water quality improvement – Aquarius-Systems

Lake Killarney Restoration Removes One Million Pounds of Weeds

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:59:53 +0000

Lake Killarney in northeast Tallahassee is undergoing its first major cleanup in decades, addressing years of overgrowth that made the waterway inaccessible for residents. Using a specialized aquatic weed harvester, over one million pounds of invasive vegetation were removed in just one week, with more progress to come.

The cleanup effort aimed to improve water quality and restore the lake’s ecosystem, which had been impacted by excessive vegetation. This significant environmental effort highlights the importance of preserving natural water bodies and ensuring sustainable ecosystems. Unlike chemical treatments, harvesters provide an eco-friendly method of managing vegetation with immediate results.

Aquatic weed harvesters play a crucial role in maintaining healthy water ecosystems by removing excessive vegetation. Without intervention, this vegetation eventually dies and decomposes, releasing nutrients into the water that can fuel harmful algae blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen levels, harm aquatic life, and diminish water quality, making weed harvesters an effective, environmentally-safe solution to prevent such environmental issues.

New Zealand Lakeweed Harvesters Improve Water Quality With Chemical-Free Weed Removal

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 18:27:02 +0000

Introduced aquatic weeds clog many of New Zealand’s waterways. It affects aquatic life and prohibits access and use for recreational users. Lakeweed Harvesters remove the aquatic plants mechanically, using a harvester mounted on a three metre by seven metre pontoon vessel.

The operation works under strict standard operating procedures to ensure maximum weed is harvested and because it works over water stringent safety, health and environmental protocols are followed. Lakeweed Harvesters do not use chemicals and where necessary use biodegradable products.

Lakeweed Harvesters and Contractors have removed between 3.2 to 4.3 tonne of weed annually from Lake Rotoehu since 2008 resulting in a dramatic improvement in water quality.

Aquatic Weed Harvesting Helps Reduce Toxic Algae in Georgica Pond

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 21:12:36 +0000

Efforts to restore Georgica Pond are proving to be successful thanks in part to the help of an aquatic weed harvester.

Georgica Pond has been invaded by toxic cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in recent years, which can cause serious health problems. For the second consecutive year, the foundation has leased an aquatic weed harvester to remove plant material, or macroalgae, from the pond, which releases nitrogen and phosphorous as it decays and is believed to promote cyanobacteria.

The mechanical harvester 32,700 pounds of this material represent 6% of the pond’s nitrogen load and 12% of its phosphorous load; down from 2016 when 55,740 pounds, representing 13% of the nitrogen load and 23% of the phosphorous load, were harvested. Officials say part of the reason for the decrease in 2017 was due to the large quantity of macroalgae harvester the previous year.

EPA Announces $1.8 Million in Urban Waters Grants for Waterway Restoration

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:11:32 +0000

Release Date: 12/07/2011
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it will provide up to $1.8 million for projects across the country to protect Americans’ health and help restore urban waters by improving water quality and supporting community revitalization. The funding is part of EPA’s Urban Waters program, which supports communities in their efforts to access, improve and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land. Urban waters are canals, rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, estuaries, bays and oceans.

Many urban waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from city streets and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities. Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, employment and social opportunities in nearby communities. By promoting public access to urban waterways, EPA will help communities become active participants in restoration and protection.

The goal of EPA’s urban waters small grants is to fund projects, training and research that will advance restoration of urban waters by improving water quality and community access. These activities will also support community revitalization and improving public health, social and economic opportunities, general livability and environmental justice for residents. Examples of projects eligible for funding may include:

– Education and training for water quality improvement or green infrastructure jobs
– Public education about ways to reduce water pollution
– Local water quality monitoring programs
– Engaging diverse stakeholders to develop local watershed plans
– Innovative projects that promote local water quality and community revitalization goals

Funding proposals must be received by EPA by January 23, 2012. EPA will hold two web-based seminars on this funding opportunity on December 14, 2011 and January 5, 2012. EPA expects to award the grants in summer 2012.

EPA’s Urban Waters program supports the goals and principles of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, a partnership of 11 federal agencies working to reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community‐led revitalization efforts to improve the nation’s water systems and promote their economic, environmental and social benefits.

The Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with and advances the work of the White House’s place‐based efforts, including the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, to revitalize communities, create jobs and improve the quality of life in cities and towns across the nation. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership also advances the work of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.

Information on the Urban Waters Federal Partnership: http://urbanwaters.gov/

Posted by Aquarius Systems