Milfoil
Efforts continue to control our milfoil with the help of our longtime consultant Bob Johnson of Cornell Ponds, and our LBCC liaison, Ray Powers. At this point our effort is 100% funded by LBCC.
- Results of Monitoring of herbivores and Eurasian water milfoil damage on Lake Bonaparte, Harrisville, New York
- Racine-Johnson Aquatic Ecologists sampled Eurasian water milfoil apical stems from Baron’s Bay, Bulrush Bay, Birch Bay, Hitchcock Bay, Baldwin’s Bay, Tamarack Bay, Sister Island and one historical control location, the Cornell Control at site D. We conducted the complete field sampling on July 13, 2015 and we did our microscope analysis in our laboratory on all collected samples to estimate herbivore populations and water milfoil damage. We attempted to collect water milfoil apical stems for weevil counts at the historical locations of Baron’s Bay and Hitchcock Bay, but were not able to find sufficient water milfoil to do so. Therefore, at Baron’s and Hitchcock where there has been problematical excessive growth in the distant past, we were forced to collected plants in deeper areas toward the center of the lake at the mouth of the bays. We still recorded presence of weevils at these new locations near the mouths of Baron’s Bay and Hitchcock Bay; however, we are very encouraged at the lack of water milfoil in the bays where we believe weevils have eliminated most of the water milfoil over the last several years. Two locations that had remained behind with low weevil densities over the years showed some of the highest number of weevils in 2015, at S-3 (Bulrush Bay) and S-8 (Baldwin’s Bay). This is very encouraging in spite of what we feel are very high populations of bluegills in the lake that feed on weevil larvae. Weevil populations overall in the lake mirror results of previous years and appear to be stable.
- Over the last few years, we have been collecting a few bluegills on our trips to Lake Bonaparte and then examine stomach contents by microscope to try to get an estimate of the impact of small bluegills on weevil populations in the lake. Our results are encouraging and I want to collect fish in 2016 for more data. We feel this is a missing part of the water milfoil/herbivore story and we are close to having enough data to shed light on how the bluegills regulate this biological control method.
- We also continue to watch your lake for any introductions of non-native plant species as we sample for herbivores around the lake. I certainly do not expect any new introductions but will be looking when on the lake. I am very pleased with the progress of herbivory on the Lake and look forward to another good year for weevils feeding on water milfoil.
* Forest Tent Caterpillar *
Spraying is completed for this year 2019
This spring, we are expecting the return of the Forest Tent Caterpillar. Last year we witnessed some heavy deforestation around the Lake. The LBCC has decided to again utilize Duflo Spray Chemical to spray around the shore area. The same proven environmentally safe chemical and application method will be used. To be most effective, we will need a watcher on each shore to identify when the caterpillars begin eating (early to mid-May depending on when spring shows up).
Jon Whipple will be heading up this project and has a lot of information concerning the actual spraying (chemical, safety sheet, application method, and precautions).
Volunteers can contact Jon via phone or email: [email protected] (315)952-7527
Please notify Jon Whipple if you do not want your property to be included in the spray operation.
Jon Whipple will be heading up this project and has a lot of information concerning the actual spraying (chemical, safety sheet, application method, and precautions).
Volunteers can contact Jon via phone or email: [email protected] (315)952-7527
Please notify Jon Whipple if you do not want your property to be included in the spray operation.