Developing an Developing an Effective Vegetation Effective Vegetation

Management Program Management Program at Boone Lakeat Boone Lake

Exeter, RIExeter, RI

DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLANVEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

LAKE ASSESSMENT* Water Quality * Biology * Watershed * Morphometry

LAKE ASSESSMENT* Water Quality * Biology * Watershed * Morphometry

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES* Fisheries/Wildlife * Recreation * Aesthetics

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES* Fisheries/Wildlife * Recreation * Aesthetics

EVALUATION OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES* Effectiveness * Environmental Effects * Compatibility with

Other Uses * Cost * Social Acceptability

EVALUATION OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES* Effectiveness * Environmental Effects * Compatibility with

Other Uses * Cost * Social Acceptability

FINAL DESIGN & PERMITTINGFINAL DESIGN & PERMITTING

IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION

MONITORINGMONITORING PUBLIC EDUCATIONPUBLIC EDUCATION

2009 AQUATIC PLANT SURVEY TASKS

•Aquatic vegetation identification and distribution mapping.

•Qualitative shoreline and overall site assessment.

•Evaluate the feasibility of potential aquatic vegetation management/control strategies.

•Develop a recommended management program.

DOMINANT DOMINANT AQUATIC AQUATIC

VEGETATIONVEGETATION•Diverse plant assemblage – 10 different species of submersed and floating-leaf plant species observed.

•Greatest abundance of native plant growth observed in shallow water areas < 6 feet deep.

•Sparse to dense beds of non-native variable milfoil found throughout shoreline.

Variable WatermilfoilMyriophyllum heterophyllumheterophyllum

• Acidic waters• 7-10 pairs of

leaflets• Vegetative

propagation

Common ReedPhragmites australis

• Emergent wetland plant

• Common around salt marshes, highway drainage swales and lake shorelines

• Highly invasive

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF EXOTIC OR INVASIVE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF EXOTIC OR INVASIVE PLANTSPLANTS

FISH, WILDLIFE & NATIVE PLANTS

• Displacement of native plants

• Displacement of endangered, threatened or rare aquatic plants

• Habitat loss for fish & wildlife

• Change in spawning site availability

• Change in fish distribution

• Reduction in feeding success of predatory fish

• Reduction of open-water

WATER QUALITY

• Temperature & oxygen fluctuations

• Increased phosphorus (nutrient) loading

• Alteration in plant and algae communities

• Accelerated eutrophication rates

Source: A report from the Milfoil Study Committee on the Use of Aquatic Herbicides to Control Eurasian Watermilfoil in Vermont. VTDEC, March 1993

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF EXOTIC OR INVASIVE PLANTS POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF EXOTIC OR INVASIVE PLANTS (continued)(continued)

RECREATION

• Risk of swimmer entanglement

• Reduced access for boating & fishing

• Reduced aesthetics

LOCAL COMMERCE & REAL ESTATE

• Reduced property taxes

• Declining property values

• Renters fail to return for a second season

• Slowed business for marinas, etc.

• Declining attendance at lakefront beaches and parks

Source: A report from the Milfoil Study Committee on the Use of Aquatic Herbicides to Control Eurasian Watermilfoil in Vermont. VTDEC, March 1993

RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

GOALS/OBJECTIVESGOALS/OBJECTIVES•Control and prevent further expansion of non-native and invasive variable watermilfoil.

•Improve access for recreational activities (fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, etc.).

•Preserve diverse native plant assemblage, including: low-growing submersed species, and floating-leaved water lilies to provide fish and wildlife habitat

In-Lake Management TechniquesIn-Lake Management Techniques

Different Approaches•Physical/Manual•Mechanical•Biological•Chemical

Determining Which One to Use•Program goals and objectives•Accurate plant identification•Environmental constraints•Social acceptability•Cost

SMALL INFESTATIONSSMALL INFESTATIONS

Bottom Bottom BarriersBarriers

Hand Pulling Hand Pulling Suction HarvestingSuction Harvesting

LARGE INFESTATIONSLARGE INFESTATIONS

Mechanical Mechanical Harvesting Harvesting or Rakingor Raking

NOT RECOMMENDEDNOT RECOMMENDED

Drawdown Drawdown (limited benefit)(limited benefit)

– Navigate (2,4-D)Navigate (2,4-D)

– Reward (Diquat)Reward (Diquat)

– Renovate (Triclopyr)Renovate (Triclopyr)

– Sonar (Fluridone)Sonar (Fluridone)

CHEMICAL TREATMENTCHEMICAL TREATMENT

FACTORS FOR HERBICIDE FACTORS FOR HERBICIDE SELECTION…SELECTION…

•Target speciesTarget species•Size & configuration of treatment areaSize & configuration of treatment area•Selectivity desired or requiredSelectivity desired or required•Water usesWater uses•Flow considerationsFlow considerations•TimingTiming•CostCost

Herbicide ToxicityHerbicide Toxicity Risk = Toxicity x ExposureRisk = Toxicity x Exposure

Products registered by EPA under FIFRA, also Products registered by EPA under FIFRA, also registered in each Stateregistered in each State

20 active ingredients for aquatics in 1976 – now only 20 active ingredients for aquatics in 1976 – now only 8 8

No aquatic herbicides have a swimming restriction No aquatic herbicides have a swimming restriction on the label; however, closure on day of treatment is on the label; however, closure on day of treatment is recommendedrecommended

Use of lake water for drinking or for irrigation will be Use of lake water for drinking or for irrigation will be restricted following treatmentrestricted following treatment

What are the risks?What are the risks?

Available Aquatic HerbicidesAvailable Aquatic HerbicidesTRADE NAMETRADE NAME ACTIVE ACTIVE

INGREDIENTINGREDIENTMANUFACTURERMANUFACTURER

Aqua-Kleen / Aqua-Kleen / NavigateNavigate

2,4-D2,4-D Cerexagri / Cerexagri /

Applied BiochemistsApplied Biochemists

www.cerexagri.comwww.cerexagri.com

www.appliedbiochemists.comwww.appliedbiochemists.com

Aquathol KAquathol K EndothallEndothall CerexagriCerexagri www.cerexagri.comwww.cerexagri.com

Komeen / NautiqueKomeen / Nautique CopperCopper SePROSePRO www.sepro.comwww.sepro.com

RenovateRenovate TriclopyrTriclopyr SePROSePRO www.sepro.comwww.sepro.com

RewardReward DiquatDiquat SyngentaSyngenta www.syngentaprofessionalwww.syngentaprofessional

products.comproducts.com

Rodeo & genericsRodeo & generics GlyphosateGlyphosate Dow AgroSciencesDow AgroSciences www.dowagro.comwww.dowagro.com

SonarSonar FluridoneFluridone SePROSePRO www.sepro.comwww.sepro.com

HabitatHabitat ImazapyrImazapyr BASFBASF www.vmanswers.comwww.vmanswers.com

METHODS OF APPLICATIONMETHODS OF APPLICATION

Navigate (2,4-D)Navigate (2,4-D)o FormulationFormulation: Granular (BEE) : Granular (BEE)

o Mode of ActionMode of Action: Systemic – auxin mimic, inhibits cell division : Systemic – auxin mimic, inhibits cell division in new tissue and stimulates growth of existing in new tissue and stimulates growth of existing

tissuetissue

o Environmental FateEnvironmental Fate: Hydrolysis, microbial degradation, : Hydrolysis, microbial degradation, photolysisphotolysis

o Water Use RestrictionsWater Use Restrictions: Drinking < 70 ppb, Irrigation < 100 : Drinking < 70 ppb, Irrigation < 100 ppbppb

o AdvantagesAdvantages: fairly selective for broad-leaf (dicot) species, : fairly selective for broad-leaf (dicot) species, multiple year control, effective for spot-treatmentsmultiple year control, effective for spot-treatments

o LimitationsLimitations: prohibited in water supply watershed areas, : prohibited in water supply watershed areas, negative public perceptionnegative public perception

o Plants ControlledPlants Controlled: Milfoil, Water Chestnut, Waterlilies, : Milfoil, Water Chestnut, Waterlilies, WatershieldWatershield

Reward (Diquat)Reward (Diquat)o FormulationFormulation: Liquid: Liquid

o Mode of ActionMode of Action: Contact – interferes with photosynthesis: Contact – interferes with photosynthesis

o Environmental FateEnvironmental Fate: Sediment absorption, photolysis: Sediment absorption, photolysis

o Water Use RestrictionsWater Use Restrictions: Drinking 1-3 days, Irrigation 1-5 days, : Drinking 1-3 days, Irrigation 1-5 days, Watering Livestock 1 day Watering Livestock 1 day

o AdvantagesAdvantages: Rapid action effective for partial lake or : Rapid action effective for partial lake or shoreline shoreline treatmentstreatments

o LimitationsLimitations: Annual control does not kill roots: Annual control does not kill roots

o Plants ControlledPlants Controlled: Milfoil, Curlyleaf Pondweed, Elodea, : Milfoil, Curlyleaf Pondweed, Elodea, Hydrilla, Hydrilla, Coontail, Pondweeds, Naiad, Duckweed, Coontail, Pondweeds, Naiad, Duckweed, Bladderwort, Bladderwort, AlgaeAlgae

Congamond Lakes – Southwick MA Congamond Lakes – Southwick MA

Town operated mechanical Town operated mechanical harvesters for yearsharvesters for years

2000 – complete littoral zone 2000 – complete littoral zone infestation of Eurasian infestation of Eurasian watermilfoilwatermilfoil

2001 – Whole-lake (450 acres) 2001 – Whole-lake (450 acres) Sonar herbicide treatmentSonar herbicide treatment

2002-2009 – spot-treatments 2002-2009 – spot-treatments of 20-35 acres per year to of 20-35 acres per year to control curlyleaf pondweed control curlyleaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoiland Eurasian watermilfoil

Lower Suncook Lake – Barnstead, NH Lower Suncook Lake – Barnstead, NH

Variable watermilfoil Variable watermilfoil infestationinfestation

Reward (diquat) treatment in Reward (diquat) treatment in 2002 only provided seasonal 2002 only provided seasonal controlcontrol

Association coordinated a Association coordinated a grant funded research project grant funded research project and worked with legislators to and worked with legislators to get 2,4-D approvedget 2,4-D approved

Treated 132 acres with 2,4-D Treated 132 acres with 2,4-D in 2004, surveys and in 2004, surveys and treatment guided by GPStreatment guided by GPS

Briggs Marsh – Little Compton, RIBriggs Marsh – Little Compton, RI

Phragmites infestation around Phragmites infestation around this coastal freshwater pondthis coastal freshwater pond

Initiated Rodeo herbicide Initiated Rodeo herbicide spot-treatments in 1997spot-treatments in 1997

Treated with Airboat, but pond Treated with Airboat, but pond breaches to ocean regularlybreaches to ocean regularly

Switched to Argo track-driven Switched to Argo track-driven amphibious vehiclesamphibious vehicles

Infestation reduced to Infestation reduced to maintenance levelsmaintenance levels

Recommended ProgramRecommended ProgramBoone Lake – 2010Boone Lake – 2010

• Finalize aquatic plant management approach ASAP

• File RI DEM Pesticide Permit January

• Pre-treatment vegetation surveyMay

• Reward (Diquat) herbicide applicationfor the control of variable watermilfoil Late May - Mid June

• Spot-treatment of phragmites September

• Late-season vegetation survey September

• Project completion report Nov.-Dec.

ESTIMATED PROGRAM COSTS - 2010ESTIMATED PROGRAM COSTS - 2010

Permitting• File pesticide permit application with DEM

$200

Herbicide Treatment• Diquat treatment of up to 20 acres for the

control of milfoil and thinning of native species $4,875

• Glyphosate/Imazapyr spot-treatment of phragmites $650

Monitoring and Reporting• Pre and post-treatment surveys and year-end reporting

$750

TOTAL RECOMMENDED PROJECT BUDGET FOR 2010$6,475

Thank You!Thank You!