TwentyOne Years of Aquatic Weed Harvesting on Honeoye Lake

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Twenty-One Years of Aquatic Weed Harvesting on
Honeoye Lake

• Planning Department
• Ontario County, New York
• October 24, 2007

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Presentation Outline

• Introduction
• Organizing to Address the Problem
• The Harvesting Years
• The Results of the Harvesting Program
• Conclusions and Questions

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History of Honeoye Lake

• Location Ontario County, NY
• Town of Richmond
• Town of Canadice

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Physical Description of the Watershed
WS Area 38 Sq Miles 24,497
Acres Major Tributaries Honeoye Inlet
Briggs Gully
Bray Gully
Affolter Creek Population 2005 -
2,160 1980 - 1,837
1970 - 1,276 Natural
Heritage Land Classes Forested 80 Terrestrial
Cultural 17 Open Uplands 8 Wetland Open
Water 5
2006 Aerial Photo
Land Cover Types
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Physical Description of the Lake
Lake Area 2.8 Sq Miles
1,804 Acres Lake Length 4.1
Miles Lake Width 0.88 Miles Max. Depth
31.6 Feet Mean depth 16.1
Feet Mean Lake Level 803 Feet
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Many Year of Problems
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Many Year of Problems
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Searching for Answers
Remedies Considered -

• Chemicals
• Dredging
• Harvesting

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Organizing to Address the Problem
Sewer Feasibility Study -

• Mid 1970s
• Septic Like Condition in Summer
• Perimeter Sewer Implementation

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Organizing to Address the Problem
State Funding -

• 1984 Macrophyte Study
• Follow-up Studies 1994, 2004

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Eurasian Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
1984
1994
2004
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Organizing to Address the Problem
1986 Honeoye Lake Watershed Questionnaire -

• Wastewater Disposal System
• Residential Water Supply
• Lake Issues
• Management Program Alternatives
• Fishery Management

Cottage Owners Responses Weeds 81 Algal Blooms
67 Boat Speed 45 Bacteria 39 Lake Levels
28 Cottage Boat Density - 26 Fishing
Quality 25 Are Weeds a Problem 84 Coliform
Testing Needed 77 More Fish Stocking
62 Lake Management Needed 83
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Organizing to Address the Problem
Finger Lakes Lake Ontario Watershed Protection
Alliance (FL-LOWPA) -

• 1987 Water Resources Board
• Purpose to Secure State Funding
• Funding to Address Watershed Issues

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The Harvesting Years
21 Consecutive Years of Harvesting - Launching
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The Harvesting Years
21 Consecutive Years of Harvesting - Harvesting
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The Harvesting Years
21 Consecutive Years of Harvesting - Unloading
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The Harvesting Years
21 Consecutive Years of Harvesting - Disposal
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Results of the Harvesting Program
21 Consecutive Years of Harvesting -
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Results of the Harvesting Program

• Reduced Eurasian Milfoil Beds

• Increase Native Vegetative Species
• Improved Water Clarity (Zebra Mussels?)
• Reduced Nutrient Loading
• Proliferation of Fish Habitats
• Increased Recreation Opportunities (Boating,
  Swimming, etc)

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Questions??
http//www.co.ontario.ny.us/planning/