nuisance vegetation – Aquarius-Systems

Rotorua Lake Weed Odor Sparks Calls for Preventative Management

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:12:15 +0000

Rotting lake weed and dead fish are causing a strong odor along Rotorua’s lakefront as a 70-tonne-per-day clean-up continues. Businesses report guests are complaining or staying away, highlighting the impact on the city’s reputation.

The piles of weed surfaced two weeks ago after strong winds disturbed the lakebed. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council began removal on 14 November, with Rotorua Lakes Council handling disposal. Ongoing weather fluctuations have worsened the smell, prompting calls for increased investment in preventative weed management to protect both the lake and Rotorua’s visitor experience.

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.

TVA Uses Hydroacoustics and Mapping to Manage Nuisance Aquatic Plants

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:52:19 +0000

The summer heat came early to the Tennessee Valley, upping the pressure for Dr. Brett Hartis, Tennessee Valley Authority aquatic plant management specialist, to get his job just right. He is charged with the task of monitoring and managing nuisance aquatic plants in the Tennessee River system.

Over the roar of the airboat Hartis can detect the satisfying “ping” emitting from the latest hi-tech hydro acoustics gadget mounted to his craft as he skims across Watts Bar surveying aquatic vegetation.

Seated on his airboat, Hartis collects data, including water depth, vegetation density, and plant species and uploads it to the cloud so it is ready for him at his office in Guntersville, Ala. From there he creates detailed vegetation maps and devises site-specific plans for management of nuisance vegetation near developed public access areas.

What Is Aquatic Weed Harvesting and What Results Should You Expect

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 22:21:51 +0000

What is Harvesting?

Operational Considerations for your lake.

Expected Results from a Weed Harvesting Program.

Most aquatic plant harvesting systems will cut and remove submersed plants to a depth of five or six feet. As this biomass is removed from the lake, the water is immediately ready for use and there are no restrictions on use of the area that might be experienced with herbicide or some biological control treatments.

Removal of this biomass prevents its eventual decay and settling to the bottom, helping to reduce sedimentation in the lake. There is some nutrient removal with harvesting too, as the nitrogen and phosphorous that is bound up in the plant exits the water body. Harvesting is usually not lethal, leaving behind an oxygen and possibly habitat producing plant, which may be desirable in some situations.

Many harvester managers have witnessed a reduction in nuisance plant growth after a few years of repeated harvesting. The plants showed signs of stress and came back thinner, lower growing, and more scattered than before. In some cases desirable plants were able to out compete the nuisance plant growth.

Fox Lake Plan Uses Harvesting and Herbicides to Manage Nuisance Weeds Near Piers

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 19:01:53 +0000

In recent years Fox Lake in Wisconsin has responded to a decade of water quality management that has shifted the lake from being turbid with frequent algae blooms to a clearer water condition.

This has fostered improved lake use, the return of aquatic plants and a more balanced fishery. One consequence of the water quality improvements is that some homeowners are experiencing nuisance levels of plant growth in front of their piers, inhibiting navigation to open water.

To address aquatic plant problem areas, the Fox Lake Inland Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District has developed an Aquatic Plant Management Plan that includes the mechanical harvesting of navigational channels to access open water and an herbicide treatment plan to create a path between the pier area and harvested channels.