UI Extension program helping middle school protect Bear Lake from invasive plant

The classwork done by Heidi Northover’s Bear Lake Middle School students should help control the spread of an invasive plant threatening an iconic, 109-square-mile natural lake straddling the Idaho-Utah border.

In the spring of 2026, Northover finished her second year of teaching a hands-on elective class that challenges student scientists to hypothesize and test solutions to real-world problems, called STEM Leadership Academy.

Students who take the elective become STEM Ambassadors through Idaho STEM Ecosystem (EcosySTEM), which is a University of Idaho Extension-led partnership aiming to increase awareness of STEM opportunities and strengthen career readiness throughout the state.

Northover’s 18 students took on an especially ambitious project — raising public awareness about the rapid spread of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil in Bear Lake, which is located about 10 miles from their school, and evaluating possible ways to address the threat.

“Left alone in shallow, slow-moving waters, milfoil turns into thick mats of weeds, making recreation and boating really hard,” said seventh-grader Wyatt Loertscher, who is considering a career in marine biology based on his experience in the class. “The Eurasian milfoil can also ruin fish habitats.”

In addition to completing a natural resources project, STEM Ambassadors are required to participate in STEM industry tours and to interview professionals in STEM careers.

Northover’s most recent class toured a local chocolate manufacturer and a movie theater, and they interviewed Jessie Danninger, lands program manager for Bear Lake and the Bear River with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Brady Long, executive director of the nonprofit Bear Lake Watch.

Danninger led the class on a field trip to Bear Lake, where they raked milfoil and recorded data as part of a process to measure the density and rate of spread of the infestation.

“It’s a real-life application that is relatable. With anything that makes students have a vested interest, they are going to learn more because it’s real to them,” said Northover, who serves on the Idaho EcosySTEM Steering Committee. “They have to go through a process of critical thinking, which is a higher level of education.”

Bear Lake is the oldest lake in North America and is known for its brilliant turquoise color due to light refracted from suspended limestone. However, the water’s limestone content also inhibits the penetration of costly herbicides periodically applied to control milfoil. Further complicating matters, Bear Lake’s oceanlike currents tend to carry herbicides away from targeted milfoil patches.

Northover’s students considered options such as covering the unwanted plants with tarps to block photosynthesis or introducing grass carp and weevil species known to eat milfoil for biological control. They ultimately determined the most effective approach would be to use divers to inject salt or herbicide directly into milfoil roots. Danninger told the class that direct injection of herbicide hasn’t been considered but may warrant further discussion.

During a phone call with the class, Long assured them that they can accomplish the most by raising public awareness about the issue.

Seeking to involve their entire school in the campaign, the class organized and led several assemblies to discuss the problem and brainstorm solutions. The class also made and distributed flyers with pertinent information about the milfoil infestation and a link to a Bear Lake Watch petition seeking additional state support to help control it.

“I’m very grateful for the work they’re doing,” Long said. “I think their model should be followed by every other group of stakeholders that love the lake.”

The Bear Lake project has also impressed EcosySTEM leaders.

“Bear Lake Middle School’s participation in the Idaho EcosySTEM Student Ambassador Program exemplifies our mission and vision by creating transformative STEM learning experiences through their partnership with local industry to address a real-world challenge impacting Bear Lake, while empowering students to develop their leadership skills,” said Ashley Schaffner, UI Extension EcosySTEM regional hub coordinator.

During the 2026-27 school year, Northover plans to have her students develop milfoil-related curriculum aligned with state math, reading and writing standards. Her goal is for elementary schools throughout the region to incorporate her students’ curriculum.

The state-run Idaho STEM Action Center has added Bear Lake Middle School to its list of STEM-certified schools.

“We have massive growth in STEM jobs in Idaho, and Idaho schools are pushing STEM to reflect the current needs in the Idaho workforce,” Northover said.