A $50,000 grant has been secured in the State Budget to combat invasive species in Black Lake.
The grant money will go towards protecting Black Lake, one of the North Country’s top fishing and tourist attractions.
Eurasian Milfoyle, a non-native nuisance weed, forms dense mats of vegetation that shades out native species. The heavy weed growth disrupts the lake’s water flow, hurts water quality, and reduces boating, fishing and swimming in Black Lake.
Black Lake, often referred to as "Nature's Fish Hatchery," is the largest of the Indian River lakes. The 20 mile long lake, with over 60 miles of shoreline and numerous islands, offers anglers a variety of ideal fish habitats from rocky points and shoals, to sandbars, weed beds, shallows, and deep water up to 40 feet. The lake's most dominant game fish are the small mouth bass, large mouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and once again walleye.
“Black Lake is one of the region’s economic engines,” said Senator Ritchie. "It generates jobs and business opportunities for people in Hammond, Morristown, Oswegatchie, Macomb, Rossie, DePeyster and across the North Country.”
The dense weed canopies shade and crowd out native vegetation, creating pools of stagnant water, damaging fishing habitat.
