Clearing the Current: Herbicide Treatment on Aug. 3rd
SUCCESSFUL HERBICIDE TREATMENT!
On May 31st, June 23rd, and July 12th, DCR’s consultant, SOLitude Lake Management, applied Sonar herbicide to 105 acres in the Lakes District, in the densest patches of fanwort. This was followed by water quality monitoring, required by the Division of Marine Fisheries during the herring migration season, which showed normal levels of pH and dissolved oxygen, indicating no adverse impacts.
The results of treatment are being monitored – a preliminary plant biovolume survey was conducted on June 1st, and follow-up surveys will be conducted throughout the season. Sonar herbicide is expected to reduce aquatic plants 30-45 days after the first treatment, and will mainly target fanwort and milfoil. There have already been on-the-water reports of clearer waters in the Lakes District from paddlers!
UPCOMING TREATMENT DAY!
The next, and last Sonar treatment for the season is scheduled for this Thursday, August 3rd!
A reminder that river users should plan to stay out of the way of the treatment boat during the herbicide application, to allow them to work efficiently. The herbicide itself is safe for humans and would have no health effects on anyone who may accidentally come in contact with it. However, use of the treated water for irrigation will result in the death of irrigated plants.
Treatment Alert
Supplemental Information
SEND YOUR OBSERVATIONS!
DCR wants to know where you observe invasive plants! While the treatment is focused on the Lakes District this summer, spot treatments of milfoil or fanwort may be done in the Lower Basin as well if there are dense patches of weeds. Please send your observations, including the location and a picture (if possible), to Lisa at lkumpf@crwa.org.
INVASIVES EARMARK UPDATE
CRWA is thrilled to announce that the most recent version of the state budget includes $100,000 for aquatic invasive species control for the Charles River and Mystic River. We are extremely grateful to Representative Kay Khan for filing the budget amendment and to the many other legislators who supported this funding. With the budget soon to be finalized, we look forward to continuing our work with DCR to keep our rivers clean!
SUPPORT INVASIVE REMOVAL!
Removing invasive plants is a big job, and we rely on community support to meet our goal of a clean, healthy Charles!
Donate today to help complete this critical project! Your gift provides the resources to help clear invasives from identified prioritized areas of the river as part of DCR’s extensive 5-year management plan.
We invite YOU to partner with us to complete this effort.
GIVE TODAY
For more information about the project’s benefits and why CRWA supports it, check out our frequently asked questions.
