A Citizen's Manual for Developing Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plans

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORS

In our youth, our fascination with lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams and rivers was one of joyful recreation and wonder at the life that lived in those systems. The variety of experiences gained early on from enjoyment of the aquatic environment stayed with us. Throughout the years, we have dedicated our lives to learning more about the incredibly intricate nature of freshwater ecology. Consistent with the integrated nature of limnology, each of us has obtained two graduate degrees in different, but related freshwater disciplines. Maribeth's expertise has been in lake and aquatic plant management and a developed specialty in algae, zooplankton, macrophyte taxonomy and community structure. Harry's activities have concentrated on lake, river and watershed management and restoration, including aquatic plant management, and fisheries habitat enhancement. Mark's efforts  have centered on aquatic ecology with active involvement in lake and aquatic plant management and control of nonindigenous species.

In our professional pursuits, each new encounter with a freshwater system has helped us to better understand and appreciate the unique and diverse ecology of lakes and rivers. Most importantly, we have come to learn the importance of aquatic plants in the environment. It is crucial to recognize the uniqueness of each body of water and that there is no quick fix that covers every situation. We have endeavored in this manual to condense a wealth of material on the topic of aquatic plant management into a practical working format that has widespread appeal. It is our intent to offer basic tools that you can use to manage your special and unique lake, pond or river. The challenge of management is to be able to achieve desired beneficial uses of a water body within the limits of time, finances and natural capacity of the aquatic system. Such a task is often not easily accomplished without some compromise. Most of all, management of a resource requires an adaptive approach. Conditions will change, so flexibility in management will lead to long-term success.

Maribeth V. Gibbons, MSES, MSEE
President
Water Environmental Services, Inc.
9515 Windsong Loop NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
water@bainbridge.net

Harry L. Gibbons, Jr., Ph.D.
Program Manager Lake and River Restoration
Tetra Tech, Inc. ISG
1925 Post Alley, Suite 4
Seattle, WA  98101
lakedoc@netscape.net

Mark D. Sytsma, Ph.D.
Environmental Science and Resource
Portland State University
Portland, OR  97207-0751
sytsmam@pdx.edu

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The formation of this Manual was really the culmination of many years effort by Ecology to provide citizens of Washington with a comprehensive, concise methods manual for aquatic plant management planning. We would like to acknowledge Kathy Hamel, Ecology Project Manager, for her leadership in securing funding for this manual, as well as her guidance throughout the project and critical review of each draft of the manual.

We extend our gratitude to Kathey Adams for her many thoughtful ideas and comments that had great impact on the format and character of this guide. A special thanks to Tom Clingman and Mark Swartout (Thurston County), who offered their valuable aquatic plant management expertise in review of the manual. In addition to Kathey, Tom and Mark, we also thank other Ecology's Advisory Committee members: Kim McKee, Steve Saunders, Juanita Wilson, and Tom Leonard (Ecology), Connie Iten (Wildlife), Nedda Turner (Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.), Shirley Shirley, and Cindy Watt (Wiser Lake). We thank the many individuals, citizens and agency staff alike, who volunteered their time, providing suggestions on content and format of the manual and reviewing the initial draft.

This project was funded by Ecology's Aquatic Weeds Program.

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Questions about this page?
Contact Kathy Hamel by e-mail at kham461@ecy.wa.gov