Evaluation of large-scale low-concentration 2,4-D treatments for Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil control across multiple Wisconsin lakes

ABSTRACTNault ME, Barton M, Hauxwell J, Heath E, Hoyman T, Mikulyuk A, Netherland MD, Provost S, Skogerboe J, Van Egeren S. 2017. Evaluation of large-scale low-concentration 2,4-D treatments for Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil control across multiple Wisconsin lakes. Lake Reserv Manage. 34:115—129.Herbicides have been utilized for decades for nonnative milfoil control; however, limited literature is available examining large-scale herbicide applications, especially for commonly used herbicides such as 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid). Twenty-three lakes were studied pretreatment and posttreatment to monitor large-scale and low-concentration (lakewide rate: 73—500 ν/L) 2,4-D dissipation and degradation patterns, and determine the efficacy and selectivity of these treatments for Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM) and hybrid watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum × M. sibiricum; HWM) control. Measured mean surface concentrations averaged throughout the initial 2 weeks after treatment ran...