In 1990 the City of Sauk Centre petitioned the Sauk River Watershed District to purchase weed harvesting equipment for Sauk Lake. Sauk River Watershed District’s Administrator and Managers completed the  viewers report for the March 7th, 1991 public hearing. The cost of the cutter and the transporter were funded 75% by the US Army Corps of Engineer’s and the remaining 25% and the cost of the truck and trailer were covered by assessments to benefited landowners.

A Department of Natural Resources permit restricts the harvester to cut only Curly Leaf Pondweed. The harvester has provided a channel for boats to maneuver around Sauk Lake since May 1992. A yearly maintenance assessment is assessed to benefited landowners to cover the cost of the Weed Harvester Project.

In 2004 the City of Sauk Centre petitioned the District for a new project which will allow more Curly Leaf  Pond to be harvested. Wenck Engineering has completed the Engineers Report and Viewers are working on determing benefited properties.
 
The harvester cuts a 6’ deep and a 9’ path which collects approximately 1000 pounds of vegetation within 15 minutes before transferring the vegetation onto the transporter. The transporter then travels to the disposal access where it transfers the vegetation onto the trailer. The trailer can hold two loads of vegetation before distributing to local landowners fields to be used for fertilizer.