CLAPA MILFOIL ATTACK!

Exotic Variable Milfoil Treatment & Schedule

2010 Season

 Exotic Variable Milfoil-Myriophyllum heterophyllum

Map of Contoocook Lake with estimated herbicide areas highlighted in pink and recommended diving locations marked with green lines.

This year the major focus of your Lake Association is to arrest the spread of variable milfoil and eliminate its spread in Contoocook Lake to the greatest extent possible.  Milfoil is now present in 30 acres - about 20% - of the lake and, if not controlled, will spread further.

The Association (CLAPA), with assistance from the NHDES and the New Hampshire Lakes Association, is undertaking a massive dual attack on milfoil this year as follows: 

1. Chemical treatment of about 25 acres.

Portions of Contoocook Lake in Rindge, NH were recently chemically treated by Aquatic Control Technology, Inc. of Sutton, MA for control of exotic variable milfoil.  Portions were treated with the USEPA/State registered herbicide Navigate (2,4-D) herbicide, EPA Registration Number 2283788959 on or about June 10, 2010 in accordance with Special Permit SP-097 issued by the NH Division of Pesticide Control.  

Once treatment is complete it takes about one week for the plants to turn from a bright green color to a much darker color and begin to droop.  The second week after treatment will find the weed drooping on the lake bottom and by week 3 or 4 the invasive weed will be lying dead on the bottom of the lake.

In mid July there will be a professional inspection done to confirm the success of the chemical treatment.

~~~~~

2. Hand pulling by certified weed control divers of about 5 acres of less dense growth.

In addition to the chemical treatment of variable milfoil in Contoocook Lake, CLAPA has scheduled professional dives every Wednesday during the summer season to manually pull the invasive weed from the lake floor.

Every Wednesday morning, weather permitting, three paid dive professionals and two volunteer tenders (one being Ted Covert) meet at Ted and Beverly Covert's home to begin the task of diving and hand pulling exotic variable milfoil from the lake bottom.

The divers, using dive flags to mark their locations, descend to the bottom of the lake in designated areas as shown on the Milfoil Treatment Map and hand pull the invasive weed from the lake floor.  The weed is then sealed in plastic bags and when the bags are full are handed off to the waiting tender, who then delivers the full bags to the pontoon boat leader who is waiting near by.

 
Volunteer Tender

 
Tender taking filled bags of milfoil to pontoon boat leader

There are approximately 50-75 gallons of exotic variable milfoil hand pulled from the bottom of Contoocook Lake every Wednesday. 

The milfoil is then dumped in compost heaps located at least 100 yards from shore and the process begins again till day end.

~~~~~

WHAT YOU AS MEMBERS CAN DO TO HELP.

1. Learn what milfoil looks like - a green cat's tail with a reddish stem.  See picture above.
2. Skim from the lake surface and remove any plant pieces from beaches and dispose of them at least ten feet from the shore.
3. If you see milfoil in bloom do the following:
     a) take an empty plastic container such as an empty milk jug and tie a rope with a rock attached to the container
     b) mark the area of the milfoil with the container
     c) call Ted Covert - (603-899-6585)
3. Avoid power boating in infected areas such as Woodbound Cove, the south shore of the Lake from Woodbound to Jowders' Cove and Woodmore Campground and the north shore (towards Mt. Monadnock) from the outlet to the river to the point with the three-story house (the area of Little Michigan shore).
4. Make a voluntary contribution to CLAPA in excess of our normal $35.00 dues per year to help cover the expenditure of more than $10,000, net of grants, for this program this year.  Regular dues generate revenue of about $4,500 per year and we have some other programs we must continue besides weed control.

~~~~~

DID YOU KNOW?

One acre of invasive milfoil can produce 10,000 milfoil seeds.  Reseeding is a serious problem in our Lake!

~~~~~