Protecting Vermont's Lakes and Ponds

Expert management solutions for milfoil in Vermont.

Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting

of Milfoil (DASH)

Requires that we work with you or your lake association early in the year to get your area included on a DASH permit. This work can typically only be performed in July thru September.

We can assist with setup, cleaning, inspection, removal, and permitting of bottom barriers. Bottom barriers require a permit from the State, and can typically only be in place in July thru September.

We can setup, remove, and maintain your docks, rafts, and stairs for water access. We provide ongoing seasonal services to get your shore front ready for your enjoyment.

Bottom Barriers

Docks, Rafts, and Stairs

Who We Are

Vermont Hozerz, LLC is a local company formed in Sudbury, VT for the purpose of helping manage milfoil in Vermont lakes and ponds. The full name of this invasive plant is Eurasian watermilfoil (myriophyllum spicatum), but we simply refer to it as milfoil. Our employees have a deep connection to the state of Vermont and hands-on experience suction harvesting milfoil. This activity is often called Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH). Divers are equipped with a huka air source and a large water suction hose so that they can pull out milfoil by the roots and send it up the suction hose to be screened out on the DASH boat. This minimizes breaking up the plant to avoid having fragments of milfoil formed that can take root elsewhere and spread the milfoil. Very shallow areas are pulled by hand by either walking, floating, or snorkeling while pulling the milfoil.

We have expanded our services to include activities related to maintaining shorefronts and are currently providing services in Burr Pond, Lake Hortonia, Lake Beebe, Huff Pond, and Lake Bomoseen.

What is Milfoil

We specialize in managing milfoil in Vermont lakes and ponds for a healthier ecosystem.

If you are asking “What is milfoil and what’s the problem?” then consider yourself lucky. The pictures below show common milfoil examples that we often experience on the lake. You can typically see floating fragments, forests of milfoil reaching the water surface, and tangled milfoil on a boat engine prop.

To manage milfoil, we use a pontoon boat that is customized for the purpose of milfoil suction harvesting. It has a large water pump, hookah air compressor, plant material screens, turbidity curtain, and a 100 ft long suction hose. Milfoil is collected in bins and mesh bags to be transported to the shore and then to a composting location. Our water pump is driven by suction so that anything that passes through it is not chopped up by a mechanical pumping mechanism.