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Why the Stewards chose Weevils The Scugog Lake Stewards felt the time had come for a solu- tion to the choking over-growth of milfoil that had taken over Lake Scugog and wanted to do something for the lake and the community. We found that ten years of North American research point- ed to the value of super-stocking infested lakes with with an insect bio-control called Milfoil Weevils or Euhrychiopsis lecontei. All other exisiting methods of control, from cutting to chemicals, generally have proven to make the milfoil rse as those methods do not discriminate be- tween plants in the lake ecosystem. The weevil just eats milfoil and does not touch the rest. Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and the hybrid we found in Lake Scugog are alien plants and they both have proven to be overly invasive in our environment. The milfoil found in the lake has so many means of efficient reproduction that it very quickly overwhelms native aquatic plants Here in Scugog, conditions are usually perfect for milfoil because the lake is shallow, the water warm. Sunlight can Stimulate plant germina- tion of all kinds in the thick mud. In much of the lake, the bottom mud is now super-saturated with fertil- izing nutrients This nutrient load of excess phosphorus and nitrogen has a strong connection to human activity around the lake. Agriculture, private septic systems, the Port Perry lagoons and urban runoff all play a part. Necessary township and regional strate- gies to reduce the nutrient burden that enters the lake are big expensive projects that will take years to show results. With the weevil, the Stewards are looking for an environmentally smart, proven longer term solution to the rgrowth of this one devastating weed. In Asia and Africa where Eurasian water milfoil came from, it is not a problem plant. It has developed with sev- eral strong predators and therefore it is not as aggressive as it is here. Eurasian water milfoil and its hybrids cause problems throughout the Kawartha Lakes and Trent- Severn Waterway. This knowledge increased our interest in finding and encouraging a local species to fight this nasty plant naturally. A The milfoil that clogged our lake. 380 FOCUS - AUGUST 2009 ONTARIO EXPERIENCE Late last summer, the Lake Stewards travelled to Puslinch Lake just outside Cambridge. There they lis- tened to representatives from the local lake association describe how their small lake went from impassable to clear. A site visit confirmed that boating and swimming was more than possible after the inoculation of milfoil weevils over the previous three years. They explained that since the weevils have three to four generations each summer — and with each female capable of producing more than 200 eggs -- destruction of the weed moves out slowly but strongly from the implant sites. THE NATURE OF THE MILFOIL WEEVIL Milfoil eating weevils are native to much of North America. They originally fed on the native Northern water milfoil which is not as prevalent. But researchers have found that these little sesame-sized insects actually prefer the exotic Eurasian variety. Milfoil weevils are only available at this time through the company EnviroScience Inc. in Ohio. They have stocked and improved over 160 lakes in the United States and Canada. Research indicates there are no problems with super-stocking lakes with Milfoil Weevils. Contact the Stewards at (905) 985-0555 or jlross@sympatico.ca or see our website www.scugoglakestewards.com. Thank you! To the from the Scugog Lake Stewards For a decade, the Lake Stewards and the Baagwating Community Association have celebrated an informal partnership involved in launching or maintaining a variety of projects to enhance the well-being of Lake Scugog and its watershed. They include naturalization of the shoreline and trail along Palmer Park and Baagwating Park. As well, they have been financial partners in educational projects for children and adults including our “Life on the Lake’ inserts in Focus on Scugog magazine includ- ing this issue. Their members believe all creation is sacred and we need to live in harmony with one another and all creation. Water is of special importance. This latest, generous grant of twenty-nine thousand dollars to the weevil enhancement program pilot project is a testament to their belief system. For additional information look up ‘milfoil weevils’ or i i i on the internet.