Case Study: Decades of Data Shows Harvesters Markedly Reduce Weed Growth

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

126-acre Center Lake has an average depth of 10 feet and 6.53 miles of shoreline; including artificial channels cut through the surrounding marshland
439-acre Camp Lake has an average depth of 5’ with 4.85 miles of shoreline
Both lakes are mostly muck bottoms
5410-acre watershed surrounded by residential homes and emergent cattail marsh
Most of the lake’s water is supplied from surface-water runoff
Camp and Center Lakes offer year round recreation such as boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, ice fishing, ice-skating and snowmobiling

Camp and Center Lakes Rehabilitation District

PROJECT CHALLENGE

Eutrophic lake that suffers from excessive aquatic plant growth
Wide variety of invasive aquatic plants including Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Milfoil, Purple Loosestrife and Zebra Mussels
Agriculture is the largest land use in the lake’s watershed
Isthmus prevents harvesting equipment from traversing from one lake to the other

THE SOLUTION

Divided by a small isthmus, Camp and Center Lakes are relatively shallow with mostly muck bottoms making them susceptible to increased aquatic plant growth that disrupts the natural ecosystem and interferes with recreation.

HM-420 aquatic plant harvestering cutting lake weeds.

Aquarius Systems Transport Barge and an Offloading Conveyor.

Aquatic Weed Harvesters and Offloading Conveyors are installed on both lakes with the larger of the lakes operating a second harvester as well as a Transport Barge. The Lakes Rehabilitation District has collected over 20 years of aquatic plant harvesting data and while there is still nuisance vegetation, it has significantly reduced.