Land and Water Dept. to hold boat cleanings on Vilas lakes

Vilas County Land and Water Department is hosting a series of upcoming boat washings from now through the end of August.

Boat decontaminations using hot pressure washers will occur at scheduled times in the western part of the county to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Target lakes included Big Muskellunge, Star, Plum and Trout lakes. Big Muskellunge Lake is located near the three Vilas lakes that are already known to contain the spiny water flea: Plum Lake, verified in 2019; Star Lake, verified in 2013; and Trout Lake, verified in 2014.
The goal is to keep the spiny water flea from spreading. Once these spiny water fleas are introduced into a waterbody there is no effective strategy to control the invasive species, which is why preventing their infestations is so important.

Upcoming boat washing schedules include:

Aug. 22 at Star Lake from 8 a.m. to noon and Plum Lake 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Aug. 23, Trout Lake from 8 a.m. to noon and Big Muskellunge, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Aug. 29, Big Muskellunge from 8 a.m. to noon and Trout Lake, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and Aug. 30, Plum Lake from 8 a.m. to noon and Star Lake from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The boat decontamination program is operated in partnership with UW-Oshkosh to offer voluntary washes using hot pressure washing. In Vilas County, the program has been in place since 2018, although it was halted from 2022-23 in order to make it more financially sound. It returned in 2024.

A full schedule of cleanings throughout the summer is available on the Land and Water website at vilascountywi.gov/departments/services/land_water_conservation/index.php