I was at Heartland Cove this afternoon, Saturday 7-16-05, from about 3 30 to 5 30. Hot in or out of the water.

I haven't been there much this summer and was surprised at the changing vegetation. Aquatic plants are taking over the place - Cattails along the south arm -a patch of water lilies on the north side and in between where it looks to be open water a tangle of aquatic plants anchored in the lake bed but extending up to the surface. Not much open water where you can actually swim any more and I'm worried about "what next" for the Cove.

I think I'll call the Corps next week and ask about the cycle of these plants. It is interesting to see the changes year to year. The lilies have been around for about 3 years - gradually increasing the size of their patch - the cattails same thing - quite a nice crop for your fall centerpieces and hallway arrangement but other stuff in the water I fear is a threat to the entire Cove.

I'm going to call it Eurasian Milfoil - from some website info I found. The Corps' biologist can give us the right name I's sure. Looks like little cedar fronds on a long stem that comes out of the lake bed. When it dies and decays it'll be a mess. Living it's a mess and likely depeletes oxygen in the water, slows down the movement of water into and out of the cove, shades other native plants, it's a pest and a "weed". The nasty combination should keep even the trolling motors out of the cove.

I saw but didn't visit with three other Covies - we were separated and didn't make contact beyond a wave. Picked up small amount of trash but George and the rest of you do a good job of that so there wasn't much litter to pick up. Water's so warm and when there's no wind to move the surface water around it's frankly like a bathtub so wasn't a real refreshing visit. In fact the milfoil is partly responsible for making the cove into a bathtub.

Now for the human threats to the Cove and our use of the Cove. Well none present today but the new tendency of some folks to drive a car or truck down to the Cove I'd view as a threat. I'd strongly recommend leaving the vehicles on the road - never opening the gate even though it's currently unlocked and not giving the Rangers and Sheriff's Deputies any reason to cite anyone for illegal entry - which I'm pretty sure it is when someone enters the field. It's all Federal Property and just because the gate's unlocked doesn't mean it's not still a closed gate.

What's a seven minute walk? Small price to preserve our spot in the sun.

I'm surprised they haven't taken the hay off yet - it's past the time of year whey they typically bale that field - maybe it wasn't leased out this year. Dunno but they won't be able to use the field for the field trials as they've done in the past with the high growth of grass and weeds. They'll likely mow then bale it soon.

Milfoil web info - no good news here as the stuff if invasive and aggressive. Even pulling it and leaving the remains in the water helps propagate it so that's no solution - it spread from fragments as well as from seeds.

Milfoil site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/milfoil.html

Dick Williams
Blue Chevy S-10 pickup

YEP! I deeply share your concern over the rapidly multiplying vegetation. Though I have been able to make it out 300 to 400 yards to where the water is clear of the stuff and very nice and cool while still being shallow enough to swim without any fear, I am becoming quite displeased with the fact that nothing is our has been done to clear away this pest.

Further, I am sorry to report that I was one of the unknowing violators of the "don't bring your car down to the cove" unwritten law however, since learning from the club officers that this is a bad practice I have not since done this and promise to never again. I've been back twice since and your correct, it is not a bad hike - just have to plan a little better with what you take down with you.

I went to the Sun Run and deeply enjoyed it. Great fun!

Don't know anything about the plant you cited to be a possibility of the ones growing in the water at the Cove. Hope you are successful in obtaining Corp help in erradication it.

Take care dude and hope to see you and others at the Cove.

Jerry
'Cinnamin Prism'

I visited the Cove again this evening, Sunday 7-17-05. More of a breeze across the cove and lake today so it was quite a bit more pleasant than same time Saturday. The water was mixed better so didn't have that super warm surface layer and felt good to get in.



I looked in a few other coves and the milfoil is widespread and I'd guess a giant looming problem for the Lake and the Corps. There's not much that can be done in a large body of water. In a small pond there are remedies but in a lake this size it's pretty difficult - maybe impossible to control at least according to what I've read in the past 24 hours. Mostly though it's a bad thing.

I still plan to call the Corps or the Park Department tomorrow but the problem's a big one and the damage the stuff does can be considerable. I'll let you know what I learn.

From what I've read - pulling it isn't helpful as that's one way it propagates and the problem's bigger than our little Cove alone. Any botananists among us? Actually there is a guy called Biology Bill over at Lake Edun - I may try to contact him also.

Dick Williams

I called the Corps and spoke with Ranger Sam King but he didn't actually know much about the plant life in the lake I'm dubbing milfoil. He said the MO Dept of Conservation is the main agency that deals with lake ecology. He also felt the DOC was doing the planting of cattails at various places to stabilize the banks and create habitat but that was speculation.

He gave me a reference to the person with the Conservation Department, Jake Almond, and I'll try to contact him when I'm back in town later this week.

I mentioned that I was one of the group that like to use a particular Cove off of King Road for sunning and skinnydipping. His only return comment was that they encourage swimming only from the public beaches.

I didn't get up to the Cove today myself. Did you?

Dick Williams