Deep Creek Lake Management, in combination with Deep Creek Watershed Foundation, recently completed a pilot project for Sub-Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) cutting at Deep Creek Lake. Using specialized machinery, a contracted company was hired to cut the grass in three designated spots. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Lake Management members collected samples and measurements from the soil and water prior to cutting and shortly thereafter to compare to future data that will be collected this coming summer. The goal from this pilot project is to determine what if any impact cutting the SAV will have on the lake’s natural habitat and overall health.
At a recent symposium hosted by Deep Creek Lake Watershed Foundation, Lake Manager Cristina Sanders detailed the current state of Sub-Aquatic Vegetation and the details from the pilot harvesting project. SAV has several great benefits to the lake’s ecosystem, including reducing shoreline erosion cause by boat traffic, improving water clarity, and reducing the risk of algal blooms. In addition, it provides habitat for juvenile fish, food for waterfowl, and shelter for ‘predator’ trophy fish species that are commonly caught in the lake. Natural SAV occurrence also can help prevent invasive species from overtaking sections of the lakebed. All of these considerations will factor into the decisions made by DNR and Lake Management after reviewing the data from the harvesting project.
The harvester itself is a specialized piece of machinery that is essentially a water-based mower. Using a submerged cutting system, the grass is cut and put on a conveyor belt system that removes the trimmings from the water. The conveyor belt is designed to carry the grass while allowing juvenile fish to ‘fall through’ the grates back to the water, but especially dense areas of grass tend to block the grates, which prevents the fish from safely returning to the water. Should this type of harvesting be approved for Deep Creek, Lake Management and DNR would then need to decide how property owners would quality, who is authorized to do the cutting, and at what depths it would be permitted, among other factors.
At this time, there are very limited options for homeowners to manage SAV. The most popular method is installing mats on the bed of the lake around the dock area, which keeps the grasses from tangling in boat propellors or legs. This process requires prior approval from DNR and Lake Management prior to installation. To watch the full presentation from Lake Management, visit www.deepcreekwatershedfoundation.org or visit their YouTube channel.
Connect