aquatic weed harvesting – Aquarius-Systems

Long-Term Aquatic Plant Management on Lake Ripley

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:48:07 +0000

Apple River Flowage Wraps Up Another Strong Harvest Season

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:03:21 +0000

As the harvest season winds down, aquatic weed harvesters across the region are being pulled from the water and stored for winter. For many lake districts, this time of year brings a chance to reflect on the season’s results—and the numbers out of Polk County are impressive.

The Apple River Protection and Rehabilitation District (ARPRD) reported removing roughly 2.73 million pounds of aquatic vegetation from the Apple River Flowage as of June of this year. This follows back-to-back years where totals reached around 3.8 million pounds, highlighting a consistent and highly productive management program.

Keeping the Flowage Open and Healthy

The 640-acre Apple River Flowage sits within a watershed that covers more than 111,000 acres. As with many Wisconsin waterways, invasive and fast-growing native plants—like coontail and curly-leaf pondweed—can quickly limit boating access, trap nutrients, and reduce dissolved oxygen levels if left unmanaged.

Through consistent mechanical harvesting, the ARPRD helps maintain navigation channels, improve water flow, and reduce the buildup of decaying plant matter that can lead to poor water quality. Unlike chemical treatments, mechanical removal takes the vegetation out of the water entirely, helping reduce nutrient recycling and long-term regrowth.

A Sustainable Approach to Aquatic Management

Mechanical harvesting is one of the most effective and environmentally responsible tools for managing dense aquatic growth. By physically removing weeds rather than killing them in place, this method helps protect fish habitat, limit algae growth, and keep waterways open for recreation.

The Apple River Flowage’s ongoing success shows how local commitment, steady maintenance, and the right equipment can make a lasting impact on the health of a waterway.

Learn about ARPRD

White River Harvesting Restores Flow and Waterway Health

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 21:32:44 +0000

The Friends of the White River in Wisconsin saw their 2013 weed harvest get off to a good start on Wednesday, June 26.

The harvester and operators were on lease from the White River Flowage Lake Management District. The harvester, by the end of work on June 27, harvested an estimated 50,000 pounds of aquatic vegetation currently choking out the waterway.

A very positive impact on the millpond can be seen from the Highway 73 bridge. The channels cut are extremely obvious and show what a clean body of water can look like. A healthy millpond remains the focus of most Friends members. If the millpond is not maintained, impacts on other parts of the White River will be noticed in years to come.

Chestermere Removes Over 210,000 kg of Lake Weeds

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 21:07:04 +0000

The City of Chestermere, Canada, announced that they had harvested 210,675 kilograms of weeds from Chestermere Lake in 2023.

“I know how important the water is to residents who live adjacent to it and all residents of Chestermere. Weed harvesting and weed control are an uppermost issue in most people’s minds,” interim CAO Pat Vincent said.

Chestermere Community Operations removed 132.5 harvester loads of weeds in 2023. Compared to 2022, when they removed 254.5 loads.

“We have been dealing with a flowering rush infestation, and it seems were enjoying some success in 2023 with the amount of flowering rush being removed from the lake is significantly lower than 2022, which to me is a good sign that we have been dealing with this issue effectively,” Vincent said.

The vegetation is then composted and used throughout the community.

Lake Minnewawa Restoration Shows Long-Term Benefits of Harvesting

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 19:20:27 +0000

In the 1970’s Lake Minnewawa in Minnesota was so choked with weeds that residents could no longer enjoy the lake as they once had. The water clarity and the phosphorous levels were awful. People would pull their docks out of the water in July because boating was impossible.

Save Minnewawa Association was formed in 1977 and they purchased their first aquatic vegetation harvester in 1982. Since the harvester has been in use, not only have the amount of weeds decreased, but the water clarity has significantly increased.

A big reason for this is because there are fewer weeds dying in the lake and decomposing in the bottom of the lake. Also, the weeds contain a huge amount of phosphorous which is being removed along with the weeds. The more phosphorous in a lake, the more algae growth, therefore the lower the water clarity.

The board has heard the suggestion of controlling the weeds by using chemicals instead of the weed harvester. The cost of the chemicals is very prohibitive though. It was $250,000 dollars and the lake had to be treated twice a year for the first 5 years; a price tag of a half million dollars. Compared to approximately $25,000 a year it takes to run the weed harvester.

St. Albans Bay Harvesting Helps Reduce Nutrient Pollution

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:40:46 +0000

Weed growth in St. Albans Bay in Vermont was not as bad this past summer as anticipated according to Steve Cushing, President of the St. Albans Area Watershed Association (SAAWA).

Last year, high, turbid waters and a layer of sediment carried into the lake by flooding and rainfall reduced weed growth, explained Cushing. With clear water and low lake levels this summer, those familiar with the bay were expecting more weed growth than they’ve seen, but Cushing believes the sediment may also be helping to suppress weed growth this summer.

SAAWA removes 400 to 500 tons of weeds from the lake each summer with the help of an Aquarius Systems Aquatic Weed Harvester. The weeds contain a lot of water, Cushing explained and once they dry out, 40 to 50 tons of organic matter remains. Removal of the weeds prevents the weeds from dying and decaying in the water where they would release phosphorus and nitrogen, the very nutrients that feed algae blooms.

Currently the weed growth is outstripping our ability to pull them out of the lake, but we are convinced there are benefits to removing as much growth as possible, before it decomposes, spoiling water quality, increasing phosphorus as well as producing conditions for blue green algae growth.

Apple River Harvesting Removes 251 Tons of Aquatic Weeds

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:58:33 +0000

Although it only operated for 22 days this fall, the Apple River Protection and Rehabilitation District in Wisconin (ARPRD) removed 112 loads of aquatic vegetation from the Apple River – 251 tons of weeds according to a report by operations manager, Dale Richardson.

Harvester operators volunteer their time and currently have 2 primary and 2 backup operators that received training from Aquarius Systems. There are several volunteers lined up for next year already too. According to Richardson, each load of harvested vegetation is approximately 275 cubic feet and weighs about 4,480 lbs.

The aquatic vegetation had been so bad the past few years that some did not even attempt to get their boats and pontoons in the water. After the second day of cutting, fishermen and recreational boaters were taking advantage of the open water to enjoy some of their favorite past times. The cut vegetation will be of great use to many as well, Dragonfly Nursery will use the vegetation as compost and farmer Brad Fougner will use the material as fertilizer next year.

Chautauqua Lake Harvesting Removes Over 7,700 Tons of Weeds

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 20:48:13 +0000

Crews employed by the Chautauqua Lake Association removed 15,584,000 pounds or 7,792 tons of nuisance plant material from the lake this past summer. Also lending a hand were volunteers from Cummins Engine and workers from the county’s Welfare-to-Work Program.

Excerpt from Chautauqua Lake Association Newsletter

The CLA currently has the equipment, knowledge and manpower to continue the annual task of plant harvesting. Harvesting has a low impact on aquatic habitat, compared to other options is inexpensive and greatly improves our lake conditions for the community.

Harvesting is a need that Chautauqua Lake in New York will have even if other options are taken. We have participated in both dredging and spraying in the past. Experience, scientific recommendations and the information from other lake communities advises us of the constant need for harvesting.

Wauconda Increases Harvesting Efforts on Bangs Lake

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:00:44 +0000

The Village of Wauconda’s lake weed harvester began operation for the season on May 4th. This year it has been operating five days a week, with some of those days having extended hours. To date, 382 cubic yards of aquatic plants have been removed from the lake…which is 64 truckloads of lake weeds disposed of just this year! During the same period last year, 94 cubic yards of aquatic plants were removed from the lake.

The mild winter and warm spring have contributed to the explosive growth of two invasive weed species. To better control the weeds, the Village of Wauconda is developing a comprehensive multi-year lake management plan. The goal of the plan is to evaluate Bangs Lake and determine the best courses of action necessary to establish and maintain proper balance between aquatic plants, fishery, animals, and other elements so that Bangs Lake remains a healthy and viable body of water for year-round active and passive recreation.

Apple River District Removes Millions of Pounds of Curly-Leaf Pondweed

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 18:20:55 +0000

The strategy of the Apple River Protection and Rehabilitation District was to remove as much of the curly leaf pondweed as possible early, then systematically move up and down the Flowage keeping the main navigation channel clear plus providing access channels to the resident along the shoreline whenever practical.

Operating under the strict rules of a permit authorized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources the harvester begin cutting on May 28th and operations ceased on August 29th. During this time the aquatic plant harvester collected 566 loads of weeds, measuring approximately 155,650 cubic feet in volume, and weighing about 2,535,680 pounds.

Due to its high nutrient content, the harvested weeds make excellent fertilizer and are put to good use by local growers and organic farmers in the area.