As the seasons shift and temperatures drop, lake and pond owners must turn their attention to managing aquatic weeds that have accumulated over the warmer months. Fall offers a prime opportunity for aquatic weed harvesting, not only to maintain the health of the waterbody through the colder months but also to prepare it for the
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
Fall has barely begun and the Lakes Area community is already preparing for next year’s battle against the invasive curlyleaf pondweed. The weed caused navigational issues on the lake this past season as it clogged boat motors and jammed dock lifts. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, local government entities, area protective agency representatives and
Each year, the St. Albans Area Watershed Association uses mechanical harvesters to cut and remove tons of unwanted plant material out of St. Albans Bay. The harvesters scooped up almost 90,000 bushels of plants in 2020 alone. The aquatic weed harvesters are used for establishing things like navigation lanes and clearing out areas of varied
Aquatic plants, whether invasive or native, can be described as either a mess or a resource. Natural plant growth covers 20 – 40% of the water and includes a diversity of plants. However, invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla and water hyacinth quickly take over a lake covering 60% and sometimes 100% of the
The Bakersfield big blue mechanical monster in the lake is pretty intimidating up close. The aquatic weed harvester acts like an underwater lawn mower. It moves about 5 mph and has cutter blades underneath it with an adjustable swath of about 8 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The blades cut the weeds as they
In the 1970’s, Lake Minnewawa was so choked with weeds that residents could no longer enjoy the lake. Boating was impossible and water clarity and phosphorous levels were awful. A group of concerned residents decided they needed to do something to save the lake and on December 15, 1977 as association was formed calling itself
Milfoil — Beating back the invader By Rochelle Feil Wednesday, August 1, 2007 This harvest feeds no hunger, just a compost pile. The benefit from the harvest is safety and convenience for users of parks along the Columbia River in Washington: no tangled feet and easier launching for boaters. Ben Mendoza and Randy Smith, Chelan
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