Weeds Weeds Weeds

WEEDS, WEEDS, WEEDS! We do have a bumper crop washing up on our shorelines!

It’s that time of year when our beaches get covered with weeds. It really helps the lake stay healthy if they are raked up and taken away. They are amazingly light when they dry out and easy to dispose of.

• Some facts:
  The weeds we are seeing now are native weeds.
• The Conservation Commissions will not issue permits to rid Attitash of native weeds, – only invasive weeds like milfoil and curly pondweed.
• Weeds need sunlight to grow. The lake was lower than usual this summer and we enjoyed clearer water. Both factors allowed more sunlight to reach the bottom and encourage plant growth.
• Rotting weeds add nutrients to the lake which feed next year’s weeds and algae (cyanobacteria).
• Rotting weeds leave black muddy sediment which makes swimming areas unappealing and creates murky water

You can help the lake by raking the weeds that are washing up on your shoreline onto your exposed beach areas. After a few days of dry weather they will be light and can be bagged and hauled away to the dump.

Some people use the weeds for compost or mulching.

CLEANING YOUR BEACH HELPS THE LAKE

Veronica Wolfe
Lake Attitash Association