Fingerlakespermaculture mailing list

[Becky Bowen <purecalmtrue AT gmail.com>]

Hello all,

The City of Ithaca is strongly discouraging boating in the Cayuga Inlet due to the recent discovery of hydrilla, a highly invasive aquatic plant (the city does not have the authority to ban boating).  You can read the City's statement here: http://ccetompkins.org/sites/all/files/8/boat-use-discouraged.pdf

Hydrilla is an Asian aquatic plant that grows very rapidly and can reach down up to 30 feet under water. It is now at the stage in its life cycle where it is about to reproduce and spread even further into the lake. This has the potential to spread not only through Cayuga Lake, but across the rest of the Finger Lakes and into the Great Lakes. As with everything else, our waterways are all connected!

The City is likely going to be applying an herbicide to kill the hydrilla and curb its growth over the next few years. Unfortunately, this may be the only effective treatment at this time. You can read more about hydrilla in the Cayuga Inlet here and find contact information for the Cayuga Hydrilla Task Force:http://ccetompkins.org/environment/hydrilla. This website also shows the differences between hydrilla and elodea, a native plant that looks very similar. 

Please spread the word (not the plant) widely and do not go boating through the Cayuga Inlet. If you are boating in other areas of Cayuga Lake or other area lakes, please check your boat for hydrilla and report any infestations (no matter how small) that you see. 

There will be a meeting on October 4th from 7-9 PM at the Unitarian Church Annex in Ithaca to discuss this situation and plans for remediation. 


-- 
Becky Bowen

Pure Calm True Designs

Edible Ecological Landscaping

http://purecalmtrue.com