Harvesting resumes this week in areas where vegetation has grown to or near the surface of the water and the recent algae bloom has subsided. On Tuesday, the harvester worked on the west side from Southwest Shores and stopped near Pickerel Point where the algae bloom had not substantially cleared. On Wednesday, harvesting will resume on the east side from Trident Marine to Deyo Drive.
We are documentating surface water conditions after harvesting in an area. Residents are invited to help by providing surface water condition reports by phone or email to Betsy Landre at (585) 396-4458 or betsy.landre@co.ontario.ny.us. A digital photograph with a time stamp is always helpful. We are intersted in condition descriptions 6 to 12 hours after harvesting and the same time the following day. Water is often murky directly after harvesting but settles within a few hours, which is why we ask you to allow 6 hours after harvesting before you report. Reports should describe water clarity, color and prescence of algae or surface scums as well as plant material/fragments. Thank you for your help!
Some operating notes: Our operator will move slowly in harvesting work areas to minimize disturbance of bottom sediments in shallow water. Our single off-loading site this season is at the NYS Boat Launch at the south end. When the harvester is in "transport mode", it moves at a slightly faster speed in deeper water either going to work sites or bringing a load of plants back to the off-load site.
Our season stop date will will be determined this week. We will notify residents by postcard as well as a noctice on this website and those of the Towns of Richmond and Canadice and HVA. If you need plant pickup at the shoreline, let us know.