Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T01:05:49.942Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Physical Control of Nonindigenous Aquatic Plants in Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Daniel W. H. Shaw*
Affiliation:
California State Parks, Sierra District, P.O. Box 266, Tahoma, CA 96142
Zachary P. Hymanson
Affiliation:
Tahoe Environmental Research Center, University of California, Davis, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV 89451
Tamara L. Sasaki
Affiliation:
California State Parks, Sierra District, P.O. Box 266, Tahoma, CA 96142
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: daniel.shaw@parks.ca.gov
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Establishment of nonindigenous (NI) aquatic plants in the nearshore regions of freshwater ecosystems has resulted in environmental degradation, recreation concerns, economic impacts, and substantial management challenges. To reduce these undesirable effects, NI aquatic plants are often targeted for removal or control by management agencies, but the efficacy of implementation is often not documented or sustained. In this study, we developed a management plan to completely remove all NI plants from Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA, using only physical control techniques. Management plan priorities were based on previous research and lessons learned, including the need for (1) integrated weed management using multiple physical control techniques, (2) a large initial treatment investment, (3) ongoing early detection and rapid response, (4) detailed ecological monitoring, and (5) a long-term commitment to annual maintenance removal. Application of this management plan resulted in complete removal of all NI aquatic plants from Emerald Bay and substantial cost savings each year after the initial large investment. Annual maintenance removal and monitoring will need to continue as long as NI aquatic plants continue to enter Emerald Bay on boats and currents from other areas of Lake Tahoe.

Type
Case Study
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America

References

Literature Cited

Anderson, LWJ (2006) Survey of Lake Tahoe for Aquatic Plants, 1995–2005: Unpublished Annual Reports 1995–2006, Davis, CA. Davis, CA: USDA-ARS Aquatic Weed Control Research Laboratory, University of California, Davis Google Scholar
Barko, JW, Smart, RM (1980) Mobilization of sediment phosphorus by submersed freshwater macrophytes. Freshwater Biol 10: 229238 Google Scholar
Bailey, JE, Calhoun, AJK (2008) Comparison of three physical management techniques for controlling variable-leaf milfoil in Maine lakes. J Aquat Plant Manag 46: 163167 Google Scholar
Boylen, CW, Eichler, LW, Madsen, JD (1999) Loss of native aquatic plant species in a community dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil. Hydrobiologia 415: 207211 Google Scholar
Boylen, CW, Eichler, LW, Sutherland, JW (1996) Physical control of Eurasian watermilfoil in an oligotrophic lake. Hydrobiologia 340: 213218 Google Scholar
Bremigan, MT, Hanson, SM, Soranno, PA, Cheruvelil, KS, Valley, RD (2005) Aquatic vegetation, largemouth bass and water quality responses to low-dose fluridone two years post treatment. J Aquat Plant Manag 43: 6575 Google Scholar
Coats, R, Perez-Losada, J, Schladow, G, Richards, R, Goldman, C (2006) The warming of Lake Tahoe. Clim Change 76: 121148 Google Scholar
Eichler, LW, Bombard, RT, Sutherland, JW, Boylen, CW (1993) Suction harvesting of Eurasian watermilfoil and its effect on native plant communities. J Aquat Plant Manag 31: 144148 Google Scholar
Eichler, LW, Bombard, RT, Sutherland, JW, Boylen, CW (1995) Recolonization of the littoral zone by macrophytes following the removal of benthic barrier material. J Aquat Plant Manag 33: 5154 Google Scholar
Eiswerth, ME, Donaldson, SG, Johnson, WS (2000) Potential environmental impacts and economic damage of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in western Nevada and northeastern California. Weed Technol 14: 511518 Google Scholar
Elzinga, CL, Salazar, DW, Willoughby, JW (2001) Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. Denver, CO: Bureau of Land Management Technical Reference 1730-1. 496 pGoogle Scholar
Engel, S (1984) Evaluating stationary blankets and removable screens for macrophyte control in lakes. J Aquat Plant Manag 31: 144148 Google Scholar
Goldman, CR (1988) Primary productivity, nutrients, and transparency during the early onset of eutrophication in ultra-oligotrophic Lake Tahoe, California–Nevada. Limnol Oceanogr 33: 13211333 Google Scholar
Halstead, JM, Michaud, J, Hallas-Burt, S, Gibbs, JP (2003) Hedonic analysis of effects of a nonnative invader (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) on New Hampshire (USA) lakefront properties. Environ Manag 32: 391398 Google Scholar
Heyvaert, AC, Reuter, JE, Chandra, S, Susfalk, RB, Schladow, SG, Hackley, SH (2013) Lake Tahoe Nearshore Evaluation and Monitoring Framework: Final Report Prepared for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station. Davis, CA: Nearshore Agency Working Group.Google Scholar
Horsch, EJ, Lewis, DJ (2008) The effects of aquatic invasive species on property values: evidence from a quasi-experiment. Land Econ 85: 391409 Google Scholar
Kamerath, M, Chandra, S, Allen, B (2008) Distribution and impacts of warm water invasive fish in Lake Tahoe, CA–NV, USA. Aquat Invasions 3: 3541 Google Scholar
Kelting, DL, Laxson, CL (2010) Cost and effectiveness of hand harvesting to control the Eurasian watermilfoil population in Upper Saranac Lake, New York. J Aquat Plant Manag 48: 15 Google Scholar
Kim, JG., Rejmankova, E (2001) The paleoecological record of human disturbance in wetlands of the Lake Tahoe Basin. J Paleolimnol 25: 437454 Google Scholar
Laitala, KL, Prather, TS, Thill, , Kennedy, DB, Caudill, C (2012) Efficacy of benthic barriers as a control measure for Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). Invasive Plant Sci Manag 5: 170177 Google Scholar
[LRWQCB] Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (1995) Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region, North and South Basins (Basin Plan). South Lake Tahoe, CA: California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region Google Scholar
Landers, DH (1982) Effects of naturally senescing aquatic macrophytes on nutrient chemistry and chlorophyll a of surrounding waters. Limnol Oceanogr 27: 428439 Google Scholar
Lindenmayer, DB, Likens, GE (2010) The science and application of ecological monitoring. Biol Conserv 143: 13171328 Google Scholar
Loeb, SL, Hackley, SH (1988) The distribution of submerged macrophytes in Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, and the possible influence of groundwater seepage. Mitt Int Ver Theor Angew Limnol 23: 19271933 Google Scholar
Madsen, JD (1997) Methods for management of nonindigenous aquatic plants. Pages 145171 in Luken, JO, Thieret, JW, eds. Assessment and Management of Plant Invasions. New York: Springer Google Scholar
Madsen, JD, Sutherland, JW, Bloomfield, JA, Eichler, LW, Boylen, CW (1991) The decline of native vegetation under dense Eurasian watermilfoil canopies. J Aquat Plant Manag 29: 9499 Google Scholar
[NISC] National Invasive Species Council (2003) General Guidelines for the Establishment and Evaluation of Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response Systems. Version 1. Washington, DC: National Invasive Species Council, U.S. Department of the Interior. 16 pGoogle Scholar
[NPS] National Park Service (2014) National Natural Landmarks Program. http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/. Accessed September 23, 2014Google Scholar
Panetta, FD (2009) Weed eradication: an economic perspective. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 2: 360368 Google Scholar
Parsons, J (2001) Aquatic Plant Sampling Protocols. Washington State Dept Ecol Publ No 01-03-017 https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/publications/0103017.pdf. Accessed March 20, 2016Google Scholar
Perkins, MA, Boston, HL, Curren, EF (1980) The use of fiberglass screens for control of Eurasian watermilfoil. J Aquat Plant Manag 18: 1319 Google Scholar
Rejmanek, M, Pitcairn, MJ (2002) When is eradication of exotic pest plants a realistic goal? Pages 249253 in Veitch, CR, Clout, MN, eds. Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive Species. Auckland, New Zealand: Invasive Species Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Google Scholar
Reylea, RA (2005) The impact of insecticides and herbicides on the biodiversity and productivity of aquatic communities. Ecol Appl 15: 618627 Google Scholar
Relyea, RA, Hoverman, JT (2006) Assessing the ecology in ecotoxicology: a review and synthesis in freshwater systems. Ecol Lett 9: 11571171 Google Scholar
Reuter, JE, Thomas, JM, Heyvaert, AC (2009) Water quality. Pages 83182 in Hymanson, ZP, Collopy, MW, eds. An Integrated Science Plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin: Conceptual Framework and Research Strategies. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture General Technical Report PSW-GTR-226Google Scholar
Sahoo, GB, Forrest, AL, Schladow, SG, Reuter, JE, Coats, R, Dettinger, M (2016) Climate change impacts on lake thermal dynamics and ecosystem vulnerabilities. Limnol Oceanogr 61: 496507 Google Scholar
Smith, CS, Adams, MS (1986) Phosphorus transfer from sediments by Myriophyllum spicatum . Limnol Oceanogr 31: 13121321 Google Scholar
Smith, CS, Barko, JW (1990) Ecology of Eurasian watermilfoil. J Aquat Plant Manag 28: 5564 Google Scholar
Tucker, AJ, Williamson, CE, Rose, KC, Oris, JT, Connelly, SJ, Olson, MH, Mitchell, DL (2010) Ultraviolet radiation affects invasibility of lake ecosystems by warm-water fish. Ecology 91: 882890 Google Scholar
Wagner, KJ, Mitchell, DF, Berg, JJ, Gendron, WC (2008) Milfoil Ecology, Control, and Implications for Drinking Water Supplies. Denver, Co: AWWA Research Foundation. 217 pGoogle Scholar
Walter, K (2000) Ecosystem Effects of the Invasion of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myrophyllum spicatum) at Lake Tahoe, CA–NV. M.S. thesis. Davis, CA: University of California Google Scholar
Wittmann, ME, Kendall, BE, Jerde, CL, Anderson, LWJ (2015) Estimating relative risk of within-lake aquatic plan invasion using combined measures of recreational boater movement and habitat suitability. PeerJ 3: e845. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.845Google Scholar
Zhang, C, Boyle, KJ (2010) The effect of an aquatic invasive species (Eurasian watermilfoil) on lakefront property values. Ecol Econ 70: 394404 Google Scholar