HALF MOON LAKE

Polk County, Wisconsin

Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Update

7/17/2026

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.

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Follow at: @HalfMoonLakeWI

Micro Blue Moon rising over the lake Saturday night.

BOAT PARADE - 2pm - Decorated boat parade around lake. Gather in Breezy Bay at south end to begin. FIREWORKS - 10pm - Public Beach - watch from the beach or your boat. If inclement weather - Fireworks will be determined at the time of the event. Fireworks might be shot off in a light rain or may delay them slightly, while lightning or heavy rain will cancel them. Rain delay would be Sunday July 5th.

Still and foggy morning at Half Moon. Four loons spotted. Two on the north end, one in the middle, and one on the south end.

The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department is excited to launch the Polk County Boating Viewer which can be accessed at: - Half Moon Lake Website - Helpful Links Page This interactive map allows users to visualize the State of Wisconsin slow no wake regulations, permitted buoys marking hazards, and areas suggested by lake organizations for enhanced wake activities. The map also includes Polk County ramp and carry-in boat access locations. The site includes: Boat landings: includes lake name, type, lanes, surface, dock, parking, restrooms Waterbodies: includes lake name, max depth, class, acres, and shoreline miles Slow no wake areas 100 foot buffer from shore: State regulations require all watercraft to be slow no wake within 100 feet of shore, dock, raft, pier, or restricted area 200 foot buffer from shore: State regulations require personal watercraft to be slow no wake within 200 feet of shore Additional slow no wake designations Water hazards marked by buoys (rocks or shallow areas) Not all hazards are marked by buoys or maps; caution should be used when navigating any waterbody as water depths can vary Suggested enhanced wake areas are designated for select lakes These areas have been designated by the lake organization affiliated with the waterbody These areas are suggested to reduce impacts on the lake This viewer has been designed as an educational resource and is not designed or intended to be used as the only source of navigation.