Milfoil mayhem: Harvester hacks at years-old problem

LAKEVILLE — Bill Littauer, president of the Lake Wononscopomuc Association, cleared milfoil with a weed harvester on Lakeville Lake on Friday, July 17.

Eurasian water milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant, has been an unwelcome dweller in Lake Wononscopomuc, generally known as Lakeville Lake, since at least 1975.

This weed, scientifically called Myriophyllum spicatum, is difficult to manage for various reasons, according to Littauer. It is the earliest weed to start growing in the spring (meaning that it has a long season); it displaces native plants in the lake; it grows at least 7 to 10 inches a week; and it can propagate from even the smallest remnant of root left floating in the water.

There are many possible ways to control milfoil growth in the lake, but at Lake Wononscopomuc the task is done by three harvesters of various sizes. The one driven by Littauer is the smallest of the three, and mostly cuts the growth along the shore. 

Resembling an underwater lawnmower, a harvester cuts the milfoil and then stores it onboard until it can be dropped off on a conveyer belt near shore and then trucked away. The craft is propelled by two paddle wheels, which look similar to those on a steam boat. 

Littauer explained that the harvester is the association’s last hope to clear the area. They have “considered just about everything, short of herbicides. Nothing works well.”

Herbicides are not used in the lake because of the concerns of locals on how the chemicals will affect swimmers and animals in the area. Other solutions to the milfoil invasion include grass carp, hand-pulling and suction harvesting. However, these methods are either labor intensive, expensive or not permitted by the state.

Another technique known as hydro-raking is not popular on the lake because, aside from pulling up weeds, it removes too much silt and other materials from the water and drops it all on the shore for the property owner to remove.  

When asked if the silt could be used in gardens, Littauer replied, “It really doesn’t work, it’s dead material, not good for soil.” However, milfoil by itself is sometimes used for mulch. When it dries it becomes very light and easy to mix with soil.

Littauer has been harvesting the weeds almost every day this summer, gathering a full load, or 4 cubic yards, in one to three hours depending on the density. 

Although Littauer doesn’t mind doing the harvesting, he’s only a temp: The official harvester quit his job shortly before the July  4 weekend. New applicants for the job are being interviewed but so far no one has been hired.  

Littauer (who retired several years ago after a long career working in television news) said that although the town owns two larger harvesters, the smaller machine bought by the Lake Wononscopomuc Association maneuvers better in areas closer to shore, with dense weeds at the surface of the water. It also has the ability to cut around docks. 

Sections of the lake vary in milfoil concentrations and they “don’t know why,” Littauer said. Phosphorus levels were tested throughout the lake; no significant changes were noticed.

Phosphorus is a key element in milfoil growth and is found in many fertilizers, along with nitrogen and potassium. In Connecticut and New York, it is illegal to use phosphorous based fertilizers in or near lakes or other water bodies. Lake Wononscopomuc is in a mesotrophic state, meaning that it is “moderately enriched with plant nutrients” according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

If the lake becomes eutrophic, the abundance of nutrients that enhance plant growth will eventually lead to the reduction of dissolved oxygen in the water.  When this occurs, it could kill fish and other animals in the lake.