Waverly Lake on Thursday, April 30, 2026. What are those geese are standing on?
Even though it’s only spring, Albany’s Waverly Lake this year is once again proving impossible to keep clear of unsightly growth.
Thursday’s afternoon bike ride took me past the lake, where some kind of plant growth is already covering a good part of the surface.
For the third year in a row, the city parks department last year hired a company to run two floating harvesters over the lake, and when they were done the water looked clear.
The parks department said at the time they meant to keep it up, so chances are the harvesters will be back later this year.
The city has announced that paddle boats, absent last year, will return to the lake this summer and be available for rent. That’s assuming the water will be clear and these craft won’ get stuck in the muck. (hh)
A shot down Wavery Lake from the west end toward the boat ramp on the east side.
I got off the bike to take a closer look at the lake Thursday afternoon.
I have fished that lake for 30yrs. Never was there a problem with weeds. Until I found aquariums in south shore that were thrown into that water body. Hmm. I believe we have an invasive problem here. And let’s get real. That contract to pretty the lake up on the surface? Its like mowing your lawn. The weeds never subside.
Well, I don’t remember 85 and 90 degree temperatures in Albany area the first part of May, but that is what is forecast for this coming week or so. So, the lake can’t deal with it and keep itself clear of muck. Who wants to go out on the lake in a paddle boat and paddle through muck. The city better rethink the boats. Welcome to the 2020s part of the 21st century, you climate-change deniers out there!
So you don’t that when they restricted the flow through it that this wouldn’t happen? You need higher stream flows to keep the temperature down and “flush” many of the noxious weeds.
Harvesting is like cutting starfish in half and tossing them back to grow 2 starfish. It just spreads the growth more thoroughly. You see the result today from last summer.
Albany ought to consider monetizing the muck. Certainly there is some sort of City-wide Celebration that could be tied into the timing of the muck’s appearance and its eventual subsidence. In the Midwest, many communities have contests related to when the local lake freezes over and another celebration for Ice Out. Alany’s leadership must look at the Pond Scum as an opportunity, not an eye sore.
Come on! What has gotten into you lately?
My son Michael and I a couple years ago took our bikes around Waverly lake and through the Talking gardens trails, a lot of fun .