Eurasian Watermilfoil Update

Update on 7-24-2026

Polk County Circuit court hearing: Judge Anderson postponed his decision on our lawsuit to 8-18-2026, 3 pm.

Please see the Attorney Document (Link) in relation to the Eurasian Watermilfoil case for Half Moon Lake.

Notice

EWM was discovered in Half Moon Lake, Polk County near the main public landing in fall 2021. The Half Moon Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Board applied for and received a DNR permit to treat the small area of EWM with herbicide, which was completed and successful in reducing the amount of EWM in 2022. Plant bed surveys were completed pre and post treatments. The EWM continued to spread, so the HMLPRD Board, upon the will of the membership, implemented their decision to apply for permits to treat the spreading EWM with herbicide in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The Wisconsin DNR has denied the permits for 4 years in a row to treat the EWM with herbicide. The HMLPRD Board, with recommendation from Barr engineering, the experts providing permit application guidance, decided to bring a lawsuit against Wisc. DNR. This website has many studies and reports regarding attempts to gain herbicide treatment approval from the DNR.

Judge Anderson, Polk County Circuit Court, is scheduled to give his decision on July 24 th 10am in Polk County Judicial Center. All are welcome to attend to show their support. Please contact any Board members with questions.

Court Hearing is also available to be view online via Zoom. Here is the necessary information to log onto the meeting:

MEETING LINK:  https://wicourts.zoom.us/j/92098120094

MEETING ID: 920 9812 0094

NOTE: Please update screen name to your first and last name or case number you are appearing for. If the court cannot identify you, you may not be brought into the hearing.