See the FAQ page for information and warnings
about Copper Sulfate treatment for algae control
A record 22 volunteers showed up at the north end of the lake on the morning of June 10th to help hand-pull water chestnuts. Due to previous year’s hand-pulling events as well as the use of our cutter boat, we had far fewer water chestnuts to deal with this year, and 22 volunteers made a huge dent in the remaining weeds. We are making a difference.
Thanks to the following volunteers who made this event so successful:
| John Bruford | Lisa Benfield | Jen Clark |
| Terry and Bill Cleary | Dawn and Mike Franceour | Leah Gorman (Capital/Mohawk PRISM) |
| Jim Hodgkins | Ron Jensis | Bernie Kelleher |
| Robin and Dan Langer | Linda Leader | George Longworth |
| Diane and Doug Petersen | Lisa and Steve Puvogel | Bridget Roos |
| Dan Riozzi | Rick Theriault |
Additional thanks to:
Check it out! Thanks to board member Ken Bosen, we have a brand new Invasive Species Disposal Station next to the access gate at the Rt. 28 launch site. Please make good use of it.
It’s here …. and just in case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard by now ….
Please come to the KLIA Community Hall on Saturday, June 17, 9:30 am to noon to see what your generous support has brought to Kinderhook Lake. Find out how and why the Eco-Harvester was selected and how it will be used to battle our invasive weed problems. Take a close-up look and learn how it works. The Eurasian Milfoil is already shaking in its stalks! Refreshments will be served.
To help reduce the spread of this aquatic invasive species, a water chestnut hand-pulling event is planned for Saturday, June 10, 9:00 am – 11:00 am. We need a dozen volunteers for this event to be successful. As in past years, please meet at the north end of the lake with your kayak, canoe, row boat, raft, or any vessel that can navigate very shallow water. Don’t forget a rake and heavy gloves. Weeds will be transferred to a larger vessel and brought to shore for disposal. Light refreshments will be provided. In the event of pouring rain, the event will take place the same time on Sunday, June 11. Please come and be part of the solution.
So, why don’t we do this with our new ECO-Harvester? Our DEC permit does not allow it. We’re just as sorry as you!
We want to thank our KLC members, neighbors, and friends who have already stepped up to help our effort to battle the invasive weed problems in Kinderhook Lake. Since February 1st, we have impressively raised nearly 75% of the funds needed to purchase the ECO-Harvester.
At a recent meeting with DEC, our harvesting permit was assured for this coming summer. When the harvester arrives at Kinderhook Lake around June 1st, the final payment will be due. We are close to reaching our $76,000 goal and remind those who have not yet had the opportunity to contribute to please help us get there. All ECO-Harvester donations will be dedicated to the cost and operation of the harvesting equipment. Please remember that all donations are tax deductible.
Please go to the MEMBERSHIP page to make your donation.
Weeds! Weeds! Weeds! Do you find yourself trapped by weeds? Weeds wrapped around your propellers? Weeds clogging your jet ski motor? Floating weeds trapped around your dock or shoreline? Unable to get away from your shoreline without passing through weeds? Tangled in weeds while swimming, paddling or sailing? Fishing lines tangled in weeds? Embarrassed to show off your lake to friends? Worried about your property values? Weeds! Weeds! Weeds!
Aquatic weeds are essential to a healthy lake ecology and are important to the spawning and growth of our fish population. Weeds have always grown in Kinderhook Lake. However, due to the recent infestation of aquatic invasive species, along with a warm winter and spring in 2016, the quantity of invasive and native weeds has exploded. Exploded!
During the summer of 2016, over 70 acres of dense invasive aquatic weed beds were mapped in Kinderhook Lake. This includes 65 acres of Eurasian milfoil mixed with curly-leaf pondweed and 5 acres of water chestnuts. In addition, approximately 15 acres of dense nuisance native weeds, water star-grass, were observed but not mapped. Boating and recreational activities in 2016 were virtually impossible in these dense weed beds all around the lake.
So, what’s the answer? After a year of considerable research, the KLC Weed Committee has recommended weed harvesting using an ECO-Harvester.
Different from the common weed harvester, which simply cuts the top of the weeds off like a lawn mower, the ECO-Harvester pulls out the entire weed along with its roots. The Committee’s research has shown this is the best approach to a long-term, effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable weed management program. Implementing a weed management program with a new ECO-Harvester in the spring of 2017 may avoid a potentially catastrophic summer for boating and recreational activities.
Recent capital improvements at the dam and annual copper sulfate purchases to keep the lake free of blue-green algae have put a considerable strain on KLC’s financial reserves. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of membership gifts and donations. However, to keep this weed invasion manageable, we need to react right away, and once again have to ask for your support.
Our goal is to raise $76,000 to cover the cost of an ECO-Harvester. Our goal can be achieved through donations by everyone who loves and uses Kinderhook Lake and wants to see it thrive in the future.
To reach our goal and help save our lake from being overtaken by weeds, we request your support and donations in one of the following categories.
Think about it this way, the ECO-Harvester is expected to operate for at least 10 years. If you donate $1,000, your one-time Golden Eagle donation would be equivalent to $100/year. Certainly, you would agree that it’s worth $100/year to save our lake from the destruction that will be caused by the continued expansion of invasive and native weeds. And if you are lucky enough to own property on the lake, you would also agree that it’s worth $100/year to assure your property values continue to rise.
Please help us reach our $76,000 goal to start our weed management program this coming spring.
Simply click this link ECO-Harvester Donations (or the green bar at the top of the page) to easily make your donations online using a credit card or PayPal. Online payments are processed through PayPal for security purposes. If you prefer, you may mail a check in the amount of your donation to the Kinderhook Lake Corporation, PO Box 53, Niverville, NY 12130.
Thank you for helping to preserve Kinderhook Lake.
Proper maintenance of shoreline property septic systems is the best means to help control waste water from reaching our beautiful lake. For many years, the KLC has been advocating the importance of having shoreline property septic systems cleaned every 2 years. With this in mind, we’re pleased to announce that the KLIA has arranged for Sand Lake Septic Services to clean out septic tanks around the lake at the reduced rate of $160 + tax, starting on September 12, 2016. This rate is based on uncovered and pump-ready tanks. Any difficult access or digging to reach the tank will incur an additional fee. If you are interested in taking advantage of this reduced-rate service, please email your name, address, and phone number to jamesborgiaforster@gmail.com. Sand Lake Septic will contact you to schedule a date for cleaning.
If you have not had your septic tank cleaned within the past 2 years, please do your part in keeping our lake clean. The KLC board, members, your neighbors and all lake users will thank you.
As you may be aware, the KLC has been experimenting with the use of benthic barriers to battle small areas of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Also known as lake bottom blankets, the barriers effectively cover the weeds and kill them off after only a few weeks without light. Whether or not they return to the same spot next year remains to be seen. So far the barriers have been working flawlessly and have now been moved to a third location at the south end of the lake. Benthic barriers are not appropriate for lake-wide use but are most often used in small areas to clear AIS at swimming areas or boating channels.
Riparian owners wishing to clear AIS along their shoreline or around their docks for swimming or boating can purchase benthic barriers online. The KLC has been using Lake Bottom Blankets by Derma-Safe, Inc. and have found them easy to install and move around. An internet search will bring up several companies selling the barriers, which come in many sizes, some small enough to be moved by hand. Please be aware that a DEC permit is now required for the use of benthic barriers even in small areas along the shoreline. Please contact DEC for further information.
This photo shows one of our benthic barriers being pulled by a boat to be relocated.
See the FAQ page for information and warnings
about Copper Sulfate treatment for algae control
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