Wilmington began efforts in June to control some of the aquatic weeds at Greenfield Lake, city spokeswoman Malissa Talbert says.
Water levels at the lake were lowered while an herbicide was applied to kill aquatic weeds that cover much of the lake’s surface. Because the herbicide is made as a slow release agent, the process will take about two months, Talbert says.
The city previously used the same herbicide along with water circulation devices and grass carp to help control the aquatic weeds and improve oxygen levels.
“Water quality and aquatic weed problems at Greenfield Lake are largely because of stormwater runoff that flows into the lake. The pollution carried by runoff comes from the densely populated, 2,500-acre Greenfield Lake Watershed that includes a lot of hard surfaces such as parking lots and roads where rainwater can’t be absorbed into the ground,” Talbert says. “Most of the polluted runoff comes from the waste of pets and wildlife, fertilizers and yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings.”
Date posted: July 21, 2010
User-contributed question by:
Joseph Sigman and Debbie McCoy
I think Greenfield Lake is well-cared for, my family and I spend a lot of time there (living close-by helps). It is always raked and they are improving the walkways and play area. I assume that by “a swamp” the asker is referring to the algae growing on the water surface in stagnant areas. I think that is something that could be addressed with better cirulation of the water, but it is a minor issue compared with the beauty of Greenfield Lake and Park. I would encourage everyone to bring thier families to this place, and I’ll see you in the Park or on the Loop!
I live on the lake and think that it is very well cared for. Workers constantly clean debris from the lake that gets washed in from runoff. Maybe some of the reason the lake looks like a swamp is because it is a swamp. The “lake” is actually one of the few cypress swamps along the regions coast.
Most of the accelerated algae and surface weed growth comes from the fertilizer used for Legion Stadium and Cape Fear Country Club Golf Course. Stormwater runoff from both of these facilities drains directly into Greenfield Lake.