How Global Change Effects Us

If you have passed by Crane Pond on Edgemont Road recently, you've noticed the green blanket covering the water.  It's not algae as you might have thought but duckweed (a tiny plant). Duckweed is not hazardous to people or animals, but it is quite unsightly. The cause of this rapid growth of Duckweed is due to the warmer than usual temperatures this summer and past winter. The other causes are the increase in sediment level and the runoff of lawn chemicals into the pond. Duckweed also brings up the nutrient level in the pond which causes more Duckweed to grow.

According to Mike Nessler from the Greenburgh Recreational Department, the pond needs to be dredged. The last time this was done was in 1985. He estimates that three feet of sediment needs to be removed. The problem is the $75,000 cost to dredge the pond.  Recently this department  had a 7% decrease in funds and has had to layoff staff. An alternative to dredging would be to treat the pond chemically which would cost $2,700 per year. A proposal for the chemical treatment would need to be submitted to The Department of Conservation and it takes six to eight weeks to get an approval.

Two week ago, the town tried to remedy the problem by having  the Greenville Fire Department spray down the pond. By cooling the water temperature and oxygenating the water, the Greenville Fire Department was able to clear up 75% of the problem. But within two days,  the duckweed multiplied and the pond was back to it's ugly green slime.

Here's what Crane Pond looked like last fall.  Please call Town Supervisor Paul Feiner's office (914-993-1540) to express your thoughts.