The Saratoga Lake Association has been applying SONAR at two 100 acre sites to treat the lake for of Eurasian water milfoil. One location is at the north end of the lake and the other is at the south end of the lake. A professional company has been hired to spread the chemical, which has been designated as safe to use in drinking water resources. Markers are set around the treatment area and information notices are distributed before treatment. This is an experimental program for Saratoga Lake and there will be other programs going on in other locations of the lake. Since Saratoga Lake will be the largest lake in New York State to be permitted to apply SONAR, other lakes with Eurasian watermilfoil problems will be anxiously watching the results. CLICK HERE to view the first year's results.

The following is a photographic summary of the second SONAR application that took place on June 1, 2000.

SONAR Application Photo Series (1-4): The second scheduled application of SONAR was applied by Aquatic Control Technology, Inc. on June 1, 2000. Two boats are used, one of which is hooked up to GPS (Global Positioning System), for a more accurate application. Two 100-acre areas of the lake were treated.

SONAR 1 - Active application. The two boats travel parallel to one another, approximately 50 feet apart. They continuously monitor their position through the use of the GPS. The pellets of SONAR are kept in 5 gallon buckets until they are dumped into the red (or silver) boxes in the front of the boats. The rate of application is controlled here, as the chute is opened and a rotating plate spreads the pellets.

SONAR 2 - GPS display. If you look real close, you can see Saratoga Lake and the application sites darkened. The map of each application area was also pulled up, but that picture did not come out.

SONAR 3 - These are the SONAR pellets.

SONAR 4 - Another photo of application in progress at the southern application site.