New boat cleaning system on Lake Guntersville aimed at preventing invasive aquatic plants
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Boating season is about to kick into high gear across north Alabama and folks in Guntersville need your help keeping the water free from invasive aquatic species.
The W.E.T. foundation, a non-profit focused on protecting and preserving Lake Guntersville, recently purchased two CD3 boat cleaning systems in hopes that the public can help with this effort.
Art, Music, & More: Panoply returns to Downtown Huntsville
The two CD3 systems are on trailers so they can be moved between boat ramps when needed. Currently, the two are stationed at the Claysville Boat Ramp in Guntersville and the Goose Pond Boat Ramp in Scottsboro.
The CD3 systems in north Alabama are the only ones in the entire state of Alabama. Matt Arnold with the W.E.T. Foundation & the Marshall County Economic Development Council, said they first learned about the system after neighboring states saw success with reducing the spread of invasive aquatic plant species.
“The lake is our most significant economic driver in Marshall and Jackson counties,” Arnold said. “So, we want to encourage boaters to help us take care of this lake, and this [the CD3 system] is one simple way to do that.”
The stations are equipped with multiple tools including brushes, blowers, and vacuums. The purpose is to have boaters clean their boats both before and after getting in the water, to help ensure invasive plant species aren’t hitching a free ride between waterways.
‘[People] are the canvas for my art!:’ Jewelry artist prepares pieces for panoply
“It allows the public to help us out by minimizing the spread [of invasive aquatic plant species],” Stephen Turner, the Program Manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority Aquatic Plant Management program told News 19.
Turner said it is an annual battle to control invasive aquatic plant species like eel grass on Lake Guntersville.
“The plants start growing about this time of year, but they really don’t become a big issue until about the first of June,” Turner said. He said eel grass can pose a problem by blocking the flow of water and can impact recreational activities.
The new CD3 trailer is just one measure that the TVA is helping with to stop the spread of invasive plant species on Lake Guntersville.
📲Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.
📧Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox.
“The hydrillas, milfoils, eel grass — the invasive hybrid species of eel grass, those are the primary issue plants we see,” Turner said.
He said his team at the TVA frequently surveys the lake by boat to look for and address problem areas. He said they treat those spots with an herbicide, as needed.
He said boaters can do their part to help out by using the CD3 system when they enter and exit the water
“It may not seem like a lot if you pull your boat up there and clean a few stems off, but all it takes is one plant to get to another reservoir and within a year or two we’re going to have it out of control on those reservoirs too,” he said.
The CD3 trailers are solar-powered and high-tech. There is technology that allows officials to monitor how many times each cleaning station is being used. As boating season really ramps up, officials say they hope the CD3 trailers become popular.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
