An Insiders Guide to Aquatic Plant Management in New York State

1. IPC Conference, 2-8-07: Kishbaugh An Insiders Guide to Aquatic Plant Management in New York State Scott A. Kishbaugh, P.E. NYSDEC Division of Water 625 Broadway Albany NY 12233-3502 518-402-8282 sakishba@gw.dec.state.ny.us

2. There Are Several Fundamental Truths About Aquatic Plant Management in NYS

3. All Plants Are Created Equal Some Plants Are More Equal Than Others

5. All Plant Management Techniques Are Created Equal Some Techniques Are Less Equal Than Others

6. Who Took My Hammer?(Missing Tools in the Toolbox) Some Plant Management Techniques Are Highly Regulated Some Techniques Are Not Eligible for Grants Some Techniques Are Not Available (Permitted) in Some Parts of the State, Whether by Regulation or Philosophy Some Techniques Are Not Effective for Some Plants

7. There is No Such Thing As Eradication Except When There Is....

8. What’s Left at the End Some Seed Producing Plants (Water Chestnut) Can Be “Eradicated” if Seed Bank is Extirpated and Exhausted- Can Take Many Years Grass Carp Can Effectively Eradicate All Plants Eradication Grants Program Funds Projects ‘More Likely’ to Result in Eradication

9. Aquatic Plant Management Is A Local Responsibility Except When (State/Federal) Government Tells You What You Can’t Do

10. Who’s In Charge? Nearly All Aquatic Plant Management in NYS Funded by Locals Individual Homeowners or Lake Associations Municipal Grants Local Assistance Grants (FLLOWPA) Eradication Grant Program Aquatic Plant Management is Regulated by State or Federal Agencies

11. Aquatic Plant Permits Are Issued by DEC Regional Staff Regional Staff Sometimes Have No Control Over the Issuance of Permits

12. What Really Happens? Aquatic Plant Management Process Can Be More Political than Scientific Statewide Permitting Program Not Always Reflective of Local Permitting Issues Aquatic Plant Management Permitting Differs from Region to Region

13. So Where to Begin? Document Extent of Invasive Growth Identify Impaired Uses Correctly Identify Invasive Plant(s) Explore Management Alternatives Identify Limitations to Management Initiate Permitting Process if Applicable

14. Document Extent of Invasive Plant Growth Document the Extent of Invasive Plant Growth Now Required As Part of DEC Aquatic Pesticides Program Cornell-USACE Rake Toss Methodology

15. Identify Impaired Uses Identify Any Impaired Uses (Swimming, Fishing, Drinking Water) State Priority Waterbody List (PWL) Can Authenticate Problems

16. Plant Identification Make Sure the Plant Identification is Correct Several Sources Available for Confirming Aquatic Plant Identifications

17. Explore Management Alternatives Several Guides Available Summarizing Plant Management Options Updated Diet for a Small Lake Available in Spring Draft “Primer on Aquatic Plant Management in NYS” Available on DEC Website http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/bwam/aquatic/ch6apr05.pdf)

18. Identify Limitations Physical- Dam? Depth of Withdrawal? Retention Time? Major Inlet/Outlet? Launch/Spoils Area? Depth/Density of Plants? Biological- Protected (RTE) Animals/Plants? Fisheries Resources? Logistical- Public Water Supply? Identified on PWL? Is Technique “Available” Philosophical- Opposition to Use of Herbicides? Intended/Desired Use of Waterbody? Fiscal

20. Do Nothing Option Principle- Let Nature or Apathy Work Invasive Target- None Pros- (No)$, May Take Advantage of Normal Cyclical Patterns Cons- Problem May Become More Difficult to Manage Permits- None Costs- Pay Later

21. Hand / Suction Harvesting Principle- Pluck (Nudge) ‘Em Out, One at a Time (and Bag ‘Em) Invasive Target- Any/All Pros- Can be Cheap, Target Individual Plants or Plant Species, Combine With Suction Harvesting, Good IPM Technique Cons- Labor Intensive, Difficult and Costly > 1000 ft2 or Deep Water, Spread Fragments Permits- Only If Large Scale (ECL Article 15, Article 24)- Suction Permits Akin to Dredging Costs- Labor Only to $100-500/ac (Suction = $5-10k/ac)

22. Benthic Barriers Principle- Smother ‘Em Invasive Target- Any/All if Barrier Placed Early Pros- Focus on Use Impacted Areas, Can Move to Different Areas, Variable Time Options Cons- Difficult in Deep Water, Limited to Small Areas, Potential Ecological Impacts, Not Species Specific Permits- Some DEC Regions- Only If Large Scale (ECL Article 15, Article 24), USACE if Navigable Water Costs- $100/ac + Labor to $10-30k/ac

23. Cutting (Tips and Roots) Principle- Snip ‘Em Invasive Target- Water Chestnut and Perhaps Curly Leaf Pondweed- Can Spread Milfoil and Fanwort Pros- Easy, Inexpensive, Focus on Surface Impacts Cons- Easily Spreads Fragments and Root Material, Plants Regrow, Weeds Deposit Downwind, Selective only in Monocultures Permits- DEC and APA (ECL Articles 15 and 24), Usually None for Surface Only Cutting Costs- $200-400/ac

24. Shading Principle- Color the Water So Plants Don’t Grow Invasive Target- All If Low Enough in Water Column Pros- Easy, Inexpensive, Whole Waterbody Control Cons- Non-Selective (Plant or Spatial), Highly Dependent on Retention Time, Little Documentation in Large or Deeper Waterbodies Permits- If Advertised as Plant Control Agent, Pesticides Permit (Pt 327), Otherwise None Costs- $100-500/ac

25. Herbivorous Insects Principle- Stock Insects that Will Disrupt Plant Growth Cycle Invasive Target- Eurasian Watermilfoil Now, Water Chestnut in Future? Pros- “Natural”, Likely Involves Native Insects, Mostly Selective, Few Side Effects Cons- Limited Targets, Little Evidence of Insect Propagation, Spread or Augmented Control in NYS, Fish Predation, Poor IPM Choice Permits- DEC Stocking Permit (ECL Article 11) Costs- $300-3000/ac

26. Drawdown Principle- Freeze Dry Plants Over the Winter Invasive Target- Eurasian Watermilfoil, Fanwort Pros- Easy, Inexpensive, Can Combine with Other Mgmt Actions (Dock Repair, Habitat Improvement) Cons- Loss of Other Rhizome-Producers, Increase in Seed-Producers, Late Return of Water Level, Impacts to Benthos Permits- DEC Stocking Permit (ECL Article 11) Costs- $<100/ac

27. Mechanical Harvesting Principle- Cut ‘Em and Cart ‘Em Away Invasive Target- Any Growing in Water 2-10 Feet Deep Pros- Large Scale, Opens Navigational Chanels/Surface of Waterbody, Some Nutrient Removal Cons- Expensive, Creates Fragments, Non-Selective, Can’t Be Used Near Shore, Some Fauna Impacted, Need Launch Permits- APA, Occasional DEC (ECL Article 24) Costs- $500-1500/ac; $150k Harvester

28. Aquatic Herbicides Principle- Chemically Wipe Out Weeds by Contract or Impact to Growth Pattern Invasive Target- All: Milfoil- Fluridone, 2,4-D, Endothal Chestnut- 2,4-D Fanwort- Fluridone, Endothal Curly Leaf- Endothal, Diquat Pros- Short to Long Term Control, Some Selectivity, Local or Lakewide Control, Usually Effective Cons- Controversial, Some Limits on Use, Time Delays, Non-Target Impacts, Plan/Monitoring Required Permits- DEC, APA, Others (ECL Article 15/Part 327, Article 24) Costs- $300-1500/ac

29. Grass Carp Principle- Stock Weed Eating Fish Invasive Target- Curly Leafed Pondweed, Fanwort (Milfoil Less Palatable) Pros- Perceived “Natural”, Less Expensive, Long-Term Control, Mostly Invisible Control Cons- Non-Native Fish, Non-Target Control, Risk of Algal Blooms/ Plant Eradication / Escape, Habitat Alteration, Hard to Remove, EIS Required Permits- DEC/APA Stocking Permit (ECL Article 11), APA Article 24 Costs- $50-300/ac

30. Dredging Principle- Scoop Out the Weeds, Roots, and Muds Around Them Invasive Target- Any/All Pros- Long Term Control, Increases Water Depth, Very Effective in Light Limited Conditions Cons- Very Expensive, Many Permits, Risk of High Turbidity, Need Spoils Area and Access for Barge, Risk of Spreading Contaminated Sediment, Limited Areas Permits- DEC/APA Permits (ECL Article 15, Article 24, Others) Costs- $20-80k/ac

31. IPM = Integrated Plant Management Principle- Combining Two or More Mgmt Techniques Invasive Target- Any/All Pros- ^ Likelihood of Long-Term Control, 1-2 Punch, Favorably Viewed by Regulators, Can Combine Local and Lakewide Management Cons- Must Make Sure Techniques Are Compatible, Side Effects Could Multiply Permits- Varied Costs- Varied