Killing Off Weedbeds

[wolfe]

I just found out a couple of days ago that the water authority folks sprayed our lake's weedbeds with a compound to destroy the growth. They did this 2-3 weeks ago. NOW I KNOW WHY THE FISHING HAS SUCKED THE PAST TWO OUTINGS.

My veterinarian acquaintance / fishing fiend friend that I've mentioned before filled me in on this tidbit.

Apparently, this explains why the water has gone so cloudy, my anemic colored bass 2 weeks ago, and the sudden decline of fish off the existing weedmats. Apparently, the oxygen levels are really compromised as the vegetation dies and rots. The fish are seeking areas where there is some oxygen and with the heat this is spelling a hard time for them.

I'm ticked about this. They DEC stocks fish (including tiger muskies), so the water authority can kill them.

Anyone north of the border have experience(s) with this scenario?? It's unfortunate, I think.

W.

[Jigs]

Jeez Wolfe:

Don't think we allow that up here.

I know there are severe penalties for messing with shore line weeds and weed beds.

Maybe if a navigation channel gets too congested, it might be dregded by the "authorities", but I don't think they use chemicals.

Sue the bastards

[UrbanAngler]

As a guy who keeps freshwater aquariums, I can understand how rotting vegetation (ie dead stuff) can really compromise the water quality.

Why would any authorized official go about exterminating weeds? I'm sure their thickness can cause issues for the lake (or boat motors etc), but killing them off surely causes more if the weeds are left to rot. Rotting weeds (or even rotting dead fish) can really throw off the water balance and toxin levels to escalate very rapidly to the detriment of fish and other organisms.

Why do they do this? What are they using? It sounds irresponsible to me.

[Rideaufish]

New York allows this with permitts some of it is the skiers dont like it the home (cottage) owners cant swim ect. the fisherpeople hate it when its done. One lake I fish runs cultivators all week to keep the weeds down. The good part of this (chemical killing) they dont normaly do the whole lake and you can find a spot they didnt do and the fish should have moved in.

[wolfe]

I can't remember the compound used, but I'll check that out when I talk to my friend next week (he is on Nipissing now, in muskie pursuit delight with his family).

The local water authority folks apparently have issues with thick weeds around water intake sites...that is what I believe their argument for treatment is. But it's doing a nasty on the biology of the lake for sure. I know, I've seen it & fished it before and after. Big difference in appearance and fish bite.

W.

[Gord]

I find this practice totally unacceptable. Weeds have been growing in lakes and rivers for millions of years and have taken care of themselves. I don't know what kind of stuff they're spraying but it cant be good! They should just harvest the weeds and use them for compost or something. Just my 2cents.

[bottom feeder]

Man i cant believe what I am reading. This is really sick.
Another case of man meddling with nature and screwing the environment. Have we not learned already with clearcutting etc. (btw-I am not an eco freik) How many fish willl die after moving to a new spot then rot and infect populations in other areas of the lake?

[wolfe]

I might be wrong, but I think to kill off the weedbeds during a particularly brutal (hot) and dry summer was probably as bad of timing as you can get. (It's also likely that this is why the weeds were growing so thick, too.) From what I understand, there is a big increase in algae since the die-off.

W.

[Gravelguy4]

That really does suck Wolfe.
In Ontario you have to apply to the Ministry for a permit to use the herbicide for killing weeds and they do a study before permitting it.
It would cause a spike in the oxygen demand in those areas of your lake.

Around here the lakes are getting more and more plugged with weeds because of the high nutrient levels in the lakes. Apparently some are blaming agricultural fertilizers which could be partly true but there are also some who think its due to the increase in cottages being used as full time residences. The "nutrients" from septic systems flow into the lakes and act like fertilizer. In our little lake side community alone its gone from an estimated 40% full time residences to over 70% in the last 5 years. If other communities have experienced a similar increase thats a lot of extra nutrients for the weeds.

Anyway,
Hopefully things get straightened around on your lake.

Talk to you later

Keith

[grumpy7790]

Someone told me that the weeds were cut down in Cranberry lake.

Any truth to this?

Where is Ganman, he would know?

G

[wolfe]

Gravelguy,

I'm sure that agriculture has a significant impact on the ecology of a lake. We just visited our friends' cottage on Hatch Lake, near Georgetown, NY. We were discussing the weedbeds on this small lake, and they told me that since a watershed farm had stopped active operation a few years back, the weed growth is down.

Sure makes sense that an increase of cottagers can impact the lake, too. Also, zebra mussels.

Can weather, though? I really wonder? Seems a few of you folks up there have noted significantly less weed growth.... ?

Here, at least, I know what happened to our weeds.

W.

[Gravelguy4]

Hi Wolfe,

I'm sure agriculture does play a significant roll. I was just pointing out what might be a less obvious contribitutor. My personal favorite are the perfect golf green style lawns some of the waterfront properties maintain.
I wonder how much lawn fertilizer and weed killer they contribute to the lake. I admit their lawns look great but is it neccesary?
Maybe I'm becoming a tree hugger. i had better stop it before i start posting about the sore lips we're all giving the fish. Not to mention the damage we're doing to their self esteem everytime we "trick" them into biting artificial bait.
Poor fish,
never saw it coming.

man, way to get off topic.

The weeds are okay by me, but i curse them everytime they choke out my motor.

Keith

[grumpy7790]

You know what comes after a tree hugger?

G

[wolfe]

Hi Wolfe,
My personal favorite are the perfect golf green style lawns some of the waterfront properties maintain.
I wonder how much lawn fertilizer and weed killer they contribute to the lake. I admit their lawns look great but is it neccesary?
Maybe I'm becoming a tree hugger.
Keith

Gravelguy ...

Lakefront "manicured" shorelines are discouraged these days and for good, sound eco-friendly reasons. I'm all for this, and if I'm a tree-hugger, then so be it. (I've been called worse.)

W.

[UrbanAngler]

I'm no tree-hugger, but I think for the remainder of the year I'm going to chain myself to weedbeds and oppose this weed kill-off!