MILC Sessions 16-18 Invasive Plant Species

• 0:00- Progress toward eradication of Parrot Feather and Yellow Floating Heart in Michigan, William Keiper, Sarah LeSage and Tom Alwin, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
• 33:00- Control Methods for Eurasian Watermilfoil in Lake Leelanau, Annalise Povolo, Lake Leelanau Lake Association and Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; Ron Reimink, Freshwater Solutions, LLC; and Dan Mays, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
• 01:02:00- Expansion of European Frog-bit in Michigan: Response at Reeds and Fisk Lake Case Study, William Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
  

Progress toward eradication of Parrot Feather and Yellow Floating Heart in Michigan, William Keiper, Sarah LeSage and Tom Alwin, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has been actively working to address populations of watch list aquatic invasive species since 2016. The goal of this work is to prevent the establishment and spread of aquatic invasive plants on Michigan’s watch list and pursue local eradication, when possible and practical.  EGLE staff will present background and identification information on Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) and Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) and share experiences on responses to over 20 locations that have resulted in 4 local eradications to date.  We will share lessons learned including information on herbicide and hand pulling methods and efficacy.

Control Methods for Eurasian Watermilfoil in Lake Leelanau, Annalise Povolo, Lake Leelanau Lake Association and Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; Ron Reimink, Freshwater Solutions, LLC; and Dan Mays, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) was confirmed in Lake Leelanau in the summer of 2019. EWM is an aggressive invasive aquatic plant capable of growing into dense mats at the surface, interfering with recreational activities, light penetration to native plants, and the amount of dissolved oxygen in the lake. Chemical and biological treatment options have been utilized by others, but with varying effects and potentially dangerous side effects. In response to this threat, the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) partnered to develop an Aquatic Invasive Species Remediation Program to control EWM in Lake Leelanau without the use of chemical or biological treatments. Beginning in 2020, the LLLA and GTB utilized the methods of hand-pulling by divers or Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH), and the placement of benthic barriers over dense, nearly-exclusive infestations of EWM. Two different types of benthic barriers were used on Lake Leelanau, manufactured Lake Bottom Blankets (LBBs; 2020 only) and burlap barriers (2020 and 2021). LBBs are made of synthetic material, and thus are reusable after being pulled out of the lake. Custom ordered burlap barriers, made of biodegradable material, were not removed from the lake, but were monitored the following year and generally continued to prevent the return of EWM during the summer of 2021. The success of hand-pulling EWM is variable, but the use of benthic barriers was shown to be highly effective in killing EWM. Restoration efforts for native plants over the existing benthic barriers began in 2021 and will continue at a larger scale in 2022 in cooperation with Grand Valley State University. New methods used in 2022, such as drone imagery and in-water ground-truthing to estimate the surface area of EWM infestations, will be presented, highlighting their success, limitations, and impacts.

Expansion of European Frog-bit in Michigan: Response at Reeds and Fisk Lake Case Study, William Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-rane L.) (EFB) is an invasive free-floating aquatic plant of growing concern to water resource managers, waterfront property owners, and recreational users due to its continued spread and potential negative effects on water resources. The EFB Collaborative was established in fall of 2018 to improve coordination and collaboration among stakeholders and build consensus on next steps for EFB management and research in Michigan. We will provide on overview of the EFB Collaborative and use Reed and Fisk Lake as an EFB response case study. EFB was first discovered in Reeds and Fisk Lake in 2016 during a routine herbicide application. Since the initial finding, a coordinated response effort has been underway involving several project partners. On-going adaptive management efforts to eradicate EFB include herbicide treatments, hand pulling, frequent monitoring, and education/outreach. We will provide an update on 6 years of response efforts, successes to date, and lessons learned.

Learn more about the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention here.