[Lunkerboss]

Just so you`ll know, the NYCDEP has been placing RED BUOYS around the Croton system Reservoirs. They are being placed in various areas to test for water quality as the chemical Fluridone(SONAR) is starting to be used to control the invasive weed Hydrilla.
Fluridone does not kill fish, and hopefully will not impact fish habitat too much. The study started on June 26th 2018, & only two areas have been treated in a test pilot program One is just North of Pines Bridge on the South shoreline. The other area is in a cove on the East shoreline in the middle of Hunter Brook Cove. Those will be the only areas treated this year. Next year they are planning a widespread treatment pertaining only to Croton Reservoir. The plan is to treat the Hydrilla for 10 years. Of course that will depend on the success of eradicating the Hydrilla or getting it under control. Meetings will be held periodically, & Ronnie & I will be at them to monitor the situation. Hopefully, the treatment will be a success. If anybody sees Hydrilla in any other Reservoir, please notify the NYCDEP or post it on NYBass & we will notify them. Thanx Marty

 

[JOHN G]

10 years, eh? which means we will NEVER see more open areas that are now closed on there.....

 

[Lunkerboss]

10 years, eh? which means we will NEVER see more open areas that are now closed on there.....

Not necessarily true. If the Fluridone treatment works, there will be no reason to restrict various areas. Even if it doesn`t work, & EVERYTHING gets screwed up,(hopefully not) then there will be no reason to restrict us from various areas. What they are trying to do now, is to try to avoid it from getting out of control. After next year they should have an answer. Hopefully, it`s a good answer, & hopefully it does not spread to other reservoirs, unless it already has. Without knowing what they have tried to do since it was first discovered in 2014, I can`t scream to loudly. That being said, I hope they are not now closing the barn door after the cows have left. If that`s the case you will all be happy, as you will have all smallmouth lakes, & I will be catching Largemouth,Pike & Walleyes in the 1000 Islands.

 

[zipper]

I hope they are not now closing the barn door after the cows have left. If that`s the case you will all be happy, as you will have all smallmouth lakes, & I will be catching Largemouth,Pike & Walleyes in the 1000 Islands.

Thats exactly what I am worried about..I hope this isnt the beginning of the end..

 

[Lunkerboss]

Thats exactly what I am worried about..I hope this isnt the beginning of the end..

The only thing I don`t like, is what is going to happen to the Milfoil on Croton Reservoir. If the Milfoil is destroyed along with the Hydrilla, that will kill the Largemouth Bass fishing. MIlfoil protects the Largemouth bass fry, & all you have to see is what has happened on other bodies of water where milfoil is eradicated. The largemouth fishing gets destroyed & a different main specie of fish takes over, such as the Smallmouth bass. It also takes a few years for the other specie to take over. In that time span, the fishing for anything will be terrible.

 

[danipman]

https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/invasive-species/hydrilla-management-plan.pdf

 

[Lunkerboss]

https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/invasive-species/hydrilla-management-plan.pdf

Yes, I`ve read that link. Unfortunately it does not tell you what will happen to the fishing on Croton Reservoir. But, like I`ve said, if the milfoil goes, so goes the largemouth. As in disaster. So even if they stay along state guidelines, which says the fish will not be hurt, you have to realize that there may not be many fish in a few years. That`s because the habitat will be changed. With no milfoil, the fry are not protected from predators like Perch Bluegill, etc All you have to do to see that, is to look at lakes where milfoil has been eradicated. The Largemouth populations were greatly depleted. It`s very simple: No productive spawns equals no fish. So, the fluridone does not kill the Bass, it just eliminates them.
AS to the water chestnut on Muscoot, that probably got there from Kirk lake which feeds into Amawalk which feeds into Muscoot. That plant will NOT be affected by Fluridone. So they will have to do something else for the Chesnut. Only mankind can so thoroughly screw everything up.

 

[JOHN G]

good thing I bought the porta-bote! LOL....

 

[basshunter13]

I know this post is 2 years old but as of now have you guys seen a difference in the fishing ? I know the chemical wont kill fish but it may slow down there aggressiveness to feed. I have heard this happening, that if effects fish behavior and can make a hot lake into something very sluggish. Thoughts?

 

[JOHN G]

fishing has been down on ALL of the waters in the system, not just where they put the red buoys and chemically treated the water.....

 

[basshunter13]

I know that.

 

[leo]

I didn't see the original post from two years ago but the question I have is why does the dec wish to eradicate weeds in the reservoir system? In most lakes that use chemicals to kill weeds there is the excuse that they don't allow folks to get the full enjoyment of their bodies of water (swimming, boating etc.) giving no regard to fish habitat. Whether it's milfoil or Hydrilla it's still fish habitat invasive species or not. I personally like to fish in and around weeds. Weeds are also a water filter, not many think of them as that.

 

[jfrancho]

Weeds might pose a threat to workers if they need to dive to do any work on the res. Not sure if that's going on.

 

[Lunkerboss]

I didn't see the original post from two years ago but the question I have is why does the dec wish to eradicate weeds in the reservoir system? In most lakes that use chemicals to kill weeds there is the excuse that they don't allow folks to get the full enjoyment of their bodies of water (swimming, boating etc.) giving no regard to fish habitat. Whether it's milfoil or Hydrilla it's still fish habitat invasive species or not. I personally like to fish in and around weeds. Weeds are also a water filter, not many think of them as that.

They are afraid the weeds will choke their intakes & out takes. What they should be afraid of are the Zebra Mussels which are now in Amawalk Reservoir. They will clog the out takes. Weeds have never been a problem, but they are somewhat paranoid.