Northern Lake Status - What's Going On?

Northern Lake Status – What’s Going On?

41 acres in the Northern portion of Findley Lake were treated with ProcellaCOR on May 30, 2024, to kill the Eurasian Watermilfoil aquatic weeds (see photos identifying various weeds below). So, what’s the status of the northern portion of the lake as of June 20, 2024?

• The Eurasian watermilfoil in the treated areas – TA1, TA2, TA3, and TA4 (outlined on the map below) has died and collapsed to the bottom.

• During the treatment on May 30, dense Eurasian watermilfoil was noted in the non-treatment area between TA2 and TA4, as well as to the north of TA2. Eurasian watermilfoil was not documented in these areas in the 2023 plant survey, and therefore were not included in the treatment areas in the application that was approved by DEC. Note: the FLWF will consider including these areas in the proposed treatment areas for 2025.

• Aquatic weeds other than the Eurasian watermilfoil continue to grow in certain northern portions of the lake (see photos of examples below). This week we began harvesting in the northern portion of the lake – and will continue harvesting operations in the southern portion. We will look at plans for those in the future.  One step at a time :)

• There are significant algae in most of the coves around the lake – in both the north and south. It is difficult to determine the causes of such an early season algae bloom. The consultant who treated the weeds thinks the algae bloom could be from the combination of the decline of milfoil, surface growth of pondweed, the weather (lots of sun and relatively warm water temperature), the septic contribution, and runoff of lawn fertilizer. Since, algae growth is similar in the north and south portions of the lake, this suggests that the nutrient release from decaying milfoil in the northern portion was not an overriding influence on the algae bloom.

The FLWF has photographed the algae and submitted it to DEC for possible identification as a hazardous algal bloom (HAB). We will inform the public if it is determined to be a HAB.

What to do if you see an algae bloom that you suspect is a HAB:

1. Please take a couple photos of the suspected HAB then check it against the HAB photos on the DEC’s HAB Identification and Reporting Guide (that includes photos of various types of HABs) at https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/habsreportingguide.pdf. If you then still think it is a HAB, send both the photos and the location to the FLWF (at contact@FindleyLakeWF.org) – and please report it to NY DEC using the Suspicious Algal Bloom report form: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/66337b887ccd465ab7645c0a9c1bc5c0.

2. The EPA recommends: “If you see signs of a bloom, stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water. You cannot tell if a bloom is harmful by looking at it, so it is best to use caution and stay away. Do not fish, swim, boat, or play water sports in areas where there are possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria.”