Paradox Lake Association's invasive work rewarded by dive company

PARADOX | Kadyn Downing, an environmental sciences major at the University of Texas-San Antonio, was unfamiliar with Eurasian milfoil. Not anymore. After accepting an internship with Aqualogic, a scuba-diving company that roots out the troublesome invasive, Downing has become acquainted with the finer points of carefully pulling up the plant under water in a way that doesn't break it apart and make the infestation worse. "We have zebra mussels in Texas, but not this," he said. "Sometimes it's really easy pulling it up and sometimes it's not. But it feels like we're having quite a positive impact out there." Lake communities have come to understand that their quality of life, recreational opportunities and property values depend on aggressive control of milfoil, and have teamed up with companies that help keep it under control. The Paradox Lake Association is one of the best at keeping its waters milfoil free, and on Thursday (June 24) Aqualogic presented the organization with a $15,000 check to help keep the lake pristine. "They're the gold standard," said Dominic Jude, owner of Aqualogic. "Controlling milfoil has been a passion for them." Aqualogic recruits up to six interns a summer who dive at sites the association has marked with buoys as milfoil sites. Along with the reward of protecting the environment, there are generally cookies, courtesy of association past-president Gretchen Sunderland. Sunderland said the milfoil in Paradox Lake is largely contained, but it must be fastidiously watched because it can spread with alarming speed, choking out natural habitat for fish and ruining the lake experience for boaters and swimmers. "It grows extremely fast," Sunderland said. "A boat propeller can fragment it and spread hundreds of plants — one little piece can grow roots." The association partners with Paul Smith's College to run a boat washing station, and teaches lakeshore owners how to remove milfoil in shallow waters. The divers get the deeper stuff. "Our focus is on small, Adirondack lakes," Jude said. "It's about education and winning the battle." By the early 2000s, the spread of aquatic invasives had spread to the point that their removal became an industry, he said. Eradication has produced some positive spinoffs, including a greater awareness of the aquatic environment, and wider training and certification of divers. People with disabilities or PTSD have found diving to be therapeutic, and students are able to apply the experience to their studies. It's work, but interesting work, with fish and turtles for companies. "It's a different world down there," Downing said.

Signup for our newsletter

Paradox Lake Association's invasive work rewarded by dive company

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS