Honeoye
Valley
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2007 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:     2007 harvesting season report

date:            december 14, 2007

cc:                  geoff astles, kristen mark hughes, director

            The 2007 Aquatic Weed Management Program (AWMP) harvesting season showed a decrease over 2006 when comparing the amount of vegetation harvested.  The tonnage harvested was down 10 percent, from 864 tons (2006) to 777 tons (2007).  The harvesting season began on July 2 and extended into mid-September.  The total number of harvesting hours was less than 2006 due to major equipment problems with the town’s harvester, a later start and weather related issues.

For the 2007 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 2007 Season

The first three weeks of harvesting showed vegetation a little lighter than previous years.  The total number of loads in 2007 was 259 but the weed growth was nowhere near as vigorous as in 2002.  The Ontario County harvester was used 11 weeks and the Canadice/Richmond harvester was used 8 weeks.  Only the county harvester was used in September due to two seasonal employee’s returning to their previous jobs and mechanical problems with the town’s harvester.

Dominant Species- Overall the quantity of vegetation for the harvesting season was about average.  Water Stargrass was much heavier than in past years but Eurasian Milfoil was very light.  The area from West Willow Point to Bartholomew Drive was much heavier that usual.  Other areas that were heavier than usual where the cove at Dana Shores and Sunny Hollow.  Late in the harvesting season heavy amounts of Water Stargrass were harvested from Conway Drive to Lakeside Drive.

For the first three weeks of harvesting the water in Honeoye Lake was very clear.  Around July 20th the first signs of an algal bloom started to appear.  Fortunately the algal bloom lasted only a little over 2 weeks.  After that the algal bloom was light and sporadic with most of the lake having very good water clarity for the remainder of the harvesting season.  The AWMP believes the alum treatment in the fall of 2006 helped limit the time and duration of the algal bloom that did present in 2007.  On September 20 and 21, 2007 the final application of the alum treatment was completed which represented the 20% that was not applied in 2007.  2008 water clarity is expected to improve with a reduced algal bloom due to the 2006 and 2007 alum applications.

Equipment Problems- The AWMP experienced a total of 66 hours of down time for repairs for both harvesters and 18 hours down time due to weather conditions. 

The following compares harvesting statistics for selected harvesting seasons. 

2007 JULY/SEPTEMBER

 

LOADS

HOURS

HRS/LD

TONS

TNS/HR

cALIFORNIA rANCH

155

323

2.08

465

1.44

NY BOAT LAUNCH

104

233

2.24

312

1.34

TOTAL:

259 LOADS

556 HOURS

2.15 HR/LD

777 TONS

1.40 T/HR

 

 

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-one 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 2008 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