LAKE COUNTY — Weeds, weeds and more weeds, that”s the dilemma that has been facing lakeside residents and boaters at Clear Lake.
In many areas the aquatic weeds are so thick that it has been impossible for boaters to gain access to the main body of the lake. The weed problem has had an impact on tourists and residents with several business owners saying their customers are canceling reservations because of the weeds and algae.
The Lake County Water Resource Department has responded to this problem by hiring a firm to harvest the weeds and create boat lanes from the docks to the lake. Aquatic Environments Inc. was given a contract by the county to harvest weeds in various locations around the lake. In July the firm brought three weed harvesters to the lake. The harvesters, which resemble a large barge, can cut weeds down to a depth of six feet. The cut weeds are stored on the barge and offloaded to a trailer where they are deposited at the transfer station.
According to Carolyn Ruttan of the Water Resource Department, the county pays for the harvesting in front of the parks, public ramps and in front of docks.
The lakeside homeowners pay for the weed removal from their docks to the shore. Ruttan said the harvesters have cut 24 boat lanes from the shore to the open water so boats can access the lake. She said the harvesters don”t cut the tules and the primary aquatic weeds that are harvested are sago pondweed, primrose and coontail. The harvesters don”t eliminate weeds but only cut them, much similar to mowing the grass in a lawn. Ruttan said most of the troublesome weeds are annuals, which means they die off in fall and resprout in the spring.
According to Ruttan, all a homeowner has to do is contact her office which will contact Aquatic Environments who then obtains the necessary permits. A representative of Water Resources then visits the site and maps it. That information is sent to the state hydrilla office for approval and then to the county agriculture office for final approval.
A good example of the success of the project is Corinthian Bay where the aquatic weeds were so thick that residents couldn”t use their boats. The harvester worked for two days in the area and now the bay is clear of weeds. Ruttan said the harvester will be on the lake throughout the summer and until the weeds die off naturally. Algae has also been a major problem this summer. Ruttan said the county has done an experimental test on eradicating the thick algae blooms in Holiday Harbor in Nice. She said they sent a sample of the algae to Clemson University in South Carolina which analyzed it and recommended the type of herbicide to use. The county sprayed the harbor which killed the algae. She said they will adding two more test sites which are 11 acres at Sunrise Shore Resort in Clearlake and the Clearlake Oaks Keys. In addition to the weed harvesting and algae control, Ruttan said the county has also been applying herbicides are various locations around the lake to control the aquatic weeds.
