Cave Lake and Medicine Lake

Cave Lake and Medicine Lake Survey Boat Prized by fishers for their accessability and good fish stocks, Cave Lake and Medicine Lake are part of the Coeur d’Alene River chain lake system, about 20 miles southeast of Coeur d'Alene. In 2006, surveys detected the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) in both lakes. If not controlled, EWM can render water impassable by boats and severely disrupt the native lake ecosystem. ISDA funding enabled approximately 250 acres of EWM to be surveyed and treated by the State Milfoil Task Force (part of the State of Idaho Invasive Species Council).

The following year, post-treatment surveys were conducted on Cave Lake and Medicine Lake by ISDA with assistance from the Inland Empire Cooperative Weed Management Area partners. Treatment areas from 2006 were included in the 2007 surveys in order to measure the effectiveness of the 2006 treatment. The initial survey covered approximately 1076 surface acres and located 187 acres of Eurasian watermilfoil. Some scheduled surveys for Cave Lake were delayed due to the presence of endangered Western Greebes, with nesting pairs spread out over the lake until September of 2007.

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Photos of the Cave Lake and Medicine Lake Eurasian Watermilfoil Control Program

Milfoil survey using thrown aquatic rake
Cave Lake, 2007		 Milfoil survey rake full of aquatic plants
Survey boat using GPS positioning

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Aquatic Species Found in Cave Lake and Medicine Lake

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Invasive Species Watch List

Ponds, lakes and streams in this area may be at risk of invasion by the following aquatic or riparian weeds. If you think you have detected these or any other invasive weeds, contact the Kootenai County Noxious Weed Control at (208) 446-1290.