Fish Community Characteristics in Waneta and Lamoka Lakes, October 2003–October 2009, after Herbicide Treatments of Aquatic Macrophytes in April 2003 and June 2008, Final Report

Abstract

Located southeast of Keuka Lake in west-central New York, Lamoka and Waneta Lakes are shallow, productive and support abundant warmwater fishes (Figure 1). An approximately 0.5-mile channel connects the southern end of Waneta Lake to the northwestern end of Lamoka Lake, and likely accounts for the similarity in the lakes’ fish assemblages. An impoundment at the southern end of Lamoka Lake (on Mud Creek) produced the benthic and near-shore topography present in both lakes. Lamoka and Waneta Lakes possess large, shallow water areas providing habitat for extensive aquatic macrophyte growth. Lamoka Lake covers 826 acres (including Mill Pond at its southern end) with 11.3 miles of shoreline (Fagan Engineers 1997). Approximately 55% of the total lake surface area supports rooted aquatic plants, with 96% of this area sustaining dense growth (Madsen et al. 2001). Waneta Lake covers 781 acres with 6.8 miles of shoreline (Fagan Engineers 1997). Of the lake surface area, 34% can support rooted aquatic vegetation, with 89% of this area sustaining dense growth (Madsen et al. 2001).