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Macrophyte Management Plan 

A subcommittee reporting to the HLWTF was formed to work on one of the action items in the Watershed Management Plan related to the management of macrophytes (rooted vegetation). The members of this committee are:

Bill Hershey
Tom Gendreau
Terry Gronwall
Eric Hess
Jerry Passer 
Don Cook

Technical Consultants: Bruce Gilman, FLCC, Ontario County Planning Department, NYS-DEC 

 Macrophyte Management Plan (MMP) Committee

Committee Objective
Develop and write an ecologically and scientifically sound Macrophyte Management Plan (MMP) to facilitate balanced recreational use of Honeoye Lake including: boating, fishing, swimming and other uses.  The plan should meet requirements for content and format defined in the DEC document “A Primer on Aquatic Plant Management in New York State”, April 2005. It is expected the committee will:
Define reasonable expectations for Honeoye Lake based on lake characteristics (depth, temperature, external & internal nutrient sources, bottom composition, climate, etc.)
Identify and evaluate proven macrophyte management control alternatives
Evaluate the current macrophyte harvesting program
Minimize any negative impacts to the lake’s ecosystem
Include cost effectiveness and funding in evaluating alternatives
Develop a timetable and funding requirements including evaluating NYS Grant opportunities
The MMP should fit into and complement the adopted “Honeoye Lake Watershed Management Plan”
Committee will be accountable to the HLWTF
Committee is expected to seek public input from lake users and the general community.

Proposed Sequence of Events
Identify alternatives for further investigation                   
Public Meeting to present approach and solicit input/comments
Present macrophyte related information/data
Objective of the MMP
Alternatives for further investigation/evaluation
Public input and Q&A
Investigation and evaluation of alternatives
Formulate recommendations for draft MMP
Present initial MMP recommendations to HLWTF for concurrence
Write daft MMP
Present draft MMP to HLWTF for concurrence
Public Meeting to solicit input/comments on draft MMP
Provide background  scientific data used in formulating recommendations
Present results of evaluations
Present draft MMP
Public input and Q&A
Update draft MMP as required
Present final draft MMP to HLWTF for adoption
HLWTF adopts MMP
Submits MMP to DEC for approval
Secures funding to implement MMP
Forms MMP implementation team

Committee Membership
Committee Chairman
Canadice Town Council Representative
Richmond Town Council Representative
Honeoye Valley Association Representative
2-3 interested citizens
Technical Support
            FLCC- Dr. Bruce Gilman
            Princeton Hydro- Dr. Steve Souza
            Ontario County Planning Department
            New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
            Others as required

A public information meeting was held prior to the committee developing the Macrophyte Management Plan on August 26, 2009 to inform interested citizens of possible solutions to excessive weeds and obtain public input. The charts of this meeting: Honeoye Lake Macrophyte (Aquatic Weed) Management Plan Committee Public Information Meeting Charts

The Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force’s Macrophyte (Aquatic Plant) Management Plan Committee have completed its research actives.   The research activities have included engaging Dr. Steve Souza, Princeton Hydro, meeting with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Dr. Bruce Gilman’s 20 Years of Honeoye Lake Macrophyte Survey & Analysis ( Bruce Gilmans 2004 Weed Bed Survey presentation ), and researching what other lakes in Upstate New York have successfully used to manage their macrophytes. 

The committee has written a draft Macrophyte Management Plan per the NYSDEC requirements.