Milfoil Infestation
Lake Buel suffers from an infestation of milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). It is likely that this aquatic plant was introduced unintentionally in the early 1960s. The magnitude and spread of the aquatic plant increased notably between 1974 and 1988, with a particularly dramatic increase between 1974 and 1981. These increases occurred because of fragmentation and vegetation reproduction. Because of decaying milfoil in the Lake's two hypolimnia during this era, the Lake experienced an intensification of hypolimnetic anoxia.
In the early 1990s the aquatic plant covered over 85 acres (over 40%) of the Lake. This infestation creates a large oxygen demand in the Lake, limiting cold water habitat.
Aquatic macrophyte harvesting was initiated in 1980. A 90-acre (360,000 m2) harvest was performed that year.
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