The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is providing an update on the ongoing effort to combat the unprecedented aquatic vegetation growth that has impacted boating on Indian Lake.
ODNR has three dedicated aquatic vegetation harvesters running at Indian Lake during the 2022 season and has contracted with the Indian Lake Watershed Project for additional harvester services that began in early June. Aquatic herbicides are also being used to manage the overgrowth, and staff have been added to increase the operation's efficiency.
Weekly updates include:
- Aquatic harvesters removed 5,027 cubic yards of vegetation outside of South Bank, Pew Island, and Old Field Beach.
- Scout dredge removed 2,700 cubic yards of sediment from the nature preserve area.
- ODNR will be harvesting at Lakeview Harbor, near the Beaches, and at the West and South Bank ahead of the July Fourth celebrations.
- ODNR also picked up the vegetation piles and moved them to dump sites so our partners can focus on vegetation removal.
- An additional harvester is expected to be in operation this week.
- Residents are reminded that aquatic spraying may be conducted only be approved companies, including Aqua Doc and Aquatics Plus Pond Management. The approved private aquatic vegetation harvesting companies are Burrey Aquatic Restoration and Shoreline Construction.
- Two aquatic vegetation drop-off sites are available for residents to deposit aquatic vegetation removed from private docks. Sites include the gravel pull-off parking lot by Moundwood Marina located off State Route 368 on the east side of Moundwood Boat Ramp Entrance and the helipad parking lot on the south east corner (large parking lot located off State Route 366 near Artist Island, between Russell's Point and the Spillway).
ODNR staff will participate in Indian Lake Watershed Project (ILWP) and Indian Lake Development Corporation (ILDC) and other community meetings to discuss ongoing action and hear stakeholder feedback. ILWP and ILDC meetings are held monthly and are open to the public.
Weekly plans, photos and videos, and operational reports of vegetation removal will be posted on the Indian Lake Aquatic Vegetation Management tab of ODNR's website and on the Indian Lake State Park Facebook page. Additional signage will soon be placed throughout the park to provide direct links to vegetation removal information.
ODNR is working with Aqua Doc, a lake and pond management company, to determine the current vegetation community, analyze the effectiveness of current methods for vegetation control, and develop a Lake Vegetation Management Plan to address maintaining overall water quality and recreational use of the system.
The feedback and recommendations of stakeholders is invaluable. Please contact ODNR staff by emailing Indian.lake.parks@dnr.ohio.gov.
Categories: Ohio, Rural Lifestyle