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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.
Preface
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Contact Kathy Hamel by e-mail at kham461@ecy.wa.gov
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