*As of February, 2026

​DISCOVERY:  EWM was first discovered in Lake Eden July 2022 thanks to the keen eye of the Wood family.  It was discovered by the town beach and the former Lakeview Campground, scattered around the boat launch area and a few plants by the Scout camp.  

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PROGRESSION: Despite immediate and aggressive treatment methods (non-herbicidal), it continued to spread over the next 3 years and was scattered throughout the lake by 2024.  Both the number of areas and density of plants increased each season despite aggressive, exhaustive and expensive treatments.  3 “hot spots” emerged and were located by the boat launch, town beach and Scout camp.  In 2025 herbicidal treatments were added to our arsenal and used in the 3 “hot spots”.  By mid-season 3 additional “hot spots” emerged at the SW end, SW cove, and in  the fishhook cove.  DASH and hand pulling were not effective in keeping the spread in check in those areas.  

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TREATMENT: All allowable treatments in Vermont have been used to mitigate EWM and to prevent it from overtaking the lake by forming dense mats across the surface.  These treatments have included:

• DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting)

• Benthic Blankets

• Hand Pulling

• Herbicide Treatment ​

Unfortunately, the boat launch area was not accessible to DASH, benthic blankets or hand harvesting due to shallow water and deep muck.  In other words, it could not be treated.  Therefore, that area continued to re-infest the rest of the lake.  In 2025 a permit for Herbicide treatments was obtained and the 3 “hot spots” (40% of the Littoral zone) were treated with ProcellaCOR.  A post treatment aquatic survey indicated a successful treatment.  The spring 2026 survey will give us a better idea of how successful.  DASH, hand pulling and benthic blankets continued to be used in other areas of the lake.  

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FUTURE PLANS:  We anticipate using another herbicide treatment in 2026 to treat the new “hot spots” in the SW end of the lake and in the fishhook area (~25% of the Littoral Zone).  DASH, hand pulling, and benthic blankets will continue to be used in coordination with occasional herbicidal treatments used sparingly.  Yearly herbicidal treatments are not anticipated and a plan to reduce their use is in place and filed with the VT DEC.

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COST: To date over $118,400 has been spent on EWM mitigation efforts since it was first discovered in 2022.  Each year over 500 volunteer hours are utilized to manage these efforts.  Expenses have been primarily covered by grants through the Lake Champlain Basin Program/New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Committee. Costs have been supplemented by Town appropriations, Lake Eden Association and private donor funds from Lake Eden property owners.  These federal grants have been very tenuous the last couple years and there is significant concern that they will be eliminated by the government.  The grant currently being used for herbicide treatment has already been eliminated.  Our contract goes through 2026 and  so we are safe for  the 2026 season.