Thick Weeds in Findley Lake This Spring 2025

Thick weed beds are growing throughout the lake right now - what's going on and what can be done?

Last year the Findley Lake Watershed Foundation (FLWF) treated Eurasian watermilfoil in the northern half of the lake - with amazing results!  This spring, we are not seeing any milfoil, but another weed, curly-leaf pondweed (CLP), is growing thick weed beds throughout the lake in almost all areas where the depth is less than 15 feet.  Here what CLP looks like.

The FLWF asked Glenn Sullivan of Ready Scout, LLC, to respond to questions about the CLP growth.  Glenn is a Certified Lake Manager and serves lake associations throughout New York. He treated our milfoil last year and is planning to treat weeds in the southern portion of the lake this year.  Here is the Q&A with Glenn:

• Why is the curly-leaf pondweed (CLP) so thick this year?

  • There are many factors that may have contributed to greater pondweed abundance this year.  The large-scale factors such as winter water temperatures and ice/snow cover, as well as early spring temperatures and sunlight may have had the greatest impact on this year's growth, since curly-leaf pondweed has shown greater abundance in lakes on both sides of the state.  Local influences, such as greater nutrient availability also likely plays a role.

• Is the CLP growth this year a response from the treatment of Eurasian watermilfoil in the northern part of the lake last year?

  • The short answer is not exactly, since the abundance of pondweed doesn't appear to be limited to the northern end of the lake.  However, the removal of milfoil does free up some sediment borne nutrients, and curly-leaf pondweed's early growth gives it an advantage over other native pondweeds in using those nutrients.

• What can be done to get rid of the CLP (treat or harvest)?

  • For this season, you will need to harvest it.  Going forward, we can obtain a permit to treat it in the spring before other plants begin to grow.  Whether cutting or treating, its best to do so before the water temperature reaches 60F to prevent formation of next year's buds.

• When will the CLP die off?

  • That's weather dependent, but usually it becomes dormant in late June-early July.  There are increasing reports in the northeast of it staying viable throughout the summer.

For now, the FLWF is going to continue utilizing the weed harvester to get as many weeds cut as possible and look at options and funding for possibly treating them next year.  Please contact us here if you have any questions or concerns.