We write with an important update on our efforts to combat Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). The news from the state DNR is disappointing—but we have a clear plan to move forward, and we need your support to make it happen.
On February 4, 2026, we learned that our application for a Wisconsin DNR Large-Scale AIS Population Control Grant was not selected for funding. This is the second consecutive year our application has been denied. Our three-year project had a total cost of $154,000, of which we requested $116,000 from the state under their cost-share requirements.
The competition was fierce: 471 applications sought $7.4 million in funding.
The reality is clear: we cannot wait for state funding to address our milfoil crisis. The infestation now covers 257 acres—the worst since before 2014—and it is actively spreading. Our Clean Boats Clean Waters inspections documented 4,501 boat launches in just 46 days last summer. Every season we delay treatment, the problem grows.
At this critical juncture, and after a few months of conversation with the state, biologists, potential consultants, members, and others, the MFA Lake Management Committee has decided the highest and best use of our time, focus, and private fundraising is to attack milfoil with the herbicide ProcellaCOR.
Before we explain our path forward, it's important to understand that there are two separate and distinct state processes involved in lake management:
The grant denial is a setback for funding. The permit application is the next hurdle—and it is the one that will determine whether we can treat the lake at all, regardless of how much money we raise.
For much of the past decade, the DNR has effectively discouraged herbicide treatment on the Minong Flowage. Our last permitted treatment was in 2023, when we were allowed to apply 2,4-D in limited areas near the county park and in the channel by Pogo's. Before and since then, we have repeatedly been told not to even attempt permit applications—in large part due to wild rice protections that placed Serenity Bay and the North Basin off-limits, and a statewide position that ProcellaCOR would not be allowed on any lake with wild rice present. Last year's grant denial left us without the financial resources to pursue treatment independently.
That landscape has now changed. On January 16, 2026, Madi Johansen, the DNR's Aquatic Plant Management Team Leader, issued clarified guidance on the use of ProcellaCOR—a next-generation herbicide—in waters near wild rice. The key clarification: ProcellaCOR may be considered for use if flow data demonstrates that treated water will not reach wild rice beds.
We have that flow data. DNR-funded dye studies conducted in 2014 and 2015 in areas immediately adjacent to the wild rice beds confirmed that water flows downstream, away from the rice—with no dye entering the rice areas. Our proposed treatment zones are all downstream from the wild rice beds. We intend to submit this documentation with our permit application and push the DNR to approve treatment under their own clarified guidelines.
This is not a guaranteed approval. The DNR will review our application on a case-by-case basis, and the Voigt Task Force (the tribal consultation body) may request additional review. But for the first time in years, we have a viable pathway to permitted herbicide treatment—and we intend to pursue it aggressively since other means of attacking milfoil have shown mixed results for the cost.
ProcellaCOR (active ingredient: florpyrauxifen-benzyl) represents a significant advancement over traditional herbicides like 2,4-D. It was registered by the U.S. EPA in 2017 as a "reduced risk" herbicide—their lowest risk category—and has been used successfully on over 100 lakes in the northeastern United States, including more than 30 in New York alone.
The Lake Management Committee has developed a phased approach for 2026:
We will apply for a DNR permit to treat approximately 40 acres across five high-traffic test zones: DNR Bay, the south side of the North Basin channel, East Bay, and Southeast Bay. These are heavily-navigated areas where the community will be able to directly observe the treatment's effectiveness compared to untreated areas—and compared to the conditions we all experienced last summer.
Treatment would occur after June 15, when water temperatures optimize ProcellaCOR effectiveness. Results will be visible within 1-2 weeks, and we will monitor efficacy through July.
If the summer application proves successful and we can raise additional funds, we plan to apply for a second permit to treat additional areas in the fall. This phased approach allows the community to see ProcellaCOR's effectiveness firsthand before committing to expanded treatment—and it gives us time to continue fundraising through the summer.
Without state grant funding, the Phase 1 treatment must be funded entirely through private contributions. The estimated cost for treating 40 acres in five test zones is $62,000, according to our lake biologist. Treatments to tackle additional portions of our 257-some-acre infestation will require significantly more funding.
We will be launching a formal fundraising campaign+membership drive by mid-March. MFA membership dues has never been sufficient alone (state law caps MFA membership dues), we have no tax base (we're a non-profit association, not a lake district) and thus, our only option short of other government funding, is to privately fundraise.
Watch for detailed information on how to contribute, sponsorship levels, and recognition opportunities. We will need participation from property owners across the flowage to make this summer's treatment a reality.
In the meantime, we encourage you to think about what healthy, navigable water is worth to you—and what continued inaction will cost all of us in property values, recreational enjoyment, and the character of our lake.
Clean Boats Clean Waters: The DNR did approve our 2026 CBCW grant, which funds boat inspections at public landings. This prevention program remains critical—it's far easier to keep new invasive species out than to remove them once established.
Tribal Coordination: We continue to seek productive dialogue with GLIFWC biologists and tribal representatives regarding herbicide treatment near wild rice waters. We believe the science supports careful, targeted treatment, and we are committed to demonstrating that milfoil control and wild rice protection can coexist.
The state has declined to fund our work. The DNR has historically blocked our herbicide applications. But the regulatory landscape is shifting, the science is on our side, and the need has never been more urgent.
We are not waiting for someone else to solve this problem. We are moving forward—and we are asking you to move forward with us.
More information on the fundraising campaign will follow in March. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to get involved, please reach out.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the Minong Flowage.
Sincerely,
Steve Johnson
Lake Management Committee Chair
Harlan Johnson
MFA President
QUESTIONS? Contact Steve Johnson (sjj8549@gmail.com) or attend our board meeting on at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Wascott Town Hall.
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: Details coming by mid-March.
The Minong Flowage Association has submitted its application for a Wisconsin DNR Control Grant to fund a comprehensive three-year plan to manage Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) in the Minong Flowage. The application represents months of planning, community organizing, and an extraordinary outpouring of support from across our region.
"The Minong Flowage is a cornerstone of the local economy," wrote Douglas County Board Chair Mark Liebaert in his letter of support. With EWM now covering 257 acres—the worst infestation since before 2014—the urgency of this management effort has never been clearer.
The grant application's success depends on demonstrating broad community support, and our supporters delivered. Douglas County Sheriff Matt Izzard highlighted public safety concerns, noting that EWM "was a contributing factor" in a tragic 2023 drowning incident that took 18 days to recover victims due to heavy vegetation. "From a public safety perspective," Sheriff Izzard wrote, "reducing dense aquatic vegetation in the Minong Flowage will make the lake safer for recreational users and easier for emergency responders."
The economic stakes are equally compelling. "As real estate professionals, we regularly see how lake conditions influence buyer decisions and property valuations," wrote Kevin Brisky of Lakewoods Real Estate. "Clean, accessible water with good recreational quality commands premium prices."
The business community also stepped forward with significant support. "For ten years, we have owned and operated Seaman's Resort on the shores of the Minong Flowage," wrote Julie and Dave Trygstad. "Our bar and RV campsites attract thousands of visitors each season who come to enjoy clean water, excellent fishing, and the natural beauty that defines this region. When the lake thrives, our business thrives."
Our Supporters
The following organizations and individuals provided letters of support and/or financial contributions to demonstrate community commitment:
Government & Public Safety:
Businesses & Organizations:
Lake Associations & Clubs:
* Additional thanks to business supporters who made financial commitments totaling more than $12,000; that’s on top of $20,000 raised since June 2025 from individuals for lake management efforts as well events sponsored by Marsh’s View Point Resort.
The 4,501 boat inspections at the Flowage's two busiest boat launches, during only 46 days (weekends & holidays) between fishing opener and Labor Day 2025, demonstrate the Minong Flowage's status as one of northwest Wisconsin's most valuable recreational resources. As Wascott Town Board Chair Chuck Youngquist noted, "Effective invasive species management is not just an environmental issue—it is sound municipal policy that protects property values, supports local businesses, and maintains the tax base that funds essential town services."
The Work Continues
While we await the DNR's decision, the MFA's Lake Management Committee will continue meeting monthly to develop our comprehensive milfoil management strategy. This multi-year plan requires navigating complex regulatory challenges and coordinating multiple approaches—herbicides, manual harvesting, and other solutions, alongside ongoing public education efforts.
The MFA Board will also engage in strategic planning this winter to increase membership, engagement, and fundraising capacity to ensure long-term sustainability of our lake management efforts. The MFA will recognize individual financial contributions since June 2025 in future communications as we ramp up a formal fundraising campaign—we thank everyone for their support!
Special thanks to consultant Dave Blumer and our Lake Management Committee volunteers for the countless hours of work that made this grant application possible:
Thank you to every member who contributed financially, attended meetings, volunteered for hand-pulling efforts, and supported this application. We'll update the membership as we learn more about the grant review timeline, which we anticipate will be complete by February 2026.
You can see the full grant applications and letters of support here:
MFA 2026-28 AIS Grant Proposal, Map and Letters of Support
Questions? Contact MFA President Harlan Johnson at johnson2424@yahoo.com