Curlyleaf Pondweed Treatment - Spring 2026 Update

One of the biggest challenges of managing the water quality in Long Lake is the control of Curlyleaf Pondweed. We have worked with the City and their suppliers to manage an annual process that has served us well. Specifically, every April we survey the Lake for projected growth of Curlyleaf, and then treat the most problematic areas. This has to be done in early Spring before the water temperatures become too warm. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) limits the treatment area to 15% of any given Lake. See the map for the results of this year's survey and treatment plan.

The good news is that there are only 6 spots of heavy projected growth of Curlyleaf Pondweed, out of 49 surveyed sample areas (12%). The orange polygons represent targeted treatment areas, which is again about 12% of Long Lake.  The supplier will be out to treat those two areas in the next 2 weeks.  Because the treatment tends to spread/disperse a bit, a majority of the Lake should actually get treated.  However, if any homeowner on the Lake would like to treat privately, there is 3% (.81 acres) of potential treatment areas remaining. 

Please reach out to Paul Habegger, President of LLWA, longlake@prodigy.net if you are interested in private treatment, and he will put you in touch with the supplier doing the treatment. (Coordinating through Paul will assure we don't go over 15%). This would have to be done soon, as any additional treatment would have to be coordinated with the main treatment date. The supplier would also help you with securing the DNR permit to do so.

Many thanks to the City of Apple Valley, which covers the cost of both the surveying and the treatment of problematic areas. Any private treatment would have to be paid by individual homeowners.

Please enjoy the beauty of Long Lake and its surrounding ponds in the wondrous season of Spring!