For Immediate Release: November 8, 2013
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY The Adirondack Park Agency has extended the public comment period for recently proposed Agency guidance for the use of the aquatic herbicides Renovate® and Renovate® OTF to manage the aquatic invasive plant Eurasian watermilfoil. The comment period will run through December 2, 2013.
The purpose of the guidance is to provide clear direction to involved parties on the use of the aquatic herbicides Renovate® and Renovate® OTF to manage Eurasian watermilfoil. Requirements include prior use of non-chemical treatments (hand harvesting, benthic barriers), limiting applications to large dense beds and long-term strategies to use non-chemical options to prevent recolonization. The guidance is intended to help achieve long-term control of the target species and avoid or limit impacts to freshwater wetlands and non-target organisms.
Eurasian watermilfoil can outcompete native plants, including New York State rare, threatened and endangered species resulting in decreased plant diversity and diminished habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms.
Renovate® and Renovate® OTF, are preferred aquatic herbicides for the management of Eurasian watermilfoil because they are low toxicity, highly selective and fast acting. They are approved for use in New York State and primarily target dicot classified plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil. Many native plants including pondweed, elodea, coontail, sedges and grasses are not susceptible to these aquatic herbicides.
The Agency proposed guidance is intended to help direct management of aquatic invasive species in Adirondack water bodies in a manner that avoids or minimizes impacts to freshwater wetlands, non-target native plants and animals.
To review the proposed Guidelines for Appropriate Use of the Aquatic Herbicides Renovate® and Renovate® OTF to Manage Eurasian Watermilfoil, an Aquatic Invasive Plant, please use the following link:
http://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/RenovateGuidance-PublicComment.pdf
All public comments must be received by December 2, 2013.
Please send comments to:
Leigh Walrath Adirondack Park Agency P.O. Box 99 Ray Brook, NY 12977
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.ny.gov.
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