NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Mechanical Harvesting-Yaphank Lakes
•Impact on
Target Plant Species- height
reduction, not elimination
•Impact on
Native Plant Species- height
reduction, not elimination
•Impact on
Native Animal Species- loss
of fish, aquatic insects
•Post-Treatment
Plant Coverage
–treatment
zone- little overall
reduction by 6-8 weeks
–outside
treatment zone- no
change
•Water quality
changes surface
fragmentation
slight
reduction in sediment nutrients
•Ecological
impacts low-lying habitat
retained
selective
control fast-growing plants
•Downstream
impacts floating
fragments
•Potential for
regrowth
–within
treatment zone- high
–from outside
treatment zone- high
•Recreational
Impacts During Treatment
–within
treatment zone- significant
but slow moving
–Outside
treatment zone- noise and
diesel odor
•Likelihood of
Suboptimal Results moderate