Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Plant Management Program

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1 Minnesota epartment of Natural Resources Aquatic Plant Management Program

2 The Goal of the MN NR s Aquatic Plant Management Program-APM Protect & enhance Minnesota s aquatic resources, while allowing lakeshore homeowners access & use of these resources

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4 MN Rule 6280 Regulates the destruction, and planting of aquatic vegetation in public waters.

5 The regulations apply when: Aquatic macrophytes, swimmer s itch or algae occur in such numbers that they interfere with boating, swimming, or other aquatic recreation or beneficial water use.

6 Who Can Get a Permit? For control and transplanting permits: A shoreline property owner to that body of water or a representative of a group of shoreline property owners can apply.

7 Aquatic Plants Submerged Floating Leaf mergent Free Floating Algae

8 Submerged Plants Grow primarily under the water surface for most of the growing season. The upper leaves may float near the surface and flowers or fruits may extend above the surface. These plants are rooted or anchored to the lake bottom

9 Floating Leaf Plants These plants are rooted in the lake bottom and have leaves that float on the water surface. May have flowers that extend above the water.

10 mergent Plants These plants are rooted to the lake bottom and extend well above the water surface and are usually found in shallow water near the shore.

11 Free Floating Plants These plants float on the water surface and drift with water currents.

12 Algae Are primitive plants that form the base of aquatic food chains. Many algae are microscopic consisting of a single cell. Others form chains, filaments or colonies. Abundant plankton algae growth results in blooms that give the water a green or blue/green color

13 Filamentous Algae Grow in a mass of long, stringy, hairlike strands. Can be green or grayish/brown and may form mats at the water surface.

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15 What are the Benefits of Weeds or What we Call Aquatic Plants?

16 Are the Primary Producers in the Aquatic Food Chain All life in a lake is dependent upon water plants directly or indirectly

17 Provide Food & Shelter for Fish

18 Plants use up nutrients for growth and make those nutrients unavailable for algae which can result in improved water clarity Some plants, like bulrush, can absorb and break down pollutants

19 Provide food and cover for wildlife

20 Prevent erosion mergent aquatic plants, such as bulrushes and cattails help reduce wave impact which results in less shoreline erosion Submerged and floating-leaf plants also reduce wave action and aids in stabilizing bottom substrate in shallow water areas

21 Improves visual appeal

22 Provide conomic benefits Fishing industry

23 Wild Rice harvesting industry

24 Howard Lake Point Intercept Survey- September 2008 ± Meters 2008 vegetation sample sites Water depth >15 feet Water depth interval (feet) Number of samples 0 to to to to to Sample sites in 0-15 ft zone to 20 5 Total samples 141

25 istribution of aquatic plants in Howard Lake, 2008 ± Meters Plants absent at sample sites Plants present at sample sites Water depth >15 feet Within the shore to 15 zone, 60% of the 136 sampled sites contained plants

26 Plants were found to a maximum depth of 11 feet The majority of plants occurred in water depths at 6 feet and less The broadest zones of vegetation occurred at the North end of the lake

27 Table 2. Frequency of aquatic plants in Howard Lake Point-intercept survey, September *A total of 11 aquatic plant species were recorded- 10 submerged and 1 floating leaf species (Frequency is the percent of sample sites in which a plant taxon occurred within the shore to 15 ft water depth.) Life Form Common Name Scientific Name Frequency 136 sample sites Submerged Coontail Ceratophyllum demersum 39 urasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum 31 Canada waterweed lodea canadensis 28 Curly-leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus 9 Wild celery Vallisneria americana 8 Bushy pondweed Najas sp. 6 Sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata 2 Muskgrass Chara sp. 1 Flat-stem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis 1 Clasping-leaf pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii 1 Floating-leaved White waterlily Nymphaea odorata 3

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29 Coontail urasian Watermilfoil Canada Waterweed Curly-leaf Pondweed Wild Celery Meters ± Water depth >10 feet Bushy Pondweed istribution of six of the most common submerged species

30 The types and amounts of aquatic vegetation that occur within a lake are influenced by: Water clarity (secchi disc) Water chemistry Water depth Substrate type Wave action Changes in algae population Presence of non-native species e.g. ewm

31 Howard Lake has a long history of secchi disc readings ranging from 3-4 feet, but has reached 6.5 feet.

32 North Fork of the Crow River Watershed Land use within the Twelve Mile Creek Watershed North Fork Crow River ^ ^ Miles Wright County North Fork Crow River Watershed Howard Lake Grassland Howard Lake utch Lake Twelvemile Creek Little Waverly Lake Waverly Lake Cropland Wetlands Forest Water eveloped Twelvemile Creek watershed Miles

33 Nuisance Submerged Aquatic Plant Control Permit History Adjacent to Individual Properties properties permitted total 3 acres properties permitted total 4 acres properties permitted total 2 acres properties permitted total 3 acres properties permitted total 1.5 acres properties permitted total 3.5 acres properties permitted total 2.5 acres properties permitted total 1.5 acres

34 When Considering Shoreline or Lake Vegetation Control Have realistic expectations Limit control to what is needed/used Think in long-range terms Consider cumulative effects Understand values of aquatic plants

35 Audrey Kuchinski, NR Fisheries-Aquatic Plant Management Program Address: Haven Road, Little Falls, MN Phone: , ext 235

36 Permit History for Treatment of urasian Water Milfiol acres acres acres acres acre 2009 No permit issued acres acres acres acres acres *From the permitted areas were primarily adjacent to the public accesses, beach area and fishing pier.

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38 Chris Jurek Invasive Species Specialist NR cological and Water Resources 940 Industrial r. S, Suite 103 Sauk Rapids, MN Fax: