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Lake Parker Weed Control Project

Using a Hockney Company Model HC10 Weed Harvester, owned by our association, we have conducted a mechanical weed cutting program for the past 21 years to reduce the levels of nuisance aquatic vegetation in Lake Parker. This program is authorized by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Permit Number 2000-H05, which we must renew every five years. 
We cut and remove weeds from waters 2 to 10 feet in depth along three sides of the lake. See the attached map. 
An increasingly important part of our weed control project is a lake wide Eurasian watermilfoil watcher program. Several times during the summer we hold training sessions in milfoil identification. Lake residents then look for milfoil along their shorelines. We have not found Eurasian watermilfoil to date but infestations were found in two more nearby lakes during the summer of 2000. Inspecting the weeds that wash up on the shore from our harvesting efforts is a good way to look for milfoil.
Download Year 2000 Weed Control Grant final report in .PDF format.
Requires Acrobat reader.(770KB)
Hockney Model HC-10 Weed Cutter

DESCRIPTION:
The Model HC-10, complete unit, boat and equipment are all metal in construction. It was designed to meet the most difficult and varied weed growth problem.
The Model HC-10 will navigate in water less than 6 inches deep and cuts a swath 10 foot wide to  any depth up to 5 foot below the surface of the water. At a rate of 4 mph the Model HC-10 will cut 5 to 20 acres per day depending on the thickness of the growth of weeds.

SPECIFICATIONS:
PONTOON: 12 ft. x 4 ft. x 1 ft. (all metal, airtight).
SICKLES: 10 ft. Main Sickle with bronze sickle guides. Two 7 ft. side sickles (used to keep free of accumulating cut weeds).
PROPULSION: Two 4 HP Briggs & Stratton engines with a 6 to 1 gear reduction. Double V-Belt Drive, Hardened Roller Chain. Crank Paddle Propulsion with a Marine Drive (Forward, Neutral, Reverse). Powered Hydraulic Lift (for raising and lowering the sickles). Bearings of ball, roller and bronze construction.
CONSTRUCTION: The Pontoon is built of 16 gauge sheet steel. The complete unit is electric arc welded throughout.

Disposing of weeds

Removing weeds along the shoreline
Disposing of weeds just inside tree line

An estimate of 30 loads of weeds were removed from the lake during the summer of 2000.
Making use of weeds as a garden mulch. They decompose rapidly and don’t re-seed on land.
Weed Cutting Map