NSCU researchers begin fall aquatic plant survey
NSCU researchers begin fall aquatic plant survey
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North Carolina State University researchers are in the midst of their annual lakeside aquatic plant survey.
Chautauqua Lake Partnership officials made note of the survey as part of the organization's summer newsletter released earlier this week.
The university's fall 2025 survey of Chautauqua Lake's aquatic plant community revealed that submerged aquatic vegetation continues to occupy the majority of the lake's littoral zone, though it submerged aquatic vegetation abundance and extent was similar to observations made in August 2024, with the exception of the major plant growth that occurred in Burtis Bay in 2025. The most abundant species documented during the fall 2025 survey was western waterweed, which was present at 62% of surveyed points. Although western waterweed was found throughout the lake, it was present in particularly aggressive growth form in Burtis Bay intermixed with coontail and EWM.
CLP officials said in their newsletter that results of the survey taking place now will build on the 2024 and 2025 surveys.
"This survey will provide data for a more complete picture of the changes many of us have observed following the extreme, but naturally occurring, elodea boom-and-bust cycle of 2025, followed by the herbicide treatments to address invasive species that were poised to fill the vacated space," CLP officials said.
The organization is also accepting area residents' observations about conditions on the lake this summer. The survey should take a couple of minutes, CLP officials said, and is available at The survey is available at tinyurl.com/4y985pse.
"The CLP wants to document your observations about lake conditions," the newsletter states. "The purpose of this will be to establish an independent ongoing record which will augment the aquatic plant survey with respect to how lake user perceptions relate to that data. The survey will be open from August through the end of October."
A state-backed study to assess weed management approaches is wrapping up as well. Ten areas in the lake have been designated for this part of the project: three harvest-only zones, three areas with no management and four herbicide only areas. There are also designated herbicide application zones and habitat protection zones delineated. Preliminary results are expected soon and will be shared pending review and discussion with the state DEC.
"First – a thank you to both the CLA for working with NCSU to define and maintain the study areas and to the lake-front homeowners adjacent to the "no-management" control plots for their patience," CLP officials said. "Once the annual survey is completed, the data collection for this study will be complete and CLA will resume normal harvesting operations in these areas for the remainder of the season."
On Saturday, the Chautauqua Lake Association said its crews had removed 30 large truckloads of weeds from the lake totaling 600,000 pounds, or 300 tons and 246 truckloads totaling 4,290,000 pounds for the year. It's an amount the CLP noted in its newsletter.
"Year to date, the CLA has harvested and removed over 4 million lbs of lake weeds – a much lower number than last year at this time – but with greater success in keeping on top of dock and access points," the CLP newsletter states. "Sometimes less is more, and the harvest numbers are a good example. Contact CLA at 716-763-8602 in case you need to report a hazard or a HAB – or just to say thanks!"