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I Saw the Weed Boat!

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The "Weed Boat" in Lower Rice Lake - Photo by Yvonne Carpenter-Ross

Aquatic Weed Harvester

It really all started with a T-shirt that was imprinted with the phrase: “I Saw the Weed Boat”. I had read a quarterly issue of a newsletter sent to me by the Rice Lake, Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District (RLLPD. The letter was sent to all Rice Lake residents). Note: the “Weed Boat” is actually an aquatic weed harvester.

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I saw the weed boat! T-shirt – Photo by Yvonne Carpenter-Ross
Informative information and t-shirts available to the public at the Annual Meeting – Photo by Yvonne Carpenter-Ross

Annual Meeting of the RLLPD

After reading the newsletter referred to in the first paragraph above, it just made sense that we should attend a meeting of that organization. And I decided that we would attend the annual meeting of the RLLPD that was scheduled for mid-October of 2023, at the Rice Lake Elks Lodge. That’s where I got my very own “I Saw the Weed Boat” T-shirt! And now, having become full-time residents of Rice Lake, my connection with and love of water has only increased. (Read my article entitled “Stewards of the Lake”).

Two additional meetings we later attended ultimately put us in touch with Commissioner Peter W. Gallagher. Thanks to Peter and other Commissioners and Representatives for their time with us, and their extraordinary efforts as Stewards of the Waters! I have been impressed and excited ever since!

Amazing Resource

If you are somehow not familiar with the Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District, I would strongly urge you to get familiar with it! They perform an incredible service for all the citizens, and guests, and visitors to the city – and the Lake – of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. From the Home Page of their informative website comes the following quote:

“…the Rice Lake, Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District seeks to protect the ecology of the lake, enhance the natural scenic beauty, control invasive species, and promote responsible boating, swimming, fishing, and recreational opportunities that beautiful Rice Lake offers all residents and visitors to our shores.”

That quote accurately says it all, especially the part that states, “control invasive species.” Seriously, if you partake in any of the aforementioned activities, be thankful that such an organization even exists. This is an organization that keeps an amazing resource such as Rice Lake in marvelous condition. Please do not take Rice Lake’s boating, swimming, fishing, and other recreational opportunities for granted!

More About Invasive Species

Importantly, once invasives are established in a lake, they are nearly impossible to eradicate. Rice Lake is definitely not alone in “hosting” two very stubborn invasives.

“Eurasian watermilfoil” by PSU-CLR is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

One invasive of particular note in Rice Lake is Eurasian watermilfoil (Scientific name: Myriophyllum spicatum). It’s native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, and it was introduced – accidentally – from Eurasia in the 1940s. Read more about this invasive species.

Now found in almost every county in Wisconsin, Eurasian watermilfoil is one of the most problematic invasive aquatic plants in North America.

 

The other invasive is Curlyleaf pondweed (Scientific name: Potamogeton crispus pronounced POT-a-mo-JEE-ton CRISP-us). It’s native to Eurasia, Africa, and Australia, but was also accidentally introduced into the United States when the common carp was brought in during the mid-1800’s.

It can easily grow in water depths up to fifteen feet and will produce buds that can remain viable for very long periods of time. Read more about this invasive species.

Rice Lake and its Aquatic Vegetation Harvesters

The Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District provides something else with which you may, or may not, be familiar. That something is officially referred to as an “Aquatic Vegetation Harvester.” It is also – almost affectionately – called “the Weed Boat”.

After those additional meetings, a few e-mails, and a phone call or two, it was arranged that I would be afforded the incredible opportunity to ride along with our “Rice Lake Spotlight” for this month. Many thanks to Lake Coordinator Christina Solie for helping to make it happen. Christina was kind enough to put me in touch with the “captain” of a harvester: Nate Emerson.

A Day in the Life of Nate Emerson

RLLPD has three Weed Boats, and Nate pilots one in the southern bays of Rice Lake. A Day in the Life of Nate would easily convince you of the value of someone like him. Up very early in the morning, Nate not only takes care of (i.e., handles the maintenance) one of the three aquatic weed harvester machines owned by the Lake Protection District.

Watch the Weed Boat in action on Rice Lake! (YouTube video)

He spends five, and sometimes even six days a week harvesting / removing the Eurasian watermilfoil and Curlyleaf pondweed – thousands of pounds a day – from Rice Lake bays and dock areas. This allows residents, visitors, and guests to Rice Lake to enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and other activities, on and in the lake, without the bother of noxious weeds!

I spent a few hours with Nate one early summer morning, accompanying him on the Weed Boat. I watched as he harvested noxious and invasive weeds from Rice Lake. And it’s clear Nate is not only very good at what he does, he is dedicated and enjoys his work, too. I enjoyed just watching him, as he deftly maneuvered the large harvester around the bays. Nate is a very special guy!

Next Time You See a Weed Boat…

I’m sure you have probably seen Nate, too. Now you know the guy behind the “wheel” of one of the Weed Boats. What he does for the lake, and for the people who live on the lake, and for all those who enjoy the beauty and cleanliness of the lake… is amazing!

So, next time you see a weed boat, smile, and wave. When you launch your boat into Rice Lake, think of the work Nate and others at the Rice Lake Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District do. We owe them a debt of gratitude and a huge thank you!

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