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.

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

"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.
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

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...


I like what they do out in the Midwest - like WI and MI and MN. At a
lot of boat launches, they have rinse grates where you can pull your
boat, trailer prior to launch and after launch - the waste water is
contained and any weeds stay there for later recovery. I think that
might be a good program for some of the larger lakes in the NE.

If only that had happened before zebra mussels got out of hand around
here...

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:20:51 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

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.

Herbicides are not the sole answer. Harvesting and mat bedding can
help and if the waterfront owners are that concerned, they can hand
harvest and dispose if it bothers them that much.

The other issue is that fisherman love the stuff because it does
provide solid cover for a lot of sport fish - pike/bass/muskie, etc.

Too much milfoil though and the free oxygen levels drop and there goes
the fish.

It's a combination issue - you need on the one hand to harvest and
dispose and on the other hand, maintain some for a really good healthy
lake.

The funny thing about this is that when milfoil finally showed up at a
local pond, the stocked tiger muksie and pike suddenly got huge - in
two seasons, they exploded almost doubling their mature size.
Apparently the cover helped out by cooling the lake, providing ambush
sites, etc.

Then when the milfoil became a issue, all of a sudden the pike started
to down size again, There was a harvest cycle and the size went up
again.

I'm telling you, good weed management is the only answer - not killing
all the weeds. They are beneficial if kept under control.

Indeed as the weeds provide cover for a variety of fish.

Ohio's solution is mechanical control. Not a problem in Lake Erie but
perhaps some inland lakes.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:41:30 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..


I like what they do out in the Midwest - like WI and MI and MN. At a
lot of boat launches, they have rinse grates where you can pull your
boat, trailer prior to launch and after launch - the waste water is
contained and any weeds stay there for later recovery. I think that
might be a good program for some of the larger lakes in the NE.

If only that had happened before zebra mussels got out of hand around
here...

What exactly is the problem with zebra mussels anyway?

They multiply quite fast and can cause havoc with water intake pipes. For
example, they can clog water intake pipes at our municipal water plants on
Lake Erie, as well as cooling water intakes for our electric generating
plants. They are also can clog cooling water intakes on I/O's when the
motors are not run regularly. Lastly, they cause pretty nasty cuts on your
feet if you step on them while wading through the water.



When I went fishing and swimming in the St. Lawrence Seaway, I loved
the clear water and the smallmouth fishing was spectacular. I had a
huge pike follow a streamer for a good distance and I watched him the
whole way - a good 50/60 feet before he took the bait.

Seems to me the clear water is a good thing.

To a point. See my earlier comments.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:20:51 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

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.

Herbicides are not the sole answer. Harvesting and mat bedding can
help and if the waterfront owners are that concerned, they can hand
harvest and dispose if it bothers them that much.

The other issue is that fisherman love the stuff because it does
provide solid cover for a lot of sport fish - pike/bass/muskie, etc.

Too much milfoil though and the free oxygen levels drop and there goes
the fish.

It's a combination issue - you need on the one hand to harvest and
dispose and on the other hand, maintain some for a really good healthy
lake.

The funny thing about this is that when milfoil finally showed up at a
local pond, the stocked tiger muksie and pike suddenly got huge - in
two seasons, they exploded almost doubling their mature size.
Apparently the cover helped out by cooling the lake, providing ambush
sites, etc.

Then when the milfoil became a issue, all of a sudden the pike started
to down size again, There was a harvest cycle and the size went up
again.

I'm telling you, good weed management is the only answer - not killing
all the weeds. They are beneficial if kept under control.

I agree with all of this. And, the weeds apparently don't matter to some
boaters, who (as far as I can tell) never get their props inundated with the
stuff because they leave the dock at full throttle and return the same way.
Or something.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:41:30 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..


I like what they do out in the Midwest - like WI and MI and MN. At a
lot of boat launches, they have rinse grates where you can pull your
boat, trailer prior to launch and after launch - the waste water is
contained and any weeds stay there for later recovery. I think that
might be a good program for some of the larger lakes in the NE.

If only that had happened before zebra mussels got out of hand around
here...

What exactly is the problem with zebra mussels anyway?

When I went fishing and swimming in the St. Lawrence Seaway, I loved
the clear water and the smallmouth fishing was spectacular. I had a
huge pike follow a streamer for a good distance and I watched him the
whole way - a good 50/60 feet before he took the bait.

Seems to me the clear water is a good thing.

You should see what it does to pipes, like those used at power plants. I
agree about the St. Lawrence, though. I've never seen smallmouth that big.
Best fishing I've done since Montauk.

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.