Lake Mishnock Preservation Association
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Scientific Information

Mishnock Lake is  part of one of Rhode Island's most productive groundwater resources - the Mishnock Aquifer - providing about 20 % of the Kent County water supply, with the other 80 % coming from the Scituate Reservoir. For more information about the importance of Mishnock Lake as a water source  or to see this year's bacteria results, and the individual charts (Secchi, chlorophyll, temperature and dissolved oxygen) and other parameters go to
http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww and click on montoring data and results.

 

 

Lake Mishnock is infested with the non-native and highly invasive weed, variable watermilfoil.  This weed has already rendered the smaller West Basin, also known as Little Mishnock, unusable during the summer months and is capable of spreading to similar densities throughout the majority of the larger East Basin.  Applications of EPA/State-registered aquatic herbicides appear to be the most selective and cost-effective means of controlling milfoil and thinning-out the floating-leaf waterlily growth in Lake Mishnock.  The duration of nuisance plant control will vary from 1-3 years following treatment depending on which herbicide is used. Regardless of which product is used, however, it will be necessary to maintain an ongoing weed-management program at Lake Mishnock. If you would like to read the full report click here: ACT Mishnock Report

 

 
 
 
The link below will take you to the Aquatic Control Technology website where there is a discussion of invasive weed managment.

 

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Beauty and the Milfoil Beast

Although this is a beautiful fall picture, a closer look reveals the density of weed infestation, a problem that needs immediate attention.

Water resources around Lake Mishnock

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click here to enlarge the picture above

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click here to enlarge the picture above

Dominant aquatic plant assemblages; note red is dense milfoil, blatter wort and various pond weeds.