~ Melissa Laney So, you are floating along the lake’s edge maybe … · ~ Melissa Laney So, you...
Transcript of ~ Melissa Laney So, you are floating along the lake’s edge maybe … · ~ Melissa Laney So, you...
Wat
er C
olum
n
Spring/Summer 2016Vol. 28, Nos. 1 & 2
Clean Lakes Program • Office of Water Quality • Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Periphyton: The tiny Amazing Overlooked World that Clings~ Melissa Laney So,youarefloatingalongthelake’sedgemaybeinacanoe,pontoon,orJetSkiandyouseethelittoralvegetation:thebeautifulspikesfromthepickerelweed,thefloatingyellowlilyleavesandflowers.Youareawarethatthesearegoodfishingspots,butdidyourealizethatclingingtoallthesurfaces,therearerichanddiverselayersof organisms?Youmayalreadyknowaboutthebenthosortheorganismsassociatedwiththelakebottom.Benthosisuniformlyappliedtoanimals,likemussels,scuds,mayflies.There’sanentiremicroscopicworldof microbialgrowthlovingonallthelittoralsurfacetypes:live,dead,plant,animal,andnonlivingsurfaces.Thisgrowthisperiphyton.Oftentimesyoucanseeitorfeeltheperiphytononasubmersedrockoralongthestemof aplant(Figure1).
Figure 1. Periphyton, attached algae, that is clinging to lake substrates.
Likewithallcommunities,weliketocreatecategoriestodifferentiatebetweenthetypesof plantsbasedonwhereyou’llfindthemorhowtheyattachandclingtothesurfaces.Followingisalistwiththeircorrespondinglocations(Figure2):
• Epipelic:algaegrowingonsediments(fine,organic)
• Epilithic:algaegrowingonrockorstonesurfaces
• Epiphytic:algaegrowingonmacrophyticoraquaticplantsurfaces
• Epizooic:algaegrowingonsurfacesof animals
• Epipsammic:algaegrowingonorthroughsand
If youhadthechancetozoomintothesesurfaces,theslickslimylayerwouldshowyouafullmicroscopiclayeringof plants,justasyousee
whenyouwalkintotheforest(Figure3). So,nexttimeyoupickuparockorplantfromthelakeandfeelthatslicklayer,younowknowthere’satinyforestof attachedplantsprovidingasignificantroleinthelakeforfoodchaindynamicsandnutrientcycling.
Epi: a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “upon,” “on,” “over,” “near,” “at,” “before.”
Figure 3. The major growth forms and layers of periphyton attached to substrates. The various layers offer different invertebrates food options based on their feeding style and group (Law 2011).
Figure 2. The major algal communities located within the littoral zone that live on different substrates (Wetzel 2001).
2
3
EPA Leads New Effort to Improve America’s Aging Infrastructure ~ Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Safedrinkingwaterandeffectivewastewatermanagementarebasicbuildingblocksof publichealth.Toooften,weneglectourinfrastructureuntilitfails.WeneedtoinvestinAmerica’swaterinfrastructure–andweneedtobestrategicaboutdoingitright–especiallyindisadvantagedcommunities.We’veknownforyearsthatournation’sinvestmentsinwaterandwastewaterinfrastructureweren’tkeepingupwiththeneeds–whichEPAestimatesat$655billionoverthenext20years.Butthosestrugglesarenotthesameeverywhere–theyaremostacuteinlow-incomeandsmallcommunities.InthewealthiestcountryonEarth,cleanwaterneedstobeavailabletoeveryone–nomatterwhatpartof thecountryyoulivein,nomatterhowmuchorhowlittlemoneyyoumake,andnomatterthecolorof yourskin.Tofixtheproblem,we’llnotonlyneedinnovativefinancingtoleveragemoreinvestment,butwe’llalsoneedtohelpthesecommunitiesbuildcapacity–sotheycansustainablymanageandoperatetheirwatersystems,getaccesstothosefunds,andputthemtogooduse.Wehavetostartbyconfrontingthesameingrained,systemicchallengesthatthreatenourcountry’swaterresources–aresourcethat’sessentialtoeveryhumanbeingontheplanet.
Figure 4. This chart summarizes the events that caused 105 SSOs that led to beach closures in 1999 (NRDC 2000). As the chart shows, more than 70 percent of the SSOs were attributed to line/main breaks or line blockages.
Failing Infrastructure: Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)
Some communities have combined infrastructure for storm water and waste water, which cause many overflow problems during rain events. However, many places with separate systems still have infrastructure failures. Often it’s due to aging and antiquated systems, and sometimes it’s due to subsidence or land settling. When these separated systems fail, areas can experience a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). A sanitary sewer overflow can spill raw sewage into basements or out of manholes and onto city streets, playgrounds, and into streams, before it can reach a treatment facility. They can also occur without obvious overflows through cracked pipelines.
SSOs occasionally occur in almost every sewer system even though systems are intended to collect and contain all the sewage that flows into them. When SSOs happen frequently, however, it means something is wrong with the system (Figure 4).
Problems that can cause chronic SSOs include: • Too much rainfall or snowmelt infiltrating through the ground into leaky sanitary sewers,
which are not intended to hold rainfall or to drain property. Excess water can also inflow through roof drains connected to sewers and broken or badly connected sewer service lines.
• Sewers and pumps too small to carry sewage from newly developed subdivisions or commercial areas.
• Blocked, broken, or cracked pipes and other equipment or power failures that keep the system from doing its job. Tree roots can grow into the sewer. Sections of pipe can settle or shift so that pipe joints no longer match. Sediment and other material can build up and cause pipes to break or collapse. This can also happen to sewer service connections to houses and other buildings. Some cities estimate that as much as 60 percent of the water over-filling their sewer systems comes from service lines. The chart above shows major types of problems that cause SSOs most frequently.
• A deteriorating sewer system. When sewers are not properly installed or maintained, widespread problems that can be expensive to fix develop over time. Some municipalities have found severe problems, necessitating billion-dollar correction programs. Often, communities have had to curtail new development until problems are corrected or system capacity is increased.
Line Break/Main Break
Line Blockage
Urban Runoff Infiltration
Pump Station Failure
Residential Overflow
Vandalism/Illegal Disposal
Power Failure
Have you checked out the Indiana Clean Lakes Program
Web page lately? Take a look at
www.indiana.edu/~clp/and see what’s new
and happening with the program and with Indiana lakes!
4
EPA and NEEF Launch Interactive Watershed Sleuth Challenge Hey,citizenscientists!WanttobelikeSherlockHolmes?Here’syourchance.It’selementary!Becomea Watershed Sleuth – orbetteryet,a Watershed Guardian or a Watershed Hero – bylearninghowtohelpsolvewaterqualityproblems.Tryyourhandatbuildingamodelaquifer,ortakeaninteractivequiztofindlocalwaterwasters.Thesearejustsomeof theonlineactivitiesofferedbyEPAandtheNationalEnvironmentalEducationFoundation(NEEF).Children,families,K-12schoolgroups,andotherscanearnadifferentdigitalbadgeforeachlessontheycomplete,andshowoff theirwatershedknowledge!
Checkout: www.neefusa.org/water-shed-sleuth!
Lake Closed Due to Weeds Weloveourlakes,enjoyspendingtimenearthem,andexpecttohaveaccesstothem.Soalakebeingclosedduetoweedsseemslikeaforeignconcept.GooseLakeWildlifeManagementAreainNebraskawasclosedthissummerduetoaninfestationof theinvasiveaquaticplantEurasianwatermilfoil(Figure5). Milfoilcanformverydensevegetationmatsthatgrowtothesurfaceof thewater.Thesematsinterferewithrecreationalactivitiessuchasswimming,fishing,waterskiing,andboating(Figure6).Becauseitiswidelydistributedanddifficulttocontrol,milfoilisconsideredtobeoneof themostproblematicinvasiveplantsintheUnitedStates.Theintroductionof milfoilcandrasticallyalterawaterbody’secology. Figure 5. Eurasian watermilfoil – close up showing the whorled leaves.
5
Eurasianmilfoilhasplayedaroleinseverallakeclosures,whetherduetoeffortstolimitthespread,oruntilmanagementpracticescouldbeinstilled.ShadowLakeinVermont,LakePlacidinNewYork,andLakeWashingtoninWashingtonStateareafewof theaffectedlakes. WhileIndianahasnotclosedanylakesduetoEurasianwatermilfoil,thisaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS)hasspreadwidelyacrossthestate.
COMMON NAME: Eurasianwatermilfoil.Eurasianwatermilfoilmayalsobereferredtoasspikeorspikedwatermilfoil.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myriophyllum spicatumEurasianwatermilfoilisinthewatermilfoilfamily,Haloragaceae.
Thereareabout14differentspeciesof watermilfoils.
DISTRIBUTION: EurasianwatermilfoilisnativetoEurope,Asia,andnorthernAfrica.Asof 2003,45statesreportedthepresenceof Eurasianwatermilfoil.
Indiana: Of theapproximately616lakesandreservoirsinthenorthernone-thirdof thestate,Eurasianwatermilfoilinfestedatleast175of themasof thelate1990s.Throughoutthestate,approximately126,000acresof lakesandimpoundmentscontainsomelevelof Eurasianwatermilfoil.
DESCRIPTION: Eurasianwatermilfoilisasubmersedperennial.Ithasalongunderwaterstemthat
branchesprofuselywhenitreachesthesurfaceof thewater.Leavesarewhorledonthestemateachnode,andtherearegenerallyfourleavesperwhorl.Leavesarefinelydividedandfeather-likeinappearance.Thereareusually12to21pairsof leaflets.Eachleafletisthin,fine,andabout½inchlong.Itproducessmallreddishflowersthatemergeseveralinchesabovethewateronaspikegrownfromthetipof thestem. EurasianwatermilfoilisoftenconfusedwithacommonIndiananativeplant,northernwatermilfoil(M. sibiricum),anditissometimesdifficulttotellthedifference.If yourelyonthecharacteristicthatamatureEurasianwatermilfoilleaf has12to21pairsof leafletsandnorthernwatermilfoilhas5to10pairs,youwillbecorrectinidentificationmuch
Figure 6. Eurasian watermilfoil plant bed.
6
of thetime.Theleavesof Eurasianwatermilfoilarelimpwhenheldoutof water,whereastheleavesof northernwatermilfoilstayrigid.
LIFE CYCLE BIOLOGY: Eurasianwatermilfoilcangrowinawidevarietyof habitatsandconditions.Itoccursinponds,lakes,reservoirs,andslow-flowingriversandstreams.Itwillgrowinshallowordeepwater,freshorbrackishwater,awidetemperaturerange,aswellasapHfrom5.4to11.Ittendstodowellinwatersthathavehadsomesortof disturbancelikeintenseplantmanagement,overabundanceof nutrients,orextensivemotorboatuse.Itgrowsbestinfine-texturedinorganicsoilswhereitcangetplentyof sunlight. Eurasianwatermilfoiliscapableof spreadingbyseedsandbyvegetativemeans.Eachplant
iscapableof producingover100seedsbutgerminationof theseseedsrarelytakesplace.DispersalthroughvegetativemeansisEurasianwatermilfoil’smainreproductivestrategy.Theplantgoesthroughautofragmentationduringthegrowingseason,whererootswilldevelopatthenodesandtheplantwillbreakoff atthesenodesonitsown.Fragmentscanalsobeproducedbywind,waves,andhumanactivity.Thesefragmentswillsetroottogrowintoanewplant.Newshootsbegintogrowfromtheoverwinteringrootcrownswhenwatertemperaturereachesabout60°Finthespring.Growthisrapidandwhentheplantnearsthewater’ssurfaceitwillbranchoutcreatingacanopy.Thefastgrowthandtopped-outcanopygenerallyoccursbeforenativespeciespeakingrowth.Floweringgenerally
occursinJuly.Autofragmentationusuallyoccursafterflowering.Plantsdiebacktotherootsinthefall.Theserootsstorecarbohydratesinordertoinitiatetherapidgrowthinthespring.
PATHWAYS/HISTORY: EurasianwatermilfoilwasfirstintroducedintotheUnitedStatesthroughtheaquariumtrade.Thefirstdocumentedidentificationof EurasianwatermilfoilinopenwaterintheUnitedStateswasin1942fromapondinWashington,DC.By1950thespecieswasintotheMidwestinOhioandwasalsofoundinwesternstatessuchasArizonaandCalifornia.EurasianwatermilfoilisnowfoundthroughoutthecontinentalUnitedStateswiththeexceptionof thenorthernGreatPlainsregionandMaine(Figure7).
Figure 7. Eurasian watermilfoil distribution map.
7
DISPERSAL/SPREAD: Eurasianwatermilfoilhasspreadthroughaccidentalandintentionalintroductions.Pondownersintentionallyintroducedtheplantintotheirpondstoprovidefishhabitat.SinceEurasianwatermilfoiliscapableof reproducingbyvegetativemeansitislikelythatthespreadintomostnewbodiesof waterhasbeenbyfragments.AquaticequipmentthatwasusedatEurasianwatermilfoil-infestedwatersmayhavefragmentsattached;thesefragmentscanbetransportedtootherwatersandstartawholenewinfestation.Thisplantcanstayaliveforweeksoutof waterif keptmoist.
RISKS/IMPACTS: Eurasianwatermilfoilnegativelyaffectsthewaterbodiesitinvadesinseveralways.Duetoitstendencytobranchprofuselyandformadensecanopyoverthewaterssurface,itwillshadeoutthenativevegetation.Thiscanalterthespeciescompositionof thewater,whichcanresultinanearmonocultureof Eurasianwatermilfoil.Thisplantisnotavaluablefoodsourceforwaterfowlunlikesomeof thenativesubmersedaquaticplants.Plantbiomasscanbecomesodensethatpredatorfishwilllosetheirforagingspaceandwillbelesseffectiveatcontrollingpreyspeciesresultinginanimbalancedfishcommunity.Densebedsof Eurasianwatermilfoilmakerecreationalactivitiessuchasboating,fishing,andswimmingnearlyimpossible.ResidentialorindustrialwaterintakescanbecomecloggedwithEurasianwatermilfoil.Denseplantbedscanbenurseryareasformosquitolarvae.AlakeheavilyinfestedwithEurasianwatermilfoilwillbeaestheticallydispleasing,whichresultsinreducedpropertyvalues.In1998,160permitswereissuedforherbicidetreatmentsonpublicwatersinIndiana.Approximatelyfourof everyfivepermitsissuedtargetedEurasianwatermilfoil.Aconservativeestimate
of thecostof controllingexoticplantsthatinterferewithrecreationanddrinkingwatersuppliesinIndianaisintheneighborhoodof $1.2millionperyear.
MANAGEMENT/PREVENTION: Thebestmanagementisprevention.Preventingtheintroductionandspreadof Eurasianwatermilfoilistheeasiestandcheapestwaytocontrolit.If itistoolatetopreventtheestablishmentof thisinvasive,thereareafewtechniquesthatcanbeusedtocontrolit.
Mechanical: Mechanicalremovalof thisplantshouldonlybeconsideredif theEurasianwatermilfoilhasbecomewidespreadandallavailablenicheshavebecomeoccupiedbythisplant.Thisisimportantbecausemechanicaltechniquesusuallyresultinfragmentation,whichcanactuallyhelptheplantspread.Cutstemscanalsobranchabundantly,whichcanresultinevendenserplantbedsif harvestingdoesnotoccurfrequentlythroughthegrowingseason.Harvestersandhand-cuttingarethemostcommonmechanicalremovalmethods.Allfragmentsmustbecollectedanddisposedof properlyforthistobeeffective.Todisposeof theremnants,composting,burning,burying,ortrashdisposalareallacceptablemethods.
Habitat Alteration:Themostcommonhabitatalterationusedforaquaticvegetationcontrolisawinterlakedrawdown.Adrawdowncanbeeffectiveinreducingnuisancevegetationif youallowseveralweeksof dryingtimeandexposetheEurasianwatermilfoilrootcrownstosub-freezingtemperatures.Carefulconsiderationmustbegiventotheeffectonthefishcommunityasaresultof adrawdown.Youshouldconsultwithafisheriesbiologistbeforeimplementingthiscontrolmethodsoastonotputthefisheryatrisk.
Biological:Biologicalcontrolmethodsarehighlysoughtsincetheyareviewedas“environmentallyfriendly.”Tobemosteffective,abiologicalcontrolshouldbetarget-specificandnotcauseharmtounintendedspecies.ThemostcommonbiologicalcontrolusedforaquaticplantcontrolinIndianaisthegrasscarporwhiteamur.Unfortunately,grasscarpdonotpreferEurasianwatermilfoilandmayonlyturntoitasfoodonlyaftermayof thenativeplantshavebeenconsumed.PlantpathogenshavealsobeensoughtoutasabiologicalcontrolforEurasianwatermilfoil.LaboratoryresearchhasshownthatthefungusMycoleptodiscus terrestris reducestheplantsbiomasssignificantly.TheU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineersiscontinuingresearchwiththispossiblebiologicalcontrol.Themosteffectivebiologicalcontrolmethoddiscoveredsofarforthecontrolof EurasianwatermilfoilhasbeentheNorthAmericanweevil,Euhrychiopsis lecontei.Thisspeciesseemstoonlyattackmilfoilandcausesahighlevelof damagetotheplant.Theadultsfeedonthestemsandleavesof theplantandthelarvaeboreintothestemcausingextensivedamage.
Chemical: Untilrecently,chemicalcontroltargetingmilfoilusuallyresultedinextensivecollateraldamagetonon-targetnativespecies.Fortunately,advanceshavebeenmadewithchemicaltypes,applicationrates,andtimingof applicationthatcanselectivelycontrolEurasianwatermilfoil.TheactiveingredientFluridonehasbeenusedatlowratestoselectivelycontrolEurasianwatermilfoil.AquaticherbicidescontainingTriclopyror2,4-DhavealsoproveneffectiveforEurasianwatermilfoilcontrolwhileimpactingfewothernativesubmersedaquaticplants.TodeterminethemosteffectiveherbicidetocontrolEurasianwatermilfoilinyourparticularbodyof water,youshouldcontactan
aquaticherbicideapplicator.Onlyherbicideslabeledforaquaticusemaybeusedtotreataquaticplants.AnAquaticVegetationControlPermitisrequiredforweedcontroleffortsonIndiana’spublicwaters.Tohelpstopthespreadof aquaticinvasiveplantsincludingEurasianwatermilfoil,herearesomesimplestepsyoucanfollow.
• Rinseanymudand/ordebrisfromequipmentandwadinggearanddrainanywaterfromyourboatbeforeleavingtheaccessarea.
• Removeallplantfragmentsfromtheboat,propeller,andboattrailer.Thetransportationof plantmaterialonboats,trailers,andinlivewellsisthemainintroductionroutetonewlakesandrivers.
• Allowallequipmenttothoroughlydryforatleastfivedaysbeforetransportingitintoanewbodyof water
• Donotreleaseaquariumorwatergardenplantsintothewild,rathersealtheminaplasticbaganddisposeinthetrash.
NATIVE SPECIES AND HYBRIDS:Eurasianmilfoilisnottheonlytypeof milfoilfoundinIndiana.Thereareseveralnativemilfoilspecies,suchasnorthernmilfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum)(Figures8-10).SomenativespeciescloselyresembleEurasianmilfoilandarecommonlymistakenforit.However,thenativemilfoilsrarelyformdense,impenetrableplantbedslikeEurasianmilfoiloftendoes.Insomelakes,hybridizationbetweenexoticEurasianmilfoil(M. spicatum)andnativenorthernmilfoil(M. sibiricum)) isoccurring.Genetictestinghasfoundmilfoilhybridstobewidelydispersedacrossthenorthernportionof theUnitedStatesandhybridmilfoilappearstobewidespreadinMichigan.Thedocumentationof thepresenceof hybridmilfoilisimportantbecausehybridityinplants
8
Figure 8-10. Comparison of Eurasian watermilfoil (INVASIVE) and Northern watermil-foil (NATIVE).
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
9
isoftenlinkedtoinvasivetraits.Infact,hybridmilfoilmaybemoreinvasivethanEurasianmilfoil.Thereisconcerninthescientificcommunitythathybridscouldhaveacompetitiveadvantageover,andultimatelydisplacebothnorthernmilfoilandEurasianmilfoil. Intermsof physicalappearance,hybridmilfoilisdifficulttodistinguishfromEurasianmilfoil.Forpositiveidentification,genetictestingisrequired.Further,notallhybridmilfoilsarethesame.Thereisconsiderablegeneticvariabilitywithinhybrids.
The Indiana Lakes Management Annual Conference Update~Sara Peel TheIndianaLakesManagementSocietyhostedthe29thAnnualIndianaLakeManagementConferenceonMarch11and12attheSwanLakeResort.Unfortunately,therewerenolakesatbeautifulSwanLake!Morethan150individualsattendedtheconference,beingtreatedtogreatpresentations
theUpperandLowerSalamoniewatershedgroupswererecognizedastheOutstanding Lake Association/Group.
• ILMSawardedthe Outstanding Implementation Project AwardtotheIndianaUniversitySchoolof PublicandEnvironmentalAffairs(SPEA).SPEA,underthedirectionof MelissaLaney,hasworkedtogatherinformationoverthelasttwoyearsatGriffyLakeinBloomington,Indiana.GriffyLakerefilledin2014,afteranextendeddrawdownandIndianaUniversityresearcherssawthisasanopportunitytostudytheimpactsof fulllakedrawdown.Theirresearchhasincludedaquaticvegetationmapping,phytoplanktonandzooplanktonsampling,andextensivewaterqualitydatacollection.Withthehelpof studentsandvolunteersdatahasbeencollectedonamonthlybasissincethelakerefilled.Datahavebeenanalyzedtocomparehowthetrophiclevelswillrecoverandtheimpactonaquaticinvasiveplants.Thelakehasalwaysbeenaplantdominatedlakeandthequestionremainsif thatstatewillpersistorif thelakewillshifttoanalgaldominatedsystem. Despitelackof funding,monitoringcontinuesasanin-kindprojectfueledbystudents,aCityof Bloomingtonpartnership,andpersonalresearchinterestof SPEAfacultyandstaff.Thisuniqueopportunitytostudydrawdowneffectsonalakesystemwillhelpcreateabetterunderstandingof thepotentialimpactsof thismanagementstrategy.ILMSwouldalsoliketorecognizetheStudent Scholarship Winner–BrynneTaylorof IndianaUniversity.Brynnerepresentsthefutureof lakemanagementinIndiana.Allstudentscholarshipfundingisprovidedthroughtheconferencesilentauction–attendeedonationstotaledmorethan$1500atthe2015conference,whichwillallowILMStoawardthreestudentscholarshipsatour2016conference!
aboutlocallakes,invasiveplantmanagement,pondmanagementandraingardendesign.Moreimportantly,theyspenttimenetworkingwithotherlakeresidents,managers,andprofessionals. Thisyear,ILMShonoredthreeIndianaindividualsandgroupsforthetirelessworktheydotoimproveconditionswithintheirownbackyardandthroughoutIndiana’slakes(Figure11).
• JaneLoomiswithTheWatershedFoundationandUpperLakesof theTippecanoeRiverAssociation.Janewasrecognizedforhertirelessworktolaunchandmanagedailyoperationsof theUpperLakesof theTippecanoeRiver,developingmanyprojectstoeducatelakeresidents,engageindividualsinwaterqualitytestingandimprovingwaterqualitythroughoutnortheastIndiana.Fortheseefforts,JanewasrecognizedastheVolunteer of the Year.
• Afterintenseblue-greenalgaebloomsimpactedtheSalamonieReservoir,theUpperandLowerSalamoniewatershedgroups,coordinatedbytheHuntingtonCountySWCDandtheJayCountyCommissioners/SWCD,workedwiththeArmyCorpandotherlocalstakeholderstodeveloptwowatershedmanagementplansfortheSalamonieReservoirwatershed.TheLowerSalamoniewatershedgroupisimplementingtheirWMPwithacurrent319grant,andtheUpperSalamoniewatershedgroupisimplementingtheirWMPwithaCleanWaterIndianagrantandwillcontinuewitha319grantthiscomingyear.ThenutrientissuesintheSalamonieandsubsequentbloomsinthereservoirbecameahighprofileissuewhentwodogsdiedafterswimminginablue-greenbloomin2012.Bothwatershedgroupsworkedhardtobringtogetherlocalstakeholderstodrivetheplanningprocessandcontinuetodosonowinimplementation.Fortheireffort,
Fig. 10
Figure 11. ILMS Award Recipients: Robin Saywitz and Lori Lovell (Best Student Presentation); Brynne Taylor (Student Scholarship); Melissa Laney and Sarah Powers (Outstanding Implementation); Jane Loomis (Volunteer of the Year); Cheryl Jarrett and Tim Kroeker (Outstanding Lake Association).
• Purple flowers
• Branched stems are square, can root at nodes
• leaves opposite, lanceolate
• up to 2.5 million tiny seeds/plant
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
• Grows 2-‐9 feet tall
• Blades flat and rough on both sides, alternate
• hairless
Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacaea
• Large yellow flower May-‐July, can have 2-‐3 on
one stem
• Distinguishing ridge in the center of the leaf
• The base of the plant is fan shaped
Yellow-‐flag iris Iris pseudocorus
• Up to 12 foot tall grass
• hollow woody stems
• wide stiff leaves
• large feathery flower head purplish when
young, brown in seed
Common reed Phragmites australis
Flashcards!With the fall and winter months approaching, you can print out these flashcards (on the following pages) and cut out along the lines. You might consider taking them to a print shop to print, laminate, and hole-punch on the corner so you can clip them together and use the next boat trip out. Enjoy and sharpen you identification skills for next year!
WATER COLUMNPublished quarterly by the
Indiana Clean Lakes Program as a medium for open exchange of
information regarding lake and watershed management in Indiana.
Address all correspondence to:Melissa Laney, Editor
SPEA 445, 1315 E. Tenth StreetIndiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405-1701
E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (812) 855-6905FAX: (812) 855-7802
Clean lakes Program
10
• Purple flow
ers
• Branched stem
s are sq
uare, can ro
ot at n
odes
• leaves opp
osite
, lanceolate
• up
to 2.5 million tin
y seeds/plant
Purple loosestrife
Ly
thru
m sa
licar
ia
• Grow
s 2-‐9 feet tall
• Blades flat and
rough on
both sid
es, alte
rnate
• hairless
Reed canary grass
Phalar
is ar
undina
caea
• Large yellow flow
er M
ay-‐Ju
ly, can have 2-‐3 on
on
e stem
•
Distinguish
ing rid
ge in th
e center of the leaf
• The base of the plant is fan shaped
Yellow-‐flag iris
Iris p
seud
ocor
us
• Up to 12 foot tall grass
• ho
llow woo
dy stem
s •
wide stiff leaves
• large feathery flow
er head pu
rplish when
youn
g, brown in se
ed
Common reed
Ph
ragm
ites a
ustralis
11
12
• sm
ooth leaf edges
• leaves in who
rls of 4 (u
p to 6)
• re
latively show
y flo
wer
• grows in up
to 20 feet of w
ater
Brazilian elodea
Eger
ia den
sa
•
leaves distinctly wavy and stiff
• olive green
Curly leaf pondweed
Pota
mog
eton
cris
pus
• 14 or m
ore leaflet p
airs
• leaves who
rled
• leaves collapse against stem when pu
lled from
water
• flo
wer sp
ike held abo
ve water
Eurasian watermilfoil
Myr
ioph
yllum
spicat
um
• Leaves in who
rls of 5
• Leaf margins distinctly visible saw-‐too
thed;
often with
one or m
ore sharp teeth alon
g the
underside midrib
Hydrilla
Hydr
illa ve
rticillat
a
13
14
• Large algae in th
e Ch
araceae family
• Who
rls of 4-‐6 long branchlets
• Star sh
aped bulbils
• Prefers m
arl sediments in up to 9 meters d
eep
water
Starry Stonewort
Nite
llops
is ob
tuse
L.
•
Brittle up to abo
ut 0.5 m long, often branched
toward the up
ward po
rtion, con
spicuo
us,
brow
nish, prickly teeth at internod
es
• Opp
osite
or som
etimes in pairs along stem
, may app
ear to be in who
rls on ends, leaves
are 1 to 2in long, too
thed, stiff and
pointed
Brittle naiad
Najas
minor
• Brittle up to abo
ut 0.5 m long, often branched
toward the up
ward po
rtion, con
spicuo
us,
brow
nish, prickly teeth at internod
es
• Leaves-‐ o
pposite
or som
etimes in who
rls of three,
-‐tria
ngular te
eth alon
g the leaf margins, -‐ prickles
alon
g the midrib
on the un
derside
• Flow
ers: -‐ solitary in th
e leaf axils
•
Spiny naiad
Najas
mar
ina
•
Large algae –M
acro-‐alga, having no
true
leaves
• Branches and
branchlets o
f single column
shaped cells that who
rl from
stem
•
Translu
cent and
smoo
th to
the touch
Brittlewort species
Nite
lla sp
ecies
15
16
• Subm
ersed, very long, slend
er and
very
branched
• Leaves opp
osite
or w
horls of 3, very narrow
(~2m
m wide), 1 inch and
very sm
all teeth on
leaf margins
• Flow
ers a
re very sm
all on axils inconspicuou
s
Southern naiad
Najas
qua
dalupe
nsis
• Long leaves can be several feet lon
g a 1 in
wide.
• Leaves have roun
ded tip
s •
Leaves have 5 distinct ra
ised rid
ges
Eel grass
Valis
neria
am
erican
a
• branched leaves
• conspicuou
s bulbo
us bladd
ers g
reen when
youn
g and turn black fu
rther d
own the stem
•
carnivorou
s plant
• sm
all yellow sn
apdragon
-‐like flow
er is held
above the water
Common bladderwort
Utricular
ia vulga
ris
•
Perenn
ial, grow
s 1-‐3' lon
g •
leaves 1½-‐5" lon
g, up to 1.0 mm. across,
mostly alte
rnate, and
needle like
• sheath-‐like stipules grow at the leaf base
abou
t ½-‐1½" lon
g and up
to 1.0 mm. across
• Flow
ers a
bove th
e water su
rface
Sago pondweed
Stuc
kenia pe
ctinat
a
17
18
• very large heart-‐shaped leaves
• ball-‐shaped yellow flow
ers
• stem
s rigid eno
ugh to hold leaves out of w
ater
when water level drops
Spatterdock
Nup
har l
utea
•
Shrubb
y •
Purple/pink flo
wer abo
ve leaves on stem
•
Opp
osite
leaves
Whirled loosestrife
De
cado
n ve
rticillat
us
• leaves linear
• who
rls of 3 (som
etimes 2-‐4) o
n the stem
American waterweed
Elod
ea can
aden
sis
•
Roun
ded lance shaped leaves th
at stick ou
t of
the water
• Purple flow
ers
• Form
s dense mats
Pickerel weed
Pont
edar
ia cor
data
19
20
• leaves narrow, forked and who
rled on
the
stem
•
inconspicuou
s flowers
• plant is stiff and
holds its shape out of w
ater
Coontail
Cera
toph
yllum
dem
ersu
m
•
Floatin
g leaves with
rooted, purplish
stem
s attached to
leaf center
• Leaf entire
with
no cut o
r lob
es, oblon
g shape
• Sm
all red flow
ers that resem
ble a sunb
urst
• Ge
latin
ous slim
e coating on
und
ersid
e of
youn
g leaves Water shield
Bras
enia sc
hreb
eri
• Divided leaves arranged in who
rls of 4 -‐6 and
feathery
• Leaf color is brig
ht blue-‐green
• Stem
s can be up
to five feet long and
trail
becoming erect abo
ve th
e water su
rface
Parrot feather
Myr
ioph
yllum
aqu
aticum
•
Leaves alte
rnate, both subm
erged flo
ating
• Leaves 1.5 – 2.5 inches wide and 1-‐7 inches
long
• Leaves elliptic and
pointed
• Prod
uces th
ick spikes of greenish
flow
ers
above water su
rface
Illinois Pondweed
Pota
mog
eton
illin
oens
is
21
22
Aquatic Invasive Monitoring Plant HighlightThiswillbethe16thplantintheplanthighlightseries.WewillbefeaturingoneaquaticplantineachWater Column
issue.Wewillfeaturebothnativeandinvasiveplantstoimproveourplantidentificationskills.
Water Stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), NATIVE
Waterstargrassisasubmergedplantcommonlyfoundinfreshwaterrivers,streams,andlakesthroughoutNorthandCentralAmerica.Waterstargrassisnamedforitssmallstar-shapedyellowflowersthatriseabovethe
water’ssurface.Theplant’sdark-greenleavesarelong,narrow,andgrass-like.Theleavesarearrangedalternatelyonfreelybranchingstemsandhavenoprominentmidvein.Theleavesarecommonly10-14cmlongand2-6mmwideandstemscangrowupto2mlong.Waterstargrassisknowntogrowtogetherintomasses
inshallowwaters,upto1mdeep.
Waterstargrassprovidesfishcoverandgoodhabitatformacroinvertevrates.Waterfowl,especiallyducks,areattractedtotheplantasafoodsource.
YoucanfindmoreinformationaboutourInvasivePlantMonitoringProgramandwaterstargrassontheCleanLakesProgramwebsitewww.indiana.edu/~clp.WewillbeupdatingtheInvasivePlantMonitoringpageto
includelinkstoseveralresourcesandtipsonidentificationguides.
Identificationtips:•Longgrass-likeleaves•Alternateleaf arrangementwithnoprominentmidvein•Smallyellowflowerswith6narrowpetals
23