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[Norman Castle]

My wife and I sail our boats on the local Council boating lake - or rather we did until now.  When we turned up on yesterday, we found that the pond is full of weed - so much so that there was no point in getting the boats wet.  Upon complaining to the local Council, I am informed that this situation has arisen because an environmentalist thinks he has seen some newt (singular) or other in the pond and this critter must not be disturbed 

Apparently the Council have given this person until later this week to prove the existence of the alleged newt, failing which their employees will be prevailed upon to get in there and remove the offending weed by hand.   I am told that they're not allowed to do the obvious and use weedkiller.

Given that I'm still fairly new to this model boating lark, I'm now wondering

(a) how common this situation is, and

(b) what do other Councils do about pond weed?

[unbuiltnautilus]

Canoe Lake, Southsea is now suffering from a weed problem. Nothing for  twenty six years, but in the last three its become like the Mekong Delta after the first warm spell. We put it down to a fresh water feed from a kids splash pool, diluting our nice salt water pond, rusks and piddle all adding to the nutrients in the pond! Regular salt water flushing killed it last year, but one year on, the local council have downsized, merged departments, and forgotten everything they learned last year...so its start again time

[roycv]

Hi Norman first of all lucky you to have a wife interested in model boats1
Second, you can point out that you must have co-existed with the newt (s) on a happy basis if they are breeding also having all their weeds cut back on a regular basis.

So it could be argued the environmentalist will be changing the newt's own environment if things are changed.

We had a special set up in local park for bird watchers / spotters but it was ignored by the birds and the watchers.
Never mind at least the council have given the other guy a deadline.
good luck.
Roy

[Norman Castle]

... So it could be argued the environmentalist will be changing the newt's own environment if things are changed.

Nice one, Roy.  I like your line of thought 

Being the cynical old wossname that I am, I can't help thinking that this imagined suspected newt will no doubt have raised the profile of the environmentalist responsible concerned and helped to justify his employment.

[kinmel]

There is a very effective weed treatment that Natural England and Natural resources Wales have agreed may be used in any pond, or lake because it has no effect upon wildlife.

Colwyn Bay's lake has been completely weed free for the last 4 years and there was no problem getting permission, even though the lake drains directly into the sea when emptied. We add just a single cupful to our 1,000,000 litre lake each year and it costs us about £8 a year.  Best money we ever spend.

It is also used at Southsea, where the lake is home to a protected species of shrimp.

Dyofix is a natural food dye of the type that gives processed peas that special green colour

Ask your council to contact Natural England to confirm that Dyofix can be used in all waters without any permissions being obtained first, it took our very cautious council about 3 weeks to investigate and permit the use of Dyofix pond blue.

http://www.dyofix.co.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
 

[Nemo]

My wife and I sail our boats on the local Council boating lake - or rather we did until now.  When we turned up on yesterday, we found that the pond is full of weed - so much so that there was no point in getting the boats wet.  Upon complaining to the local Council, I am informed that this situation has arisen because an environmentalist thinks he has seen some newt (singular) or other in the pond and this critter must not be disturbed 

Apparently the Council have given this person until later this week to prove the existence of the alleged newt, failing which their employees will be prevailed upon to get in there and remove the offending weed by hand.   I am told that they're not allowed to do the obvious and use weedkiller.

Given that I'm still fairly new to this model boating lark, I'm now wondering

(a) how common this situation is, and

(b) what do other Councils do about pond weed?

Malcolm.

Myself and other members of CBMC turned up for a club meeting last night and finding the lake, as you did, choked with weed, have taken the council to task over this nonsense about a newt being seen. Without going into great detail, we have been told to await the result of a 'survey'. We are furious that the TC completely ignore the maintainance of the lake and are using this spurious newt thing to waste time. We now have had 2 meetings cancelled because of TC delays. In 6 years I have never seen anything but frogs in the pond- and not many of them!  BTW a TC sign designates this as a BOATING LAKE- not an aquarium!
Watch this space.
Bob. 

[kinmel]

We are restoring a lake to be our future sailing venue and someone reported greater crested newts were there and wanted the restoration stopped. Our council informed the complainant that this particular lake was not a natural habitat for such newts and pointed out that moving protected species of newts for any reason could attract a jail sentence.
We were allowed to continue the restoration without any delay.

[red181]

this is an increasing problem, its blue (or is it green?) algae, soon as the temps raise, it appears, and stays until weather goes cold. Its very stringy, and is real bad for model boats as it chokes the props that cannot cut through it. St Helens have had this problem with  their large lake, over past 5 years its got worse and worse. Last year, the council spent thousands on contractors that used special cutting equipment in the water, it lasted a few months, then the algae came back. The bird population started to die in the water, but it was never proved if it was due to something such as the algae, or someone had put something in the water. Apparently the lake had green flag status, and was investigated as the lake became stagnant and an eyesore, locals complained and this drove the council into action, until then they had ducked and dived away from the problem.

In Crosby, near Liverpool, there is a salt water boating lake, this now has  a sign forbidding its use due to algae

[Bob K]

Interesting thread.  Sad problems.  Hope you get it sorted.

Makes me doubly grateful for our always clear water at Black Park Lake.  Fed by a natural spring with level controlled by a weir.  Loads of wild life.  Swans, various types of ducks, lots of fish - including pike.
I can only assume that wild life in general may prefer clean fresh water that is naturally replenished.

[Norman Castle]

Thank you gentlemen.  I had a good go at the Town Council about this yesterday and will stir it up again today.

PS  Good point there kinmel about natural habitats ...

[Nemo]

After some thinking today Norman - I wonder how the council can reconcile the fact that chemicals were regularly placed in the Millenium Pond from its beginning and the sign informing the public (I believe) still remains, although they have neglected the pond for many years now.

I agree with the poster above regarding the fact that the artificial ponds are not natural habitat so therefore we should get first pick before newts!

I hope this will just be a storm in a teacup. 
Bob.

[Norman Castle]

I wonder how the council can reconcile the fact that chemicals were regularly placed in the Millenium Pond from its beginning

Oh, I'm sure that won't enter into it.  The covering of backs obviously takes priority over logic and common sense.