Brant Lake Aquatic Invasive Species Training Brant Lake, NY July 30 th, 2010

Brant Lake Aquatic Invasive Species Training Brant Lake, NY July 30 th, 2010 Tyler Smith Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program www.adkinvasives.com

Objectives Outline Invasive Species Problem What is APIPP? Describe Aquatic Species Spread Prevention Brant Lake Update Management Let s look at some plants!

What s the Difference? 1. Native Species Species indigenous to a region at the time of European settlement 2. Non-native Species (Exotic, Introduced, Alien) Accidental or purposeful introduction of a species outside of its historic range 3. Invasive Species (Noxious) Species that rapidly reproduces, displaces native species and causes ecological, economic or societal harm 4. Nuisance Species (Weed) Species that interferes with human activities

Benefits of Native Plants Provide food Provide shelter and spawning habitat Produce oxygen Protect shoreline Stabilize sediments Reduce turbidity Transport nutrients Support diversity

Characteristics of Invasive Plants Lack predators, parasites, and disease to limit growth Produce many small seeds and reproduce early May reproduce both by seed and vegetative growth Have few special seed germination requirements Generalists capable of colonizing a wide range of sites Monopolize resources such as light and nutrients May produce toxins that suppress the growth of other plants

Water Chestnut, Lake Champlain

Eurasian watermilfoil, Eagle Lake

http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives

Jeff Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant

Acres Infested Control Costs Eradication feasible Eradication unlikely, intense effort required Invasive Plant Increase Over Time and Control Potential Local control and management only Eradication simple Introduction Detection Plant absent Scattered locations Numerous locations At or near biological potential Time

Acres Infested Control Costs Eradication feasible Eradication unlikely, intense effort required Invasive Plant Increase Over Time and Control Potential Local control and management only Eradication simple Public awareness typically begins Introduction Detection Plant absent Scattered locations Numerous locations At or near biological potential Time

Nonnative Fishes - Historic Conditions Relatively few fish species in interior waters

Yellow perch, smallmouth and largemouth basses, the northern pike, the chain pickerel and many other species were then almost endlessly dumped upon the Adirondack uplands.

Impacts of non-native fishes Ecosystem altered by top-down cascading effects. Predation and competition cause severe declines in brook trout and round whitefish.

1890: are found in nearly all the salmon and trout lakes in the Adirondacks. Now: Seven waters (scarce in most) plus some recent stockings.

Regulations Management of non-native fishes New bait regulations Green list Restrict overland transport Education Fish barriers Reclamation with rotenone (fish pesticide)

Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) Core Functions Coordination Volunteer Training Detection / Response Management Education Citizen science research

Our Mission To Protect the Adirondack Region from the Negative Impacts of Non-native Invasive Species

APIPP Coordinates Two Projects Terrestrial Invasive Species Project Aquatic Invasive Species Project Purple loosestrife Eurasian watermilfoil Photo by Gordon Keyes

APIPP Objectives 1. Prevent new invasions. Increase public awareness and involvement to prevent the spread of invasive plant species. Education 2. Rapidly detect and eradicate infestations. Coordinate regional invasive plant inventory and monitoring program utilizing staff and volunteers. Monitoring 3. Manage established infestations. Facilitate the management, containment, and control of priority invasive plant infestations. Management

Partnerships Adirondack Mountain Club Au Sable River Association Boquet River Association Clinton and Essex County Master Gardeners Cornell Cooperative Extension Darrin Fresh Water Institute Federal Highways Administration Franklin County Network of Shoreline Associations Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District Lake Champlain Basin Program Lake Champlain Sea Grant Lake George Association Lake George Land Conservancy Paul Smiths College Watershed Stewards Program Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks Student Conservation Association SUNY Plattsburgh Adirondack Volunteers! Adirondack Council Adirondack North Country Association CAP-21 Department of Agriculture and Markets Garden Club of America Lake George Park Commission St. Regis Mohawk Tribe SUNY ESF Wanakena Town of Inlet Town of Webb, DPW Trout Unlimited Upper Saranac Lake Foundation HC SWCD staff assist yellow iris controls

Prevention, Early Detection, and Rapid Response are the Keys to Successful Eradication!

Lakes Surveyed and Plant Distribution As of May 2010: Total Number of Waters Infected: 74 Total Number of Volunteers: 392 Total Number of Lakes Surveyed: 243

Opportunity Exists Number of Infested Lakes and Weed-Free Lakes in the Adirondack Park, 2001-2009 Cumulative # of weed free lakes Cumulative # of Infected Lakes 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 131 150 171 182 104 70 39 0 27 41 46 47 49 51 51 53 2001 (Prevolunteer surveys) 2002 (Year 1 of volunteer surveys) 2003 (Year 2) 2004 (Year 3) 2005 (Year 4) 2006 (Year 5) 2007 (Year 6) 2008 (Year 7) 204 74 2009 (Year 8)

Aquatic Invasive Plants in the Adirondacks Eurasian Watermilfoil yriophyllum spicatum Curlyleaf Pondweed Potamogeton crispus Yellow Floating Heart Nymphoides peltata Variable leaf Watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum Fanwort Cabomba caroliniana Water Chestnut Trapa natans European Frog-Bit Hydrocharus morsus-ranae Brittle Naiad Najas minor

And we also have..

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Eurasian watermilfoil underwater.

Variable-leaf Milfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum

Water Chestnut

Water Chestnut nutlets

Fanwort

Curlyleaf Pondweed

Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

European Frogbit

Rock Snot New Zealand Didymo geminiscapa Battenkill, Esopus, Kaydeross, Mad River (VT), Gihon River (VT)! Delaware River

Zebra Mussel Tench Asian Clam Spiny Waterflea Round Goby Photos contributed by Lake Champlain Sea Grant

How are invasive species introduced and spread? Pathways Ballast Nurseries / Ornamentals Aquaria / Water Gardens / Pet Trade School releases Roadways Vehicles / watercraft Canals Clothing / Gear / Equipment Fill, mulch material Disturbance Firewood Wildlife Wind / Waterways Roadway Corridors Ornamentals Disturbed Areas Watercraft

Ballast Water - California Sea Grant Extension Program (2002)

Management Techniques Physical Handpulling, cutting, matting Chemical Biological Cultural Revegetation Do Nothing Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

Spread Prevention Shoreowner education Signage (boat launch) State Municipal Private Stewards (boat launch) Paid Volunteer Stations (boat wash) Lake George Upper St. Regis Stations (disposal) Buck Pond Lake Flower Lake Placid Surveys Paid Volunteer

Spread Prevention Shoreowner education Signage (boat launch) State Municipal Private Stewards (boat launch) Paid Volunteer Stations (boat wash) Lake George Upper St. Regis Stations (disposal) Buck Pond Lake Flower Lake Placid Surveys Paid Volunteer

2009Paradox Lake Milfoil Survey Plan

Spread Prevention Continued Avoid boating through invasive plant beds Never release unwanted bait into a waterbody Never move fish from one water to another without the proper permits Check your boat before you float! Clean off your boat / remove vegetation Clean out / disinfect live wells

Spread Prevention Protocol Check and remove any visible mud, plants, fish, or organisms from boats, trailers, equpiment, etc. Clean and eliminate water from equipment Dry anything that comes in contact with water Never release plants, fish, or other animals into a waterway unless they came from that waterway.

Action Plan for Milfoil Issue Brant Lake, New York

Our approach Similar to fighting weeds in regular garden: Identify and locate Surveying Reports from locals Head-A-Bed Remove or kill Hand harvesting and Benthic matting with Volunteers AIM

Results of our approach Where are we NOW compared to where we would be if we had taken NO ACTION

2009 Maps over time without action

2009 Where we were at the end of 2009

Tools for YOU to help If you find a bed or Head -A-Bed Call it into 518/532-4454 or write to lynchte71@yahoo.com If you are a diver and want to help Sign up on our website and write Luc.aalmans@gmail.com to set up a dive event If you are a volunteer Sign up on our website and help as surface crew or other All info is available on: www.brantlakemilfoil.org

Action Plan for 2010 Goals All known beds contained No large dense growth anywhere Many old benthic mats removed New beds under control Shallow hand harvesting team self-sufficient Head-a-bed revamped All volunteers committed for next year Agreement on boat launch

Help AIM Five or six weeks Hand harvesting in line sweep Our Divers Every Saturday from 10AM till 1PM Cover dense areas, IF ANY, with benthic mats Focus on small localized beds Remove mats You As much and as often as you can

Your Help Needed Head-a-bed (Name ) Assisting our divers (All) Refurbishing recovered mats (All) Kayakers / boaters to look for beds (Name ) Milfoil awareness and fundraising (Name ) Shallow water harvesting, 0-3 feet (Name ) Water Keeper / Water Steward (Terry Lynch)

Your Help Needed Liaison to Paul Smith College, APPIP, APC, State, etc. (Karen Meltzer) Project Manager (Dave King) Mapping the lake bottom (Harvey Leidy) APA permit process (Doug Paton) Boat launch (Doug Paton) Other methods (Dave King & Irv Freedman) Weevil, Suction, Chemicals, Current permits, etc.

Thank you for Your help www.brantlakemilfoil.org

An in Depth Look at Management: www.ecy.wa.gov/.../images/weedrake.jpg ww.novalek.com/.../images/talking_plants.jpg

Management Techniques Physical Handpulling, cutting, matting Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

A few interesting videos that highlight mechanical/physical management techniques: http://thefallworkshop.com/skaneateles-new-york-2009/stories/andrew-burtonmilfoil-skaneateles-ny.html http://www.skanmilfoil.com/video.php

Management Techniques Chemical Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

Management Techniques Biological Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

- Sterile Grass Carp - Milfoil Weevil

Management Techniques Cultural Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

Management Techniques Revegetation Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

In my opinion this is the most under-utilized management technique. www.aquarticles.com/.../p20c%20plants.jpg

Management Techniques Do Nothing Divers in Upper Saranac Lake

www.lakehubert.org, Lake Hubert, MN

The APIPP Team Hilary Smith, Director hsmith@tnc.org X131 Tyler Smith, Aquatics Tyler_smith@tnc.org 518-576-2082 X119 Steven Flint, Terrestrial sflint@tnc.org X120 Brendan Quirion, Terrestrial bquirion@tnc.org Gus Goodwin, Steward ggoodwin@tnc.org www.adkinvasives.com