lakes and the rivers that are a part of the Chain, and advocates on behalf of more than 1,700 Chain property owners.

Funding of ERCLA’s operation, activities, events and projects comes exclusively from membership dues and donations. All activities and actions of ERCLA are volunteer driven. Anyone interested in volunteering may visit https://www.ercla.org to learn more.