No Algaecide in 2006, Icreased Forage Base in 2007- Coincidence?

As a result of precision aquatic vascular plant management in combination with mild weather, no algaecides (copper sulfate) were used in any CL waterbody in 2006, with the exception of one spot treatment on Rush Lake. This not only represents financial savings, but ecological savings as well. 2006 was the first year going back through the 90's that no algaecides were used! Though copper based algaecides are very effective, they are not selective and overuse can cause serious ecological imbalance. During the 2004,2005, and 2006 seasons, macro-invertebrate surveys documented very little insect biodiversity. It was extremely rare to recover mayflies and even caddis flies. With no algaecides used in 2006, we had high hopes of what we might see in the 2007 macro-invertibrate survey. These macro-invertbrates are one of the cornerstones of a healthy ecosystem and fishery. In early May, prior to the hatch of any adult insects, we conducted our survey. We found mayflies everywhere!!! It seemed like every rock and sugmerged log we rolled over was teeming with aquatic insects. With this sudden improvement in forage base, the CL fishery should have a banner year. In the first photo above, one can see a damselfly, dragonfly, mayfly, and caddis fly larvae; as well as a small leaf worm all recovered from the underside of one submerged log. A regular bluegill buffet. The second photo is a close up of three mayfly larvae. When is the last time you saw a mayfly hatch in CL?