Weeks 2 and 3 Hand-Harvesting Update

Hand-Harvesting on Upper Lake Makes Progress!

The divers from Invasive Solutions Dive Company returned in August for two weeks of hand harvesting on the Upper Lake. The divers spent 1 1/2 days maintaining the shoreline along Indian Point, where the density of milfoil is much reduced since harvesting began in 2016. They moved to the eastern shore along Boomhower for a third year of harvesting. After working the near shore area, they were able to move further out toward the middle of the bed. Just under a ton of milfoil was harvested along the eastern shore, about half the amount of last year’s harvest. They divers were able to make good progress as the large influx of sediment from last year’s flooding appears to have smothered some of the plant growth. Hand-harvesting is planned to continue in the South Inlet area next year, as the lakebed is state-owned Forest Preserve and herbicide treatment may not be permitted here until results are demonstrated elsewhere. We appreciate the hard work of the divers!