RPI professor and freshwater ecology expert Kevin Rose, Ph.D., in collaboration with other researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), the Lake George Association (LGA), and Paul Smith’s College, conducted the first ever long-term study on the environmental effects of the aquatic herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl (FPB), also known as ProcellaCOR.  

ProcellaCOR is promoted for its ability to target the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil while degrading quickly and leaving native aquatic life unharmed. The herbicide has been approved for use by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and is used in at least 30 lakes in New York State including Minerva Lake, Paradox Lake, Brant Lake, Sunnyside Lake, Lake Luzerne, Glen Lake, and Lake George, along with hundreds of other lakes across the globe.

When ProcellaCOR first began to be used in Lake George bays, the research team came together in the spirit of science to begin work to figure out how to test the herbicide’s long-term impacts. The team immediately began collecting samples of water, plants, and sediments in the areas of the Lake George bays that were treated.  

The study found that while the herbicide did degrade and disappear from the water within days, it remained in lakebed sediments for more than a year and even moved deeper into the lakebed over time. The research team also found that over time, the herbicide spread beyond the direct treatment zones due to lake circulation. These findings demonstrate that the herbicide behaves differently in the real world than in the lab, emphasizing the importance of conducting field-based research when studying environmental effects.

RPI’s participation in this study builds on a long history of protecting and understanding freshwater ecosystems through the Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) and The Jefferson Project. DFWI is a multidisciplinary research center focused on the science of freshwater systems, and the Jefferson Project is a collaborative effort between RPI, IBM, and The Lake George Association to use advanced monitoring and modeling to study lake health. As part of these ongoing efforts, DFWI Director Kevin Rose and DFWI Senior Research Specialist Brian Mattes contributed as co-authors on this first-of-its-kind study.

“New products are occasionally introduced into ecosystems as we work to prevent harm from threats like invasive species,” said Rose. “Many of these tools can bring tangible benefits, but it’s essential to understand their long-term impacts and potential unintended consequences. DWFI is committed to making sure that our efforts to protect lake health are doing so not just today, but well into the future.”

Mattes added, “As the first study of its kind, this research offers important insight into how we strengthen our ongoing efforts to maintain lake health. RPI and DWFI’s involvement reflects our collective commitment to better the world using science and creative problem-solving.”  

The research team will continue to study ProcellaCOR’s persistence in Lake George sediments, plants, and animals, and will continue sampling other Adirondack Lakes.

To read the new scientific report, visit: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.23.678083v1