Mountain Lake weed removal project pulls nearly 3 tons of milfoil; public demonstration set for Aug. 22

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — A pilot project using a specialized boat to remove an invasive aquatic plant from Mountain Lake has removed nearly three tons of Eurasian watermilfoil during its first eight days of operation, according to the Mountain Lake Community Association.

The project, launched this summer by a group of association members, uses a technique known as Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting, or DASH. A diver hand-pulls the weeds and feeds them into a 30-foot hose connected to a suction system aboard the boat.

The weeds are pulled into a sluice box and collected in 50-pound onion bags before being taken to a local farm for use as compost, according to the association.

Since the DASH boat was launched at the end of June, volunteers have completed eight days of operations and removed 116 bags of milfoil. Each bag averages about 50 pounds when wet, bringing the total to nearly 3 tons. The association said that represents nearly 350 cubic feet, or 13 cubic yards, of the invasive plant.

A public demonstration of the DASH boat is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the public fishing beach on the east side of Mountain Lake, just south of the fishing pier. Visitors will be able to tour the boat and watch the removal process in action.

The pilot is privately funded by 12 local residents with lakefront properties experiencing weed-control problems. Each contributed toward purchasing the boat and equipment, and no Mountain Lake Community Association funds have been used on the project to date, according to the association.

The operation has been reviewed and approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The project is intended to determine whether the technique could be effective on a larger scale in Mountain Lake. The group plans to report its findings at the association’s annual meeting Sept. 10, when the association may consider adopting and expanding the program lakewide next year.

Eurasian watermilfoil is a nonnative invasive aquatic plant that the association said has become dominant in Mountain Lake over the past 50 years, affecting the lake’s ecology and recreational activities such as boating and swimming.

The project’s goal is to reduce, control and potentially eradicate the invasive plant while allowing native aquatic plants to reestablish. Removing the weeds also removes phosphorus from the lake, which can help reduce harmful algae blooms, according to the association.

Operations are expected to continue through August, primarily along the 12 properties participating in the pilot. On Aug. 22, crews plan to target the public area along the fishing beach as part of the demonstration.

The association is also seeking volunteers to assist both on the boat and in the water for the remainder of the summer. The boat typically operates from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. once or twice a week, weather permitting. Those interested may call or text Bob at 401-788-0085 or Art at 732-598-6603.