The CLA in New York is the organization that helps manage weeds on the lake by operating a number of harvesters to remove weeds throughout the summer season.

The 10 objections (printed below) from the CLA range from failure to notify all effected shoreline property owners, to the lack of scientific understanding of lake currents that could spread the chemical herbicides well beyond the areas being targeted for herbicide use. Because the permit calls for the use of both the chemicals Aquathol K and Navigate, the CLA also argues the effective coverage area is actually 2,400 acres under the current permitting request.

The 10 objections cited by the CLA to the DEC are:

1. Inappropriate herbicide use endangers fish, animals, birds, insects and plants.
The applications also do not fit within any invasive species or lake management plan ever written & the fully implemented aquatic plant harvesting can work to control nuisance plant growth in Chautauqua Lake – without resorting to herbicides.
2. Affected property owners were not appropriately notified.
3. Failure to comply with county plans.
4. Permit application defies DEC regulations.
5. Proper testing was not performed in 2018
6. “Need” for herbicide use based on flawed surveys.
7. Conflict of interest on who applies the herbicide.
8. Bottom cover should be determined by third-party divers, not guesswork.
9. Coverage area could reach 2,400 acres, without third-party, scientific evaluation of need or efficacy.
10. Lake current patterns – which could disperse the chemicals over a much wider area – are unknown.

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The study by biologists from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus found that plastics in the ocean can release chemicals that cause deformities in sea urchin larvae.

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There is an organization called Night Lights that schedules sky lantern festivals. According to their website the events, you’ll see people cry, pose, pop the question, and celebrate under the lantern-lit skies. You’ll hear joyous laughter and squeals of glee as lanterns are carried together in epic waves of love and light.”

It sounds inspirational and the videos and photos are breathtaking, but what impact do these events have on the environment? I contacted their support to find out the environmental impact of their events. Interested in finding out more?

Not only do we pick up the lanterns, but we pick up all the trash we can find along the way. This meticulous process can take up to a full 48 hours and three separate trips, during which the area is surveyed with extensive care.

The lanterns that we use are also biodegradable and made from renewable resources like rice paper, bamboo, and natural fiber. They don’t pose any threats to the environment or any animals who may come across one.”

Sounds impressive. What about the fuel cell? They did not answer my question, but their website states it will “fully burn out before returning to the earth’s surface.”

What do you think of Night Lights Events?

Researchers examined 371 lakes and found that 44% are at risk of salinization, meaning there is a build of salt in the water table. This excess of salt negatively affects water quality, wildlife and soil.

Salt use has increased dramatically in the past 50 years and the EPA estimates that 22 million tons of salt is applied to roads annually. That salt is washed into lakes, rivers and streams.

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EPA defines containers and packaging as products that are assumed to be discarded the same year the products they contain are purchased. Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste, amounting to 77.9 million tons of generation in 2015.

There are a number of things you can do to minimize packaging waste to help reduce the pollution caused by the packaging.

• Buy in bulk. Buying lots of smaller packs generates more waste.
• Always carry your own bags while shopping.
• Try to buy loose products where available. For instance, in case of vegetables and fruits.
• Opt for brands that have less packaging.
• Avoid buying bottled water unless tap water in your area is unsafe for drinking.

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You might have heard about ballast water. Cargo ships fill their holds with seawater to stay balanced, but that water can also carry invasive species.

Since 1999, ships have been required to either retain ballast water or discharge this water at least 200 nautical miles away from shore — and over 90 percent of them do.

But invasives remain a problem well beyond the ports. Researchers say recreational boating also plays a part. Small vessels can spread around species that have been introduced by cargo ships.

There’s another less-obvious way invasive species gets introduced —and it’s cost California millions of dollars.

After “Finding Nemo” was released, people started flushing fish and plants down the drain, or taking them to the ocean and dumping them in. It led to a pulse of invasion around the country.

A study from UC Davis found that aquariums contribute to a third of the world’s worst aquatic and invasive species.

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