Posted 8/18/25: The Coon Creek Watershed District will be hiring a licensed aquatic herbicide applicator to control invasive purple loosestrife along the shoreline of Crooked Lake. This control work will target all plants located below the ordinary high water level, along both public and private shoreline properties as shown on the map. Purple loosestrife plants will be chemically treated with a formulation of Triclopyr labeled for aquatic use between 8/25/25-9/25/25 and flowering seed heads will be cut, bagged, and properly disposed of off-site. If you would like to opt out of chemical treatment adjacent to your property, please contact Justine Dauphinais at jdauphinais@cooncreekwd.org or 763-528-4021 by 8:00am on 8/25/2025.

Why are we treating purple loosestrife?

Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia. As an invasive species it causes recreational, economic and ecological damage—changing how residents and visitors use and enjoy Minnesota waters.

Impacts of purple loosestrife include:

• Dense growth along shoreland areas makes it difficult to access open water.
• Overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants, potentially lowering diversity.
• Provides unsuitable shelter, food, and nesting habitat for native animals.
• Dense root systems change the hydrology of wetlands.

Visit the DNR website to learn more about purple loosestrife.