A massive effort is now underway to eradicate lyngbya, an invasive aquatic plant, from Lake Norman.
Lyngbya has been detected as far north as Lake Norman State Park in Troutman, where it is most dense, and as far south as Duke’s McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville. This invasive plant has already spread across approximately 10 acres of Lake Norman.
The NC State Extension is leading the treatment due to its expertise in studying the same algae in Lake Gaston. The treatment plan involves distributing a copper-based underwater algicide via airboat, targeting the lyngbya at a cellular level.
According to the Lake Norman Marine Commission, “The chemical protocol that will be utilized at Lake Norman includes chelated copper based algaecides…these algaecides have a bright blue hue and will be observed in the water directly following applications”
Eradicating lyngbya is estimated to require a four-year treatment program. Legislators in the N.C. General Assembly are working to secure funding for lyngbya treatment in 2025 and beyond. Annual monitoring will continue indefinitely upon completion of the project.
