A map highlighting the areas of Chautauqua Lake authorized for herbicide treatment beginning May 15, 2019 and continuing until no later than May 22, 2019.
LAKEWOOD – The organization involved with overseeing the herbicide applications on Chautauqua Lake has offered more details on when the process will take place and what residents and visitors should know when it comes to safety measures.
The Chautauqua Lake Partnership says that SOLitude Lake Management will begin applying herbicides Aquathol K (endothall) and Navigate (2,4-D) in lake waters starting next Wednesday, May 15 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Applications may take three to six days to complete and must be finished by May 22 according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Areas expected to be treated include those in the Town of Ellicott including the village of Celoron, in the village of Lakewood, the Town of North Harmony, and the Town of Ellery.
The time frames for restrictions on water use start as soon as the treatment has been completed. Information on water use restrictions, including when those restrictions are lifted, will be posted on the website of each Town that undertakes the application of herbicides. In addition, signs will be posted around the Lake and along downstream waters notifying users of the water use restrictions. When the swimming/bathing, irrigation, and potable use water restrictions are lifted, posted signs will be removed. After the treatment is completed, information on the status of the restrictions may be obtained on each applicable Town or Village’s website or by contacting the Town or Village Clerks.
Warning signs containing the following restrictions will be posted around the Lake and at public access points along downstream waters on or before the affected areas on the day(s) of treatment and shall remain posted as long as the restrictions are in place:
- Swimming: During Treatment and 24 hours after
- Irrigation: 21 days or < 100 ppb of 2,4-D
- Domestic Water use: < 50 ppb
- Potable Water Use: < 50 ppb
- Other Use Restrictions: None
The permits and a map of the application sites and affected areas are available at the respective Town and Village Halls and may be viewed during each’s normal business hours. Office staff will assist you in answering your questions regarding the treatments.
For all technical questions regarding the herbicides and treatment plan, please contact Glenn Sullivan, 1-908-310-8775 at SOLitude Lake Management during business hours.
The Herbicide product labels are available at https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/product-labels-new-york-2018
The herbicide treatment comes after the state DEC announced its approval of herbicide use last week.
In a statement, the DEC said it has issued permits to five municipalities authorizing herbicide treatment in 245.3 acres of the lake. There will be no applications north of Long Point, along undeveloped shoreline, or in areas containing critical fish spawning and nursery areas. In addition, areas treated in 2018 will not be treated this year because DEC typically does not authorize herbicide treatment in the same location two years in a row. DEC issued a letter on May 6, 2019 clarifying several items, including noting that chemical amounts listed in the permit are approximate and explaining that Burtis Bay will be treated in thirds with the first treatment planned for this year. The remaining two thirds will be treated in subsequent years, one third at a time. Additionally, DEC is in the process of issuing revised permits today which change allowable treatment zones within Lakewood and Ellicott and widens the navigation channel in Ellicott to 60 feet.
The actual amount of lake area that will be treated in the authorized areas will depend on each individual municipality and large based on available funding to cover the cost of treatment.
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