Chautauqua Lake Macrophyte Management Strategy Final Draft April 2016

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Madeline Sutton
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1 Chautauqua Lake Macrophyte Management Strategy Final Draft

2 Executive Summary... i Acknowledgments... iii Key Acronyms... iv PART I Developing a Macrophyte Management Zoning Approach for Chautauqua Lake CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1.1 Overview History of Human Impacts on Chautauqua Lake Background of Chautauqua Lake Management Efforts New Integrated Management Approach CHAPTER 2: Goals and Objectives 2.1. Introduction: Problem Statement Why a Macrophyte Management Strategy? Why this Approach Is Unique Stakeholder Collaboration Goal Objectives CHAPTER 3: Environmental, Social, and Economic Setting 3.1 Introduction Environmental Setting Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Productivity and Trophic State Aquatic Habitat Social and Cultural Setting Economic Setting Implications for Management CHAPTER 4: Recent Status of the Macrophyte Community 4.1 Introduction Historical Conditions Recent Conditions Littoral Zone Boundaries Species Richness Unique Macrophyte Communities Invasive Species Threats Major Findings Data Source for Macrophyte Maps Species Abundance Implications for Management

3 CHAPTER 5: Ecologically Important Habitat 5.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Natural Shoreline Areas Fisheries Habitat Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Wetlands Unique Plant Communities Important Bird Areas Implications for Management CHAPTER 6: Human Uses of Chautauqua Lake 6.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Community Access and Uses of Chautauqua Lake Access via Boat Launches, Marinas, and Docks Motorboating and Related Activities Sailing, Kayaking, and Canoeing Fishing Swimming Campgrounds and Parks Residential Development (Density) Conservation and Wildlife Management Areas Undeveloped Shore Water Intakes Intensity of Human Uses Based on Survey Results Human Use Intensity by Area Implications for Management CHAPTER 7: Lake Zones Based on Environmental Sensitivity and Human Use 7.1 Introduction Methods Map Creation Alphanumeric Codes Major Findings Environmental Restrictions Natural Shoreline Areas/Zones Game Fish Spawning and Rearing Zones Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species Areas/Zones Unique Plant Community Areas/Zones Water Supply Zones

4 7.3.2 Human Use Areas Lake Access Areas Lakeshore Use Areas Marina Areas Residential Areas Swimming Areas Undeveloped Land Areas Conservation Areas Water Intake Areas Combined Areas and Codes Implications for Management CHAPTER 8: Evaluation of Macrophyte Management Techniques 8.1 Introduction Sources of Information Physical Techniques Benthic Barriers Hand Pulling Hand Cutting Mechanical Techniques Automated Macrophyte Management Devices (Weed Rolling) Mechanical Harvesting Diver Harvesting Diver-Operated Suction Harvesting Hydroraking Chemical Management Options ,4-D (AquaKleen and Navigate ) Endothall (Aquathol ) Glyphosate (Rodeo, AquaMaster, and AquaPro ) Triclopyr (Renovate OTF /Renovate LZR ) Biological Management Options Herbivorous Insects Behavioral Management Techniques Focus on Prevention Public Education and Outreach Boat Launch Stewards Regulatory Controls Early Monitoring and Emergency Response No Intervention to Manage Macrophytes Implications for Management

5 CHAPTER 9: Recommended Macrophyte Management Techniques by Zone 9.1 Introduction Methods Recommendations: Macrophyte Management Techniques by Zone Benthic Barriers Hand Pulling Hand Cutting Weed Rolling Mechanical Harvesting Diver Harvesting Diver-Operated Suction Harvesting Herbicide Application Summary of Acceptable Macrophyte Management Techniques New Invasives Emergency Response Implications for Management CHAPTER 10: Ongoing Assessment of Lake Zones and Macrophyte Management Techniques 10.1 Introduction Methods Updates to Zones Containing Ecologically Sensitive Areas Updates to Human Use Zones Updates to Macrophyte Management Techniques Recommendations and Implications for Management PART II Applying the Macrophyte Management Zoning Approach on Chautauqua Lake CHAPTER 11: Macrophyte Abundance and Type 11.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Macrophyte Abundance Macrophyte Species Distribution and Density Priority Macrophyte Areas Implications for Management CHAPTER 12: Conflicts between Humans and Macrophytes 12.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Implications for Management

6 CHAPTER 13: Macrophyte Management Scenarios and Costs 13.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Identification of Management Options Estimated Costs of Management Options Implications for Management CHAPTER 14: Macrophyte Monitoring and Assessment 14.1 Introduction Methods Rake-Toss Distribution and Abundance Acoustic Biovolume Mapping Updates and Revisions Major Findings Implications for Management CHAPTER 15: Implementation 15.1 Introduction Methods Major Findings Roles of Local, State, and Federal Government in Lake Management Local Partners in Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development Chautauqua Lake Management Commission Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Chautauqua Lake Association Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District Capacity Analysis Barriers to Implementation New York State Environmental Quality Review Act Recommendations Continued and Strengthened Collaboration Creation of an Alliance Deployment of Resources Year 1: Crawl Years 2 5: Walk Years 6+: Run LITERATURE CITED

7 Tables, Figures, Maps TABLES Table 1-1. History of Mechanical Harvesting and Herbicide Treatment, Chautauqua Lake Table 3-1. Subwatershed Characteristics Table 3-2. Water Quality Indicator Thresholds and Chautauqua Lake Conditions Table 3-3. Spawning Preferences of Common Chautauqua Lake Fish Species Table 4-1. Species of Macrophytes Observed in Chautauqua Lake, Table 6-1. Popularity of Cited Recreational Uses, Rank Order Table 7-1. Environmental Restrictions Table 7-2. Human Use Areas Table 7-3. Macrophyte Management Zones, Defined by Human Use and Environmental Restrictions Table 8-1. Macrophyte Management Techniques for Chautauqua Lake (Summary) Table 8-2. Macrophyte Management Techniques Rejected for Use in Chautauqua Lake (Summary) Table 9-1. Description of Mactophyte Management Techniques Table 9-2. Macrophyte Management Techniques by Human Use Zones Table 9-3. Macrophyte Management Techniques by Human Use Zones Containing Environmentally Sensitive Areas Table 9-4. Macrophyte Management Techniques by Human Use Zones and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Combined Table 9-5. Management Techniques for Macrophyte Management Zones Table 9-6. Consolidated Macrophyte Management Regimes Table 9-7. Allowable Techniques by Macrophyte Management Zone (North & South Basins) Table Semi-quantitative Metrics for Macrophyte Biomass Based on Rake Toss Table Assignment of Conflict Zone Priority Table Codes for Macrophyte Management Techniques by Zone Table Estimated Management Costs by Priority Areas Table Zones with High Priority Management Areas Table Zones with Medium Priority Management Areas Table Zones with Low Priority Management Areas FIGURES Figure 3-1. Location Map: Chautauqua Lake Watershed Figure 3-2. Chautauqua Lake Subwatersheds Figure 3-3. Land Use in the Watershed Figure 4-1. Macrophyte Species Richness in Chautauqua Lake, Figure 4-2. Percent of Rake Toss Sites with the Eight Most Common Macrophyte Species, Figure 6-1. Regions of the Lake Cited for Recreational Usage Figure 7-1. Development of Macrophyte Management Zones Based on Human Use and Environmental Sensitivity Figure 8-1. Section of the Product Label for Renovate OTF Figure 9-1. Macrophyte Management Alternatives Arrayed by Degree of Aggressiveness

8 MAPS (at the end of each chapter) Map 3-1. Water Depths and Littoral Zone Map 4-1. Macrophyte Abundance by Type Map 5-1. Ecologically Important Habitat (North & South Basins) Map 5-2. Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map 6-1. Human Uses Map 6-2. Recreational Uses Map 6-3. Human Use Zones Map 6-4. Human Use Intensity Map 7-1. Human Use Zones and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map 7-2. Macrophyte Management Zones (North & South Basins) Map 9-1. Macrophyte Management Techniques (North & South Basins) Map Macrophyte Abundance of All Species Map Macrophyte Distribution by Species Map Macrophyte Abundance and Distribution of Key Species Map Human Use Conflicts with Macrophytes Map Human Use Conflicts with Macrophytes Prioritized (North & South Basins) Map Conflict Areas Prioritized (North & South Basins) Map Priority Areas with Management Options (North & South Basins) Appendixes APPENDIX 1. Public Opinion Survey on Recreational Uses of Chautauqua Lake APPENDIX 2. Macrophyte Abundance by Type (Maps)

9 Executive Summary Seeking Balance for Chautauqua Lake Chautauqua Lake is a vital resource to New York s western-most county and the region. It is a recreational and economic cornerstone for people who live and play in the area, and it also serves as home to wide variety of plants and animals that are profoundly affected by human activity within the lake s watershed. Submerged aquatic plants, called macrophytes, have existed at levels of concern in the lake for many years, interfering with recreational uses of the lake. Chautauqua Lake s communities have been challenged to balance the needs of groups who use the lake primarily for recreation, and those who place great importance on its function as habitat for plant and animal life. The Chautauqua Lake Macrophyte Management Strategy assesses unique challenges facing the Lake, and identifies a range of macrophyte management techniques that can serve various human needs while supporting a healthy ecosystem for the benefit of all life within the watershed. The result is a balanced, holistic strategy that will work for the Chautauqua Lake community well into the future. Managing Macrophytes: Analysis of Options A range of methods exists for managing aquatic vegetation. At present, however, the only large-scale macrophyte management technique being employed to control the Chautauqua Lake macrophyte community is mechanical weed harvesting. To make use of a broader range of options, the community must seek permission from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), which requires a detailed analysis of the Lake that takes into account human uses, types and density of weeds, identification of priority conflict areas, and the environmental sensitivities within these areas. This analysis must also include the weighing of pros and cons associated with various management options. The desire to open the toolbox to a broader range of management options has prompted an effort to develop this Macrophyte Management Strategy (MMS) and ultimately implement a range of options that make economic and environmental sense. Developing the Strategy This document presents a unique approach to macrophyte management; the strategy applies concepts of land use zoning to Chautauqua Lake to delineate zones within the Lake s littoral zone based on environmental conditions and human uses. This approach enables managers to identify areas of the lake where conflicts are most severe and assign priorities for management. The MMS includes a detailed review of current macrophyte management techniques and summarizes their costs, benefits, and risks. There is no one macrophyte management technique that is appropriate for every zone of Chautauqua Lake. Rather, the zoning-based approach recommends the management techniques that can be used in each zone based on the type and intensity of human uses and the zone s environmental sensitivity. While this is not a perfect solution to balancing conflicting interests, it provides the level of detail needed to make an informed decision about what management techniques are recommended for use in specific areas. A Guide to the Document The MMS is presented in two parts. Part I: Developing a Macrophyte Management Zoning Approach for Chautauqua Lake provides a summary of recent human use and environmental conditions and demonstrates how the lake zones were developed. Additionally, an inventory and review of macrophyte management measures and recommendations for their applicability within the various zones is presented. Part I culminates in a zoning map with allowable management techniques that can be employed for each zone. The maps for this section are to be updated periodically (3-5 years) as human uses of the lake evolve, environmental conditions change, and new management techniques are approved. Part II: Applying the Macrophyte Management Zoning Approach on Chautauqua Lake defines and prioritizes the primary conflict areas between humans and macrophytes, based on the intensity and type of these uses and the density of macrophytes. A scenario for managing these priority areas using recommended management Page i

10 techniques offered in Part I is also discussed. Part II recommends a re-evaluation each year of conflict areas as the density and types of weeds change in relation to human uses. The MMS concludes with a recommended institutional framework for implementation that involves collaboration among current and evolving stakeholders. It is hoped that this approach will not only intensify the management of macrophytes in Chautauqua Lake, but may also serve as a template for other communities that are facing similar challenges. Page ii

11 Acknowledgments The Chautauqua County Legislature, through the innovative use of the County s Occupancy Tax to fund worthwhile projects for the improvement of the County s Lakes and Waterways, provided much of the funding for this project. Additional funding was provided by the Chautauqua Lake Partnership and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan was completed in A key goal of this plan was the development of a strategy to manage nuisance aquatic vegetation in Chautauqua Lake. The preparation of this Macrophyte Management Strategy was an ambitious effort that involved a dedicated group of member organizations, professional consultants, and a dedicated group of stakeholders. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals. Vince Horrigan, Chautauqua County Executive Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development Kevin Sanvidge, Director Mark Geise, Deputy Director Donald McCord, Senior Planner Dave McCoy, Watershed Coordinator Debbie Liliestedt, Senior Typist Consultants Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC CEE was the primary technical consultant responsible for the field work, GIS-based data collection and analysis, and synthesis of the Macrophyte Management Strategy. EcoLogic, LLC, Aquatic, Terrestrial and Wetland Consultants EcoLogic provided technical guidance as well as formatting and editing of the Macrophyte Management Strategy document. Pashek Associates Pashek Associates provided assistance with GIS mapping and graphics. Technical Review Committee Jane Conroe, Jamestown Audubon Society and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Rebecca Nystrom, Jamestown Community College John Jablonski III, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Thomas Erlandson, PhD, Chautauqua County Water Quality Task Force Karen Rine, Chautauqua Lake Partnership Key Partners New York State Department of Environmental Conservation United States Army Corps of Engineers Chautauqua Lake Management Commission partners and members Page iii

12 Key Acronyms CCDPED CEE CLA CLMC CLP CLWMP CRCF CSLAP CWC EBM EDRR GEIS GIS HAB IBA MEA MMS NAIP NYNHP NYSDEC NYSDOS-DCR RTE SAV SEIS SEQRA SWCD TMDL USACE USEPA Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development Cedar Eden Environmental Chautauqua Lake Association Chautauqua Lake Management Commission Chautauqua Lake Partnership Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Ecosystem-Based Management Early Detection and Rapid Response Generic Environmental Impact Statement Geographic Information System Harmful Algal Bloom Important Bird Area Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Macrophyte Management Strategy National Agriculture Imagery Program New York Natural Heritage Program New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources Rare, threatened, and endangered species Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement State Environmental Quality Review Act Soil and Water Conservation District Total Maximum Daily Load U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Environmental Protection Agency Page iv

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