MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County and the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission (CLMC) have taken important steps towards the development of an in-lake management plan to address the growing weed problem in Chautauqua Lake. That from County Executive Greg Edwards, who talked about the issue in his weekly Monday Morning Memo e-newsletter.
Edwards said that last month, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development and the lake management commission selected the consulting firm Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC of Saranac Lake to complete a submerged aquatic vegetation management plan. Edwards said the firm will develop a comprehensive and integrated plan that will expand upon the techniques to manage the weeds.
This plan will complement the 2011 Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan, which provides recommendations on how to address nutrient and sediment loading into the Lake, but doesn’t provide guidance on in-lake management techniques.
The county executive said the plan is essential because in order for the county to receive a permit for techniques to control the weeds, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is requesting that an in-lake management plan be completed and approved. Without the plan, the only authorized means of controlling the weeds is mechanical harvesting and bio-controls such as the aquatic weevils which feed on vegetation.
Edwards said the Cedar Eden plan is expected to be completed by April 2013. Details regarding the Cedar Eden proposal for the submerged aquatic vegetation management plan may be accessed at www.planningchautauqua.com/watershed/index.htm.
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