Outlet Vegetation and Weed Growth
Chase’s Lake Committee on Aquatic Plants and Weeds
Prolific Aquatic Plant and Weed Growth in Chase’s Lake –
Management Options for the Outlet and Cove.
Full report available here.
The Chase’s Lake Aquatic Plants and Weeds Committee was formed in 2024 to look into the issue of prolific aquatic plant and weed growth, particularly in the outlet and cove.
Members: Kevin Corcoran, Steve Christopherson, Marilyn Wetmore. Several other residents had input.
The team did a very general inventory of the most prolific aquatic weeds in the Lake/Outlet/Cove in the early fall of 2025, followed by research on the most troublesome types of aquatic plants found in our Lake, possible causes for the rampant growth, permitting considerations, treatment and management options and very rough cost estimates for pursuing treatment/management. The Committee then prepared and printed a report in October, 2025 (rev. March, 2026) summarizing their findings for consideration by the Board.
Committee also engaged representatives from NYSFOLA in 2025, learning that any permitting from the APA and/or DEC for large scale remedies first requires completion of an Aquatic Plant Inventory and Mapping.
Committee briefed the Board of Directors in February and March, 2026 and was then directed to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting private firms to submit Aquatic Plant Inventory proposals for the Board’s consideration.
RFPs were sent out to three private firms with two firms submitting proposals in March, 2026. The Committee evaluated the two proposals and shared their findings with the Board in April. The Board favored the proposal from Ready Scout and entered into an agreement with Ready Scout on April 13, 2026.
Next Steps:
Ready Scout is scheduled to conduct the aquatic plant inventory the week of August 3 – August 7, 2026, during the period of heavy aquatic weed/plant growth.
Ready Scout will produce a report in the fall of 2026 summarizing the aquatic plants found throughout all of Chase’s Lake. Plant types, locations and densities will all be summarized in narrative and map format. The report also will include photos of all plant species found, with special note of any invasive plant species discovered.
Board/Committee will then consult APA and/or NYSDEC to discuss management/treatment options and permitting requirements (if any). The permitting agencies will be guided by the Committee’s report and the Aquatic Plant Study.
A scheduled hand-harvesting weekend is being considered for the late summer of 2026 to remove Bladderwort.
