An interesting guide to weed management was written last summer by a group of Finger Lakes Agencies involved in protecting Water Quality. The guide; "Aquatic Weeds: Nuisance and Necessity; Managing Waterweeds in Cayuga, Owasco and Seneca Lakes" is a must read for Fingerlakes shoreline owners and users. The 28 page PDF guide was published by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. It does a nice job of explaining the life cycle of weeds, as well as many options available to combat them.
Here is an excerpt from the Introduction and a link to the full PDF document:
"Lakeshore property owners have concerns that most other landowners do not face. Mighty waves erode the shoreline, fluctuating water levels threaten drinking water wells, activities in the yard can have an immediate effect on water quality – and excessive water weeds can ruin the enjoyment of the property. An overabundance of aquatic plants can prevent swimming, foul boat propellers, stink as they rot along shorelines and reduce property values. Lakeshore residents expect reasonable access to, and use of, the lake. For many this includes the need for weed management, used here to mean activities intended to reduce the abundance or species of aquatic plants in a specific area.
Weed management requires knowledge, time, patience and money. There is no magic bullet that will eliminate excess weeds without continued effort and without harmful side affects. Some management attempts can even make the problem worse. A lake, after all, is not a swimming pool but a dynamic, complex system and expectations should be realistic.
The goal of this booklet is to support weed management in Seneca, Cayuga and
Owasco Lakes that takes into account all of the lake's users, emphasizing a watershed approach."
Link to the WQMA web site and PDF guide:http://co.cayuga.ny.us/wqma/projects/Aquatic_Weeds_Nuisance_and_Necessity.pdf
Take a look and tell us what you think!
- Lakeman
No comments:
Post a Comment