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Sawyer's Ponds, Gem County
Sawyer’s Ponds are located about two miles southwest of Emmett in Gem County. The three large fishing ponds are owned by Idaho Department of Fish & Game, which has put in handicap accessible boat launches, restrooms, and docks. In 2002 the invasive aquatic weed Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) was detected around the docks and shoreline. The infestation was so dense that anglers could not get their bait to the water. Gem County Weed Control and the Milfoil Task Force were awarded ISDA funds to test Eurasian watermilfoil control techniques and eventually eradicate Eurasian Watermilfoil from the ponds.
One of Sawyer’s Ponds was chosen in 2004 as a test site for milfoil barrier deployment, a technique that has since been used with much success in Lake Pend Oreille, Payette Lake, Lake Coeur d'Alene, and other Idaho waterbodies. The other ponds were treated with herbicides to reduce the infestation sufficiently to allow fishing in the ponds while the testing was underway. Once the evaluations were finished, Gem County Weed Control moved forward in 2007 to completely eradicate Eurasian Watermilfoil from all three ponds. It is expected that post-treatment surveys in 2008 will reveal the success of this treatment as part of the ongoing eradication efforts.
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Photos of the Sawyer's Ponds Eurasian Watermilfoil Control Program
 2007 Pre-treatment mats of EWM |
 2007 Pre-treatment mats of EWM |
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Aquatic Species Found in Sawyer's Ponds
- Aquatic Plants Native to Idaho
- Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)
- Nitella (plant-like algae in the genus Nitella)
- Idaho Fish and Game - Fish Stocking Information
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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 Gem County Weed Control.
- Information about species on the Idaho Noxious Weed List
- Other invasive species to watch for