This year, TIGRIS treated five sites totaling 8.6 acres in Lower Cullen. Three sites were on the northwest shore and two were in the northeastern part of the lake. Four sites totaling 3.6 acres were treated in Middle Cullen. All were at the northeast end of the lake. Five sites totaling 8.5 acres were treated in Upper Cullen. All were at the east end of the lake.

The total cost of pondweed control was $12,139, which was less than expected because fewer acres were treated than anticipated. Plus, TIGRIS used a different government-approved aquatic herbicide than previous applicators that had a lower cost per gallon

So that’s the good news.

The bad news is that the starry stonewort infestation near the boat launch on Middle Cullen has grown six times in size since being discovered last spring. Back then, it was about one-half acre in size. Today, it’s about three acres. That’s disappointing though not entirely unexpected. Sometimes starry stonewort doesn’t grow dramatically. Sometimes it does. Unfortunately, the Middle Cullen infestation is quite robust and falls into the latter category.

Because it is robust and still relatively small, the DNR will issue permits this year so that it can be hit hard with copper sulfate, a contact herbicide. In fact, the DNR will use the Middle Cullen infestation as a study site to gauge the effectiveness of multiple copper sulfate treatments in a single year. Current plans call for chemical treatments and monitoring in early June, July and Auguust, and potentially September. A national aquatic herbicide company called SePRO, whose chemical will be used, is partnering in the effort.

It will donate some herbicide to the upcoming treatments. Still, this effort is expected to cost our association $7,650 in June, $10,200 in July, $7,650 in August and potentially another payment in September. There is an outside chance our association could receive additional DNR grant funds for these treatments but that’s not a given. Peter Miller, our AIS Committee chair, is doing what he can to put our association in the best position to obtain these funds. We won’t know until later this spring if we or another nearby lake association will get starry stonewort treatment grant funds.

What is known is that thanks to your generosity, this year’s aquatic invasive species expenses should be covered. To your credit, you and your neighbors donated roughly $44,000 to aquatic invasive species monitoring and control since December of 2024. This year’s anticipated costs are in the $40,000 range. So, budget-wise we are in a good place. We thank you for generosity and on-going support for the Cullens. Your contributions DO make a difference.

A few final things to know:

· The first chemical treatment won’t occur until the starry stonewort has “greened-up” because that’s when chemical applications work the best.

· The DNR has deemed that chemically treating the infestation is a superior strategy to trying to remove it by hand, which is unpractical due to its size and density.

· Starry stonewort was discovered in Middle Cullen in May of 2024. If it exists in Upper and Lower Cullen it has not yet been found.

· An invader from afar, starry stonewort was first discovered in North America in 1978 on the east coast. It has been spreading ever since. It has never been eliminated from a lake once an infestation has been established. Today, starry stonewort exists in about 30 Minnesota lakes.

· Though the DNR agrees that a chemical approach is the best option for controlling and containing the Middle Cullen infestation, the agency also cautions about unrealistic expectations. Chemicals are not 100 percent effective because the algae does not have a vascular system to spread the poison beyond the immediate point of contact. Moreover, poison sometimes sparks even more aggressive growth as the algae senses it is under attack and fights harder to survive.

· At this point, it’s hard to predict the long-term annual expense of treating starry stonewort. Starting this winter, the annual dues and donation letter you receive will likely reference “invasive species control” rather than simply “curly-leaf pondweed control” so that donations can be used for starry stonewort control, too.