August 5: Our dive team arrived as scheduled this morning and had launched their boat at Sandy Cove by 7:30. Bob Heyes and the divers spent the morning at Site 18 (Pine Tree Point) and the afternoon at Site 1 (Harris Beach). The divers focused on matting today, with some hand harvesting. As the photos below show, there is dense growth at both sites, making these sites prime candidates for Control to push back growth nearest to shore. Both sites demonstrate that Identification and Monitoring alone are not enough - Control will be required annually until regrowth is reduced significantly. Thanks to all the volunteers who paddled out to skim fragments from the water, reducing the likelihood of new growth on your shoreline.

View drone photos from Day 1: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dslpoa/permalink/3717519345059489/?

August 6: Day 1 reinforced for us the fact that EWM plants reach maturity in early August. The impact on matting is twofold, the process takes longer and more rocks are used. Heading into Day 2 the team knew that the work to be continued at Site 1 would be limited by the remaining supply of river rock. The good news : several dry mats will winter with Bob Heyes. The afternoon was spent hand harvesting at Site 4 (Bonham’s Bay) and nearby Site 6. Although the positive impact of previous matting is protecting the shore at Site 4, the central area in front of the marsh continues to be a challenge. It is likely that the marsh and river flow provide nutrients for EWM sprouts, but there are also many competing native species. Thanks again to the volunteer skimmers and special thanks to Bob Heyes, who matches the divers hour for hour and still finds time to supervise barge loading and much of the barge towing.

View drone photos from Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dslpoa/permalink/3718637571614333/?

August 7: Day 3 began at 7:00 am with a visit to Site 13 near True North Rd. Note in the photo below that the dive boat, and growth, are close to the dock. Although the growth was very dense when harvesting began 4 years ago, annual harvesting by divers and owner have reduced returning growth to an easily managed level. As noted in many of today’s Sites the EWM strands were among other healthy, native species. The dive team headed north and visited sites along the northeast shoreline. No dense growth was encountered and only minimal harvesting was needed. The day finished in the northeastern corner of East Bay where an hour of hand harvesting cleared returning EWM growth.

View drone photos from Day 3: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dslpoa/permalink/3719867488158008/?

Now is the time in the EWM annual life cycle when plants automatically fragment, one of the ways in which spread occurs. We all need to monitor shoreline areas for fragments and dispose of these safely away from the shore. The rapidly receding water level also exposes mature plants to wave action, increasing fragmentation. Every removed fragment is one less new plant to deal with in the future.

Now is also the time to thank the 29 individuals who came out before and during Dive Week to load rocks on a barge and skim fragments at each and every dive site. You know who you are - thank you so much. We were able to reward 12 of the 29 and a draw resulted in prizes for these volunteers:

1. Peter Looije
2. Andrea Borysiuk
3. Larry Olivo
4. Kelly Falls
5. David Moss
6. Greg Falls
7. Kerry Wilson
8. Ian Simpson
9. Colin Holland
10. Jeff Popple
11. Jim Johnson
12. Laurie Jennings

Dominique Binckly will distribute the rewards this week.

Finally, in case you haven’t heard, one generous property owner has pledged to match the largest single donation in August or September, up to $5,000. Will you be the one to help us get the most out of the DONOR CHALLENGE? Please be the one.

Use these two hashtags on Facebook to view all stories. #ewmds #ewmdonorchallenge