Weed Killer Affects Lake Musconetcong & River...

[Pete]

C.........Could a man-made lake made by damming a sediment rich river be designed to minimize sedimentation? Small dam first that slows the speed of the water, sediment falls out then water continues to the large main lake. The small sediment catching pre-lake is dredged or pumped out frequently to keep the build up down.

Earlier in this topic, I compared a nearby pond to a cesspool...

What you're designing is a full fledged septic system. Unfortunately, you'd be using the river as a leeching field.

 

[Bruce Edward Litton]

Earlier in this topic, I compared a nearby pond to a cesspool...

What you're designing is a full fledged septic system. Unfortunately, you'd be using the river as a leeching field.

Very much appreciate Rusty's detailed information. Surely someday these dams may leave behind a few pieces of concrete like Iron Age relics you find in the woods. My sense, at least, is that they will have existed in an earlier historical age.

Nevertheless, I take merely slight offense at calling the likes of what Lake Musconetcong was before the chestnuts a septic system. It obviously is now with the cormorant excrement on the stones. But that water was clear. Vegetation other than water chestnuts, aquatic vegetation good for a lake does in fact filter water, and I would like to see LM water clear again before the dam goes. The money's been invested in chemicals. So why not carry out the mission?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

The chemicals used are very short lived, Bruce. I'm no expert, but I recall it being only weeks where they are effective on the weeds. Remember that we are nearing a drought and the severe lack of rain isn't helping the lake to keep clear either. It might not be the death of the water chestnuts causing some of that lack of clarity. But I'm just guessing. I can put you in contact with Princeton Hydro in Ringoes if it would help answer some questions. I believe it was them that did the lake studies and came up with the need to apply early herbicide treatments to thwart the chestnut growth.

 

[Bruce Edward Litton]

The chemicals used are very short lived, Bruce. I'm no expert, but I recall it being only weeks where they are effective on the weeds. Remember that we are nearing a drought and the severe lack of rain isn't helping the lake to keep clear either. It might not be the death of the water chestnuts causing some of that lack of clarity. But I'm just guessing. I can put you in contact with Princeton Hydro in Ringoes if it would help answer some questions. I believe it was them that did the lake studies and came up with the need to apply early herbicide treatments to thwart the chestnut growth.

Thanks Rusty. I'll see about getting in touch w/you on that sometime fairly soon perhaps. Right now the workload is still looming over me. I'll do some more reading first.

 

[Pete]

.....I take merely slight offense at calling the likes of what Lake Musconetcong was before the chestnuts a septic system. It obviously is now with the cormorant excrement on the stones. But that water was clear. Vegetation other than water chestnuts, aquatic vegetation good for a lake does in fact filter water, and I would like to see LM water clear again before the dam goes. The money's been invested in chemicals. So why not carry out the mission?

No need to take offense.

I used "cesspool" to describe what was happening in a local pond here in Oakland.
I used "septic system" to describe Oliver's hypothetical silt trap, (he even suggested pumping it out as needed).

For LM in particular this may be a better link.
Waterbody Quality Assessment Report | WATERS | US EPA
As of 2002 Phosphorus appears to be more of a problem than bacterial pathogens.