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YOUR SOUTHERN WISCONSIN DASH SERVICE
YOUR SOUTHERN WISCONSIN DASH SERVICE
Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) is a new Aquatic Invasive Species Management service. DASH is an invasive plant removal technique that offers an alternative to aquatic chemical application by suction harvesting. This allows native plant species to thrive and compete against invasive species.
What is DASH?
What is DASH?
DASH is also known as Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. DASH is the process of mechanically removing seaweed using a trained diver. The diver removes seaweed and invasive aquatic weeds, but also has the ability to leave native plants to stabilize the lake or pond's ecosystem. DASH divers remove the seaweed by the roots and feed them into a suction tube underwater. Meanwhile above water on the DASH harvester, another worker manages the bags of harvested weeds. The suction tube empties into a water permeable bag that traps the weeds and allows the water to flow through back into the waterbody.
What is DASH service?
What is DASH service?
Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) is a new Aquatic Invasive Species Management service. DASH is also an invasive plant removal technique that offers an alternative to aquatic chemical application. This allows native plant species to thrive and compete against invasive species. DASH can be target specific or used for broad nuisance seaweed removal.
DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting) utilizes a PATI certified diver that floats near the bottom of the waterbody and manually pulls the entire plant from sediment. They are then sucked up to the harvesting boat, which safely captures the invasive plants in bags. An important benefit of using a diver to remove invasives is avoiding the application of harsh aquatic chemicals in water. Aquatic herbicides (chemicals) are linked to many side effects, such as mutations in amphibians and even impaired health of fish species and water quality. Another benefit of DASH is allowing native aquatic plants to remain in the area, so that they can continue to compete against invasive aquatic plants.
To effectively remove aquatic invasive plants, a diver must have knowledge of the growth and reproduction of the invasive plants they are removing. As a Water Resources graduate of UW-Stevens Point, I can assure you that our divers and crew members will have the best knowledge and techniques in handling invasive species. DASH seaweed removal requires a large amount of labor, especially during the hot summer months, but our work ethic is unmatched. We will provide each of our customers with the most effective DASH service in Wisconsin. Riese Aquatics truly cares about managing aquatic invasive plant species, because they are becoming a much greater problem in our state than ever before. Just like the weeds in your garden, aquatic invasive species are persistent. In order to effectively eliminate them from a body of water, yearly maintenance of the area may be required. Many of our repeat DASH sites have had amazing success in eliminating invasive seaweed populations. We now offer DASH for Chinese Mystery Snail and other aquatic invasive species!
DASH vs Chemical Application DASH vs Plant Clipping
DASH vs Chemical Application DASH vs Plant Clipping
Using chemicals to control aquatic invasive species effects more than the targeted area. The chemicals drift to other parts of the waterbody harming the ecosystem, native plants, fish, and even human health. Chemicals are not target specific, even if they claim to be. Chemicals are too new to fully understand the detrimental effects they will have over time. DASH avoids the use of all chemicals and even helps avoid the accumulation of sediment and the need for dredging.
The diver is able to distinguish between invasive and native plants removing only invasive species. This allows for better pond/lake diversity and improves the ecosystems overall health.
Most seaweed harvesting machines cut the plants giving only a temporary solution, leaving a large portion of the plants in the water. Invasive plants like Eurasian watermilfoil can reproduce via fragmentation. This allows small pieces to drift and start growing an entirely new plant. DASH removes the roots and fragments, giving them no chance for reproduction.