President's Message:
July 2008

'Vegetation in Chautauqua Lake'
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

By CLA President Edward (Tad) Wright

There is much conversation, conjecture, and speculation about the types of plants that exist in Chautauqua Lake. Most of these comments regarding plant growth sway toward the negative. The fact of the matter is there are many plants that are beneficial to the ecosystem of the lake. These plants provide food, shelter, and healthy environments for waterfowl, animals and fish. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly inform people on exactly what types of vegetation benefit and hinder the lake’s viability.

According to a study done by Robert Johnson of Cornell University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, “A high diversity and moderate density of native plants is the most favorable mix for the lake’s ecosystem.” Simply put, we need plants in the lake; we just need less of some and more of others. As in life, we have to take the bad with the good and deal with those exotic plants that are not native to Chautauqua and neighboring lakes but are now found in Chautauqua Lake or close by. These plants deserve special attention because many become over abundant and push out desirable species. The Cornell study points out that “although these plants provide some benefit to large populations of invertebrates and small fish, the negative influences far out weigh the positive in the Chautauqua Lake ecosystem.” As we all know these nuisance plants exist and have to be dealt with responsibly. However, there are far more beneficial native plants residing in the lake that provide stability to the ecosystem of the lake every day as they have for decades. First, let’s hear the good news.

The following are a few of the many indigenous plants to the area and New York State that provide many benefits for the Chautauqua Lake Ecosystem, especially a great variety of animal species (all information is based on the Cornell study):

Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum):

Coontail is a native submersed aquatic plant that lacks true roots and can grow in very deep waters because of its ability to grow with low light intensity. The leaves of this “tail-like” plant provide shelter for many organisms and foraging possibilities for fish. Waterfowl (black duck, bufflehead, mallard, etc.) eat the foliage and fruit of this plant.

Muskgrass (Chara vulgaris):

Characterized by its strong musk, skunk or garlic-like odor produced when removed from deeper waters (up to 30 feet), chara often display orange fruiting bodies that produce spores. This crusty feeling plant is a favorite for waterfowl and is also a valuable fish habitat and shelters food for young trout and large- and small-mouth bass.

Common Duckweed (Lemna minor):

Found in the still waters of bays and ponds, this native species belongs to a group of plants known as free-floaters. New leaves remain attached creating floating clusters on the water. Duckweed can provide up to 90% of the dietary needs of a variety of ducks and geese. It is also a food source for muskrat, beaver and fish. A most important fact about duckweed is its natural ability to prevent excessive mosquito breeding.

White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata):

A well-known native aquatic plant easily identified by its round floating leaves. The lily’s blossom is about 4-8 inches wide with many white petals arranged around a yellow center. They occur in calm waters of the lake growing in shallow areas of less than 10 feet in depth. This plant provides seeds for waterfowl. Deer, muskrat, beaver and porcupine eat the plant’s rhizomes. The pads offer shade for fish.

Common Water Meal (Wolffia Columbiana):

Water meal is a small grainy free-floater that lacks roots, stems or true leaves. It is found mainly on the shore-line. Its tiny round body simply floats on the surface absorbing nutrients directly out of the water. A food source for a variety of ducks and geese including mallard, it is particularly useful because of the dense canopies they form which physically block mosquito larvae from getting the necessary oxygen for survival. Here are some non-native species that are not always welcome in Chautauqua Lake:

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum):

Perhaps the most notorious of the bad vegetation residing in the lake, Milfoil often shades out other native plants when it creates a canopy of slender stems that emerge above the water’s surface. An extremely adaptable plant, it is able to thrive in a wide variety of adverse conditions.

Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus):

A non-native species that grows early in the season and will often reach the water’s surface by mid-June. The good thing is that it eventually dies back, dropping out of the water column by the end of July. This plant can even grow under thick ice and often dominates the submersed plant community. It is able to thrive in waters that are polluted, disturbed or lacking in sunlight. Here are some plants that are currently not found in the lake but require vigilance as they may become a threat:

Water chestnut (Trapas natans):

A floating aquatic plant that is easy to recognize but difficult to eradicate once established. Submersed leaves are feather-like. The non-native species flowers in mid-July producing large fruit or “chestnuts” which can be very painful if stepped on. These nuts fall to the bottom generating new growth.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata):

Hydrilla is dubbed the “perfect weed” because of its extraordinary adaptability to a wide range of environments. This plant is a threat to estuary systems since the plant is able to tolerate salinities of up to 10 percent per thousand. Hydrilla is considered one of the most problematic of aquatic invaders because it can grow up to 25 feet and tends to branch out forming a tangled mat. These are just a few of the many native and non-native plants growing in, or close to Chautauqua Lake, Some of these provide benefit while others cause headaches for people and animals that inhabit the lake and its shores.

The Chautauqua Lake Association is committed to understanding the science of our lake and its various forms of vegetation, both good and bad. This important knowledge helps us make responsible, informed, and prudent decisions in the care and maintenance of the lake. One of the main objectives of the CLA is to promote public understanding that not all aquatic plants are a nuisance and that, in fact, most are beneficial to the ecosystem of the lake.

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