A map from the SEIS scoping document being used to pursue state permission to treat areas of Chautauqua Lake with herbicide.
ELLERY – Public comment is now being accepted for the environmental impact statement involving the use of herbicides on Chautauqua Lake to treat invasive weeds.
The Town of Ellery and Chautauqua Lake Partnership (CLP) have requested permission from the state to treat invasive weeds in expansive areas of Chautauqua Lake later this year with four different types of herbicides.
According to CLP and other advocates for herbicide use, they feel it is the best way to remove a large amount of invasive weeds that have become a recurring problem on the lake during the summer months. They feel that if left untreated, the weeds will have an adverse economic impact on the lake and region, due to visitors no longer wanting to come and stay on the lake during the summer.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for viewing at the Town of Ellery website.
A public meeting to accept comments on the statement will be held on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fluvanna Fire Hall.
Written comments will also be accepted until 4 p.m. March 12.
The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) has come out against the plan, stating on its Facebook page that the project – as proposed -threatens the wetland vegetation in the lake and along the shoreline at the Conservancy’s Loomis Goose Creek Preserve and along the Conservancy’s three-quarter mile-long Outlet Greenway, stretching from Fluvanna toward Jamestown.
According to CWC, Chautauqua Lake has serious nutrient and sediment problems that are fueling its excessive algae and aquatic plant conditions. The conservancy claims that by killing plants over large areas, there is the increased chance the lake’s serious harmful algae blooms (HABs) will increase. This is due to nutrients formerly absorbed by plants helping to fuel even heavier algae blooms.
The conservancy said it will be researching other threats as well and will likely comment on them before the deadline, in order to minimize potential negative impacts on fish and wildlife, human health, and other species.
The herbcide will not only kill the weeds but it will also kill any of the aquatic life in the river. Stop poisoning the planet!
I am opposed to the use of herbicides to control weed growth on Chautauqua Lake. Excessive weed growth results from nutritive levels that can be controlled. The proposed agents represent risks that are both well known and difficult to certify. Precautionary principles need to be respected.
This is Awesome News!! It’s about time we get the lake cleaned up before it’s to late!!! I have so many out of town friends that all say how much the lake is going down hill and if continues they will not be coming back. Just think of all the area business that will be affected if the tourists stop coming in. Just curious but I think it also should be made public who is profiting and how much they profit in the lake association.
To say I’m thrilled that you’re treating the weeds is an understatement. I’ve been coming to this lake for years and in 2017, I purchased a home on the lake. By mid summer, the lake was embarrassing and a it was difficult to enjoy the water when the weeds were in full bloom. When you have family and friends visiting and they can’t swim, boat, canoe and jet ski because of weeds, green slime and the smell, it’s a problem for everyone. The local economy will surely suffer when people chose to go elsewhere. Nobody likes chemicals, but it beats plummeting home values and a lake you can’t enjoy!