Manage invasive and overgrown aquatic vegetation in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Solutions include mechanical harvesting and safe plant control methods.
The winter phase of the milfoil control program on Osoyoos Lake in British Columbia, Canada, got underway last week as water temperatures continued to cool. Unlike during the summer, when a machine cuts and harvests the tops of the invasive weed, between October and April a rototiller is used to pull the plant up by
Since milfoil was first discovered in Lake George in 1985, roughly 200 locations where it is growing in the lake have been found. Officials have been able to manage the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil, which competes with and can displace native aquatic plants. Now, officials are hopeful that a three-year push to remove milfoil from Lake
Every summer, two Chelan County Public Utilities Division (Wenatchee, Washington) park maintenance workers use an Aquarius Systems weed harvester to cut and remove tons of Eurasian milfoil from parks and boat launches along the Columbia River. Without the PUD’s harvesting program, boat launches and swimming areas would be choked with weeds. The benefit from the
Plants that grow in and around water can have an impact on the long-term health of our area lakes. For this reason, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board completes aquatic plant surveys on Minneapolis lakes every two to three years. These surveys document the increase or decline in different species of aquatic plants. Eurasian watermilfoil
Martin Woess and his aquatic weed harvester dubbed the Lake Mess Monster has been busy clearing the waters of Prospect Park. Once a week Woess climbs aboard his weed harvester to collect the scum which consists mostly of duckweed and azolla which would quickly take over the pond if left unchecked. New York City owns two of
If Worcester, Massachusetts wants to keep using Indian Lake for recreation, then there needs be a concerted effort to reduce pollution. That is one of the main recommendations from a WPI study of the lake recently released by the Indian Lake Watershed Association. To avoid increased chemical treatment of the lake, the association and the
Lake Minnetonka is the 9th largest lake in Minnesota and of the most popular among boaters, fishermen and recreationalists. However, the popularity doesn’t come without environmental issues. Invasive species such as curly-leaf pondweed, purple loosestrife, Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels have been discovered as well as dealing with various sources of pollution which has affected
In Minneapolis, the park district’s mechanical harvester has been mowing Eurasian watermilfoil in the Chain of Lakes since before Memorial Day. It began several weeks earlier than usual, said Deb Pilger, director of environmental operations, due to the warm and early-starting spring that caused a healthy crop of invasive aquatic weed growth. The Lake Minnetonka
According to Nick Brown, DNR invasive species specialist, herbicides used to treat curly-leaf pondweed on Minnesota lakes may not lead to improvements in water quality. Curly-leaf pondweed is an invasive plant found throughout much of Minnesota. The plant grows slowly throughout the winter under the ice, but once the ice has left the lake the
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