New York lakes – Aquarius-Systems

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.

Chautauqua Lake Removes 15 Million Pounds of Weeds and Debris

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:11:37 +0000

The Chautauqua Lake Association in New York, announced that over 15 million pounds of aquatic vegetation and storm debris were removed from the lake this summer. Lake cleanup efforts began in May and continued through September.

The CLA is managed by an all-volunteer board of directors and funds the organization receives are used to pay summer staff who receives help from volunteers as well. Over 116 Cummins Engine employees donated more than 450 hours to aid the CLA crews in lake maintenance efforts. Participants from the Welfare-to-Work program also help with staffing by working over 350 hours on debris barges.

Water Chestnut Spreads in New York and Harms Aquatic Ecosystems and Recreation

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:33:28 +0000

Trapa natans is native to Western Europe and Africa and northeast Asia, including eastern Russia, China, and southeast Asia to Indonesia. Trapa natans was first introduced to North America in the mid- to late-1870s, when it is known to have been introduced into the Cambridge botanical garden at Harvard University around 1877.

A decade later later, the aquatic invasive species made its way to New York and now stretches fro Long Island, inland to the Hudson River Valley and up to Lake Champlain and is spread throught the Finger Lakes.

The water chestnut most directly impacts aquatic ecosystems by blocking sunlight from penetrating the water and preventing other aquatic vegetation from photosynthesizing. At the same time, the water chestnut photosynthesizes at the surface, restricting oxygen exchange under its cover. Other aquatic life, particularly fish, can be sensitive to low-oxygen environments. For the recreationist, water chestnuts make boating, fishing and swimming a crowded feat.