This article is one in a series offering tips on boating skills and seamanship prepared for The Citizen by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Not too long ago, I attended a lecture by an extension agent of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Cayuga and Onondaga counties. The subject was the control of invasive aquatic plants.
A few weeks later, I read a news release by the BoatU.S Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water on the same subject.
What I learned is that there are good and not so good aquatic plants. There are also free floating plants and rooted to sediment plants.
In general aquatic plants are good for wildlife and fish and they serve to filter pollutants. They also help to prevent erosion.
But there are exceptions.
Invasive plants can and do create problems. “Invasive species adversely affect the underwater habitat and fisheries they invade,” said Susan Shingledecker, director of environmental programs for the BoatU.S. Foundation. “Our grant program helps educate boaters and anglers about how to stop their spread.” The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering grant funds up to $4,000 for non-profit groups to develop projects that help stop the spread of invasive species on local waterways. To view previous grant projects or learn more about invasive species, visit www.BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater/grants
Invasive plants are introduced into a new area by boats and trailers as well as fishermen's fishing tackle. One way to prevent infestation is for boaters and fishermen to keep their boats out of the water for a period of five days after returning from an infested area.
Once these plants begin growing, they must be dealt with before establishing themselves.
Invasive plants grow by seeds or buds. Others spread by fragmentation from cuts from the original plant.
Water chestnuts are among the invasive plants. They are found in lakes and ponds and waterways.
They can grow in deep water up to 16 feet. Water chestnuts can cause fish to die, get tangled in boat props and lower shoreline property values. They produce thorny multi-pointed small kinds of nuts in early summer. In fact each plant can produce over 200 seeds in one year. In a few years they take over vast areas.
Boaters and fishermen can help the spread of this species by harvesting the nuts before they fall, usually in early to mid August.
It is recommended that they pull as much of the plant as possible by grabbing the center of the floating circle of leaves and slowing pulling it. The stem will follow. Dispose of the plant in a compost pile away from water.
The BoatU.S. Foundation offers a challenge in the form of a quiz at www.cleanboats.org that educates boaters and anglers on how to inspect and clean their boats to ensure that lakes and streams are protected from non-native, aquatic hitchhikers.
“Taking the Clean Boats Challenge will give boaters and anglers the information they need to make personal choices that can help stop the spread of invasive species,” Shingledecker said.
In addition to the short and easy-to-complete Clean Water Challenge, the Web site also includes information on how to clean a boat properly and some best practices for trailer boaters.
For example, it is recommended that a boat and motor be drained and inspected for mud or plant life before departing the launch ramp. It then should be allowed to dry completely for five days before launching into a different body of water.
These are but a few of the several types of invasive aquatic plants. Learning how to identify a given plant is the first priority. The Cornell Web site offers some useful information in this regard. www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/watersheds/skanhome.htm.
Techniques to control evasive aquatic plants include among others, bottom barriers and suction dredging. Both require a permit. Researchers at Cornell are experimenting with another technique which uses biological control.
A Cornell Extension pamphlet recommends that residents and lake users “adopt” a section of shoreline and help prevent a big infestation before it starts, by monitoring for a number of invasive aquatic weeds that threaten CNY waters. More information on the Adopt-A-Shoreline Program, call 424-9485.
John E. Keshishoglou is the IP flotilla commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22. He can be reached at (607) 273-7175
A few weeks later, I read a news release by the BoatU.S Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water on the same subject.
What I learned is that there are good and not so good aquatic plants. There are also free floating plants and rooted to sediment plants.
In general aquatic plants are good for wildlife and fish and they serve to filter pollutants. They also help to prevent erosion.
But there are exceptions.
Invasive plants can and do create problems. “Invasive species adversely affect the underwater habitat and fisheries they invade,” said Susan Shingledecker, director of environmental programs for the BoatU.S. Foundation. “Our grant program helps educate boaters and anglers about how to stop their spread.” The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering grant funds up to $4,000 for non-profit groups to develop projects that help stop the spread of invasive species on local waterways. To view previous grant projects or learn more about invasive species, visit www.BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater/grants
Invasive plants are introduced into a new area by boats and trailers as well as fishermen's fishing tackle. One way to prevent infestation is for boaters and fishermen to keep their boats out of the water for a period of five days after returning from an infested area.
Once these plants begin growing, they must be dealt with before establishing themselves.
Invasive plants grow by seeds or buds. Others spread by fragmentation from cuts from the original plant.
Water chestnuts are among the invasive plants. They are found in lakes and ponds and waterways.
They can grow in deep water up to 16 feet. Water chestnuts can cause fish to die, get tangled in boat props and lower shoreline property values. They produce thorny multi-pointed small kinds of nuts in early summer. In fact each plant can produce over 200 seeds in one year. In a few years they take over vast areas.
Boaters and fishermen can help the spread of this species by harvesting the nuts before they fall, usually in early to mid August.
It is recommended that they pull as much of the plant as possible by grabbing the center of the floating circle of leaves and slowing pulling it. The stem will follow. Dispose of the plant in a compost pile away from water.
The BoatU.S. Foundation offers a challenge in the form of a quiz at www.cleanboats.org that educates boaters and anglers on how to inspect and clean their boats to ensure that lakes and streams are protected from non-native, aquatic hitchhikers.
“Taking the Clean Boats Challenge will give boaters and anglers the information they need to make personal choices that can help stop the spread of invasive species,” Shingledecker said.
In addition to the short and easy-to-complete Clean Water Challenge, the Web site also includes information on how to clean a boat properly and some best practices for trailer boaters.
For example, it is recommended that a boat and motor be drained and inspected for mud or plant life before departing the launch ramp. It then should be allowed to dry completely for five days before launching into a different body of water.
These are but a few of the several types of invasive aquatic plants. Learning how to identify a given plant is the first priority. The Cornell Web site offers some useful information in this regard. www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/watersheds/skanhome.htm.
Techniques to control evasive aquatic plants include among others, bottom barriers and suction dredging. Both require a permit. Researchers at Cornell are experimenting with another technique which uses biological control.
A Cornell Extension pamphlet recommends that residents and lake users “adopt” a section of shoreline and help prevent a big infestation before it starts, by monitoring for a number of invasive aquatic weeds that threaten CNY waters. More information on the Adopt-A-Shoreline Program, call 424-9485.
John E. Keshishoglou is the IP flotilla commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22. He can be reached at (607) 273-7175
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