Whether you visited Renner Reservoir for the first or 10th time this summer, you probably noticed a branchy, aquatic algae called chara covering the bottom of the reservoir.
Compared to other aquatic plants, which are referred to as macrophytes, chara forms denser mats offering less habitat for fish and a less palatable meal for invertebrates. At high enough densities, chara can have negative ecological impacts on aquatic environments and be a nuisance to boaters and anglers.
Game and Fish explored an option to address this problem by treating two small portions of the reservoir with an algaecide. The goal of the treatment was to learn what tools might effectively control the overabundant macroalgae.