DEP_DCR handpulling SOPs with Conte Comments_ Town Version.docxHand-pulling of Water chestnut within the Connecticut River Watershed: pertinent advisories from MA DEP and DCR.
Compiled by Cynthia Boettner, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, 103 E. Plumtree Rd., Sunderland, M. 413-548-8002 ext. 115. Cynthia_boettner@fws.gov
Comments by C. Boettner are in italics.
Excerpt from:
Guidance for Aquatic Plant Management in Lakes and Ponds as It Relates to the Wetlands Protection Act
Page 10:
Section IX. Pioneer Infestations:
Projects involving monitoring for and/or eradicating pioneer infestations of non-native invasive aquatic species in public lakes or ponds in Massachusetts will improve the natural capacity
of a resource area(s) to protect the interests of the Act, and are anticipated to have minor impacts (See Section IV F1). These projects typically propose to eradicate pioneer infestations
through hand pulling or benthic barriers. Further, these projects are expected to improve the natural capacity of resource areas to protect the interests of the Wetland Protection Act
and thus, qualify as a limited project as defi ned by 310 CMR 10.53 (4). DEP endorses the issuance of a Negative Determination of Applicability when these projects are conducted in
accordance with the management techniques approved by DEP and described in the DCR Guidance, Standard Operating Procedures for Hand Pulling of Aquatic Vegetation and Benthic Barriers
to Control Aquatic Vegetation dated May 15, 2003. The guidance can be obtained from the DCR Offi ce of Water Resources, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 600, Boston MA 02114-2104. Pioneer
infestations to be controlled using herbicides should be proposed under a Notice of Intent due to a higher potential to have effects on other interests of the Act.
Below are excerpts from the 2007 version of the DCR Guidance document referred to above.
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Excerpts from:
Standard Operating Procedures: Using Hand Pulling and Benthic Barriers to Control Pioneer Populations of Non-Native Aquatic Species -- A guide for volunteers. 2007. DCR Lakes and
Ponds Program
From p. 16:
APPROVAL
Obtain approval under the Wetlands Protection Act from your local conservation
commission. A negative determination of applicability (NDA) may be appropriate
if the area to be treated affects less than 5,000 square feet. An Order of
Conditions (OOC) may be required for areas greater than 5,000 square feet of
native vegetation. Non-native vegetation identified on the Rapid Response List
usually can be removed without restriction on areal extent. (see attached DEP
letter) .
Pages 20-21:
SUMMARY
This inexpensive technique is favored for small to medium sized infestations or where a
large pool of volunteer labor is available. Since the floating-leaved plants do not spread
by fragmentation, this technique is very species specific with minimal risk of additional
spread. Although hand pulling is an inexpensive management technique, post
monitoring for re-growth and new plants is essential because many plants drop seeds
that remain viable for years.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
It is essential to carry out this technique with a partner and to take into consideration
weather conditions. Life jackets are recommended and always follow the boating
regulations.
MATERIALS
· Laundry baskets/Leaf Tip bags (or other containers to transport plants)
· Kayak/canoe
· Pontoon boat (optional)
· Plant guide, note pad and pens
· Life vests
· Water, sunscreen, polarized glasses, hat with a brim
· Waders, mask/snorkel, view scope (optional)
· 100 lb limit hanging scale (optional)
PROCEDURE
1. Timing: Mid-June is the best time to pull floating-leaved plants since they
are visible at the water’s surface, are still small, and have not produced
seeds. Water Chestnut must be pulled prior to August, before the nuts
have formed. If hand pulling after August is inevitable, then take care to
pull plants very carefully and to turn them upside down during retrieval to
prevent the seeds from dropping into the water.
CB Notes: Only a fraction of Water chestnut’s floating leaves reach the surface in June, with most up by July They starts dropping seeds in mid to late August. Our work stops when
it becomes impractical to pull due to excessive seed drop.
2. Boats: Kayaks and canoes are ideal vessels for hand pulling floating leaved
species. Kayaks are easier to transport to remote locations, and
are more maneuverable, especially in shallow water and dense plant
growth. Since kayaks only require one person to paddle, their use
maximizes the use of available volunteers. Canoes have the advantage of
being able to carry a greater quantity of pulled plants, but generally
require two volunteers to paddle and steer. Pontoon boats increase the
efficiency of the hand pulling project in several ways. They can carry all
the supplies, volunteers and kayaks/canoes to the location and then once
unloaded, can be used to store and transport the plants. (ex. An average
pontoon boat can carry around 1000 pounds of water chestnut plants.)
CB Notes: We use other types of vessels to transport the plants when needed (smaller motor boat, airboat).
Kayakers and canoes can save time and energy by trading full laundry
baskets for empty ones at the pontoon boat, instead of traveling to and
from shore each time.
3. If plants are confined to shallow waters near shore, then volunteers with
waders may suffice.
4. Plastic laundry baskets are ideal collection containers because they are
inexpensive, light weight, can be secured to the kayak with bungee cords
and drain excess water. Two handled plastic tubs also work well in
canoes. For hand pulling projects near shore, Leaf Tip bags will suffice.
5. Prior to beginning a hand pulling event, give volunteers a brief history of
the species, its impacts, and emphasize species identification.
7. Keep a list of the names of participants and have volunteers sign in and
out so that they can be accounted.
6. Remove target plants from the base, removing the entire root and stem.
Place the removed plants carefully in the collecting basket/bag.
7. Once the basket is full return to shore (or a stationary pontoon boat) and
turn in the basket to be weighed (or plants counted). Assign a volunteer to
keep notes on the weight or number of plants removed. This data is
helpful for tracking population decreases year to year as a result of the
hand pulling effort. If uniform bags or baskets are used, 10 loads can be
averaged to determine the approximate weight and plant count per load.
This will eliminate the need to weigh or count plants for every load
collected. Plants should be disposed of on dry land, far above the high
water mark. Some towns or local companies may be willing to haul away
and compost or incinerate the removed plants.
CB Notes: We estimate that a full bag (3 five-gallon bucket loads) is about 40 pounds.
8. Record the final details including date, weather, beginning and end time,
site, town, number of volunteers, size of area pulled, number (or weight)
of plants removed, how they were disposed of and other relevant notes.
9. Return to the site in one month and hand pull any new growth. Continue
to monitor the site monthly (if possible) during the growing season.
CB Notes: We must check and pull at so many sites that we don’t have the time to return. That is why we are trying to engage the help of other organizations and volunteers. This takes
the burden off of our staff and ensures more sites will be covered with adequate follow-up. The Friends of Lake Warner are committed to doing this multiple times at this site.
Disposal sites are located at sites far enough away from the water that they cannot reinfest the site.
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