Ithaca -- Two herbicides are being evaluated by a local task force to treat an invasive hydrilla infestation detected in the Cayuga Inlet late last summer, and county officials are urging the state to fund the eradication effort.
Tompkins County Environmental Health Director Liz Cameron said some combination of endothol and flurodone may be used to knock back several beds of hydrilla in the inlet.
The recent Bassmaster Southern Open tournament results showed that bass fishing on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida continues to shine, and it should. Florida communities and natural resource agencies have spent a lot of time and money improving the water and wildlife habitats.
Cleaning up the water has yin-yang consequences. When nutrient pollution is reduced, it lowers algae blooms and clears up the water. When the water clears, aquatic plants grow more. If you add an exotic plant to this mix, the normal balance is severely one-sided, in favor of exotic plants.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites the public to comment on an updated permit that regulates the use of pesticides to control aquatic weeds and algae in irrigation systems.
The permit – called the Irrigation System Aquatic Weed Control General Permit – covers 17 irrigation districts in Eastern Washington. The permit is required by the Washington State Water Pollution Control Act.
The modified permit would allow the irrigation districts to use the pesticide endothall at a more effective rate so it can be used instead of acrolein. Endothall is a less toxic alternative to acrolein. The draft permit reduces and eliminates the use of acrolein, where feasible.
SEBRING -- Look for helicopters hovering over Lake Istokpoga for the next three or four days. Aerial spraying is scheduled there through Friday, weather permitting.
"This is something we do periodically," said Corine Burgess, "The problem is, hydrilla grows so doggone fast. It has been a huge problem for a long time because it gets out of control."
PURSUANT to R.C.W 43.21C, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT on February 1, 2012 the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District (LEAD AGENCY) did issue a determination of non-significance relative to the environmental impact of the following described proposal:
An application was submitted by the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District to conduct aquatic weed harvesting activities throughout Moses Lake. Weed removal would occur in numerous locations throughout the lake. Weed harvesting removes both noxious aquatic weeds and beneficial weeds when plant densities build to nuisance levels and hinder recreation in the lake. Aquatic weeds will be mechanically cut by a pontoon-mounted weed harvester, stored in the weed harvester hopper during transport, deposited directly into trucks and hauled away for disposal.
The Washington Department of Ecology has revised a permit that protects people and the environment when herbicides are used to curb the spread of noxious weeds growing in wet areas.
Caddo Lake Initiative is getting a $100,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife's Pulling Together Initiative to help fight the invasive weed known as Giant Salvinia.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started using a locally developed “water hyacinth harvester” to speed up the removal of the fast-growing aquatic plant, a river-choking nuisance partly blamed for flooding in the metropolis.
Steve Hoyle, an aquatic weed specialist with N.C. State University who spoke at the Clarksville Lake Issues Committee symposium Thursday, confirmed that the invasive weed hydrilla has established itself in Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Island Lake.
“We don’t know what’s in Kerr. That’s a big question mark,” he said.
He said a rough survey of the North Carolina portion of the lake last fall provided the first documentation.
Herbicide Applications to be conducted at the Ross Barnett Reservoir
On September 28 and 29, 2011, herbicide treatments for control of hydrilla will be performed at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
The treatment will include liquid application of herbicides Reward and Komeen, which are approved by the EPA for aquatic use. The use of these herbicides at the prescribed rate for hydrilla control does little or no damage to the native vegetation species present in the treatment areas.
Meeting in special session, the Legislature approved an emergency appropriation of $26,100 in contingency funds to enable chemical treatment to eradicate the invasive plant species Hydrilla from the Cayuga Inlet. The vote was a unanimous 11-0, with Legislators Kathy Luz Herrera, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto, and Brian Robison excused.
The invasive aquatic plant hydrilla was found recently in Davis Stream in Jefferson. The infestation is the second instance of the plant in the Damariscotta Lake watershed.
In addition to removal efforts already underway in the stream, officials from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are pursuing restrictions on surface activity beginning about 200 feet upstream of the Jefferson Market.
For now, all boaters are strongly encouraged to stay out of the stream.
Covington’s Lake Varner has anglers talking about something other than the giant bass it produces. The word on lips these days is “hydrilla” and the affects it’s having on fishing, wildlife and the lake’s ability to efficiently produce drinking water.
