Lake & Waterway Management focuses on the practices and strategies that keep lakes, rivers, and wetlands healthy. Topics include lake health, ecosystem balance, climate change impacts, shoreline restoration, fish populations, and sustainable management techniques that protect water resources for the future.
Bioengineering is defined by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as “using a combination of native planting and natural, or biodegradable materials to provide shoreline protection.” It also is often referred to as softshore engineering or lakescaping. Many shorelines use seawalls. These are a hard surface, such as wood, metal or concrete, that is installed
A weed infestation so bad it’s disturbing navigation for planes on Lake Hood has prompted the state to request an emergency herbicide application before someone gets hurt. Lake Hood in Alaska, known as the world’s busiest floatplane base, is exploding with greenery fueled by this year’s warm summer. But the lush underwater vegetation now includes
Work to restore Lake Horowhenua’s environmental health, which has been progressing well since the establishment of the Lake Horowhenua Accord in 2013, will increase in momentum later this year following a High Court decision. The Court’s decision was to dismiss an appeal made by the Hokio Trust, allowing Horizons Regional Council’s weed harvester to undergo
A new study from the University of Minnesota challenges a common belief that lakes with diverse plant life are more resilient to aquatic invaders. The study by the U’s Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center looked at 13 years of vegetation survey data collected from about 1,100 lakes by the Department of Natural Resources. The
One of the curses of local lake management — Eurasian milfoil — continues to defy expectations. At Monday’s Salem Town Board meeting, Supervisor Dennis Faber, who also is a commissioner of the Camp/Center Lakes Rehabilitation District in Wisconsin, said conventional wisdom going into this spring and summer was that the heavy snowfall of this year
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
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) such as wild celery and eelgrass are an important component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The underwater grasses improve water quality in the Bay by trapping loose sediment in their roots and remove pollutants, such as excess nitrogen, from the water column. The beds are also home to spawning fish and
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state’s lead agency for hydrilla control since July 1, 2008, faces a daunting challenge. It not only manages the spread of non-native hydrilla by spraying herbicides to maintain waterways for boating navigation and flood control. It also must consider the wants of Florida residents while keeping the
The Wharf is part of the great wall of the Chesapeake Bay. Development along the bay and its rivers, vast swaths of soft shorelines have been turned into stone and below the river’s surface, animals that depend on vegetation in the water may continue to struggle, marine scientists say. If the trend continues, numerous species
A study published in the September issue of BioScience, estimates that by 2050 , eighty-six species of fish may be extinct. That rate is 877 times higher than normal and has been accelerating in the past 20 years leading study author, Noel M. Burkhead of the U.S. Geological Survey to believe that “something’s up.” Many