New fishing areas opened in pond

OGDENSBURG — Aquatics Analysts, which has been treating Heaters Pond with a herbicide recently reported to the Ogdensburg Council it has having success removing some unwanted plant species, leading to more fisheries in several new open areas.

Larry Kovar, president of Aquatic Analysts, said the company will expand to open the area near the pavilion. Kovar said his company is working to get a permit from the state and 2015 treatments should begin by the end of March or beginning of April. The treatments will begin early in the morning so they will not affect recreational areas.

Kovar said that Aquatic Analysts has been working around the swimming area, pier, channel, and back lake by the inflow stream.

He said one negative is the lily pads, which have a rhizome root system, similar to a potato. The root heads break off causing floating bogs. Kovar would like borough equipment, such as a backhoe, to be used to remove the floating bogs.

Mayor Steve Ciasullo encouraged Kovar to continue his work and said that borough equipment could be used.

Kovar said once there is good control of the species, the company would cut back on treatment.

“There is no sense putting a herbicide in the water if it is not needed,” he said.

Public Comment
Eric Schmidl said he did not like removing the dam from Heaters Pond, as a result of an unfunded mandate from the state Department of Environmental Protection. He said in case there is one of the “100-year storms,” the borough needs the dam as a buffer for the houses downstream.

Schmidl also suggested the borough look into the possiblity of a hydroplant with turbines to help supplement taxes. Years ago, it was not cost effective, but possibly things have changed.

Ciasullo said he would mention the idea to Town Engineer Gene Buzzynski.