Herbicide Application Closes Fall Creek to Boating Sept 26, 2013

[Sharon K. Anderson]

As you may have seen in today’s Ithaca Journal, herbicide treatment is planned for tomorrow, Thurs. Sept. 26, 2013.  The Tompkins County Sheriff will be closing Fall Creek to all boat traffic starting at approximately 9:30 a.m.   We are estimating that treatment will take approximately 6 hours (hopefully there won't be any mechanical issues to cause delays.)

The herbicide will be applied in Fall Creek from the mouth to the railroad crossing adjacent to Route 13, from the entrance to the Stewart Park Pond from Fall Creek (northeast side of Fall Creek) to the railroad crossing, the backwater area near the municipal golf course on the northwest side of Fall Creek, and the backwater area along the wetland on the northeast side of Fall Creek. A total of 22 acres will be treated. View a map at http://ccetompkins.org/sites/all/files/353/FallCreekTreatmentArea2013-1.JPG.

Aquathol K will be applied in liquid form to Fall Creek using subsurface injection. In areas that cannot be reached by boat, Aquathol K will be applied using a backpack sprayer. Aquathol K is the same herbicide used in Cayuga Inlet in July of this year, and in 2012 and 2011.

Swimming or bathing in the water should be avoided until 24 hours after the application;  incidental water contact after the area is reopened is not considered harmful.

 

Endothall degrades naturally in the water, with a half-life of approximately 5 to 8 days. This, combined with the dilution that occurs as the herbicide mixes with the water, will result in most areas having low or undetectable concentrations of endothall within 14 days.  The concentration of endothall in the water at various locations will be monitored several times during the next two to three weeks. The first analytical results and the monitoring locations will be available early next week on StopHydrilla.org.

 

For detailed information about the herbicides and the hydrilla eradication effort, visit http://ccetompkins.org/environment/invasive-species/herbicides-use .

 

 

Sharon K. Anderson

Environment Team Leader

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850

Cell 607-280-5580

Office 607-272-2292

 

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