I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river or lake. When
milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both boating and fishing,
although some milfoil seems to provide cover for fish and improve fishing.
Waterfront residents seem convinced that the source of the milfoil is
non-resident boats, and the operators of those boats claim they always
inspect their boat for milfoil before launching. There doesn't seem to be a
consensus on what can, or should, be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought this
battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.

"John Wentworth" wrote in message
...
I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river or lake.
When milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both boating and
fishing, although some milfoil seems to provide cover for fish and improve
fishing. Waterfront residents seem convinced that the source of the milfoil
is non-resident boats, and the operators of those boats claim they always
inspect their boat for milfoil before launching. There doesn't seem to be a
consensus on what can, or should, be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought
this battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.


NY State and private organizations are ready to try almost anything. What
actually happens depends on who's got the most influence. On Waneta & Lamoka
lakes (which nobody's heard of, but anyway), bass & pike fisherman want the
weeds left alone. These two lakes generate pretty much zero tourist dollars,
so residents have a hard time convincing the DEC to permit the use of
chemicals to limit the weed.

Then, there are plans like the one below, from Saranac Lake, where tourism
generates probably 95% of the income in the area:

Applicant: Michael R. Martin, CLM for Mountain View Association
Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC
RR 1 Box 187
Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983
Phone: 518-891-6916
Fax: 518-891-6984

Office: Adirondack Park Agency
P.O. Box 99, Route 86
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Phone: (518) 891-4050

Contact: Richard D. Jarvis

Application No.: 2002-5

Project Title: Physical control program for milfoil in Mountain View and
Indian Lakes

Location: Mountain View and Indian Lakes, Town of Bellmont, Franklin County,
near Co. Rt. 27

Comment Period Ends: June 6, 2002

Project Description: A regulated wetland activity: proposed 10-year
management and control program for Eurasian Watermilfoil in Mountain View
and Indian Lakes. Milfoil will be selectively hand harvested in water depths
of 2 meters or less. Control efforts may also involve use of suction
harvesting and selective placement of benthic mats in areas of dense beds of
milfoil. Annual target areas will be areas with greatest abundance of
milfoil and areas with highest potential to fragment and spread milfoil.

"John Wentworth" wrote in message
...
I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river or lake.
When milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both boating and
fishing, although some milfoil seems to provide cover for fish and improve
fishing. Waterfront residents seem convinced that the source of the milfoil
is non-resident boats, and the operators of those boats claim they always
inspect their boat for milfoil before launching. There doesn't seem to be a
consensus on what can, or should, be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought
this battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.

Once established does it regrow on its own every year after the winter
freeze? I've never heard of it, but I have not done much freshwater fishing
or boating for many years.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"John Wentworth" wrote in message
...
I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially
milfoil. There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river
or lake. When milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both
boating and fishing, although some milfoil seems to provide cover for
fish and improve fishing. Waterfront residents seem convinced that the
source of the milfoil is non-resident boats, and the operators of those
boats claim they always inspect their boat for milfoil before
launching. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on what can, or should,
be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought
this battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New
England.

Once established does it regrow on its own every year after the winter
freeze? I've never heard of it, but I have not done much freshwater
fishing or boating for many years.

Eisboch
Yes, Eurasian Water Milfoil is quite a problem in Minnesota, where it
still freezes in the winter.

"John Wentworth" wrote in message
...


I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought
this battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.


It doesn't sound encouraging ....

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pl...s/milfoil.html

Eisboch

It doesn't sound encouraging ....

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pl...s/milfoil.html

Eisboch

That information from Washington is similar to here in New Hampshire. There
is basic disagreement about what to do, and who should pay for the program.
Our Fish & Game department is reluctant to approve wide-spread use of
herbicides (2,4,D), and the other methods suggested by Washington are very
expensive and don't work all that well.
Economic damage, in the form of reduced property tax revenues, may prove to
be the incentive needed to get local and state governments to take action
against milfoil. Just recently I heard of a waterfront property owner on our
largest lake who got a 25% reduction in his land assessment because of
milfoil in the water. That will be a significant loss in tax revenue for his
town. New Hampshire towns do love to tax waterfront properties; the owners
are typically "out-of-staters" who can't vote in the town, and, at best, are
simply tolerated by the locals. The loss of this cash cow may encourage
towns to get interested in milfoil.

I would be interested to hear about a state that is using 2,4,D in a major
program.

John Wentworth wrote:
I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river or lake. When
milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both boating and fishing,
although some milfoil seems to provide cover for fish and improve fishing.
Waterfront residents seem convinced that the source of the milfoil is
non-resident boats, and the operators of those boats claim they always
inspect their boat for milfoil before launching. There doesn't seem to be a
consensus on what can, or should, be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought this
battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.



About 25 years ago in the Potomac River which runs by DC on the West
side there was a Hydrila(sp?) problem. The fear was that it was going to
choke off all of the sun light. Fish were going to die en masse. People
invented Hyrdrila harvesting machines to remove the perceived offending
vegetation. All of the efforts to remove the Hydrila failed and the
stuff was left to grow. The Hydrila patches proved a boon to the
hatching and maturing of fish. The population of fish jumped. The bass
loved the stuff and the carp really loved eating it. Now, the Potomac
river is doing just fine.

But, we now have the Snake Head fish in some of the tributaries of the
Potomac.

Good luck.

John Wentworth wrote:
I boat and fish on freshwater lakes in New Hampshire and some of these
waters are becoming congested with non-native plants, especially milfoil.
There are some waters that more resemble a meadow than a river or lake. When
milfoil reaches this point the water is lost to both boating and fishing,
although some milfoil seems to provide cover for fish and improve fishing.
Waterfront residents seem convinced that the source of the milfoil is
non-resident boats, and the operators of those boats claim they always
inspect their boat for milfoil before launching. There doesn't seem to be a
consensus on what can, or should, be done, or who should pay for it.

What's being done in your area? I know that southern areas have fought this
battle for years, but it's relatively new in northern New England.

In western NY, Finger Lakes region, there are two lakes close to Keuka,
which are Waneta and Lamoka. In Waneta the actually have a thing going
regarding spraying for milfoil, and it's working. You can do a web
search for more info, here's a start:

http://www.lamokawaneta.com/