Herbicide Hits Lake Zoar Wednesday

What's in the water?

Lake Zoar will see herbicide treatments to combat the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil on July 1. Signs posted along docks and letters provided to residents near the treatment areas should already be in place as of Monday, June 29, to let people know: Recreation is prohibited in the roughly 40 acres on the day of treatment. Hoping to allay fears, Lake Zoar Authority Charman Bob Barnes said, "It's safe."

People will see an airboat traveling along the lake and dispensing approximately 60 gallons of herbicide released "more or less on the opposite side of the sandbar [from the Stevenson Dam]," he explained. Treated areas will be closer to the Kettletown State Park beach and Southbury side of Lake Zoar. Monroe's beach access near the dam will also be treated, while Newtown's Eichler's Cove marina and beach are outside the acres where the herbicide with Diquat — a main ingredient — is being released.

Could the invasive weed easily encumber boat propellers and encroach on the lake's natural plant life? "You got it," Mr Barnes said. The lake authority is tasked with "a lot," which includes water quality, and the watermilfoil herbicide applications — about $20,000 — take place as the budget allows. "If we have money, we do it, if not, we make do, Mr Barnes said, already anticipating that the authority may have to come up with its own resources next year. "If you leave the invasive alone it will take over; it will take out the good weeds. It's encroaching further and further."

Other methods of eradicating the weed were not successful in the past. A plant eating beetle used in a biological control measure was not enough for the 900-plus acres of lake, he said.

For more information on the herbicide treatments on Lake Zoar this week, read the July 3 edition of The Newtown Bee.