mechanical aquatic plant harvesting – Aquarius-Systems

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.

Curly-Leaf Pondweed in Minnesota Lakes and the Role of Mechanical Harvesting

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:29:29 +0000

Curly-lead pondweed is an invasive aquatic plant that has been found in 759 lakes in 70 of the 87 counties in the state of Minnesota. Curly-leaf is unique in that it begins growing in late fall and continues to grow under the thick ice. When spring arrives it is usually the first plant to appear after ice-out. Then when most native aquatic plants are growing, curly-leaf pondweed is dying back.

As the dying weeds decompose it contributes to increased phosphorous concentrations in the lakes. The excessive phosphorus provides necessary nutrients for algae to grow causing additional recreation and water-quality problems.

Mechanical harvesting (raking, cutting, or harvesting) is effective if performed in the spring – before Memorial Day. This process does need to be performed yearly however, but since curly-leaf can spread from just a small plant fragment; it is imperative that the harvesting method include collecting and disposing of the clippings.

Managing Curly-Leaf Pondweed in Iowa’s East Okoboji Lakes

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:35:19 +0000

The Iowa Great Lakes area is an incredible place to live, visit and recreate. Much of their economy is tied to these area lakes. Sometimes, difficult decisions come along, such as the curlyleaf pondweed issue on the north end of East Okoboji. It is an exotic that showed up in the 1950s, but in recent years has become a major recreational and navigational nuisance by growing to the surface in May and creating a dense mat that pretty much weed-locks the north end of East Okoboji and on Lower Gar. It takes until the end of June until it dies off.

Iowa Lakeside Lab and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have worked together the past two years to devise a plan to help open up navigational lanes and paths to help lake home owners, recreationists and anglers be able to at least be able to utilize portions of the affected areas.

A combination of mechanical harvesting and an aquatic herbicide was used in 2018 with plans to do this again in 2019. The herbicide is used about five miles from any drinking water intakes and testing showed the herbicide did not travel from the treated area and water tests showed no danger to fish, animals or humans.