Aggressive Milfoil Treatment Planned in Wolfeboro

hockeypuck · 04-22-2006, 04:24 PM

It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. Is the milfoil problem a natural cycle in the eutrophication of the lake? If it's a natural process, it's like spitting into the wind. Beetles v/s Chemicals, I think I would vote for the beetles. Sounds to me that dumping toxic chemicals into water that people not only swim in, but use for drinking is not a prudent thing to do. Sure the results may be quicker, but just ask the Viet Nam Vets that were exposed to some of the first cousins of 2,4 D. Years later they are still trying to figure out what the effects are. I'm not a resident and those that are may have a different opinion, but one thing the lake doesn't need is headlines of people getting sick from exposure to some herbicide found in the lake water. Let's face it we all love the lake, and the fact that we do brings with it more use and misuse and is changing what many of us love about it. I guess since I've been going up to the lake for over 50 years I'm guilty of adding to the pressure on the lake. I'm a perennial tourist, but tourist are like women, You can't live with them and you can't live without them.
Hockeypuck

mcdude · 04-23-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockeypuck

Is the milfoil problem a natural cycle in the eutrophication of the lake?

No, it it not. It is a non-native species that does serious damage to the natural eco-system.

RI Swamp Yankee · 04-23-2006, 08:48 PM

I guess a question I should have asked since wildwoodfam mentioned different types of milfoil. What type of milfoil has invaded most areas?? Some places I have read Eurasian and other places I read say Variable. As wildwoodfam said, the bugs probably don't work on Variable Milfoil.

lfm · 06-19-2006, 08:21 PM

With all the focus on the overfull lake, does anyone know if the milfoil problem was ever addressed in Back Bay?

Also, did the excess rain exacerbate the problem, or is it too early to tell?

ApS · 06-20-2006, 03:42 AM

Due to the rains, the planned chemical treatment won't be efficient: The plan to chemically treat Back Bay's milfoil has been cancelled for this year.

Payment for manual removal is being considered and seems reasonably priced, at the <$4000 figure being floated.

Mee-n-Mac · 06-20-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfm

With all the focus on the overfull lake, does anyone know if the milfoil problem was ever addressed in Back Bay?

Also, did the excess rain exacerbate the problem, or is it too early to tell?

The chemical treatment that was talked about was rained out for this year. I guess the water flow was too much for the chemical to be effective in the dose planned for. For some reason I can't remember, waiting until later in the season for treatment was not a viable option. As for rain helping or hurting the problem .... I have to believe the additonal flow from either Back Bay or the Merrymeeting is only going to spread the milfoil more. Chemicals in the runoff probably aren't going to help either. I've seen more milfoil float past my dock this year then ever before. Don't know if it's due to the increased rainfall or just due to the natural expansion of the weed.

04-23-2006, 08:48 PM	#3
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	What type milfoil I guess a question I should have asked since wildwoodfam mentioned different types of milfoil. What type of milfoil has invaded most areas?? Some places I have read Eurasian and other places I read say Variable. As wildwoodfam said, the bugs probably don't work on Variable Milfoil. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

06-19-2006, 08:21 PM	#4
lfm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 96 Thanks: 29 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	milfoil treatment? With all the focus on the overfull lake, does anyone know if the milfoil problem was ever addressed in Back Bay? Also, did the excess rain exacerbate the problem, or is it too early to tell?

04-22-2006, 04:24 PM	#1
hockeypuck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern CT Posts: 169 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. Is the milfoil problem a natural cycle in the eutrophication of the lake? If it's a natural process, it's like spitting into the wind. Beetles v/s Chemicals, I think I would vote for the beetles. Sounds to me that dumping toxic chemicals into water that people not only swim in, but use for drinking is not a prudent thing to do. Sure the results may be quicker, but just ask the Viet Nam Vets that were exposed to some of the first cousins of 2,4 D. Years later they are still trying to figure out what the effects are. I'm not a resident and those that are may have a different opinion, but one thing the lake doesn't need is headlines of people getting sick from exposure to some herbicide found in the lake water. Let's face it we all love the lake, and the fact that we do brings with it more use and misuse and is changing what many of us love about it. I guess since I've been going up to the lake for over 50 years I'm guilty of adding to the pressure on the lake. I'm a perennial tourist, but tourist are like women, You can't live with them and you can't live without them. Hockeypuck

06-20-2006, 03:42 AM	#5
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Due to the rains, the planned chemical treatment won't be efficient: The plan to chemically treat Back Bay's milfoil has been cancelled for this year. Payment for manual removal is being considered and seems reasonably priced, at the <$4000 figure being floated.