A 10-week herbicide treatment aimed at eradicating hydrilla from Cayuga Lake is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has contracted with SOLitude Lake Management to apply the aquatic herbicides fluridone and chelated copper in the North Aurora Project Area.
The initial application of fluridone, sold under the name Sonar H4C, is weather-dependent. Harpoon Granular, a chelated copper herbicide, will only be used as a spot treatment in areas where isolated hydrilla is detected. Signs will be posted at public access points along the lake when treatments are applied.
Officials said there will be no restrictions on drinking, fishing, swimming, boating or domestic use of the treated water at the planned fluridone levels. However, water containing fluridone should not be used on sensitive greenhouse and nursery plants, newly seeded lawns or certain vegetable plants. The Cayuga County Health Department will monitor public drinking water quality throughout the treatment period. Sampling results will be posted online as they become available.
Hydrilla is an invasive aquatic plant that can spread rapidly, crowd out native vegetation and interfere with boating and other recreational activities.
Treatment information and sampling results are available on the Cayuga County Health Department website
