Honeoye
Valley
Association

 




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2006 Weed Harvesting Report 

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interoffice memorandum

to:                 Members, honeoye valley association (HVA)

from:           Robert l. pierce jr., aquatic weeds harvesting program coordinator

subject:     2006 harvesting season report

date:            december 29, 2006

cc:                  kristen mark hughes, director

             The 2006 Aquatic Weed Management Program (AWMP) harvesting season showed very little increase over 2005 when comparing the amount of vegetation harvested.  The tonnage harvested was up from 855 tons (2005) to 864 tons (2006).  The harvesting season began on June 28th and extended into mid-September.  The total number of harvesting hours were slightly less than 2005 due to equipment and weather problems.

For the 2006 Season, our seasonal harvesting employee’s were Paul Chatt, John Miller and Randy DePew.   The AWMP is deeply grateful to the seasonal harvesting employees for their many contributions to the program during the harvesting year. 

The 2006 Season

Vegetation was fairly steady throughout the harvesting season.  The total number of loads in 2006 was 288 but the weed growth was nowhere near as vigorous as in 2002.  The Ontario County harvester was used 9 weeks and harvested 138 loads, 414 tons.  The Canadice/Richmond harvester was used 10 weeks and harvested 150 loads, 450 tons.  Only the town harvester was used in September due to two seasonal employee’s returning to their previous jobs.

Dominant Species-  The most concentrated amounts of Eurasian Milfoil were from Pickerel Point southward, especially late in the summer.  Eurasian Milfoil, which is usually the most abundant species on Honeoye Lake, was in sparse areas on the rest of the lake.  A large area of Narrow Leaf Pondweed was located south of the Trident Marina for about a third of a mile, especially in August.  Elodea, Eel Grass, and Coontail made up the majority of harvested weeds on the rest of the lake.   Hamilton Point to the Willow Beach area was lighter than in previous years.

Over the first seven weeks of harvesting the water in Honeoye Lake was the clearest the AWMP has observed since the harvesting program began in 1987.  Around the middle of August an algal bloom started to appear.  By August 26th the algal bloom was a pea soup/green paint appearance with a very distinct odor.  The New York State Boat Launch, on the southeast side of Honeoye Lake, was closed for four hours while the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tried to determine if the algal bloom would cause a health problem at the launch site.  The boat launch re-opened when it was determined that the algal bloom was not a health problem.  No one will ever know if the alum treatment that was schedule for June would have had an effect on the 2006 algal bloom but it probably would not have hurt.  The algal bloom peaked around Labor Day.  The alum treatment was started the middle of September and completed over a two week period.  2007 will determine if the application was successful.

Equipment Problems- The AWMP experienced a total of 41 hours of down time for repairs for both harvesters and 21 hours down time due to weather conditions. 

The following compares harvesting statistics for selected harvesting seasons. 

2006 JUNE/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

cALIFORNIA rANCH

127

332

2.61

381

1.15

NY BOAT LAUNCH

161

329

2.04

483

1.47

TOTAL:

288 LOADS

661 HOURS

2.30 HR/LD

864 TONS

1.31 T/HR

 

 

2005 JULY/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

cALIFORNIA rANCH

187

498

2.67

561

1.13

NY BOAT LAUNCH

98

207

2.11

294

1.42

TOTAL:

285 LOADS

705 HOURS

2.47 HR/LD

855 TONS

1.21 T/HR

 

2004 JUNE/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

SANDY BOTTOM

8

28

3.50

24

0.86

CALIFORNIA RANCH

99

228

2.30

297

1.30

NY BOAT LAUNCH

49

118

2.41

147

1.25

TOTAL:

156 LOADS

374 HOURS

2.40 HR/LD

468 TONS

1.25 T/HR

 

2003 JUNE/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

CALIFORNIA RANCH

111

344

3.11

333

0.97

NY BOAT LAUNCH

18

46

2.56

54

1.17

TOTAL:

129 LOADS

390 HOURS

3.02 HR/LD

387 TONS

0.99 T/HR

  

2002 JUNE/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

SANDY BOTTOM

68

99

1.46

204

2.06

CALIFORNIA RANCH

94

169

1.80

282

1.67

NY BOAT LAUNCH

58

100

1.72

174

1.74

TOTAL:

220 LOADS

368 HOURS

1.67 HR/LD

660 TONS

1.79 T/HR

  

2001 JULY/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

SANDY BOTTOM

19

42

2.21

57

1.36

CALIFORNIA RANCH

80

133

1.66

240

1.80

NY BOAT LAUNCH

80

138.5

1.73

240

1.73

TOTAL:

179 LOADS

313.5 HOURS

1.75 HR/LD

537 TONS

1.71 T/HR

  

1994 JULY/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

SANDY BOTTOM

34

50.5

1.48

42

2.02

CALIFORNIA RANCH

115

149.5

1.30

345

2.30

NY BOAT LAUNCH

62

92

1.48

186

2.02

TOTAL:

211 LOADS

292 HOURS

1.38 HR/LD

633 TONS

2.17 T/HR

Many Thanks

            As Program Coordinator for the past twenty years and on behalf of the staff of the Ontario County Planning Department, Aquatic Weed Management Program, we appreciate the thoughtfulness and consideration shared with us this past year-especially to the AWMP's three seasonal employees, thank you.  We are looking forward to the 2007 harvesting season and praying for a cold winter and thick ice. Please remember our doors are always open. Please feel free to contact us for constructive conversation on managing Honeoye Lake’s aquatic weed problem at 396-4489.  Thank you. 

 

Robert L. Pierce Jr.

Aquatic Plant Control Coordinator

20 Ontario Street

Canandaigua, NY 14424