This timeline shows only key steps in an attempt to show the progression of the response. Many other important steps have taken place along the way.
August 26 - 31: New hydrilla infestation found near Myers Park, Lansing
August 13: Chelated copper treatment of 4 acres off Stewart Park
July 5: Sonar Genesis injection unit installed at NYSDEC fish ladder at southern end of Cayuga Inlet in preparation for 2016 treatments
July 22: Sonar treatment begins in Cayuga Inlet. Sonar Genesis injection unit turned on, Sonar H4C pellets applied to pellet treatment zones
August 9-10: Endothall injection treatment in Fall Creek. Sonar H4C treatment begins in backwater areas of Fall Creek. Sonar H4C "bump" treatments conducted in Cayuga Inlet
August 26: Sonar H4C "bump" treatments conducted in Cayuga Inlet and Fall Creek
September 13: New hydrilla infestation discovered in Aurora, NY (adjacent to Wells College)
September 19: Sonar H4C "bump" treatments conducted in Cayuga Inlet and Fall Creek
September 30: All treatments finalized for 2016 season
November 19: End of season public meeting
June 25: Dye study conducted in Fall Creek prior to Aquathol K treatment.
June 25: Annual pre-treatment Hydrilla Public Meeting. Combined with "What's in your Watershed?" lecture series.
August 18: Endothall treatment in Cayuga Inlet
August 25 - August 27: Endothall injection treatment in Fall Creek
September 1: Sonar Genesis (liquid) and Sonar One (pellet) application begins in Cayuga Inlet. Sonar One application begins in Fall Creek. Sonar H4C (pellet) application begins in southeast corner of Cayuga Lake (30 acre treatment zone)
October 12: All Sonar applications finished for 2015 treatment season
June 5: NYS Law: Boaters are required to remove all visible plant and animal materials from boats, trailers and associated equipment, and to drain boats prior to launching from DEC lands
June 18: 100% of tubers in Stewart Park Pond have germinated, according to monitoring
June 20: Legislative approval requires DEC to develop regulations for boaters to take precautionary measures against the spread of Invasive Species. Legislation sent to the governor.
June 29: First public outreach of the season at the Farmer's Market for hydrilla
July 8: Pre-treatment public meeting
July 17: Endothall Treatment in Fall Creek
July 29: Endothall Treatment in Cayuga Inlet
August 7: Statewide Hydrilla Hunters webinar
August 14: Fluridone pellet (Sonar One) treatment in select areas of Fall Creek
October 8: Fluridone treatments ended
November 18: End-of-Season Hydrilla Public Meeting & Volunteer Thank You Event
December 1-7: Monitoring/sampling of water ended
June 3: Some tubers sprouting in the inlet. Tuber density far less than 2011 and 2012
June 20: Hydrilla growth in the Cayuga Inlet is 1-2 weeks behind last year, postponing the endothall treatment
July 16: Endothall treatment in Cayuga Inlet
August 14: Sonar (active ingredient fluridone) treatment begins
August 8: New areas of hydrilla growth found in Fall Creek-- at the entrance of the Stewart Park Pond, within the pond itself, and near the municipal golf course backwater
August 21: Two new small patches (one patch consisting of two smaller patches) found in the southeast corner of Cayuga Lake
September 16: Sonar pellet "bump" application to previously treated areas
September 26: Endothall treatment in Fall Creek to address newly discovered hydrilla. The treatment area consists of 22 acres.
October 10: Fall Creek water monitoring was completed after endothall treatment. Results for Fall Creek Endothall Monitoring 2013.
November 12: End of season public meeting.
December 2: Cayuga Inlet fluridone water monitoring ended. Results of the Cayuga Inlet Fluridone Monitoring 2013.
June 19: Public meeting
June 26-27: Endothall treatment in Cayuga Inlet
June 26-July 16: Water quality monitoring for endothall concentrations. Results of Endothall Monitoring 2012.
July 12: Fluridone treatment and water quality monitoring for fluridone begins on the inlet
July 17: A Local Law to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in Tompkins County passed
September 21: Hydrilla found in tributary to Erie Canal in North Tonawanda, NY
October 31: Fluridone treatment ends on the inlet
November 7: Final day of water quality monitoring of fluridone
November 7 & 8: Public meetings
November 26: Water quality monitoring for fluridone levels completed. Results of 2012 Fluridone Monitoring
Winter 2012: Hydrilla Task Force analyses plant and water quality monitoring data and works on long-term management plan
August 4: Hydrilla first found in Linderman Creek by Jordan Stark, a volunteer on the Floating Classroom
August 19: Representatives from the City of Ithaca, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, the Finger Lakes Region of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and NYS Canal Corporation meet. Hydrilla Task Force formed
September 3-5: Hydrilla surveyed and mapped in the Cayuga Inlet.
September 7: Hydrilla Task Force makes formal proposal for herbicide application and applies for permit
September 14: Formal notification to affected landowners of herbicide treatment
September 19: City of Ithaca request for boaters to voluntarily stay out of Cayuga Inlet
September 23: Paddle docks in Cass Park temporarily closed in response to hydrilla discovery
September 24: Public outreach at Rhinerfest. Water related events cancelled due to hydrilla infestation
October 1: Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Boat Launch temporarily closed by State Parks
October 1-2: Outreach volunteers distributed hydrilla information at Applefest
October 4: Public meeting at First Unitarian Church of Ithaca to share information about the proposed control of hydrilla in the Cayuga inlet
October 5-14: Inlet closed for 10 days
October 10: First endothall herbicide treatment in Cayuga Inlet
October 11-26: TCHD and NYDEC designated water quality monitoring of endothall. Results of 2011 endothall monitoring
October 18-November 23: Bolton Point water quality monitoring of endothall. Results of 2011 Bolton Point endothall monitoring
November 7: End of season public meeting
Winter 2011: Hydrilla Task Force researches response options and learns about hydrilla eradication and management experience elsewhere in the US.
Last updated September 11, 2019