J E R E M Y F A R R E L L ,S A N D R A N I E R Z W I C K I - B A U E R ,

D A R R I N F R E S H W A T E R I N S T I T U T E

Status of Aquatic InvasiveSpecies in Lake George, and Effectiveness

of Control and Management Methods

Current Known Invasive Species In Lake George

Plants Myriophyllum spicatum

(Eurasian Watermilfoil) Potamogeton crispus

(Curlyleaf Pond weed) Fish

Osmerus mordax (Rainbow Smelt)

Mollusc Dreissena polymorpha

(Zebra Mussel) Corbicula fluminea (Asian

Clam) Bellamya chinensis

(Chineese Mystery Snail) Viviparus georgianus

(Banded mystery snail)

Status: Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian Watermilfoil)

Managed. Discovered in 1986 To date cost to control

this plant ~

Status: Potamogeton Crispus (Curlyleaf Pond weed)

Established. Records indicate

establishment by 1970’s Ogden at the time

declared it non invasive as it did and still only grows marginally in Lake George

Status: Osmerus mordax (Rainbow Smelt)

Established. Intentionally introduced

in 1918 and 1929 without success

Intentionally introduced in ~1970 with success

Status: Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel)

Discovered 1999 in front of Neptune's Restaurant.

Hand harvesting operation commenced to eliminate this species.

Success in this location Discovered in ~10

locations since with hand harvesting management in each of these locations.

Status: Corbicula fluminea (Asian Clam)

Discovered at Lake Avenue Beach August 2010

LGACRRTF Formed in an attempt to eradicate this invader.

Status: Bellamya chinensis (Chinese Mystery Snail)

Discovered August 2011 in Middleworth Bay

Management conducted with Asian Clam Project (suction dredging)

Status: Viviparus georgianus (Banded mystery snail)

Established. Management not an

option at this point.

New York Invasive Plants Not in Lake George

Other Invasives Not Known to be in Lake George

HemimysisBloody red mysis

New Zealand Mudsnail

Quagga Mussel

Alewife

Snakehead

E A S I E R A N D C H E A P E R T O D E A L W I T H I N V A S I V E S B E F O R E T H E Y B E C O M E A

P R O B L E M

Prevention

Education

Literature for boaters Websites Lake Steward Program Floating Classroom Signs, Signs, Signs Kiosks

Prevention Boat Washing

Newly acquired mobile boat washing station will provide a good prevention of boats that are washed by it.

Reclamation system of water will provide a way of sampling effectiveness of washing boats if desired.

Prevention Case Study: Upper Peninsula

2/3 of survey takers had not properly washed boats before launch.

Macrophytes: inspection/hand removal and high pressure washing were statistical similar removal rate for (~85%)

Small bodied organisms: high pressure washing significantly better than inspection or low pressure washing.

***From Rothlisberger et al 2010

Prevention Case Study: Otsego Lake

All boats entering the public launch are inspected 1 Public 1 Cartop 2 Private

1300-1400 average launches

Detection

Public Reporting

A Mmember of the general public calls one of the interested parties and DFWI typically will “take a look”

Example last summer Fund for Lake George was called and within 5 hours DFWI surveyed the area and determined no AIS were present

Tributary Delta Surveys

For several years DFWI was funded by Fund for Lake George to assess macrophyte communities near tributary as EWM is often found in close proximity.

Long Distance Swim Survey

Over 150 locations identified as potential habitat for Asian clam were surveyed.

Funding for additional surveys for this year are being sought now.

Plankton Surveys

12 Locations sampled bi weekly during summer months

200 liters concentrated and examined under cross polarized microscopy

Hydroacoustic Surveys

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.911.11.21.31.4

PlantH

eight(m)

285 m160 m

Environmental DNA

In development… Small sample of water

sampled with molecular techniques.

Provides presence information of target species.

O R A T L E A S T C O N T R O L / M A N A G E M E N T

Elimination

Hand Harvesting Suction Dredging Benthic Barrier Chemical Treatment

Eurasian Watermilfoil Control Cost

Cost In Relation To Other New York Lakes

Lake Years of Treatment Primary Approach Primary Plant Cost

Chautauqua 2001-2010 Mechanical harvesting Eurasian watermilfoil $ 5,000,000.00

Lake George 1985-2010 Hand harvesting, suction dredging, benthic mats Eurasian watermilfoil $ 4,581,000.00

Saratoga 1990-2010 Mechanical & biological Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed $ 980,000.00

Saratoga 2007-2010 Herbicide treatments Eurasian watermilfoil $ 900,000.00

Upper Saranac 2004-2010 Hand harvesting Eurasian watermilfoil $ 710,000.00

Lake Champlain 1982-2010 Mechanical harvesting Waterchestnut $ 8,968,000.00

Eurasian Watermilfoil Control Effectiveness

Since 1986 the number of sites in the Lake has grown from 3 locations to 191 locations

The number of cleared locations is now at 173

This leaves 18 sites left that need management

0

50

100

150

200

250

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Nu

mb

er o

f S

ites

Year

Number of Sites Cleared Sites

Zebra Mussel Control

Hand harvesting operation contained and the eliminated the zebra mussel population in Lake George Village

Over 20,000 animals were removed individually by SCUBA

Asian Clam Control Pilot Project 2010

Percent Mortality

100%80%60%40%20%

Asian Clam Control 2011

Initially only matting Lake George village site but treatment expanded to Norowal

Middleworth Bay suction dredging project also added

Matting proved effective in areas where it can be deployed well

Suction dredging was ineffective with methods employed

Asian Clam Control 2012

Lake Champlain Maritime museum conducting intensive 5m grid surveys 25 meters beyond the extent of previous known boundaries

Boon Bay matting operation has commenced

Acknowledgements