Abstract |
The effect of harvesting aquatic macrophytes was studied over a three year period by means of two plots, each 30 m by 30 m located in University Bay on Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. These plots, and their controls, were sampled four times, in June, July, August, and September. Sampling was done with SCUBA apparatus. The plants were cut six inches (15 cm.) above the bottom surface and were weighed and measured. The results indicate that one harvesting will reduce the amount of regrowth to about 50% of that of the controls, two harvests will result in about 75% reduction, and three harvests almost totally eliminated the plants for that year. Recommendations for harvesting heavily used areas are two harvests, one in mid June, and the other in July. August harvesting is not necessary in this climate, since the plants tend to break up regardless of treatment. None of the treatments had an appreciable effect on the subsequent years growth, even after two years of harvesting three times. (Author) |