Every spring, many homeowners struggle to eliminate pesky weeds, and in a similar vein, this period also marks the beginning of water weed concerns for some landowners and boaters on Alabama Power lakes.
To address this, a dedicated team of environmental affairs experts trained in aquatic plant management is deployed across the lakes to look for aquatic plant growth and judiciously apply federally approved herbicides where necessary.
Thick mats of unwanted vegetation, either floating or submerged, can create hassles for boaters and spoil the fun of diving in from private docks. “Our mission includes ensuring that our 3,500 miles of shoreline remain open and pleasant for everyone to enjoy,” shared Wes Anderson, the Water Field Services leader from Alabama Power’s Environmental Affairs team. This mission involves rigorous water assessments to discern if and when intervention is necessary.
Alabama Power consistently seeks out innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency and safety of its aquatic plant management. The program has made significant strides by introducing a groundbreaking granular herbicide distribution system. This technology not only elevates safety measures, but also ensures that herbicide application is carried out with enhanced precision. Complementing this advancement, the implementation of a sophisticated mapping system has revolutionized the way the team approaches herbicide application—allowing them to calculate and apply herbicides more accurately.
Lay Lake often requires the most attention for plant control, and a perpetual struggle persists in the Lower Coosa River basin, especially around Bouldin, Jordan and Mitchell lakes. The primary adversary is the resilient and troublesome algae called Lyngbya, known for its smelly, dense brown mats. Although long acknowledged as a problem, there are other emergent species that pose new challenges.
“We’re committed to managing these lakes to prevent the dominance of undesirable plants like Lyngbya, Milfoil, and Hydrilla, along with various other invasive aquatic species,” said Anderson, a 28-year veteran at the company. The management typically involves Alabama Power’s full-time, well-trained staff; however, when contractors are engaged, close supervision ensures the precise use of herbicides and treatment locations.
The Environmental Affairs team is qualified to use only those herbicides that receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stamp of approval. Both in-house and contracted professionals hold state-issued licenses for applying aquatic herbicides and are thoroughly trained to ensure safe and effective application. Ongoing training, industry collaboration, innovation and continual education underscore the team’s investment in best practices.
“These herbicides are specifically formulated to be safe and to selectively target undesirable flora and algae,” Anderson assured.
Aquatic vegetation management is integrated into the operational license framework for Alabama Power’s lakes, as defined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The directives within these hydro licenses guide Alabama Power’s approach to managing intrusive and invasive plants, maintaining navigability, reducing recreational and ecological disruption, safeguarding public health and facilitating continued hydropower production.
In addition to vegetation control, the team proactively monitors about 70 lake sites for mosquito activity. Some aquatic plants create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and the team is vigilant in managing mosquito populations to preempt any major issues. This proactive engagement has grown in importance as more people acquire lakefront properties, heightening the demand for Alabama Power Environmental Affairs’ expertise in both aquatic weed and mosquito control.
“Our aspiration is to be a responsible custodian of Alabama’s natural resources,” concluded Anderson. “We aim for a harmony between the various uses of these water bodies and the preservation of these natural assets, reflecting our long-standing commitment.”
Enhancing habitat
Treating aquatic weeds isn’t the only way Alabama Power’s Environmental Affairs team manages the reservoirs. The company recognizes the benefits native aquatic plants provide to fish and wildlife habitat and in protecting the shoreline from erosion caused by boat wakes. That’s why the team partners with college and high school fishing teams to establish native water willow on certain reservoirs as well as to deploy fish attraction devices (FADs) to provide additional fish habitat.
For more information about Alabama Power’s aquatic vegetation management efforts, click here. For additional information about Alabama Power’s environmental stewardship efforts, click here.
