Water Resources
Water Resources Department
P: (336) 222-5133 F: (336) 570-6175
For questions regarding billing and new account information, please contact our customer service office at (336) 222-5100. During nights, holidays, weekends, please notify the Burlington Police Department at (336) 229-3500.
Aquatic Weeds and Weed Eating Fish
Several years ago the City of Burlington began monitoring the City owned reservoirs for the presence of invasive species of aquatic plants. These plants are not native to North Carolina and can become a nuisance if left alone. These weeds can grow rapidly and change the habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. They can be spread from one water body to another by the transfer of small plant fragments. They can exist out of the water for long periods of time and will revive when reintroduced into the water. Plant fragments can be transported on boats, boat trailers, wildlife, or in bait buckets to name a few means. We were looking for these plants because reservoirs in neighboring counties had infestations of these nuisance plants.
Our first encounter with the invasive plants was the discovery of water primrose in Lake Mackintosh. We began a program to monitor its growth and treat the areas where it was found to kill the weed. As we began this weed control program we were optimistic that we could stop the spread of the primrose and eventually eradicate it. We have seen progress in controlling this weed species.
After two seasons of attacking the primrose, a different plant was observed in Lake Cammack. The plant, lyngbya woolei, was found in a section of the lake north of Altamahaw-Union Ridge Road. This weed can cause changes in the habitat, but it can also affect water quality. Lakes infested with this plant have an offensive odor, and the water is very difficult to treat for use as drinking water. The weed is difficult to control and there is active research on what is the best method of control. Lyngbya woolei is now established in Lake Mackintosh around the Guilford Mackintosh Marina and the marina off of Huffman Mill Road. We are using physical removal and chemical treatments to reduce these infestations.
Last year during the summer growing season, another invasive species was discovered in Lake Mackintosh. What was originally thought to be a small area of hydrilla growth turned out to be almost twenty acres of hydrilla dominance by late fall. The growth was so thick it was difficult to paddle a canoe through the weed beds. This weed will affect the fish habitat, and additionally other undesirable algae and organisms can colonize the leaves. The way this plant spreads makes it particularly difficult to control. Fragments, seeds, and tubers all play a role in the dispersal of this plant. Chemical control is not effective over large areas, and it is not practical to drain Lake Mackintosh to dry out the lakebed.
The City of Burlington has decided to implement biological control of the hydrilla by the introduction of a grass carp. These fish will eat the weed and hopefully reduce the area of infestation and the impact of the vegetative growth. The carp are about twelve inches long when they are stocked and can grow to about three feet in length. The fish are expensive to purchase. The City spent almost $11.00 per fish last fall. We are planning to stock more fish at the beginning of the spring growing season. With subsequent stockings, we hope to control the spread of the hydrilla and reduce the area of infestation.
If you catch one of these fish, please release it unharmed. These fish are a valuable tool in our efforts to control the nuisance weed growth in our reservoirs. Using grass carp, we are trying to protect the lakes for various types of recreation. Also, if you use a boat on our lakes, please inspect the bait container, trailer and boat for plant fragments before you contact the water. We appreciate your cooperation.
LINKS