MILC Workshop 3 Lakes and Data

• 0:00- Workshop Part I and II: Using and Understanding Temperature/Dissolved Oxygen Data collected by the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, Erick Elgin, MSU Extension; Jo Latimore, MSU | Other Authors: Tamara Lipsey, EGLE; Jean Roth and Melissa DeSimone, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association; and Paul Steen, Michigan Clean Water Corps
• 1:11:00- Workshop Part III. Aquatic plant restoration post invasive species control, Erick Elgin, MSU Extension

Workshop Part I and II: Using and Understanding Temperature/Dissolved Oxygen Data collected by the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, Erick Elgin, MSU Extension; Jo Latimore, MSU | Other Authors: Tamara Lipsey, EGLE; Jean Roth and Melissa DeSimone, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association; and Paul Steen, Michigan Clean Water Corps

Temperature and dissolved oxygen data is essential in understanding the ecology of lakes. The extent of fish habitat and what fish species is present is often dictated by the presence and amount of oxygen. The presence of dissolved oxygen is also important to the nutrient cycling of lakes, specifically the internal loading of phosphorus. Michigan’s volunteer lake monitoring program, MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, measures temperature/dissolved oxygen in lakes across the state. This long-term dataset can be used to understand lakes further and help with current and future management. This workshop will consist of a lecture covering the basics of temperature and oxygen stratification in lakes. We will also go through simple graphing activities and calculations that will help individuals visualize and interpret Temp/Dissolved Oxygen profile data. We will be using data collected by MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program volunteers. Microsoft Excel will be used for this workshop’s activities.

Workshop Part III. Aquatic plant restoration post invasive species control, Erick Elgin, MSU Extension

Restoration of native plant communities is a key requirement of a successful invasive species control program. In lakes, native aquatic plant recovery following aquatic invasive species control may be slow due to a lack of existing, viable propagules- the result of years of suppression by the invading species. Although some native aquatic plants produce persistent propagules within the seed bank, many do not and the diversity of returning plants post-management may be low as a result. Therefore, active restoration of multiple native plant species may be needed to revive the plant community. We tested three aquatic plant restoration techniques (hand planted, stapled, and weighted burlap) using three native plant species (Illinois Pondweed, Sago Pondweed, and Chara spp.) in a pond where eradication efforts are underway for Yellow Floating Heart. Success of each technique will be measured by survival, change in biomass, and ease of the method. We will discuss preliminary results of this experiment and offer lessons learned.

Learn more about 2022 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention presentations here.