In Cazenovia, people who live there know the lake is an asset to the community. However, Eurasian water milfoil, a weed that is difficult to control, is plaguing the lake.

Peggy VanArnam, who lives in Cazenovia, said, "I think no matter whether you live around the lake or use the lake to swim or boat the milfoil has been dreadful."

On Saturday, more than 100 people attended a meeting with environmental experts to help find a solution to remove the milfoil. Experts offered insight on approaches that are possible and how other lakeside communities have fixed the problem.

The invasive species has been known to decrease housing values in some lakeside areas and make swimming and boating unpleasant. For years, Cazenovia tried to fix the milfoil problem with harvesting, a method that cuts and collects the weeds below the surface, but experts say that process is just a "Band Aid" approach and will only make the problem worse in the long run.

At the meeting, experts offered three new suggestions on how to fix the problem. Those include: Renovate, an herbicide treatment that was used in Waneta and Lamoka Lakes in the Finger Lakes region; an infestation of moths and weevils to eat away the weeds; and hand-pick harvesting, a process where the milfoil is pulled by the roots. Hand-pick harvesting was used to treat milfoil Skaneateles Lake.

Scott Kishbaugh, an Environmental Engineer for the DEC, said, "There are a number (of alternatives) that would have some logistic problems-- either cost or a large number of permits that would be required. Some of them are not targeted for the plant you have in there, but there are a number of alternatives that are appropriate to consider."

Experts say there is no low-cost solution, but the community will need to come up with a strategy that balances the money concerns with the environmental concerns.

George VanArnam, who lives in Cazenovia, said, "My main concern is that we be careful and that we think it through and make the best choice we can possibly make. I don't have any specific concerns about any of these things as long as we're deliberate and I think we are."

On November 19, the Lake Watershed Council will meet to discuss Saturday's findings. At some point, the group will come up with a plan and recommendation and present it to the town and village boards and the Cazenovia Lake Association.

The community is hoping to have a plan in place before next spring.