Lake Mohawk continues to provide excellent and beautiful recreational opportunities as summer progresses and fall grows closer. Blue-green algae remains under natural control based on water color in the northern two thirds of the lake. Helping to naturally suppress the microscopic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)is a common summer aquatic plant known as brittle naiad as described at this LINK. Brittle naiad although an exotic aquatic plant helps suppress blue-green algae by competing for nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in addition to stabilizing lake sediments which prevents sedimentary phosphorus from being recycled back into the water column.
The following is a short recent video provided by Paul Mickley showing a lush “carpet” of naiad in the back of bay 3. Notice how clear the water is within this area.
Brittle naiad reproduces by seed and is very common in lake and reservoir environments that utilize winter drawdown of lake levels. While winter drawdown freezes the root system of many other aquatic plant species, it has no effect on the seeds produced by this aquatic plant. Brittle naiad will naturally die off (senescence) throughout the months of September and October.
Eagle Pair spotted on power tower
A pair of American Bald Eagles were spotted perched high in the power line towers at the entrance leading to Lake Mohawk. Certainly a beautiful sight to see.
Beacon Lake water color change
Beacon Lake has recently had a significant change in water color from all previous weeks this season. It is often interesting to note the color differences between Beacon Lake and the back of bay 11.
