Lose the Seagrass and Lose the Fisheries

/ Published in climate change, News, Uncategorized
Seagrasses can form dense underwater meadows.
Climate change affects creatures around the world. But land animals may have a slight advantage over marine species in running from the ill effects of global warming: the ability to escape. The oceans absorb the majority of the excess heat. Because they distribute the heat widely, ocean temperature gains are subtle.  But, even a small

Sturgeon Bay Prepares for Another Year of Aquatic Plant Management

/ Published in News
Mechanical harvester unloading cut weeds
The City of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, has four marinas with a lot of yachts and people spending their summers on the boats. The water level in the bay is down a foot from what it was last year, and it is predicted there will be more problems with weed growth. The city applies for a

Lake Study Reveals Harvesters Effective at Collecting Cut Vegetation

/ Published in aquatic weed harvester, News
Aquarius Systems Large Weed Harvester
Chautauqua Lake Association in New York performed a study focused on weed harvesting. People believe that the harvesting operation loses a lot of plant material and critics of mechanical harvesting say crews don’t collect enough of the plant material that they cut, leaving behind floaters. After operating the weed harvester, reliable data collected shows that

New DNR Management Plan Emphasizes Stocking of Game Fish

/ Published in News
Ducks and Duckweed
Heron Lake in far southwestern Minnesota was once considered one of North America’s most productive waterfowl lakes and in an effort return the lake into a productive waterfowl rest stop, the DNR has once again revamped their management plant. The DNR will systematically be adding predatory fish to sharpen the attack against the destructive carp,

Shoreline Herbicide Application Results in Significant Native Plant Death

/ Published in Uncategorized
Shoreline Waters Devoid of Aquatic Plants
For 18 years, ecologist Robert Johnson has filed reports on Chautauqua Lake in dry, analytical language, logging the number and density of plant species in the shallow lake bed. Lakes are political, Johnson knew, and he didn’t want to squabble with local officials or residents over how they managed the plants. But late last summer,

Winterkill Can Have Devastating Effects on Fish Populations

/ Published in News
A fish kill after ice on lake thaws
Winterkill occurs when fish suffocate due to a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water and is the most common type of fish kill. Dissolved oxygen is required by fish and almost all other forms of life living in water bodies. Even bacteria living on lake bottoms require dissolved oxygen to survive. Low oxygen levels

Fish Population Struggling after Chemical Treatments

/ Published in Uncategorized
Spraying Aquatic Herbicides
Lake Pinehurst does not permit power boats making it an ideal lake to host cocktail cruises, sail, swim, and fish. Well, maybe not fish. This 200-acre manmade lake is owned by Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina; a premiere golf and recreation resort. Residents of the area and resort guests trolled for largemouth bass and other

A Healthy Lake is the Best Safeguard Against Invasive Species

/ Published in Uncategorized
Aquatic Invasive Species Starry Stonewort
In August of 2018 starry stonewort, an aquatic invasive species was found in a lagoon of Geneva Lake and within a year it was found in Geneva Lake. Initially it was hoped that the isolated population in the lagoon could be eradicated by dredging before it got into the lake, but the attempts failed and

Invasive Hydrilla is Disappearing in Some Texas Lakes

/ Published in Uncategorized
Aquatic Invasive Plant Hydrilla
A native of India that first found its way to the U.S. as vegetation for aquariums in the 1950s, hydrilla was abundant in East Texas lakes 20 years ago. It was a recreational nightmare around boat docks and swim areas where it surfaces and forms thick mats. On the other hand, edges and holes were

Aquatic Vegetation in the Buffalo River Indicator of Health

/ Published in Uncategorized
Buffalo River New York
Overwhelmed by decades of pollution, by the late 60’s, the Buffalo River’s condition was disgraceful. Both Lyndon Johnson and Robert Kennedy visited the New York river to inspect the carnage, and the death knell for this once proud waterway was sounding. Jill Jedlicka is Executive Director Of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. The river hit rock bottom