Swan Lake Water Chestnut Removal

Last week the CRISP team went out to Swan Lake in Sullivan county to check out the status of the water chestnut infestation.  The infestation covered a substantial portion of the lake, about 120 acres out of 395.  The home owners association decided to use a chemical treatment after hand pulling failed to make a huge difference in the amount of water chestnuts.  They decided on a five year treatment plan, the first one took place in the summer of 2009.  The first treatment was a small area to test the effectiveness. It only took about 2 months for drastic changes to be seen. The CRISP team helped as much as they could during their brief visit to the area and managed to clear water surrounding the nearby park.  We want to encourage people to do what they can to manage breakouts like these before taking huge steps like chemical treatment.  However, sometimes its the most cost efficient and effective.  When I saw the lake I couldn't believe that less then 3 years ago it was swarming with water chestnut.  The residents of Swan Lake still have a long road ahead of them but they are optimistic and hope for a water chestnut free lake!