Croton-on-Hudson Meeting on Treating Invasive Aquatic Plant is Thursday

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — Croton village officials will hold a meeting Aug. 4 with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation about the DEC's proposal to treat Hydrilla in the Croton River.

The DEC has applied to the village for a Wetlands Activity Permit for the purpose of treating the invasive aquatic plant with Endothol, a contact herbicide. The target area for 2016 is limited to the 1.2 mile portion of the river between Black Rock Dam and Deer Island, approximately 15.5 acres of water.

Hydrilla was discovered in the Croton River in October 2013 and later found in Croton Bay during a site survey in 2014, according to the DEC. This survey also revealed that hydrilla is well-established in the Croton River and the New Croton Reservoir. Hydrilla in the Croton River and Bay threatens habitats in the Hudson River and its tributaries. Fortunately, the results of the survey conducted in 2015 indicated that hydrilla has not yet spread outside of the Croton River.

The village’s Water Control Commission held an initial meeting on July 20 to consider the application, and referred it for a recommendation to the Waterfront Advisory Committee, which met July 21. At this meeting additional questions were raised, prompting the village to schedule the Aug. 4 joint meeting with the Water Control Commission and the Waterfront Advisory Committee, officials said on the village website.

Representatives from the DEC will attend Thursday to address some of the questions that have been raised regarding the treatment. The meeting will be televised live and webstreamed, village officials said.

Treatment of the herbicide is scheduled for Aug. 8 or later. Once the date is finalized, residents will be notified via email and an emergency call, village officials said. Silver Lake Beach will be closed during the treatment and for 24 hours after the final treatment. Swimming in the Croton River during this time will be prohibited. The DEC will be responsible for placing the appropriate signage in areas where the river can be accessed, village officials said.

Additional information about the project can be found on the NYSDEC website.

GRAPHICS/DEC