New summer, same problem. The weeds in Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey are back and, according to at least one aquatic and watershed management expert, are “some of the worst” in recent memory. Fred Lubnow, director of aquatics programs at Princeton Hydro, has been studying the lake for more than 20 years. He said in
Controlling nuisance plants in Dane County lakes is a key element in an updated plan being worked on by county officials. The Land and Water Resources Department tries to balance a reasonable use of the lakes through boating, fishing and swimming, while preserving the health and balance of the lake ecosystem. The use of mechanical
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recently lowered the water level at Children’s Lake to control vegetation growth. Lowering the water level exposes aquatic plant life to the cold air causing it to freeze and die off, township supervisor Tom Faley said. He added there are places where the water level is down by as
Aquatic plants provide habitat for fish and aquatic insects, and provide oxygen to the water when the sun is out. When there is excessive aquatic plant growth, problems arise as those additional plants consume oxygen during the night and on cloudy days. This can drive oxygen levels down, which could be detrimental to the fish.
The Department of Natural Resources has completed a Strategic Analysis of Aquatic Plant Management (APM) in Wisconsin, summarizing current information on APM and potential management alternatives. The Strategic Analysis report [PDF] will help inform decision-makers and the public about this topic and aid in the development of future APM policy. While aquatic plants are a
Aquatic plants, whether invasive or native, can be described as either a mess or a resource. Natural plant growth covers 20 – 40% of the water and includes a diversity of plants. However, invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla and water hyacinth quickly take over a lake covering 60% and sometimes 100% of the