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

PREFACE

Aquatic plants are an important part of freshwater systems. They perform a wide variety of ecological functions. They provide nesting sites, cover and food for all kinds of aquatic life, including fish, waterfowl and smaller animals. Plants invigorate the water body by increasing oxygen concentrations in the water and sediments. Rooted aquatic plant communities help secure and stabilize shorelines. In some cases aquatic plants help improve water clarity by competing for nutrients with algae. These are but a few of the beneficial roles that aquatic plants play.

Under certain conditions, however, aquatic plants can become a problem. Excess growth of aquatic plants can affect beneficial uses of a water body, such as recreational and aesthetic enjoyment, irrigation and water supply uses, and wildlife habitat. In addition, invasion by non-native (exotic) plant species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, can seriously damage an aquatic ecosystem. Exotic weeds can choke out native vegetation, and can form dense stands that are a nuisance to humans and create poor habitat for fish and wildlife.

When problem plant populations limit uses of a water body, the solution lies in careful management. Finding a remedy to nuisance aquatic plants that is effective, ecologically sensitive, and economically feasible is the goal of integrated aquatic plant management.

This manual is a citizen's guide to the steps needed to produce an integrated aquatic vegetation management plan (herein called the Plan). The process described in this manual represents a major step toward holistic (water body and watershed) management of aquatic plants in freshwaters of Washington State.

Material Covered In The Manual

By definition, integrated aquatic vegetation management requires incorporating information on many aspects of a water body into a unique planning document. The challenge in preparing this manual involved condensing a wealth of critical information on the topic into a comprehensive but simple format with widespread appeal. The manual is so designed to cover a wide range of situations that might be encountered in aquatic plant management throughout Washington State. It is a step-by-step guide, as the process of planning is broken down into separate but interrelated steps. While the document does refer to freshwater management principles when needed, it is not a primer on limnology or lake management. However, appropriate references and resources are presented. Finally, this manual can be used to complete grant applications for the Aquatic Weeds Management Fund administered by the Washington Department of Ecology (see Appendix E).

The manual does the following:

• Provides step by step guidelines on how to prepare a Plan.
• Explains the critical role of public involvement during the planning process.
• Offers guidance on plant mapping methods and collecting water samples.
• Describes permits required for aquatic plant management activities.
• Defines and explains technical terms.
• Includes a basic guide on how to manage aquatic plants.
• Describes how to identify six invasive, non-native aquatic plants.
• Describes Ecology's Aquatic Weeds Program.

A Quick Walk Through The Manual

The manual is divided into four parts:

Chapter 1, Introduction. This chapter defines the Plan and presents the purpose and objectives of these Plans.

PART II: Developing A Plan

Chapters 2-13, Steps in the Planning Process. Using flow-diagrams and illustrations, these chapters give step-by-step instructions for putting together a Plan.

Chapter 14, I Have a Plan—What's Next? In this chapter, the reader is offered guidance on how to use a Plan.

Appendix A, Glossary of Terms, defines technical terms used in aquatic plant management.

Appendix B, Invasive, Non-native Aquatic Plant Fact Sheets (Illustrated), provides drawings, and features of six non-native (exotic) aquatic plant species that are or could be a threat in Washington State waters.

Appendix C, Watershed And Limnological Background Information, briefly describes physical, chemical and biological features of a water body and its watershed.

Appendix D, Aquatic Plant Control Methods, summarizes aquatic plant control methods available for Washington State waters.

Appendix E, Aquatic Weeds Management Fund, describes the background, objectives, and eligibility criteria of the grant program administered by Ecology that was created as part of the Aquatic Plant Bill.

Appendix F, Resources and References, presents a list of resource agencies and organizations that can provide technical information and assistance on aquatic plant management in Washington State. It also lists technical reference materials that provide more detailed coverage of topics discussed in the manual.

Throughout the manual, you will also find the following special notations:

RED FLAG: These alert the reader to the presence of a serious situation in the water body requiring immediate or special action as part of the planning process.

TIP: These give extra information on important points or directions for particular tasks.

---

References and Resources:

These appear at the end of some chapters and list names of agencies, organizations and titles of literature that can provide more information on topics just discussed. Citations in the quick reference sections, as in the text, are numbered and lettered to correspond with book and organization references, respectively, appearing in Appendix F.

---

  Chapter 1   |  Plants Home  |  Table of Contents