The primary effort of SLPID thus far has been the management of Eurasian water milfoil. This has been done through mechanical harvesting and lake water "drawdown" (lowering the lake water to freeze the plants). In recent years SLPID has noted a decrease in the effectiveness of these mechanisms. Improved water quality and clarity has increased the depth to which adequate sunlight is available to aquatic plants, increasing the coverage of Saratoga Lake by Eurasian water milfoil.

To tackle the growing problem, numerous aquatic plant control technologies are being tested, technologies that did not exist in 1983. Among the most promising are the use of insect herbivores and the chemical SONAR (flouridone).

Close up shots of a harvester used to "mow" lake weeds. This is a full harvester returning to unload.

Eurasian water milfoil and curlyleaf pondweed. The bushier of the two (with the red tips) is the milfoil. Both of these plants are prolific in the lake and the target of the SONAR application.

Turtles basking on a log. The backdrop - Water's Edge at Saratoga Lake.