QUANTIFYING CHANGES IN AQUATIC PLANT COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST DECADE IN CONNECTICUT LAKES: RELATIONS TO INVASIVE SPECIES, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CYANOBACTERIA.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1005410
• Project Start Date: Jan 15, 2015
• Project End Date: Jan 14, 2019
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
PO BOX 1106
NEW HAVEN,CT 06504

Performing Department
Environmental Sciences

Non Technical Summary
Connecticut lakes and ponds containing invasive plants may be accelerating due to human activities such as movement via boat trailering, disposal of aquariums and a changing climate.Between 2004 and 2013, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP) mapped aquatic vegetation and determined water chemistry in 206 Connecticut lakes and ponds. This workfound 60 percent of the water bodies contained one or more invasive species.In addition to14 invasive species, over 100 native species were also documented. With over 10 years of thorough aquatic vegetation survey data available, CAES IAPP can now, through resurveys, determine changes in invasive and native plant communities over time and relate these to management practices, associated native plant assemblages, human transport mechanisms such as boat launch ramps, temperature and changing water chemistry.Managing established populations of invasive aquatic plants is difficult and rarely is the targeted plant eliminated. Some common management options are harvesting, herbicides, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and water level manipulation.The objective of most management programs is to return the water body to a diverse population of native plants as occurred prior to invasion. Both nationally and in Connecticut, documentation is lacking on whether progress is being made toward this goal. The proposed research will provide vital information on this topic and provide answers to our hypotheses that; 1) invasive species are spreading rapidly statewide, 2) lakes with public boat launches are at an increased risk for new invasions, 3) high native plant biodiversity limits resources and provides resistance to colonization by invasive species, 4) changes in water temperature and chemistry are altering the composition of invasive and native plant assemblages and 5) cyanobacteria blooms are a greater threat to human health than currently realized. This work will provide critical information to local, state and federal officials needed for determining resource allocation and begin to determine if toxins associated with cyanobacteria blooms are a legitimate health concern.

Animal Health Component

80%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

80%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0210	1140	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

invasive aquatic plants

aquatic ecosystem

climate change

Goals / Objectives
The goals of this projest are:1) document how populations of invasive aquatic plants are changing Connecticut lakes and ponds.2) correlate changes to management practices, human transport, resistance by native plant assemblages, and water chemistry.3) relate changing water chemistry to the potential for increased blooms of cyanobacteria and determine the presence of toxins in affected water.

Project Methods
ResurveysEighty-four lakes that are representative of the wide variety of aquatic plant communities (invasive and native), management practices, human influences and water chemistries will be resurveyed. Thirty-three of the 84 have already been resurveyed by CAES IAPP and therefore 51 additional surveys are proposed. Resurveys will be performed using methods established by CAES IAPPand proven reliable through many publications in peer-reviewed journals. The surveys rely on quantitative measurements of the frequency and abundance of plants along georeferenced transects and qualitative mapping of each water body for all plant species. The entire littoral zone will be examined for native and nonnative aquatic plant species between late June and late September when aquatic vegetation is at its peak.Species will be identified, either visually or by sampling with a rake or grapple. A qualitative vegetation map will be produced using ArcGIS®software. Quantitative information on the presence and abundance of native and invasive species will be obtained from resurveys of transects previously established in each lake. These transects have been placed in all CAES IAPP surveyed lakes usually at one transect per 4 hectares (10 acres). The transects are oriented perpendicular to the shoreline, and aquatic plant species were sampled at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 m from shore using a global positioning system with sub meter accuracy. Each transect utilizes the "line intercept" method. Plant species, abundance, water depth, and sediment type is cataloged at each transect point. A specimen of each plant species found in each lake will be mounted using accepted herbarium protocol and placed in the CAES IAPP aquatic plant herbarium. Digitized mounts will be uploaded and made viewable at www.ct.gov/caes/iapp.Management Practices:Information will be gathered on the aquatic plant management practices being utilized at each lake. CAES IAPP has developed extensive contacts with lake managers and state lake regulators and has or can obtain considerable documentation on management practices. Waterbodies will be grouped by management practices: 1) no management, 2) harvesting, 3) herbicides, 4) water level manipulation, and 5) grass carp. Changes in plant communities during the last 10 years will be compared.Human transport:Information will be gathered on the human influences impacting each lake. Of primary concern is the role of public boat launches on the transport of invasive species from one lake to another. Data on the usage of public boat launches will be attained from CT DEEP, discussions with lake officials and observation while doing surveys and usage rates will be normalized. If the increase in invasive species is greater over the decade in lakes with public boat launches additional resources may be justified for boat launch inspectors and education.Water Chemistry:Lake water will be tested in the deepest part of each lake for temperature, dissolved oxygen and transparency (water clarity) and in the laboratory for pH, alkalinity, conductivity and total phosphorus. Temperature and dissolved oxygen will be measured 0.5 meters below the surface and at one meter intervals until one meter above the bottom using an YSI® meter. Transparency will be measured with a Secchi. Water samples (250 ml) will be obtained by hand from the epilimnion (0.5 m depth) and via a pump from the hypolimnion (0.5 m from bottom). Samples will be refrigerated prior to testing. A Fisher® AR20 meter will be used to determine pH and conductivity while alkalinity (CaCO3) will be quantified by titration with 0.16 N H2SO4 to an end point pH of 4.5 Phosphorus will be determined by the ascorbic acid method preceded by digestion with potassium persulfate. Phosphorus concentrations will be quantified using a Milton Roy® Spectronic 20D spectrometer with a light path of 2 cm and a wavelength of 880 nm.Cyanobacteria toxins:Cyanobacteria blooms are readily noticed as blue green surface scums that usually appear in mid to late summer. As these blooms are encountered during CAES IAPP surveys, the location will be cataloged with GPS and water will be tested in situ for toxins using ELISA test kits. One liter samples will be obtained, placed in a cooler and brought to the laboratory where the cyanobacteria will be identified to genus and a cell count determined.Analysis of Data: To account for the influences of human activity (boating), control initiatives, water chemistry, and physical features of the lake on the change in plant community, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) will be used. This technique allows for the weighting of factors and evaluation of their individual influences on the community structure. Differences in native and invasive species richness and abundance between surveys, will be quantified using Chi-square analysis of the transect data (Madsen 1999) and analysis of variance with a repeated measures design. Cyanobacteria genus and counts will be compared to toxin levels using general linear models.

Progress 01/15/15 to 01/14/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Environmental scientists, liminologists, lake managers, concerned citizens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?CAES scientists have organized several workshops on the identification of invasive aquatic plants. We also gave presentations to professional organizations such as the Northeast Aquatic Plant management Society, the Northeast Aquatic Nusiance Species Panal and the Connecticut Federation of Lakes. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We strive to disseminate all information from our program to the public in a timely fashion and educate stakeholders in the identification, prevention, and management of invasive aquatic species. We make every effort to engage citizens, lake associations, and other stakeholders. CAES IAPP staff speak to numerous lake associations, town meetings, and student groups such as the Connecticut Envirothon. We have made our information freely and readily available via our website. Included are digitized interactive lake maps, our herbarium, and publications (http://www.ct.gov/caes/IAPP). Our invasive aquatic plant control and outreach efforts have resulted in the protection of lakes and provided scientifically proven methods for use by others. Our workshops have trained hundreds of citizens to recognize and report new infestations in order to prevent future problems and the associated control expenditures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Since 2004, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP) has completed 339 aquatic vegetation surveys of 240 Connecticut lakes and ponds to determine how invasive plants are changing the quality of lakes over time. In 2018, CAES IAPP mapped the aquatic vegetation in two new and 12 previously surveyed waterbodies. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut's largest lake, was surveyed for the 11th consecutive year to determine the effects of alternate year deep and shallow winter drawdown and recently introduced grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), minor naiad (Najas minor), and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). Lakes Lillinonah, Zoar and Squantz Pond were also surveyed. We established transects in each waterbody using global positioning systems to quantify changes in native and invasive aquatic species abundance and distribution. We analyzed water samples for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, alkalinity, conductivity, and phosphorus. This data, along with watershed information, is being used to investigate the factors that influence the susceptibility of waterbodies to individual invasive species. We archive dry specimens of all plant species in the CAES herbarium for future reference. We designed our Invasive Aquatic Plant Program to utilize the latest digital technology to rapidly and comprehensively report our findings to the public. Lake survey maps and other data are published online (http://www.ct.gov/caes/IAPP). CAES IAPP has found that nearly 60 percent of the waterbodies contain one or more invasive plant species and some lakes contain as many as four invasive species. The most common invasives are Eurasian watermilfoil, variable watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), minor naiad, curly leaf pondweed, and fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). Less common are water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), and water chestnut (Trapa natans). Our 2009 survey of Fence Rock Lake discovered Connecticut's first infestation of Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa), and our resurveys in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 found the population expanding. We have since found Brazilian waterweed in Lower Moodus Reservoir, Staffordville Reservoir, and Mono Pond. We tested the efficacy of the herbicide diquat (6,7-dihydrodipyrido (1,2-a:2',1'-c) pyrazinediium dibromide) in Fence Rock Lake in the summer of 2014. The herbicide was applied by bottom injection to the shoreline areas of the lake in July. A pre-treatment survey on over 100 georeferenced points in July 2014 found 59 points were occupied by Brazilian waterweed. A post-treatment survey, one year later, found only one point with the plant. Another treatment was performed in late July 2015. We resurveyed the lake in July 2016 and again in 2017 and determined the plant was completely eliminated without harm to the native plant community. Candlewood Lake's aquatic plant community is dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil. Winter water level drawdown is used to manage the watermilfoil. Using state-of-the-art global positioning systems, we have documented the success of the drawdowns each year since 2007. The winter drawdown protocol consists of alternate year shallow (1m) and deep (3m) water level reductions. Drawdown timing and duration varies depending on the hydrogenerating needs of FirstLight Power Resources. These variables and inconsistencies in winter weather result in differences in milfoil control. The coverage of milfoil shows a negative relationship to drawdown depth and duration. In 2015 and 2017, herbivorous fish called grass carp were introduced into the lake. These fish eat aquatic vegetation, and as they grow their effects can become noticeable. Our surveys through 2018 have shown only minor milfoil reductions mainly in the shallow coves. Our yearly report to The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FirstLight Power Resources, CT DEEP, Candlewood Lake Authority and other stakeholders provide data that is crucial for making decisions on future drawdown and grass carp introduction practices for Connecticut's largest lake. Benthic barriers are blankets designed to be placed over nuisance vegetation in lakes and ponds. They provide an alternative to herbicides and are thought to control vegetation by blocking the light aquatic plants need to grow. Benthic barriers are not new; they are typically placed over weed beds early in the growing season and removed in the fall. Recently, marketers of benthic barriers have claimed that their products need only be placed over weeds for a few weeks and then moved to another location or removed. To test this practice, we collaborated with the town of Guilford and placed twenty-one 50' X 20' benthic barriers at Lake Quonnipaug's public beach for the second straight year. The beach has had an increasing problem with Eurasian watermilfoil and fanwort. We placed the benthic barriers in early April and removed them prior to the opening of the beach on Memorial Day weekend. The results from last year were very promising with little vegetative regrowth throughout the summer. The vegetative reduction was notable prior to this year's placement and as of June 30, 2018 the weed control was excellent. We have researched the use of spot applications of the herbicide 2,4-D to control variable watermilfoil in Bashan Lake from 2000 to 2013. By 2014, Bashan Lake had an approximate 99 percent reduction in variable watermilfoil and an increase in the number of desirable native species from 12 to 19. In the fall of 2014, the water level in the lake was lowered 18 feet for dam repairs, with the prospect for the refilling to take two years. A survey of Bashan Lake in 2018 found a number of areas where phragmites (Phragmites australis) had become established. With support from the Bashan Lake Association (BLA), CAES IAPP performed a targeted herbicide application of the phragmites in late September with considerable success. In June 2017, we surveyed the lake for variable milfoil and found patches in a number of locations. CAES procured the necessary CTDEEP permits to test a new variable watermilfoil herbicide called ProCellaCOR (Florpyrauxifen-benzyl). The treatment was performed in early October 2018. The efficacy will be able to be assessed until the summer of 2019. Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is the most troublesome invasive aquatic plant in Florida and many other southern states. It forms dense stands that crowd out native vegetation, destroy fisheries, limit recreation, impede navigation and reduce property values. Following reports of this plant occurring in the southern portion of the Connecticut River, a task force led by CAES IAPP was formed in 2018. Comprising over 30 experts from throughout the northeast, the task force surveyed the river from central Vermont to southern Connecticut in 2018. The Connecticut portion of the river was presumed to be "ground zero" for the infestation and received the majority of the effort. No hydrilla was found in the New Hampshire and Vermont portions of the river. Starting in southern Massachusetts, sparse hydrilla patches were observed. Beginning in the central Connecticut hydrilla patches became dense. In some coves, hydrilla spread out over the surface making access by survey boat impossible. Finding such dense stands this far north of the southern states is alarming. CAES IAPP has found small populations in Coventry Lake, Held Pond, and two small ponds but these do not compare to the extensive areas in the CT River. Furthermore, the CT River hydrilla is far more robust than that seen elsewhere in the state. This robustness could be a result of river flow, nutrients or genetics. We submitted hydrilla samples for DNA analysis and found the CT River plants were not genetically similar to any previous found in North America.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Wiegand AC. 2017. Monitoring Report, Invasive Aquatic Plants, Lake Housatonic 2017. Conn. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 1054 Retrieved 24 December 2018 https://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1054.pdf
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Barton ME, Gibbons JA, Stebbins SE. 2018. Connecticuts Invasive Aquatic Plant, Clam, and Mussel Identification Guide. 3rd Ed. Conn. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 1056. Retrieved 24 December 2018 .https://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1056.pdf
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: AES IAPP. 2018. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Pro-gram (CAES IAPP). Retrieved December 26, 2018. http://www.ct.gov/caes/iapp .
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Stebbins SE, Wiegand AC. 2017. Aquatic vegetation survey, water chemistry, aquatic plant management options, Taunton Lake 2017. Conn. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 1053.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Bugbee, GJ and Stebbins SE. 2017. Monitoring Report, Invasive Aquatic Plants, Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar 2017. Conn. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 1052 https://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1052.pdf

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Environmental scientists, liminologists, lake managers, concerned citizens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?CAES scientists have organized several workshops on the identification of invasive aquatic plants. We also gave presentations to professional organizations such as the Northeast Aquatic Plant management Society, the Northeast Aquatic Nusiance Species Panal and the Connecticut Federation of Lakes. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We strive to disseminate all information from our program to the public in a timely fashion and educate stakeholders in the identification, prevention, and management of invasive aquatic species. We make every effort to engage citizens, lake associations, and other stakeholders. CAES IAPP staff speak to numerous lake associations, town meetings, and student groups such as the Connecticut Envirothon. We have made our information freely and readily available via our website. Included are digitized interactive lake maps, our herbarium, and publications (http://www.ct.gov/caes/IAPP). Our invasive aquatic plant control and outreach efforts have resulted in the protection of lakes and provided scientifically proven methods for use by others. Our workshops have trained hundreds of citizens to recognize and report new infestations in order to prevent future problems and the associated control expenditures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue our lake survileance efforts, increase ourlake database, provide public outreach, correlate lake conditions with management activitiesand improve managment decisions.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Since 2004, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP) has completed aquatic vegetation surveys of 233Connecticut lakes and ponds. A total of 59waterbodies have been resurveyed (in many cases multiple times) to determine how invasive plants are changing the quality of lakes over time. In 2017, CAES IAPPmapped the aquatic vegetation in four new and six previously surveyed waterbodies. Lake Candlewood, Connecticut's largest lake, was surveyed for the tenth consecutive year to determine the effects of alternate year deep and shallow winter drawdown and recently introduced grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), minor naiad (Najas minor), and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). Lakes Lillinonah, Zoar and Squantz Pond were also surveyed. We established transects in each waterbody, using global positioning systems, to quantify changes in native and invasive aquatic species abundance and distribution. We analyzed water samples for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, alkalinity, conductivity, and phosphorus. This data, along with watershed information, is being used to investigate the factors that influence the susceptibility of waterbodies to individual invasive species. We archive dry specimens of all plant species in the CAES herbarium for future reference. We designed our Invasive Aquatic Plant Program to utilize the latest digital technology to rapidly and comprehensively report our findings to the public. Lake survey maps and other data are published online within days of their completion (http://www.ct.gov/caes/IAPP). CAES IAPP has found that nearly 60 percent of the waterbodies contained one or more invasive plant species and some lakes contained as many as four invasive species. The most common invasive plants are Eurasian watermilfoil, variable watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), minor naiad, curly leaf pondweed, and fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). Less common are water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), and water chestnut (Trapa natans). Our 2009 survey of Fence Rock Lake, in Guilford, discovered Connecticut's first infestation of Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa) and our resurveys in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 found the population expanding. We have since found Brazilian waterweed in Lower Moodus Reservoir (EastHaddam), Staffordville Reservoir (Stafford Springs), and Mono Pond (Coventry). We arranged for testing the herbicide diquat (6,7-dihydrodipyrido (1,2-a:2',1'-c) pyrazinediium dibromide) in Fence Rock Lake in the summer of 2014. The herbicide was applied by bottom injection to the shoreline areas of the lake in July. A pre-treatment survey on over 100 georeferenced points in July 2014found 59 points were occupied by Brazilian waterweed. A post-treatment survey, one year later, found only one point with the plant. Another treatment was performed in late July 2015. We resurveyed the lake in July 2016 and again in 2017 and determined the plant was completely eliminated without harm to the the native plant community. Lake Candlewood's aquatic plant community is dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil. Winter water level drawdown is used to manage the watermilfoil. Using state-of-the-art global positioning systems, we have documented the success of the drawdowns each year since 2007. The winter drawdown protocol consists of alternate year shallow (1m) and deep (3m) water level reductions. Drawdown timing and duration varies depending on the hydrogenerating needs of FirstLight Power Resources. These variables and inconsistencies in winter weather result in differences in milfoil control. The coverage of milfoil shows a negative relationship to drawdown depth and duration (Figure 4). In 2015, fish called grass carp were introduced into the lake. These fish eat aquatic vegetation and our work will determine their effectiveness. Our yearly report to The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FirstLight Power Resources, CT DEEP, Candlewood Lake Authority and other stakeholders provide data that is crucial for making decisions on future drawdown and grass carp introduction practices for Connecticut's largest lake. Benthic barriers are blankets designed to be placed over nuisance vegetation in lakes and ponds. They provide an alternative to herbicides and are thought to control vegetation by blocking the light aquatic plants need to grow. Benthic barriers are not new; they are typically placed over weed beds early in the growing season and removed in the fall. Recently, marketers of benthic barriers have claimed that their products need only be placed over weeds for a few weeks and then moved to another location or removed. To test this practice, we collaborated with the town of Guilford and placed twenty one 50' X 20' benthic barriers at Lake Quonnipaug's public beach for the second straight year. (Figure 5). The beach has had an increasing problem with Eurasian watermilfoil and fanwort. We placed the benthic barriers in early April and removed them prior to the opening of the beach on Memorial Day weekend. The results from last year were very promising with little vegetative regrowth throughout the summer. The vegetative reduction was notable prior to this year's placement and as of June 30, 2017 the weed control was excellent. We are in the 16th year of research involving the use of spot applications of the herbicide 2,4-D to control variable watermilfoil in Bashan Lake. We have largely restored the lake to preinfestation conditions. Our resurvey of Bashan Lake in 2014 found an approximate 99 percent reduction in variable watermilfoil and an increase in the number of desirable native species from 12 to 19. In the fall of 2014, the water level in the lake was lowered 18 feet for dam repairs, with the prospect for the refilling to take two years. A survey of Bashan Lake in 2016 found a few sparse patches of variable watermilfoil and a number of areas where phragmites (Phragmites australis) had become established. With support from the Bashan Lake Association (BLA), CAES IAPP performed a targeted herbicide application of the phragmites in late September with considerable success. In June 2016, we surveyed the lake for phragmites and found the plant sporadiacally along the shore. In addition, variable milfoil was observed in a few locations. CAES is procuring the necessary CTDEEP permits to assist the BLA with its treatment in September.

Publications

• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: CAES IAPP. 2017. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Pro-gram (CAES IAPP). Retrieved November 27, 2017. http://www.ct.gov/caes/iapp .
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Wiegand AC. 2017. Pachaug Pond, Griswold CT. Aquatic Vegetation Survey, Water Chemistry, Aquatic Plant Management Options, CAES Report (to be published as Station Bulletin) 38 pp.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Wiegand AC. 2017. Monitoring Report, Invasive Aquatic Plants, Lake Housatonic 2017. CAES Report (to be published as Station Bulletin) 79 pp.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Fanzutti JM. 2017. Mamanasco Lake, Ridgefield CT. Aquatic Vegetation Survey, Water Chemistry, Aquatic Plant Management Options, 2016. CAES Bulletin 1049 38 pp.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bugbee GJ, Fanzutti JM. 2017. Moodus Reservoir, East Haddam CT. Aquatic Vegetation Survey, Water Chemistry, Aquatic Plant Management Options, 2016. CAES Bulletin 1048 53 pp.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Environmental scientists. liminologists, lake managers, concerned citizens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?9/17/2016 - Gave a demonstration of the invasive aquatic plants of Connecticut at the Southeast Connecticut Federation of Lakes Conference" in New London (approx. 40 attendees). 9/7/2016 -Spoke on "Invasive Aquatic Plants in Candlewood Lake at a multi-town meeting held at the Danbury Town Hall (approx. 40 attendees). 8/9/2016 -Interviewed by Katrina Koerting of the Danbury NewsTimes on invasive aquatic plants in Candlewood Lake the article appears here http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Scientist-One-of-the-worst-milfoil-seasons-at-9132399.php 7/27/16 -Spoke on "CAES IAPP surveys of Bashan Lake and control of phragmites" at a meeting of The Bashan Lake Association at the East Haddam Grange Hall (approx. 90 attendees). 7/21/2016 - Received the 2015 "Outstanding Contribution of the Year Award" by the National Aquatic Plant Management Society for the journal paper "Efficacy of single and consecutive early-season diquat treatments on curlyleaf pondweed and associated aquatic macrophytes: A case study." Coauthors were Jordan Gibbons and Mark June-Wells. 7/13/16 -Spoke on "Invasive aquatic plants in Coventry Lake" at a town meeting held at the Coventry Lake Lodge (approx. 75 attendees). 6/17/16 -With Jennifer Fanzutti, spoke at a meeting of the Friends of Lake Lillinonah on CAES IAPP surveys and control options for invasive aquatic plant problems at the Bridgewater Town Office Building (approx. 30 attendees). 6/2/16 -Spoke at a meeting of the Friends of lake Quonnipaug CAES IAPP surveys and control options for invasive aquatic plant problems North Guilford Firehouse (approximately 30 attendees). 5/23/16 - Interviewed by Zoe Roos of the Guilford Courier on "Control of Invasive Plants in lake Quonnipaug." 3/22/16 - With Jennifer Fanzutti presented an the results of the CAES IAPP 2015 invasive aquatic surveys of Lakes Candlewood, Lillinonah, and Zoar and Squantz Pond to the FirstLight Power Resources Technical Committee (approx. 14 attendees). 3/19/16 - With Michael Cavadini proctored the Invasive Species event at The 2016 Science Olympiad at the Robbin's Middle School in Farmington (approx. 35 attendees). 3/16/16 - With Jennifer Fanzutti presented an invasive aquatic plant seminar at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich (approx. 35 attendees). 3/14/16 - With Jennifer Fanzutti presented an invasive aquatic plant workshop at The Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources at UCONN (approx. 25 attendees). 2/25/16 - Interviewed by Linda Comeau on the hydrilla problem in Coventry Lake for the town of Coventry Newsletter. 2/17/16 - Interviewed by Corey Sipe of the Willimantic Chronicle on the hydrilla problem in Coventry Lake. 1/16/16 - With Jennifer Fanzutti gave two Invasive Aquatic Plant Workshops at the CT Envirothon at Connector Goodwin College in East Hartford (approx. 85 attendees). 12/3/15 - Participated as a member of the 2016 CTDEEP aquatic invasive species grants review team at CTDEEP headquarters in Hartford. 11/18/15 - With Jennifer Fanzutti gave a talk entitled "Connecticut's Invasive Aquatic Plant Program - Who We Are and What We Do" at the North American Lake Management Society Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY (approx. 80 attendees). 11/12/15 - With Jennifer Fanzutti spoke on "CAES IAPP Surveys of Gardner Lake - Changes from 2006-2015" to the Gardner Lake Association at the Salem Public Library (approx. 25 attendees). 11/7/15 - Spoke on "CAES IAPP Surveys of Lake Quonnipaug - A Decade of Changes" to the Lake Quonnipaug Association at the North Guilford Firehouse (approx. 50 attendees). 11/5/15 - Lectured on "Connecticut's Invasive Aquatic Plant Problem - Searching for Solutions" to an Environmental Studies class at the University of Hartford (approx. 50 attendees). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes. See opputunities and training section. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue resurveys of lakes to further determine how invasive species are changing on a spatial and temporal scale and how these cahnges relate to management practices.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The goals of this projest are: 1) document how populations of invasive aquatic plants are changing Connecticut lakes and ponds. 2) correlate changes to management practices, human transport, resistance by native plant assemblages, and water chemistry. 3) relate changing water chemistry to the potential for increased blooms of cyanobacteria and determine the presence of toxins in affected water.

Publications

• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: CAES IAPP. 2015. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP). Retrieved December 30, 2016. http://www.ct.gov/caes/iapp.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: June-Wells, M., Gallagher F., Hart B, Malik V. and Bugbee G. 2016. The relative influences of fine and landscape scale factors on the structure of lentic plant assemblages, Lake and Reservoir Management, 32:116-131.

Progress 01/15/15 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Professional lake manangers, scientists, citizens concerened about invasive aquatic plants in lakes, government officials Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following talks were given in 2015. 11/18/15 - Gave a talk entitled "Connecticut's Invasive Aquatic Plant Program - Who We Are and What We Do" at the North American Lake Management Society Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY (approx. 80 attendees). 11/12/15 - Spoke on "CAES IAPP Surveys of Gardner Lake - Changes from 2006-2015" to the Gardner Lake Association at the Salem Public Library (approx. 25 attendees). 11/7/15 - Spoke on "CAES IAPP Surveys of Lake Quonnipaug - A Decade of Changes" to the Lake Quonnipaug Association at the North Guilford Firehouse (approx. 50 attendees). 11/5/15 - Lectured on "Connecticut's Invasive Aquatic Plant Problem - Searching for Solutions" to an Environmental Studies class at the University of Hartford (approx. 50 attendees). 9/29/15 - Interviewed by Virginia Fisher of FOXCT on invasive aquatic plant problems in CT. 9/15/15 - Spoke on the CAES invasive aquatic plant survey of Coventry Lake at a Town meeting at Patriots Park Lodge in Coventry (approx. 80 attendees). 9/11/15 - Participated in a meeting of local and state officials including, Senator Ted Kennedy Jr. , Representative Shaun Scanlon and Guilford First Selectman Joe Mazza, to discuss invasive aquatic plant problems in Lake Quonnipaug at the Guilford Town Hall. 8/5/15 - Gave two technical demonstrations entitled on "Invasive Aquatic Plants That Threaten Lakes and Ponds" at Plant Science Day (approx. 100 attendees). 8/11/15 - Interviewed by Dainelle Faipler of the Willimantic Chronical on invasive aquatic plant problems in Connecticut. 7/27/15 - Spoke on "The Condition of Bashan Lake and Invasive Aquatic Plant Control Needs" with special reference to the drawdown for dam repairs at the East Haddam Grange Hall (approx. 50 attendees) 7/16/15 -Spoke on "Invasive Aquatic Plant Control Options for Moodus Reservoir" at a town meeting at the East Haddam Grange Hall (approx. 75 attendees). 7/15/15 - Spoke on "Invasive Aquatic Plants" at West Haven Eco Camp. (approx. 50 attendees) 7/13/15 - Interviewed by Steve Good of the Hartford Currant on Water chestnut in Filey Pond. Bloomfield. 6/11/15 - Interviewed by Katlin Koerting on the Danbury News Times on Water Chestnut in Lake Lillinonah. 6/9/15 - Interviewed by Katlin Koerting on the Danbury News Times Invasive Aquatic Plants in Squantz Pond. 5/12/15 - Participated as an invasive aquatic plant science advisor at the 2015 Wamago Regional High School Science Project Presentation Day in Litchfield (approx. 100 attendees). 5/6/15 - Spoke at a meeting of the Fence Rock Lake Association in Guilford on "CAES IAPP Research Update on Control of Brazilian Waterweed in Fence Rock Lake" at the Guilford Community Center (approx. 25 attendees). 4/22/15 - Gave a talk entitled "Green Lawns and Clear Water - Lawn Care for the Environmentally Conscious" for an Earth Day observance at the Middletown Community Center (approx. 25 attendees). 3/16/15 - Presented a poster entitled "Connecticut's Invasive Aquatic Plant Program" at the Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources at UCONN (approximately 200 attendees). 2/25/15 - Presented a seminar on "Invasive Aquatic Plants" to an environmental studies class at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich (approx. 30 attendees). 2/25/15 - Presented the results of the 2014 aquatic plant surveys of Lakes Candlewood, Lillinonah and Zoar to FirstLight Power Resources technical committee in New Milford (approx. 12 attendees). 2/20/15 - Participated in the Phosphorus Nonpoint Source Pollution Workgroup and CTDEEP headquarters in Hartford (approx. 40 attendees). 1/20/ - 1/22/15 - Administered the Northeastern State Aquatic Supervisory License Recertification Program at the 2015 Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society Conference In Saratoga Springs, NY (approx. 100 participants). 1/21/15 - Presented a talk entitled "Control of curlyleaf pondweed with diquat and protection of listed species with limnobarriers" at the 2015 Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society Conference In Saratoga Springs, NY (approx. 100 attendees). 1/17/15 - Presented two sessions on "Invasive Aquatic Plants" at the 2015 CT Envirothon at Goodwin Community College in East Hartford (approx. 90 attendees). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through talks, interviews, and web page (see above). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue resurveys of lakes tofurther determine how invasive species are changing on a spatial and temporal scale and how these cahnges relate to management practices.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Approximately 230 lakes and ponds have been surveyed thus far; of which 26 were done in 2015. Water chemistry including; pH,alkalinity, transparency, salinity,ant total phosphoruswere performed. These data will be compared to data from thesame lakes taken approximately10 years prior to track changes and refine management practices.Updated the CAES IAPP web page http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2799&q=376972&caesNav_GID=1805&caesNav=%7C with maps and water chemistry data. Scanned herbarium mountings of aquatics plants from surveyed lakes and update virtual herbarium webpage.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bugbee GJ, JA Gibbons, and M June-Wells. Efficacy of single and consecutive early-season diquat treatments on curlyleaf pondweed and associated aquatic macrophytes: A case study. 2015. J. Aquat. Plant Manage. 53:171-177.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bugbee, GJ. 2015. Invasive Plants and Water Chemistry in Connecticut Lakes: Developing a Risk Assessment Tool. National Water Quality Monitoring News. Spring 2015. p. 5.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: CAES IAPP. 2015. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP). Retrieved December 30, 2015. http://www.ct.gov/caes/iapp.