The 2023 LGA Volunteer Aquatic Vegetation Survey wrapped up the last week of October. The survey was conducted by approximately 100 LGA volunteers that surveyed nearly 350 miles of shoreline. There are 114 survey sections, 100 that were completed by the LGA volunteers - the other 14 sections were surveyed by North Carolina State University (NCSU) staff. The LGA volunteers invested nearly 500 hours of time with a “value” of approximately $15,000 to complete the survey. There was a myriad of aquatic plant species sampled, identified, and documented as part of the effort. Native plants such as water willow, American white-water lily, watershield, arrowhead and others were documented in various locations on the lake. In addition, invasive/noxious species such as lyngbya and hydrilla were also documented in locations around the lake. The LGA volunteer survey is a critical component of the larger effort to manage aquatic vegetation at Lake Gaston.

LGA volunteer Judy Waters enters survey data into a handheld tablet.