Aquatic Weed Harvester will be used on Georgica Pond

An aquatic weed harvester was used to remove macroalgae from Georgica Pond in New York from 2016 through 2018 and on a limited basis last year, an effort to inhibit harmful algal blooms, including toxic cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. Approval has just been granted for the the mechanical harvester to be operated from June to September this year and required for the next five years as well.

The Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation, a group of pondfront property owners, know that removing the plant material is particularly helpful in lowering phosphorous levels in the pond. By doing so, “harmful algal blooms and ecological crisis” can be prevented. There is a definite correlation between operation of the weed harvester and improved water quality.

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