NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Winter Drawdown-Yaphank Lakes
•Impact on
Target Plant Species- significant
in exposed areas
•Impact on
Native Plant Species-
–Lower Lake significant in exposed areas
–Upper Lake pondweeds/naiads- low, lilies-
high
pennywort/St
Johns wort- moderate
•Impact on
Native Animal Species- high
in exposed area
•Post-Treatment
Plant Coverage
–treatment
zone- very low
–outside
treatment zone- Lower-very
low; Upper-moderate
•Water quality
changes temporary
turbidity
potential
release of nutrients / bloom
•Ecological
impacts loss of spawning
grounds / cover
wetland/GW
recharged reduced
reduced
fisheries habitat
•Downstream
impacts heavy initial flow,
turbidity
•Potential for
regrowth
–within
treatment zone- low to
moderate
–from outside
treatment zone- high
•Recreational
Impacts During Treatment
–within
treatment zone- lost lake
access
loss
of fishing edge after withdrawal
–outside
treatment zone- none after
water returns
•Likelihood of
Suboptimal Results moderate