A recent increase in aquatic vegetation in Wheeler Reservoir in Alabama has anglers smiling, but local skiers, pleasure boaters and homeowners see the weeds as a menace.
Tennessee Valley Authority officials said they are hearing lots of complaints from homeowners and boaters about the hydrilla, eel grass, star grass and milfoil up and down the river. However, their focus is on maintaining access to the lake at ramps and developed recreation areas.
An aquatic weed harvester is used to to cut channels in the weeds on the water, to get in and out of these public access areas, but eradicating the aquatic plants can negatively affect the health of the waterway and impact the local economy.