Lake Erie Towing and Salvage of Angola recover the weed harvester that capsized last week on Chautauqua Lake. P-J photo by A.J. Rao

LAKEWOOD — The five-ton, 35-year-old weed harvester that capsized last week on Chautauqua Lake was recovered Wednesday after a tedious, four-hour effort.

The Chautauqua Lake Association vessel, which was used to cut and control excessive aquatic plant growth on the lake, reportedly took on water and capsized on July 18 as CLA officials were towing it back to headquarters for service.

Doug Conroe, CLA executive director, said part of the top frame of the vessel got stuck in the shallow, soft bottom of the lake near the Lakewood shoreline, making it difficult to move.

The CLA and the Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team attempted a recovery on July 20 to no avail. Conroe said the vessel was too heavy for the flotation equipment being used.

Lake Erie Towing and Salvage out of Angola were later awarded a bid to bring up the vessel. On Wednesday, divers from the company attached several air lift bags to the bottom of the harvester, raising and tilting it just enough to turn it over.

Conroe told The Post-Journal he was “relieved” to see the harvester recovered and praised the efforts of Lake Erie Towing and Salvage. He said he hopes to conduct an inspection of the vessel at the CLA yard to determine why it took on water.

“We’re going to see if we missed something,” Conroe said. “I’m pleased to see (the vessel) still floating. That gives me hope that it can still be salvaged.”

The harvester was purchased in 1982 for $76,000. Conroe said the CLA has eight such vessels, some even older than the one that capsized. Conroe said age-related wear-and-tear is ultimately related to the amount of maintenance conducted. CLA conducts annual maintenance of its vessels, he said.

The operator of the capsized harvester was uninjured.