Healthy waterways support both recreation and fisheries. From boating and swimming to fishing and wildlife habitat, clean and well-managed lakes and rivers create safe spaces for people and aquatic life. Our focus is on protecting water quality and managing plants so that recreation and fisheries can thrive.
Residents around Indian Lake in Worcester, Massachusetts, are raising concerns after a spike in fish deaths following the recent application of aquatic herbicides. These chemicals, intended to control the spread of invasive weeds, work by killing the plants outright. But once the plants die, they begin to decompose in the water—a process that consumes dissolved
Following a chemical treatment aimed at controlling aquatic vegetation in Port St. Lucie’s Elkhorn Canal, residents reported what they called the “worst smell in the entire world” as countless fish perished on the canal’s surface. Water tests revealed that dissolved oxygen levels plunged to levels unsustainable for aquatic life—an unintended but severe consequence of the
In June 2024, a chemical herbicide application in Florida’s Elkcam Waterway resulted in a catastrophic fish kill. Within 24 hours, residents reported fish gasping at the surface, and by the end of the week, thousands of dead fish had washed up along the banks. This devastating incident underscores the dangers of using chemicals to manage
Lakes and wetlands across the United States are facing a big problem — the loss of important aquatic plants. One example is Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, where underwater plants have almost disappeared. This loss is hurting the lake’s health and the many birds that depend on it. Aquatic plants are very important for keeping
The thrill and ease of wake surfing have made it a popular pastime on lakes across the U.S., especially in states like Wisconsin, where wake boats are widely used. Over the past decade, its popularity has surged, becoming a favorite water sport for many, but this rise has raised concerns about negative effects on lake
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released new information regarding its ongoing efforts to determine what caused a massive fish kill in Duluth’s Tischer Creek in August. MPCA Communications Specialist Beverly Godfrey says the city of Duluth drained an estimated 1.7 million gallons of chloraminated water into the creek from the Woodland Reservoir over a 15-hour
The deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin is the latest to take up the issue of wake boating. A wake boating advisory has been issued by the municipalities that surround Green Lake. Wake boats have special tanks allowing them to create larger wakes than other boats. The advisory asks wake boaters to operate in wake
Warmer weather and water temperatures are spurring the growth of aquatic plants across Wisconsin and increasing calls from waterfront property owners for help in controlling the plants. State aquatic plant specialists encourage property owners to contact the Department of Natural Resources before taking steps to reduce or control the plants. The plants provide important fish
The squishy green stuff at the bottom of the lake isn’t algae. Those are weeds, and though people seem to hate the feeling of their feet touching them, those weeds might be necessary for the health of the lake. According to Greenwood County Lake Manager Julie Davis, Greenwood County Lake Management surveys and inspects the