Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (IAPP) ~ A Federally Funded Program ... No Spin Zone!
EMAILED TO BOARD OF SELECTMANThis is worthy of reading and reflection in considering what Candlewood Lake is currently undergoing. This presents a multi-year program (2001 - 2008) using the same method from EnviroScience, Inc. from Stow, Ohio.
Information about Lake Bonaparte
Lake Bonaparte was named after Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, who was exiled from Spain and came to live in Northern New York. He resided for a while in Natural Bridge, N.Y. and had his summer villa on the lake. The 1,286 acre lake has twenty-four miles of shoreline and parts of it border on Fort Drum, the home of the 10th Mountain Division. It is 768 feet above sea level and contains nine islands. It is over two miles long and is pring fed. The fish population includes wall eyes, great northern pike, rock and black bass, perch, and bullheads. There are two public marinas, a state boat launch, a public swimming area, and two restaurants. The recorded range of temperatures is from a high of 110 F to a low of minus 52 degrees. It once was the home of Boy Scout camp and a famous resort known as the Hermitage Hotel.
THE MILFOIL PROJECT
EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL INVADES LAKE BONAPARTE
In September 2001, the Lake Bonaparte community first became painfully aware that Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) had invaded the lake. Unfortunately, the discovery came several years after its introduction most likely by a visitor who launched their boat without washing it. The weed took root and flourished until it began to break through the surface in thick beds in several bays around the lake.
The first call for help went to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who sent a representative to tour the lake and gave positive confirmation of the presence of milfoil.
Once positive identification had been obtained, the search began for a sensible method of control. The use of chemicals was immediately ruled out. For many people the lake is a source of drinking water and despite assurances that chemical introduction would cause no lasting harm to water quality, no one wanted to take the risk. Likewise, there was a concern that chemical introduction might harm the ecological system of the lake for generations to come.
The Internet provided guidance as to a biologically safe method of control that has proven successful in other lakes. The introduction of an aquatic beetle that feeds upon EWM and reproduces rapidly appeared to be a logical alternative. A company that supplies the weevil, Enviroscience of Stow, Ohio, was contacted for further information. (www.enviroscienceinc.com.)
By chance, a representative of Enviroscience had scheduled a trip to visit friends in Massena, N.Y. over the long Columbus Day weekend and agreed to extend the trip to visit the lake and assess its suitability for introduction of the weevil.
Upon touring the lake with several members of the Board of Directors, the aquatic biologist who made the initial assessment made an interesting and surprising discovery. The weevil was already present in the waters of Lake Bonaparte, although not in sufficient number to be able to retard the rapid spread of EWM.
The Aquatic Biologist gave assurances to the LBCC Board of Directors that the weevils would not harm other native weeds, were not a threat to the fish population, would not harm humans, and would not fall prey to natural predators in the lake. In short, their introduction would be intended to jump-start the existing population in hopes that the abundant supply of EWM as a food source and the beetles rapid reproductive cycle would prove an effective counter measure to the spread of the nuisance weed.
Although thrilled to learn that the weevils were already in the lake, the directors decided to take a conservative approach. They chose to purchase 10,000 weevils to be distributed in colonies of 2,000 in five different locations recommended by the company.
The Enviroscience Company provides the weevils at an approximate cost of $1.20 each. Their program, which is called the Midfoil Program and patterned after research done at Middlebury College, also includes follow-up surveys and assessments along with a guarantee that if there is no evidence of weed damage from implantation, they will replace the same number of weevils free of charge for a second attempt in the original location.
Because the Lake Bonaparte Conservation Club is a non-profit organization that charges only a minimal fee for membership, the challenge of raising approximately $17,000 to undertake the program was a formidable one. Letters were sent to all lake residents describing the problem EWM presents (it will kill native vegetation, take over fishing spawning areas, and prevent boating and swimming as well as having a disastrous impact upon property values) and asked for their financial assistance. In addition, the club planned a series of fund raisers to include a lake community picnic and auction, tee shirt sale, raffle of a hand carved loon by a well known artist who spends summers at the lake, a tee shirt party, sales of satellite photos and a short story book by a writer who resides year long at the lake.
The response to the appeal and the fund raising activities was overwhelmingly positive and more than enough money was raised to underwrite the first year of the program. A special thank you goes to the Town Board of the Town of Diana that pledged the amount of $4,000.
Although an agreement with Enviroscience called for the implantation of the weevils to be done on or about Memorial Day, 2002, poor weather conditions and difficulties obtaining donor sites for the beetles pushed back the implantation date to July 5, 2002.
The follow-up study was conducted by the Enviroscience team and four independent divers not affiliated with the company six weeks after the placement of the weevils. Weed samples were taken at each of the five sites plus a control site where no weevils were placed and sent back to the lab for analysis.
Although no damage was visible to the naked eye, microscopic studies confirmed damage to the EWM was found at all of the five sites. Weevil eggs, larvae, and larval damage as well as re-growth of native vegetation was found in varying degrees at each location. Damage was found even at those sites where jet ski and boat traffic had violated the test areas.
Although success was reported at each of the five sites, it is important to note that the weevils were in place for a very short period of time and that the minimum amount of weevils was placed in each spot. Damage in each location was limited because only 2,000 were implanted but there was ample evidence that the imported weevils met up with their native counterparts and rapidly established growing communities.
With the good news in hand, the Lake Bonaparte Conservation Club has contracted with the Enviroscience Company for implantation of least 45,000 weevils in the spring of 2003. It is hoped that the 45,000 number will be increased as fund raising activities continue and word of the project spreads throughout the United States and Canada. The target date for insertion of the new weevils is June 1, 2003.
SPRING 2003
Because of inclement spring weather, the target date for weevil implantation of June 1, 2003 was not met. Instead, 21,000 weevils were implanted on a rainy and cold June 14 and 31,000 more on the following Saturday, June 21, 2003. If you do the math, you will find a grand total of 52,000 new inhabitants for the lake! Thanks to the generous support of lake residents and friends, a last minute large monetary gift, the town of Diana, and the Enviroscience Company that provided a quantity discount, many more locations were stocked than was originally anticipated. Fourteen areas were stocked, three of them from the previous year and eleven new ones.
Many people volunteered their services during the two stocking dates and all received the good news that the original crop of weevils wintered well and were back in the water eagerly meeting new friends and chomping away at the milfoil. They were found at all of the original stocking sites and some of the new stocking sites as well indicating that they had indeed prospered and multiplied.
FALL 2003
Forty lake residents welcomed Martin Hilovsky, President of the Enviroscience Co., to Ziggy’s Restaurant the evening of October 15, 2003 to hear his summary of the findings of the research team sent to the lake Labor Day weekend to assess damage done by the weevils during the summer months.
Marty first addressed the five original sites that were stocked in the summer of 2002. All of those sites showed large increases in the number of weevils found there from late 2002 to mid-June 2003 and all showed dramatic decreases in milfoil density. What this means is that weevils stocked in 2002 survived, reproduced and spread from their original insertion point.
Of the eleven new sites stocked in 2003, follow-up analysis revealed little, and often negative, new growth of milfoil. Also, most of the stocking sites showed increased species diversity (native plants other than milfoil growing where only milfoil was found before.)
The only surprising finding Marty presented was that the number of weevils found at all of the 2003 stocking sites during the final survey Labor Day weekend was less than anticipated. One possible explanation was that they had already started to leave the lake to prepare for winter. The finding was not discouraging in that all other data indicates the weevils are having a positive impact on the EWM.
One comment from the floor concerned the spread of milfoil. It definitely found its way to new areas of the lake this summer. Marty emphasized that the weevil control method works slowly and that we must have patience. Weevils were found in many areas where they were not originally stocked indicating that they were spreading. Such migration is a slow process, however, and it may take three or more years to bring the problem under control.
In the audience that evening was a representative from the Department of Environmental Conservation. He said Lake Bonaparte is the showcase lake for New York State for non-chemical control of milfoil and he receives questions from many other lakes about our weevil control program and its progress.
SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Again, we were unable to stock in early spring due to cold and rainy weather. The Enviroscience team was on the lake again in early July and placed an additional 32,000 weevils. The Club financed 26,000 of the total, the town of Diana 4,000, and the Enviroscience Company donated an additional 2,000. This year's supply of weevils came from a donor lake in Wisconsin. The biologists chose eight sites to stock. Some of these were the same as the previous year and others were new. Damage to milfoil was found at all of the sites stocked previously although the extent of the damage varied from site to site. We are happy to report that milfoil has not topped out (reached the surface) anywhere in the lake.
FALL 2004
We had the coldest, rainiest summer on record and consequently water levels were the highest on record. The unusually high water level and consequent cloudy water made the investigation of weevil progress difficult when the Enviroscience biologists returned to do their follow-up study on Labor Day weekend. Their report was generally encouraging but not all sites could be accurately evaluated.
SPRING-SUMMER 2005
Although the month of May was the coldest on record, the month of June was also the hottest on record. The good weather enabled the Enviroscience team to implant another 30,000 weevils in mid-June, giving us our earliest implant since the project began. Visits to old implant sites found general weakness brittle plant stems and damage that was not visible to the naked eye.
Growing conditions for all weeds during the summer period were ideal as we had daily high temperature records set throughout July and August. The record warmth and sunshine resulted in substantial weed growth for species including EWM. Indeed, in spite of control in stocked sites, two large beds of milfoil were found in areas that were not previously infected.
FALL 2005
While we await the final lab analysis and summary end of the year report from Enviroscience, the Board of Directors authorized the following letter to be sent to all members. It was written by Ray Powers, resident of the lake, who accompanied the aquatic biologists as they dove into the lake to take milfoil samples and assess damage to the plant:
“Despite the mild winter and a summer ideal for seaweed growth, the divers found reason for optimism. They found many weevils and eggs in the stocked sites and also in other areas where not stocked (indicating that the weevils are thriving and spreading throughout the lake). There was significant damage to the plants at all of the stocked sites and several were in the condition we have been aiming for – the milfoil, while still there, has thinned and the top is three to four feet below the surface. I saw first hand that the milfoil at these sites was turning brown, laying over flat, and breaking-off.
“I know a concern that many people had this summer was the large amount of milfoil floating ashore. While raking it up is certainly a nuisance, the in-flow may actually be a good sign. If the plants were brown, it was a sign that the milfoil was brittle and dying and not spreading to other areas.
“The biologists were quite helpful in identifying the many native weeds that also prospered during the summer. On of them, large leaf pondweed, reached the surface in many bays and was mistaken for milfoil. This is a native species that has always been in the lake and the weevils have no effect upon this plant.
“I am pleased with what I saw and am convinced the weevil program is working in the lake. The Enviroscience team has always told us milfoil will never be entirely eliminated from Lake Bonaparte. The goal is to keep it below the surface to allow for boating, swimming and fishing. I think we are well on our way to achieving that goal.”
January 2006
The annual report from Enviroscience finds that progress continues to be made. Of interest is the recommendation by Marty Hilovsky, President of Enviroscience, that an electro-shock fish study be undertaken in the spring to determine the population of pan fish. High numbers of pan fish can deter weevil progress and this is a new red flag for our program. If their number found to be substantially higher than average, the company will propose additional control and management measures to supplement the Midfoil program.
June 2006
The Enviroscience Co. returned once again to stock 31,000 weevils into the lake. This is the fifth year of stocking. Initially, it was believed control of milfoil would be seen after the third year. That has not occurred as the plant has spread to many new locations throughout the lake. Nonetheless, it has broken through the surface in only a few areas in marked contrast to the area of Mud Lake (the lake Bonaparte drains through) where no implants were done. It has become completely overgrown and impassable.
Enviroscience also completed an electro-shock study of the fish population and took sixty pan fish back to the lab for gut analysis. This was done to address a concern that blue gills in the lake may be eating weevils.
On a very positive note, the state of New York awarded the Lake Bonaparte Conservation Club a one for two challenge grant of $54,000 to continue our efforts at milfoil control. To that end, the Board is exploring the hiring of an independent lake management consultant to review the Midfoil Program and its effect upon the lake.
December 2006
The year end summary report from the Enviroscience Company contains a recommendation for a change in strategy in the stocking of the insects. In the past several years, the club has endeavored to place them at strategic locations throughout the lake where the milfoil appeared to be the densest and threatened to break through the surface. This approach meant that at least six and as many as twelve different locations were chosen for implanting.
While this approach has brought documented success, the change recommended by the company biologists is that larger number of weevils be concentrated in a smaller number of areas. This recommendation stems primarily from the results of a stocking site in the area of the Van Heuvel Marina. Approximately 5,000 more weevils than usual were placed there in June and the resulting damage to the milfoil was much more pronounced than in other areas.
This is not to say that there was no damage in the other areas. Quite to the contrary, the divers found damage in all new stocking areas as well as many of the other older implant areas where new bugs were not placed. What appears to be happening throughout the lake, according to the report, is that the weevil population is successfully over-wintering and stabilizing. Since weevils do not return to the areas where placed, it is not unusual to find their numbers decreased at stocking sites from one year to the next.
The report also addresses a concern that the large number of pan fish present in Lake Bonaparte may be limiting the effectiveness of the weevil program. The results of the electro-shock study of the fish population of the lake done in early spring can be found in the report as well.
Because the findings are so important and address the concerns of some members, the summary paragraph follows: “It was found that the fishery for Lake Bonaparte was heavily dominated by bluegill. However, when examining gut content, the weevil was not the chosen food source. Fish that had consumed the milfoil weevil composed less that 2% of the total population sampled. It should be noted that plant matter (including milfoil) was found in more than 1/3 of the stomachs analyzed. Some weevils may have been consumed at this time but would not be considered the target food source. Based upon the available data, it does not appear that the fishery is limiting the success of the weevils.”
July 2007
The most encouraging results so far in the project! Divers returned to last year's stocking sites and were truly amazed at the damage done to the milfoil. Surviving plants are brittle and weak and well below the surface in all areas where the new strategy of stocking weevils in greater numbers was undertaken. Equally important, there was abundant evidence that the weevils had successfully over-wintered and returned to the lake. While milfoil beds remain in the lake, especially in shallow areas near some shorelines, the independent divers and conservation club members who accompanied the Enviroscience team, were well satisfied with the results.
Fours sites, three old and one new were stocked this spring. Each site received approximately 11,000 insects. The new site is at the entrance to Mud Lake, an outlet for Lake Bonaparte, where milfoil has flourished and has become thickly matted on the surface. Since Mud Lake is privately owned, stocking weevils in it is prohibited. Placing them near the entrance is not.
Fall 2007
Quoted from the October issue of the LBCC Internet Newsletter:
"Residents along the East Shore Road could hear the cheers from the divers and aquatic biologists sent by the Enviroscience Company to inspect the weevil stocking sites.
"They found massive damage inflicted upon the plants by the tiny insects that have been placed into Lake Bonaparte for the past five years.
"While damage was obvious to the company divers and the independent observers sent along for the inspection in years past, this was the first year when destruction beneath the water was obvious from the top. Large beds of the weed that protruded through the water last fall and began to form mats along the surface of the water were completely gone or well below the water line.
"Although the final summary report from Enviroscience will not be available until January 2008, it should be the most encouraging received to date. While it has taken longer and cost more than originally anticipated, non-chemical induced control of the invasive weed is showing success.
"Indeed, an email from Robert L. Johnson, an employee of Cornell University who has conducted an independent monitoring of the program, collaborated the successful results. He wrote, in part, 'We did see more weevil damage generally, at Bonaparte than in previous years especially at the Fort Drum site (entrance to Mud Lake).'
"While we will never be rid of the weed and new beds of it will be found throughout the lake, it was welcome news to lake residents that their pioneering efforts to control milfoil were showing demonstrable success."
January 2008
The end of the year report from Enviroscience recommended the continued strategy of concentrating more weevils at each implantation site. It was felt that this effort contributed to the weevils reaching critical mass density to effectively control milfoil in some implant sites. Also, the report documented the finding of weevils in areas not previously stocked confirming their slow but steady migration throughout the lake. It was felt that 2007 was the most successful year of the program with much damage to the EWM apparent to the naked eye and large new growth of the native aquatic plant community. As one observer said in layman's terms, "The ballgame may not be over, but we definitely are now ahead in the game by a wide margin."
2007 marked the fifth year of the project. At its inception, the LBCC board agreed to undertake a widespread and comprehensive review of our strategy at the five year point and to plan our course of action to control EWM in the future. To this end, consultation will continue with the Enviroscience Company along with other professional lake management advisors about continuing the strategy of high density stocking as opposed to multiple site stocking, reviewing any new data about the impact of pan fish on weevils, and any and all new scientific research developed in the last five years about weevil and other methods of control of milfoil. This review in no way changes our commitment to the implementation of a biologically safe method of EWM control. It is designed to be an audit of everything we have done in the past and a springboard for improvement of our efforts in the future.
June 2008
Our "audit" has convinced us that we have chosen the right course and that weevils have been highly successful in Lake Bonaparte. A review of new research has found that some biologists believe that implanting weevils in the adult stage rather than larvae might lead to quicker adaptation and hence more rapid reproduction in a new body of water environment. Having the luxury of success, we have decided to participate in a study in which some implant sites will be stocked with weevil larvae from Enviroscience and some with adult weevils that are being provided by a company run by Robert Johnson, an employee of Cornell University. Damage to EWM at both sites will be compared at the end of the study. Also decided by the Board of Directors was that there was no need for another electro-shock study of pan fish at this time.
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(We invite you to visit our website frequently for updates on the progress of the program that can be found here and in the Newsletter that is posted on a regular basis for members and friends of the lake. We welcome e-mail inquiries atlakebonaparte@wildblue.net or written inquiries at Post Office Box 273 Harrisville, N.Y. 13648. Donations are always appreciated.)
Copyright 2004 Lake Bonaparte Conservation Club, Inc.
To assist in funding a comprehensive program is not difficult. Brookfield Assessor appraised FirstLight at $10,000 per arce and FirstLight didn't challenge the the appraisal. New Fairfield which has 3,056 arces of Candlewood Lake within the municipal boundaries appraises FirstLight at $1,800 per arce. DO THE MATH!!!
