Ontario County 2010 Lakefront Community Survey
Honeoye Lake Aquatic Weed Management Program
Survey deadline: December 10, 2010
Response rate: 56 percent (508 out of 901)
Response rate: 56 percent (508 out of 901)
1. Are you a lake property homeowner ?
Yes
No
Totals
|
499
7
506
|
98.6%
1.4%
100.0%
|
2. How many years have you been at the lake?
0 - 20
21 - 40
41 - 60
61 and above
Totals
|
265
131
73
33
502
|
52.8%
26.1%
14.5%
6.6
100.0%
|
3. Which shore do you live on?
West Shore
East Shore
North Shore
Totals
|
239
228
36
503
|
47.5%
45.3%
7.2%
100.0%
|
4. Which direction do you live?
North of California Point
South of California Point
Totals
|
339
164
503
|
67.4%
32.6%
100.0%
|
5. Which town do you live in?
Richmond
Canadice
Totals
|
339
164
503
|
67.4%
32.6%
100.0%
|
6. How do you use the lake?
Boating
Swimming
Scenic
Fishing
Waterskiing
Jet skiing
Drinking water
Other (Non-drinking water, other recreational activities, lakefront businesses, etc.)
Irrigation
Totals
|
468
454
394
390
205
111
109
79
57
506
|
92.5%
89.7%
77.9%
77.1%
40.5%
21.9%
21.5%
15.7%
11.3%
n/a
|
7. Which of these do you think are a problem on the lake?
Too many aquatic weeds
Poor water quality
Other (Algae, zebra mussels, lack of boater etiquette, enforcement, erosion, siltation, odors, poor harvester operations, clear lake conditions, etc.)
Overuse by non-residents
Use of jet skis
Too many boats
Fish population problem
Too much fishing
Not enough aquatic weeds
|
451
352
185
81
77
58
31
24
0
501
|
90.0%
70.3%
36.9%
16.2%
15.4%
11.6%
6.2%
4.8%
0.0%
n/a
|
8. Do you have aquatic weeds at your shoreline in nuisance quantities?
Yes
No
Totals
|
455
36
491
|
92.7%
7.3%
100.0%
|
9. Do aquatic weeds interfere with your use of enjoyment of the lake?
Yes
No
Totals
|
374
72
446
|
83.9%
16.1%
100.0%
|
10. Does the level of aquatic weeds affect your property values?
Yes
No
Totals
|
374
72
446
|
83.9%
16.1%
100.0%
|
11. Are you aware of the Aquatic Weed Management Program for the lake?
Yes
No
Totals
|
454
39
493
|
92.6%
7.4%
100.0%
|
12. Are you in favor of continuing efforts to control aquatic weeds on the lake?
Yes
|
428
34
462
|
92.6%
7.4%
100.0%
|
13. In your opinion, what are the primary causes of aquatic rooted plant growth on the lake?
Shallow nature of lake
Nutrients entering lake from lake tributaries
Fertilizers and lawn care products
Cutting by the weed harvesters
Wastewater drainage
Other natural causes
Agriculture
Other (Zebra mussels and clear water, alum treatment, roadwork, enriched bottom sediment, lakefront homeowner activities, geese, etc.)
Totals
|
419
326
297
150
147
145
121
83
469
|
86.2%
67.1%
61.1%
30.9%
30.2%
29.8%
24.9%
17.0%
n/a
|
14. In your opinion, what are the major causes of aquatic weed fragments collecting on the shoreline?
The harvesters cause the weeds to break up and drift ashore
Boating (caused by propeller chop, water skiing, jet skis)
Natural plant die-off
Other natural causes
Other (Inadequate harvester equipment, lakefront homeowner activities, anchors, fishing lures, storms, wind, etc.)
Totals
|
359
304
163
92
59
487
|
73.7%
62.4%
33.5%
18.9%
12.0%
n/a
|
15. In your opinion, what should happen with the Aquatic Weed Management Program in the future?
Expanded
Continued as currently operated
Suspended for one season
Discontinued permanently
Totals
|
177
130
129
19
455
|
38.9%
28.6%
28.4%
4.2%
100.0%
|
16. Please check all that you agree with:
I approve of my town's expenditure for the Aquatic Weed Management Program
Weed harvesting is beneficial in improving recreational uses of the lake
Weed fragments that collect along the shoreline are a major nuisance to me
I am aware that there is a Honeoye Lake Macrophyte Management Plan
Honeoye Lake could benefit from a lake manager hired to support lake management efforts
I have read the Honeoye Lake Macrophyte Management Plan
I agree with the results of the Honeoye Lake Macrophyte Management Plan
Weed harvesting is detrimental in improving recreational uses of the lake
I do not approve of my town's expenditure for the Aquatic Weed Management Program
I have received or would like to receive harvested weeds for my garden
Totals
|
331
318
298
267
146
129
77
61
60
13
491
|
67.4%
64.8%
60.7%
54.4%
29.7%
26.3%
15.7%
12.4%
12.2%
2.6%
n/a
|
17. Additional Comments:
Algae
Algae is more of a problem than the weeds; We only have been on the lake while the harvesters have run; We have not seen it without, so we don't know how it would be.Weed harvesting is okay but won't impact the blue algae problem; That had a more significant impact on our use of the lake this summer. Something must be done about the toxic algae bloom. The algae problem in late summer (also found in Sodus Bay) made lake totally unusable; Is this problem also being investigated? Could not use the lake water August through September because of toxins and smell. Deal with algae problem.
I feel that the blue-green algae is more serious than the weeds.Mid-summer pea green water looks pretty bad.
I'm not an expert but I would like something done about the weeds and algae growth.
Very complicated problem; It is what it is, and it does not seem to ever change; The algae is worse than the weeds.
Again, my chief concern, by far, is algae blooms!
The town needs to address the algae problem that limits the use of the lake and shortens the length of the summer season; Utilize the resources more effectively.
Overall, lake is in excellent condition; When there is an overly hot summer, water will suffer an algae bloom and some folks get upset
Algae is the biggest problem, weeds are second.
Algae seems to be a bigger problem.
I truly feel the program is important, but if the lake is in a 'toxic' state, and unusable, it doesn't matter how many weeds are in it; Water quality first!
I'm not sure whether the weed program is a good or a bad thing; But, the algae problem and lack of clarity in the water that I worry more about.
I believe the toxic algae problem should be considered a single event that may have been caused by the hot dry summer experienced this past summer; It also occurred on Sodus Bay; We should wait to see if it is a repetitive issue before taking any drastic steps; I agree that a scientific approach backed by facts and a study is appropriate before changes are made; Did we not introduce chemical management (alum) this past year in addition to the weed cutting? Could this have been a reason for the toxic algae issue?
If water stagnation contributes to blue-green algae, could the height of the weir be lowered to some midpoint that will still control the lake level but at a lower level
allowing more water movement? We were at the September town meeting which was helpful in understanding the problem.
Would aeration machines be possible to control blue-green algae? (www.solarbee.com); Please read the white papers.
Algae control is more important than weeds; We have some control of weeds; We have none on algae.
The algae bloom happened last summer; it happens every summer; the lake turns over.
Algae is more of a problem than the weeds; We only have been on the lake while the harvesters have run; We have not seen it without, so we don't know how it would be.Weed harvesting is okay but won't impact the blue algae problem; That had a more significant impact on our use of the lake this summer. Something must be done about the toxic algae bloom. The algae problem in late summer (also found in Sodus Bay) made lake totally unusable; Is this problem also being investigated? Could not use the lake water August through September because of toxins and smell. Deal with algae problem.
I feel that the blue-green algae is more serious than the weeds.Mid-summer pea green water looks pretty bad.
I'm not an expert but I would like something done about the weeds and algae growth.
Very complicated problem; It is what it is, and it does not seem to ever change; The algae is worse than the weeds.
Again, my chief concern, by far, is algae blooms!
The town needs to address the algae problem that limits the use of the lake and shortens the length of the summer season; Utilize the resources more effectively.
Overall, lake is in excellent condition; When there is an overly hot summer, water will suffer an algae bloom and some folks get upset
Algae is the biggest problem, weeds are second.
Algae seems to be a bigger problem.
I truly feel the program is important, but if the lake is in a 'toxic' state, and unusable, it doesn't matter how many weeds are in it; Water quality first!
I'm not sure whether the weed program is a good or a bad thing; But, the algae problem and lack of clarity in the water that I worry more about.
I believe the toxic algae problem should be considered a single event that may have been caused by the hot dry summer experienced this past summer; It also occurred on Sodus Bay; We should wait to see if it is a repetitive issue before taking any drastic steps; I agree that a scientific approach backed by facts and a study is appropriate before changes are made; Did we not introduce chemical management (alum) this past year in addition to the weed cutting? Could this have been a reason for the toxic algae issue?
If water stagnation contributes to blue-green algae, could the height of the weir be lowered to some midpoint that will still control the lake level but at a lower level
allowing more water movement? We were at the September town meeting which was helpful in understanding the problem.
Would aeration machines be possible to control blue-green algae? (www.solarbee.com); Please read the white papers.
Algae control is more important than weeds; We have some control of weeds; We have none on algae.
The algae bloom happened last summer; it happens every summer; the lake turns over.
Harvester Operations
The 2010 harvester crew was not as efficient and organized as in previous years; The timing of unloading the harvester with the truck wasn't correlated in the previous years. Weed fragments are a minor nuisance to me until the weed harvesters start, then they become a major nuisance
I'd like to see what expert opinion says about the pros and cons regarding the harvesting I watched the weed harvesters cut weeds and leave them in the lake to wash ashore; The conveyor belts on the harvester are not even working.
If you didn't harvest weeds I would not be able to put my boat in the water without stalling or getting stuck because they are so thick.
Expand program with better equipment.
Weeds wash up on east side; Most harvesting done on west side.
Collect cut weeds.
Buy new equipment.
Replacing existing equipment with a new (or newer) more efficient unit would be beneficial.
We don't think the weeds are picked up enough after they are cut.
Harvesters are not receovering cut vegetation properly.
If water stagnation contributes to blue-green algae, could the height of the weir be lowered to some midpoint that will still control the lake level but at a lower level
allowing more water movement? We were at the September town meeting which was helpful in understanding the problem.
Weed problem seems to be getting worse, not better; Clearly the current program is not working, so why spend the money on what is not working.
I really feel that harvesters be completely overhauled involving knives or buy a new, more efficient harvester
Suspend harvesting for one year will prove nothing; This is a problem that would take multiple seasons to see changes
If we could afford new harvester; let’s buy at least one.
Please keep cutting weeds; harvesting is beneficial and I continue to support it.
Please do not suspend harvesting next year; Improve equipment.
A faster conveyor speed on the harvesters should allow more complete collection of weeds that are pusehd away as the harvesters are cutting.
In summer of 2009, the harvester made a noticeable improvement in front of my property; No improvement seen this year
Need to develop replacement plan to buy new harvester(s); Retire old ones.
Update weed harvesters; They only collect 90 percent of cut weeds; I remove weeds daily from my shore
The weed harvesters do not spend enough time in our area to be effective; Even with the harvesters, we could not get our jet skis out last summer.
Weed harvesting doesn't seem to benefit me; However, I would not oppose its continuation in the majority really want it
I feel that without the weed harvesting, the lake would be unusable; Please keep it up or increase it
Either improve collection of harvested weeds by purchasing more efficient harvester or stop the use of current harvester for 2011 to see what happens.
Any possibility that the weed harvester could be operated on a volunteer basis similar to snowmobile clubs operating their own trail groomers.
It does not appear that weed cutting includes adequate removal of the cuttings.
Please fix the harvesters during the winter months; Don't wait for summer; The state is spending over a million dollars at the boat launch; Will will use it if the lake is all weeds? Weeds and algae, what happens to property value?
Level of lake is approximately 12 inches higher than it has been most of my life; Beach erosion has contributed to weed growth; Cutting and harvesting is a good thing;
Recently, harvester is not doing as good of a job removing weeds.
Algae control is more important than weeds; We have some control of weeds; We have none on algae.
The algae bloom happened last summer; it happens every summer; the lake turns over.I don't see that the program is doing any good but I'm not an expert.
In 2010, weeds were cut and not removed; This causes boating and shoreline problems; Start collecting and removing weeds
We are not familiar with the program.
Stop talking about this and let's aggressively do something to get rid of the excessive vegetation
I think the weed harvesting program shouldnot be suspended for 2011; It is the only measure that has worked at all in controlling the macrophyte growth on the lake; No management is not a viable option! Please help our lake!
Weed harvesters need to empty more often (had 4 feet of cut weeds at our dock; Could not get boat out; Never had this before); Try something else, look outside of
the box.
Why do we pay $8,000 in taxes? Expand cutting to 5 days per week; Please continue program.
Weeds need to be harvested closer to docks and shoreline for swimming.
I do approve of the town's expenditure but we unfortunately not seeing any results from the program
It seems that since they started harvesting weeds, the lakeshore has gotten extremely poor with mud, weeds, and algae settling from the end of docks to the shoreline;
Please help settle this problem!
You forgot to ask if cut weeds rot and stink up the shoreline - answer "yes".
Cancel the boat launch renovation and use the money to improve the water quality.
Use safe chemicals to kill off weeds or grass carp; Macrophyte Management Plan - not an effective one! Note: The current plan is failing terribly! Need an aggressive
plan to attack the weed problem or this lake will die!
There are many days that I do not see any of the weed cutters working; Also, their working day seems really short; Not an 8 hour day
I think you could hire people to run the machines a lot cheaper if they are going to hit my waterline anyway; Then I think you can find people to do it for less money in this economy.
Please do not stop the harvesting; I don't mind the few weeds that are not picked up by the harvester/cutter
Cut your grass; It spreads seeds on your lawn; Cut the lake weeds, spreads the seeds
If the program is suspended or discontinued, residents will most likely take weed control into their own hands; There will be no clean direction and everyone will
accomplish it whatever way they want; This may result in the use of illegal chemicals or other unconventional methods; It is a recipe for disaster.
I was at the 9/14/10 town meeting; I heard denials that weeds were cut and sometimes left in lake; However, we all have seen it happen; How can cut, but not
removed, weeds improve water quality?
When I was a kid, they used to harvest weeds on Honeoye and we never had the water quality issues we have now.
At times, the weeds are not collected at the rear of the harvester, resulting in excessive weed parts floating to shore; A barge or larger area to collect fragments behind the cutter is a good idea; Keep the weed cutter going; Thank you for allowing our input.
Continue but collect what they cut; we take out ten wheelbarrels of weeds every week; We are seriously thinking of selling and moving off the lake; I know and have
movies of the lakeshore line 50 years ago and it is disappointing to see what it has become.
A way to collect more and help us on northern shore.
Keep the weed harvesting program going!
I think weed harvester should go deeper and seek to remove bulk quantity fo weeds; They grow back too fast after harvester hit; Water would benefit from more
organic material removal and the phosphorus they carry; I think rebuilding south inlet swamp should to start.
I collect them and compost the ones that wash ashore; More people need to read the management plan; The weed harvester helps remove nutrients from lake; Weeds would otherwise decompose on the bottom; Honeoye is a very eutrophic lake.Concentrate on a quarter mile stretch of shoreline per harvester for approximately two days and then move on.
I would like to thank the operators of the harvesters, especially Randy, for their efforts in doing the best job they can.
Weed harvesting should continue but with equipment that does not miss all the choppings that presently escape the machines in use.
Is dredging possible; "Shallowness" is major problem.
What were the results of the alum treatment?
Manage the lake using good science.
I think the water level is too high and the problem is the weir; The lake is stagnant; No outflow!
Try chemical treatment.
We want to manage our shoreline.
A weed-choked lake will adversely affect the lake's appeal and reduce property values, make existing home sales more difficult, slow upgrades to existing properties,
limit recreational use by residents, transient boaters, and park-goers, and raise health concerns, particularly for those who draw water from the lake.
Shallow; Dredge at Sandy Bottom; Raise containment wall 18"; Lake has room to grow.
Try dredging.
Please dredge the lake!
Alternative Management Techniques
Can grass carp be used and what about chemical controls; Explore ways to safely kill and reduce weed growth
Drop lake level 5 to 6 feet in the winter.
Why couldn't the special sterile carp be used?
Use weed killers to eliminate weeds 150 feet from shoreline.
Weed cutting is bad; Need underwater raking; Also weed-eating carp!
I would like to hear more about the weir and any studies that led to its installation being a benefit; Being around the lake so many years, I have never seen it as bad as this year. Weir needs to be lowered so lake doesn't stagnate; Weir also causes more erosion
Provide the sterile weed eating carp; Allow some chemical tests, chemical treatment in a small, controllable area of the lake (ex: north or south ends of bays).
Other methods should be tried in areas of higher concentration (ex: chemical treatment).
Get Army Corps of Engineers to dredge lake (it's too shallow); Weed harvesting does not fix problem; Makes water quality worse
Ban sale and use of lawn fertilizers in Richmond and Canadice and enforce with stiff fines.
Explore other ways to reduce weeds; Harvester is only partially effective.
Look closer at how Conesus Lake Association manages their weed issues.
I seriously question the weir at the end of the lake maintaining constant water levels; The lakeshore used to receive 10 - 20 feet each summer, reducing weed growth. Dredge lake, small sections at a time.
Stop the cutting; when you cut your lawn the grass grows thicker, the plants receive more sunlight, the seeds get spread and the clippings become fertilizer; the same thing happens when you cut aquatic weeds.
If a significant percentage of the cut weeds are lost into the lake do not continue the cutting program as this puts the burden of shore cleanup on the owners; Lost
weeds are probably no better than letting them grow and die naturally.
Get two new reliable cutting machines if the program is continued.
We support newer harvesters capable of coming closer to the shore and able to collect more weed fragments.
The 2010 harvester crew was not as efficient and organized as in previous years; The timing of unloading the harvester with the truck wasn't correlated in the previous years. Weed fragments are a minor nuisance to me until the weed harvesters start, then they become a major nuisance
I'd like to see what expert opinion says about the pros and cons regarding the harvesting I watched the weed harvesters cut weeds and leave them in the lake to wash ashore; The conveyor belts on the harvester are not even working.
If you didn't harvest weeds I would not be able to put my boat in the water without stalling or getting stuck because they are so thick.
Expand program with better equipment.
Weeds wash up on east side; Most harvesting done on west side.
Collect cut weeds.
Buy new equipment.
Replacing existing equipment with a new (or newer) more efficient unit would be beneficial.
We don't think the weeds are picked up enough after they are cut.
Harvesters are not receovering cut vegetation properly.
If water stagnation contributes to blue-green algae, could the height of the weir be lowered to some midpoint that will still control the lake level but at a lower level
allowing more water movement? We were at the September town meeting which was helpful in understanding the problem.
Weed problem seems to be getting worse, not better; Clearly the current program is not working, so why spend the money on what is not working.
I really feel that harvesters be completely overhauled involving knives or buy a new, more efficient harvester
Suspend harvesting for one year will prove nothing; This is a problem that would take multiple seasons to see changes
If we could afford new harvester; let’s buy at least one.
Please keep cutting weeds; harvesting is beneficial and I continue to support it.
Please do not suspend harvesting next year; Improve equipment.
A faster conveyor speed on the harvesters should allow more complete collection of weeds that are pusehd away as the harvesters are cutting.
In summer of 2009, the harvester made a noticeable improvement in front of my property; No improvement seen this year
Need to develop replacement plan to buy new harvester(s); Retire old ones.
Update weed harvesters; They only collect 90 percent of cut weeds; I remove weeds daily from my shore
The weed harvesters do not spend enough time in our area to be effective; Even with the harvesters, we could not get our jet skis out last summer.
Weed harvesting doesn't seem to benefit me; However, I would not oppose its continuation in the majority really want it
I feel that without the weed harvesting, the lake would be unusable; Please keep it up or increase it
Either improve collection of harvested weeds by purchasing more efficient harvester or stop the use of current harvester for 2011 to see what happens.
Any possibility that the weed harvester could be operated on a volunteer basis similar to snowmobile clubs operating their own trail groomers.
It does not appear that weed cutting includes adequate removal of the cuttings.
Please fix the harvesters during the winter months; Don't wait for summer; The state is spending over a million dollars at the boat launch; Will will use it if the lake is all weeds? Weeds and algae, what happens to property value?
Level of lake is approximately 12 inches higher than it has been most of my life; Beach erosion has contributed to weed growth; Cutting and harvesting is a good thing;
Recently, harvester is not doing as good of a job removing weeds.
Algae control is more important than weeds; We have some control of weeds; We have none on algae.
The algae bloom happened last summer; it happens every summer; the lake turns over.I don't see that the program is doing any good but I'm not an expert.
In 2010, weeds were cut and not removed; This causes boating and shoreline problems; Start collecting and removing weeds
We are not familiar with the program.
Stop talking about this and let's aggressively do something to get rid of the excessive vegetation
I think the weed harvesting program shouldnot be suspended for 2011; It is the only measure that has worked at all in controlling the macrophyte growth on the lake; No management is not a viable option! Please help our lake!
Weed harvesters need to empty more often (had 4 feet of cut weeds at our dock; Could not get boat out; Never had this before); Try something else, look outside of
the box.
Why do we pay $8,000 in taxes? Expand cutting to 5 days per week; Please continue program.
Weeds need to be harvested closer to docks and shoreline for swimming.
I do approve of the town's expenditure but we unfortunately not seeing any results from the program
It seems that since they started harvesting weeds, the lakeshore has gotten extremely poor with mud, weeds, and algae settling from the end of docks to the shoreline;
Please help settle this problem!
You forgot to ask if cut weeds rot and stink up the shoreline - answer "yes".
Cancel the boat launch renovation and use the money to improve the water quality.
Use safe chemicals to kill off weeds or grass carp; Macrophyte Management Plan - not an effective one! Note: The current plan is failing terribly! Need an aggressive
plan to attack the weed problem or this lake will die!
There are many days that I do not see any of the weed cutters working; Also, their working day seems really short; Not an 8 hour day
I think you could hire people to run the machines a lot cheaper if they are going to hit my waterline anyway; Then I think you can find people to do it for less money in this economy.
Please do not stop the harvesting; I don't mind the few weeds that are not picked up by the harvester/cutter
Cut your grass; It spreads seeds on your lawn; Cut the lake weeds, spreads the seeds
If the program is suspended or discontinued, residents will most likely take weed control into their own hands; There will be no clean direction and everyone will
accomplish it whatever way they want; This may result in the use of illegal chemicals or other unconventional methods; It is a recipe for disaster.
I was at the 9/14/10 town meeting; I heard denials that weeds were cut and sometimes left in lake; However, we all have seen it happen; How can cut, but not
removed, weeds improve water quality?
When I was a kid, they used to harvest weeds on Honeoye and we never had the water quality issues we have now.
At times, the weeds are not collected at the rear of the harvester, resulting in excessive weed parts floating to shore; A barge or larger area to collect fragments behind the cutter is a good idea; Keep the weed cutter going; Thank you for allowing our input.
Continue but collect what they cut; we take out ten wheelbarrels of weeds every week; We are seriously thinking of selling and moving off the lake; I know and have
movies of the lakeshore line 50 years ago and it is disappointing to see what it has become.
A way to collect more and help us on northern shore.
Keep the weed harvesting program going!
I think weed harvester should go deeper and seek to remove bulk quantity fo weeds; They grow back too fast after harvester hit; Water would benefit from more
organic material removal and the phosphorus they carry; I think rebuilding south inlet swamp should to start.
I collect them and compost the ones that wash ashore; More people need to read the management plan; The weed harvester helps remove nutrients from lake; Weeds would otherwise decompose on the bottom; Honeoye is a very eutrophic lake.Concentrate on a quarter mile stretch of shoreline per harvester for approximately two days and then move on.
I would like to thank the operators of the harvesters, especially Randy, for their efforts in doing the best job they can.
Weed harvesting should continue but with equipment that does not miss all the choppings that presently escape the machines in use.
Is dredging possible; "Shallowness" is major problem.
What were the results of the alum treatment?
Manage the lake using good science.
I think the water level is too high and the problem is the weir; The lake is stagnant; No outflow!
Try chemical treatment.
We want to manage our shoreline.
A weed-choked lake will adversely affect the lake's appeal and reduce property values, make existing home sales more difficult, slow upgrades to existing properties,
limit recreational use by residents, transient boaters, and park-goers, and raise health concerns, particularly for those who draw water from the lake.
Shallow; Dredge at Sandy Bottom; Raise containment wall 18"; Lake has room to grow.
Try dredging.
Please dredge the lake!
Alternative Management Techniques
Can grass carp be used and what about chemical controls; Explore ways to safely kill and reduce weed growth
Drop lake level 5 to 6 feet in the winter.
Why couldn't the special sterile carp be used?
Use weed killers to eliminate weeds 150 feet from shoreline.
Weed cutting is bad; Need underwater raking; Also weed-eating carp!
I would like to hear more about the weir and any studies that led to its installation being a benefit; Being around the lake so many years, I have never seen it as bad as this year. Weir needs to be lowered so lake doesn't stagnate; Weir also causes more erosion
Provide the sterile weed eating carp; Allow some chemical tests, chemical treatment in a small, controllable area of the lake (ex: north or south ends of bays).
Other methods should be tried in areas of higher concentration (ex: chemical treatment).
Get Army Corps of Engineers to dredge lake (it's too shallow); Weed harvesting does not fix problem; Makes water quality worse
Ban sale and use of lawn fertilizers in Richmond and Canadice and enforce with stiff fines.
Explore other ways to reduce weeds; Harvester is only partially effective.
Look closer at how Conesus Lake Association manages their weed issues.
I seriously question the weir at the end of the lake maintaining constant water levels; The lakeshore used to receive 10 - 20 feet each summer, reducing weed growth. Dredge lake, small sections at a time.
Stop the cutting; when you cut your lawn the grass grows thicker, the plants receive more sunlight, the seeds get spread and the clippings become fertilizer; the same thing happens when you cut aquatic weeds.
If a significant percentage of the cut weeds are lost into the lake do not continue the cutting program as this puts the burden of shore cleanup on the owners; Lost
weeds are probably no better than letting them grow and die naturally.
Get two new reliable cutting machines if the program is continued.
We support newer harvesters capable of coming closer to the shore and able to collect more weed fragments.
Alternative Management Techniques
Can grass carp be used and what about chemical controls; Explore ways to safely kill and reduce weed growth
Is dredging possible; "Shallowness" is major problem.
What were the results of the alum treatment?
Manage the lake using good science.
I think the water level is too high and the problem is the weir; The lake is stagnant; No outflow!
Try chemical treatment.
We want to manage our shoreline.
A weed-choked lake will adversely affect the lake's appeal and reduce property values, make existing home sales more difficult, slow upgrades to existing properties,
limit recreational use by residents, transient boaters, and park-goers, and raise health concerns, particularly for those who draw water from the lake.
Shallow; Dredge at Sandy Bottom; Raise containment wall 18"; Lake has room to grow.
Try dredging.
Please dredge the lake!
Drop lake level 5 to 6 feet in the winter.
Why couldn't the special sterile carp be used?
Use weed killers to eliminate weeds 150 feet from shoreline.
Weed cutting is bad; Need underwater raking; Also weed-eating carp!
I would like to hear more about the weir and any studies that led to its installation being a benefit; Being around the lake so many years, I have never seen it as bad as this year. Weir needs to be lowered so lake doesn't stagnate; Weir also causes more erosion
Provide the sterile weed eating carp; Allow some chemical tests, chemical treatment in a small, controllable area of the lake (ex: north or south ends of bays).
Other methods should be tried in areas of higher concentration (ex: chemical treatment).
Get Army Corps of Engineers to dredge lake (it's too shallow); Weed harvesting does not fix problem; Makes water quality worse
Ban sale and use of lawn fertilizers in Richmond and Canadice and enforce with stiff fines.
Explore other ways to reduce weeds; Harvester is only partially effective.
Look closer at how Conesus Lake Association manages their weed issues.
I seriously question the weir at the end of the lake maintaining constant water levels; The lakeshore used to receive 10 - 20 feet each summer, reducing weed growth. Dredge lake, small sections at a time.
Stop the cutting; when you cut your lawn the grass grows thicker, the plants receive more sunlight, the seeds get spread and the clippings become fertilizer; the same
thing happens when you cut aquatic weeds.
If a significant percentage of the cut weeds are lost into the lake do not continue the cutting program as this puts the burden of shore cleanup on the owners; Lost
weeds are probably no better than letting them grow and die naturally.
Get two new reliable cutting machines if the program is continued.
We support newer harvesters capable of coming closer to the shore and able to collect more weed fragments.If the silt at the bottom is the main cause, then remove the silt; There has to be a better way; Seems like very year it gets worse (It was pointed out at one of the
meetings that the bottom of Honeoye Lake contains 3' of silt).
I believe chemical treatment is now more feasible; It is safe to water life; It may even be more cost effective
A lake manager position is not cost feasible, but it may be for the whole of the Finger Lakes area
At some point, they are going to have to start removing weeds; Grass carp, etc.; Then use other methods to maintain
Other techniques should be used in conjunction; Would control of flow or lowering lake level help? How can we control phosphorus from land entry lake?
Look into products like alum to reduce weed bloom.
Reenact the mooring laws proposed and rejected in past years; Prevent additional commerical use of the lake; Prevent encroachment of neighboring docks and hoists.
What about more aerators at the other lake locations? Is the birm restricting water flow? Are there any new harvesting methods?
As stated above, these are our opinions; We would prefer to have these decisions made by an environmental professional whose only objective is to do what is best for the lake. Perhaps exploration of other methods for weed management should be undertaken.
Herbicides and grass carp should be used; Use the $60,000 to hire FLCC to come up with a weed and algae solution
Instead of initiating programs recommended by one body or organization, allow Dr. Bruce Gilman, the DEC, and the HVA to comeup with a viable, affordable solution;
Modify the existing weir so it can be opened and closed at will by increments; Trial draw down of the lake water in winter may provide many benefits amongst which
certainly be less shoreline erosion.
Property values have gone down due to poor water quality (weeds, smell) tv coverage; In favor of putting fish that are sterilized that eat seaweed into the lake.
Weir at end of lake must be eliminated or made adjustable, to allow seed, algae, bacteria to flow out of lake, along with weed harvesting
Cost of the lake manager?
Harvesting is only a bandaid; Considering how bad the weeds have gotten, how about dredging to be followed by more aggressive harvesting? I have also been told
that the weeds could be used to make biodiesel; Could the collection of weeds be eligible for state funds or stimulus money?
Can a consultant from the DEC do the same thing as a lake manager?
Have an educated person in the field make a study.
Remove the weir at the north end of the lake to permit natural drainage.
New science and research? What are other lakes doing? What does 'task force' recommend?
I would be supportive of efforts to increase the center depth of the lake via dredging
Property values are down; Let's put seaweed eating carp in the lake; We need county water piped through; At a fair cost; Not like the sewer fiasco.
It's a shallow lake and the collector of water runoff; Government just needs to do what they can to preserve value at a reasonable cost
A qualified knowledgeable person should be leading the program.
With the condition of Honeoye Lake the solution should be simple 1) clean out the outlet 2) put grass carp to eat the weeds if they multiply, fine, if not they die in 5
years, the condition of the lake will improve; All of the above will make the lake enjoyable; I have read all the options to improve the lake and I believe steps 1 and 2
are the least expensive. Get rid of weir for 1 to 2 seasons and stop harvesting (couldn't be any worse than installation of weir and adding alum); you refused to install methods at boat launches to prevent zebra mussels. My question is why is there no mention about the alum that was put into the lake? Also, where they dumped the alum was the best area for walleye fishing especially in the winter; Since they put the alum in there are no more walleye in that area at all; what does this tell you? Charge a lake user fee ($10 per launch) at launches and marina with money going to lake weed and algae management
Can grass carp be used and what about chemical controls; Explore ways to safely kill and reduce weed growth
Is dredging possible; "Shallowness" is major problem.
What were the results of the alum treatment?
Manage the lake using good science.
I think the water level is too high and the problem is the weir; The lake is stagnant; No outflow!
Try chemical treatment.
We want to manage our shoreline.
A weed-choked lake will adversely affect the lake's appeal and reduce property values, make existing home sales more difficult, slow upgrades to existing properties,
limit recreational use by residents, transient boaters, and park-goers, and raise health concerns, particularly for those who draw water from the lake.
Shallow; Dredge at Sandy Bottom; Raise containment wall 18"; Lake has room to grow.
Try dredging.
Please dredge the lake!
Drop lake level 5 to 6 feet in the winter.
Why couldn't the special sterile carp be used?
Use weed killers to eliminate weeds 150 feet from shoreline.
Weed cutting is bad; Need underwater raking; Also weed-eating carp!
I would like to hear more about the weir and any studies that led to its installation being a benefit; Being around the lake so many years, I have never seen it as bad as this year. Weir needs to be lowered so lake doesn't stagnate; Weir also causes more erosion
Provide the sterile weed eating carp; Allow some chemical tests, chemical treatment in a small, controllable area of the lake (ex: north or south ends of bays).
Other methods should be tried in areas of higher concentration (ex: chemical treatment).
Get Army Corps of Engineers to dredge lake (it's too shallow); Weed harvesting does not fix problem; Makes water quality worse
Ban sale and use of lawn fertilizers in Richmond and Canadice and enforce with stiff fines.
Explore other ways to reduce weeds; Harvester is only partially effective.
Look closer at how Conesus Lake Association manages their weed issues.
I seriously question the weir at the end of the lake maintaining constant water levels; The lakeshore used to receive 10 - 20 feet each summer, reducing weed growth. Dredge lake, small sections at a time.
Stop the cutting; when you cut your lawn the grass grows thicker, the plants receive more sunlight, the seeds get spread and the clippings become fertilizer; the same
thing happens when you cut aquatic weeds.
If a significant percentage of the cut weeds are lost into the lake do not continue the cutting program as this puts the burden of shore cleanup on the owners; Lost
weeds are probably no better than letting them grow and die naturally.
Get two new reliable cutting machines if the program is continued.
We support newer harvesters capable of coming closer to the shore and able to collect more weed fragments.If the silt at the bottom is the main cause, then remove the silt; There has to be a better way; Seems like very year it gets worse (It was pointed out at one of the
meetings that the bottom of Honeoye Lake contains 3' of silt).
I believe chemical treatment is now more feasible; It is safe to water life; It may even be more cost effective
A lake manager position is not cost feasible, but it may be for the whole of the Finger Lakes area
At some point, they are going to have to start removing weeds; Grass carp, etc.; Then use other methods to maintain
Other techniques should be used in conjunction; Would control of flow or lowering lake level help? How can we control phosphorus from land entry lake?
Look into products like alum to reduce weed bloom.
Reenact the mooring laws proposed and rejected in past years; Prevent additional commerical use of the lake; Prevent encroachment of neighboring docks and hoists.
What about more aerators at the other lake locations? Is the birm restricting water flow? Are there any new harvesting methods?
As stated above, these are our opinions; We would prefer to have these decisions made by an environmental professional whose only objective is to do what is best for the lake. Perhaps exploration of other methods for weed management should be undertaken.
Herbicides and grass carp should be used; Use the $60,000 to hire FLCC to come up with a weed and algae solution
Instead of initiating programs recommended by one body or organization, allow Dr. Bruce Gilman, the DEC, and the HVA to comeup with a viable, affordable solution;
Modify the existing weir so it can be opened and closed at will by increments; Trial draw down of the lake water in winter may provide many benefits amongst which
certainly be less shoreline erosion.
Property values have gone down due to poor water quality (weeds, smell) tv coverage; In favor of putting fish that are sterilized that eat seaweed into the lake.
Weir at end of lake must be eliminated or made adjustable, to allow seed, algae, bacteria to flow out of lake, along with weed harvesting
Cost of the lake manager?
Harvesting is only a bandaid; Considering how bad the weeds have gotten, how about dredging to be followed by more aggressive harvesting? I have also been told
that the weeds could be used to make biodiesel; Could the collection of weeds be eligible for state funds or stimulus money?
Can a consultant from the DEC do the same thing as a lake manager?
Have an educated person in the field make a study.
Remove the weir at the north end of the lake to permit natural drainage.
New science and research? What are other lakes doing? What does 'task force' recommend?
I would be supportive of efforts to increase the center depth of the lake via dredging
Property values are down; Let's put seaweed eating carp in the lake; We need county water piped through; At a fair cost; Not like the sewer fiasco.
It's a shallow lake and the collector of water runoff; Government just needs to do what they can to preserve value at a reasonable cost
A qualified knowledgeable person should be leading the program.
With the condition of Honeoye Lake the solution should be simple 1) clean out the outlet 2) put grass carp to eat the weeds if they multiply, fine, if not they die in 5
years, the condition of the lake will improve; All of the above will make the lake enjoyable; I have read all the options to improve the lake and I believe steps 1 and 2
are the least expensive. Get rid of weir for 1 to 2 seasons and stop harvesting (couldn't be any worse than installation of weir and adding alum); you refused to install methods at boat launches to prevent zebra mussels. My question is why is there no mention about the alum that was put into the lake? Also, where they dumped the alum was the best area for walleye fishing especially in the winter; Since they put the alum in there are no more walleye in that area at all; what does this tell you? Charge a lake user fee ($10 per launch) at launches and marina with money going to lake weed and algae management
Other