Lakes Preservation Committee

Chair – Dr. Andy RogersSecretary –

Don BouchardFrank Gaylord

Dave HardyLinda Jacobson

Dominic ScadutoLila West

John BugnoRandy Schnoebelen

Mike JonesJohn Glynn

Martin Greenbaum

• POACRE All Member Meeting• July 2014

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart. Elizabeth Andrew

Goals for Lake Lariat:– Safe -– Pleasing To Look At -– Free From Unpleasant Odors - – Good For Fishing - – Good For Boating -– Swimmable -– Healthy

What the LPC Does– Monitor Lake Lariat.– Study the literature.– Interview experts in government, indusry and

academia.– When we get new information, we review it carefully.

– Look for environmentally sound solutions– Implement solutions.– Not looking for quick fixes or expensive, hard to maintain

equipment.– Address member concerns– Working with POACRE administration to bring in

outside dollars– Foundation for Community Partnerships– County

Lake Lariat in 2008

Fishery

• DNR study (2009) shows lack of cover for fish development in Lake Lariat. This includes downed trees and wetland/aquatic plants.

• Solution: We installed artificial cover in 2011 and 2012.

• Floating islands provide cover as well.• Fisheries expert Dave Beasley recommended

encouraging fishermen to take home what they legally catch to improve the fishery.

Fishery

• Trophy Bass Management was implemented in Lake Lariat in 1991.

• Trophy Bass Management allows anglers to keep five Largemouth Bass per day.

• All bass between 11 and 15 inches in length must be released. One bass, greater than 15 inches in length, may be kept as part of the 5 fish creel.

Fishery

• MDE recommended removing the larger bass that are more highly contaminated with mercury.

• DNR does not recommend this strategy based on the Trophy Bass Management.

• Has Trophy Bass Management for 23 years improved the fishery?

Invasive Species

• Corbicula clams• Snakeheads

Snakeheads• Two have been reported caught on CRE property.

• If you catch one, kill it, then report it to the Md. Department of Natural Resources.

• If you catch it in or near CRE, please report it to the office here.

• There is no evidence of any in Lake Lariat.• They are reported to be “Delicious”.

Corbicula (Asian) clams• Twenty or so were found at Lake Lariat Beach

this summer. • According to DNR they could have been

introduced to the lake by several means.

•No known way to remove them.•You can harvest them but it requires a permit to stock them in a pond or lake.•They are known for being a delicacy, however, DNR advised against harvesting them out of the lake.

Fish Habitat Installation

Installed Units

Stormwater Management

Durango Trail Access to Lake Lariat

Lake Lariat Water Quality Concerns

• Blue green algae• Mercury• E. Coli• Eutrophication

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Blue Green AlgaeJuly 2011

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No blooms have been reported on Lake Lariat for several years although other ponds are infested with it.

Mercury

• Lake Lariat is considered impaired because it is not safe to eat a constant diet of large mouth bass (no more than 10 8-ounce servings per year.) and other fish from the lake.

• US EPA safe drinking water level for mercury is 1000 times higher than the mercury level in Lake Lariat water.

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Calvert County Testing Results for E. Coli2003 – 2014

• Average E. Coli rating based on the geometric mean of 5 samples taken the same day on the Lake Lariat beach

• If geometric mean exceeds 235 cells/ml, Calvert County issues an advisory• If the 30-day geometric mean exceeds 126 ml, Calvert County issues an advisory.• For advisories go to: http://www.calverthealth.org/community/environmentalhealthservices/

beachmap.htm

Causes of E. Coli• Failing septic systems• Stormwater carrying pet waste• Wild animals

Major rain events can wash a fair amount of animal waste into any nearby bodies of water.

Microcystis Auregenosa

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Phosphate Concentration

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TP (total P) - below 0.01 mg/L (<10μg/L)

Nitrate/Nitrite Concentration

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Ammonia Concentration

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EPA’s recommended criteria is 0.02 mg/L for freshwater aquatic. Acute lethal levels for fish ranges 0.2 to 2.0 mg/L

Ammonia Concentration

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EPA’s recommended criteria is 0.02 mg/L for freshwater aquatic. Acute lethal levels for fish ranges 0.2 to 2.0 mg/L

Oxygen Concentration

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DepthinFeet

Some Don’ts

Do NOT put Hydrilla in our lake.•It can become so dense that swimmers and motorboats cannot pass.•It can harbor blue green algae leading to the death of birds including bald eagles.•It can grow in 20 feet of water. If you think you have a great idea for how to fix the lake, please come to the LPC. We are in communication with experts.

What you can do.

Reduce nutrient inputs to the lake Rain gardens Rain barrels Reduce fertilizer use Fix your septic system Encourage proper stormwater management

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Volunteers Needed

We need a secretary

•To VolunteerContact CRE office or use CRE webpageUnofficial Facebook Page:CRE Lakes