Eagle Lake, like many other Michigan lakes saw massive outbreaks of Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) in the late 1990s. The exotic species first showed up in northeastern states' lakes in the 1940s (and in the southwest), spreading gradually to the west. Eagle Lake's infestation first showed up at the public launch site in the mid 1990s. By 1999 EWM formed a solid ring crowding out the native aquatic rooted plants.

A lake board was formed with representing 10 different areas of the lake. After a little over a year, the board opted to try using a native North American insect, a weevil that grazes exclusively on milfoil. The weevil was already in Eagle Lake feeding on the native milfoil that was (and is) present in the lake. The decision was based on lower costs (52% of chemical treatment) and the appeal of greater safety and being more in tune with natural lake ecology.

Click on Eurasian Water Milfoil and The Weevil for more information. You can also go to the enviroscience website and find out about Middfoil and here is a predatation update regarding fish not eating the weevils. The Eurasion Water Milfoil Management survey is now available by clicking here.