We have always had small amounts of chara in our lake, but this year it has taken off to where it's is actually taken over and clogged some areas.
I have lived on the lake for 19 years and never seen it take over like it's doing now. In some spots it 3-ft thick and is taking over in the shallow coves.
Any ideas what would cause the bloom?
Here are some things that have occurred withing the last year:
1) Seemed we had a carp die off. Do carp keep it in check?
2) We had a decline of our muscovy duck population. Do Muscovy ducks keep in in check?
3) Very mild winter. Does the cold water temps keep it in check?
4) Record rainfall over the last 2 years. Could major flushing of our lake flushed out lawn herbicides that might have been keeping it under control during dryer seasons?
5) We have not stocked crawfish in awhile. Do they keep it in check?
We are a 130 acre urban lake....see
www.lakevilbig.org for more info about our lake.
What are your theories?