Losing Sight of Your Own Water

By Steven Chin

Source: http://librarydoor.gfsd.org/

The Myriophyllum spicatum, commonly known as the Eurasian watermilfoil, has spread at an alarming rate over the past few decades.

Remember that lake you used to go to with your folks every summer? You wanted to teach your kids how to swim there, to show them how to fish, just as your family has been doing for generations. What if you could no longer carry on the tradition because something as preposterous as a plant, a mere weed, is laying waste upon the place you once considered your home away from home? The threat is less unimaginable than you would think. Plants are everywhere. They are the vegetables we eat, the flowers we smell, the weeds we neglect, and the trees we overlook. They arent vicious wild animals that can attack us, though,

so human disregard for plant life is all too common. Originating from Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, the Eurasian Watermilfoil was an aquarium plant introduced to the United States in the late 19th century. Also known as Myriophyllum spicatum, the presence of the Eurasian watermilfoil has been reported in 45 states as of 2003. Its spread is attributed to intentional introduction into ponds and aquariums as well as accidental infestation through drifting with water currents and transportation on fishing equipment and boats.

Image: Kathy Hamel

The Eurasian watermilfoil usually has 12-21 pairs of leaflets on each of four leaves.

right before other plants can grow. Storing carbohydrates in its roots, overabundance of nutrients in bodies of water contributes to the sudden growth of the plant. The Eurasian watermilfoil is a submersed plant. Upon growing to the surface of the water, the stem branches outward profusely, forming a canopy over the waters surface. In turn, this impedes recreational activities in the body of water, clogs industrial and residential water intakes, and even causes flooding to occur.

The Eurasian watermilfoil is capable of reproducing by vegetative means as well as by seeds, though vegetative reproduction is the main culprit for the spread of the plant. The plant auto-fragments, breaking apart and spreading by wind, water flow, and human activity. There are no limiting conditions for the survival of the plant. Ponds, rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, the Eurasian watermilfoil can survive in deep or shallow waters, fresh or brackish waters, and wide temperature ranges.

Image: Leonard Cawley

The Eurasian watermilfoil forms a thick canopy on the waters surface, shading native vegetation.

Image Source: http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/

Even a small fragment of the Eurasian watermilfoil can initiate an infestation.

Like most plants, the growth of the Eurasian watermilfoil rapidly increases in the spring, though generally

The formations of dense mats of the Eurasian watermilfoil are even attributed to the alteration of entire ecosystems. Shading out native vegetation and hindering fish from foraging for food, bodies of water become a monoculture of Eurasian watermilfoil. The dense plant beds become nurseries for mosquito larvae as they deoxygenate the body of water and prevent the wind from disturbing the stagnancy. The survival of the Eurasian watermilfoil is an important aspect in its ability to spread and infect new bodies of water.

Research performed by by Celia Ann Evans, D. L. Kelting, K. M. Forrest, and L. E. Steblen in 2011 has shown that fragments of the Eurasian watermilfoil do, in fact, lose some viability should they be completely dried, as shown in the following chart. At the same time, however, the conditions of the performed experiment were ideal, with very different environmental factors than the actual plant would be facing. Should the fragments be exposed to any type of moisture, they will continue to survive.

invade the Wachusett Reservoir and impact the water quality within the reservoir.

Image: Leonard Cawley

The Stillwater Basin leads into the Wachusett Reservoir, the second largest body of water in Massachusetts.

Source: Evans et al.

Within 13 hours, nearly 100% of the fragments of the Eurasian watermilfoil desiccated.

The experiment has also discovered that even after desiccation, none of the fragments of the Eurasian watermilfoil have completely lost viability. The lowest probability of a fragment of the plant providing new growth was 2%, when 100% of the fragments were already desiccated. In 2001, the Eurasian watermilfoil was discovered to have invaded the Stillwater Basin, leading into the Wachusett Reservoir. Managed by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Wachusett Reservoir is a major part of the water supply system for Boston. The ability of the plant to autofragment and drift downstream was a concern as it ultimately threatened to

A probable solution the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority came up with to deal with the plant was to dredge up the Stillwater Basin, but required a lengthy permit process. In 2002, control efforts such as benthic barriers and seasonal handpulling by divers were initiated. Benthic barriers are large black plastic mats placed on the waters surface to block sunlight, preventing growth of the plant. The annual efforts proved successful, as surveys of the Wachusett Reservoir turned up negative for the invasive plants. In the summer of 2012, however, colonies of the Eurasian watermilfoil were discovered in the reservoir, despite control efforts. Another method for plant removal was considered, Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. The process involves using specialized boats with suction hoses and screening trays. Divers pull and guide the invasive plants to the suction hoses, where they are collected on the screening trays and the filtered water is returned to the reservoir.

On May 15, 2013, the method was implemented in the Wachusett Reservoir with three DASH boats and six divers.

References
Evans CA, Kelting DL, Forrest KM, Steblen LE. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management [Internet]. Vicksburg (MS): Fragment viability and rootlet formation in Eurasian watermilfoil after desiccation; [cited 21 October 2013]. Available from: http://www.apms.org/japm/vol49/v49p57.pdf Hamel K, Department of Ecology, State of Washington [Internet]. Washington: Non-native Invasive Freshwater Plants; [cited 21 October 2013]. Available from: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/milfoil .html Massachusetts Water Resources Authority [Internet]. Boston (MA): the Authority; 13 May 2013. MWRA to Begin Large-Scale Removal of Invasive Aquatic Plants from Wachusett Reservoir; [cited 21 October 2013]. Available from: http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/01news/2013/051313watermilfoil-wachusett.html State of Indiana [Internet]. Indiana: April 2009. Aquatic Invasive Species: Eurasian Watermilfoil; [cited 21 October 2013]. Available from: http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/EURASIAN_WATERMILFO IL.pdf

Image: Leonard Cawley

The Eurasian watermilfoil is filtered from Diver Assisted Suction Havesting and sent to Department of Conservation and Recreation composting facilities.

The project to cull the initial growth was estimated to last until October 15, 2013 as the MWRA followed a grid pattern in the Stillwater Basin, working from the north end to the south end. Monitoring of the basin and reservoir will be continued to address regrowth, with the alternative solution of dredging should control efforts using DASH be ineffective. The Eurasian watermilfoil is an ongoing issue that may ultimately become a permanent addition to freshwater ecosystems in the United States. Research into chemical control methods, such as herbicides, and biological control methods, such as the milfoil weevil, are being conducted, with little to no success. In the long run, due to the high level of invasiveness, control methods are limited to reducing the overall impact of the plant until ecosystems are able to find ways to adapt.

Assessment Sheet Unit 3: Writing Public Documents

At standard

Steven Failed Low

A concise introduction (or lead) that sets the stage for the article, including its subject and context. Specific appeals to audience: These may include matters of humaninterest, such as compelling biographical details; use of specific tone; invitations to understand the technical field and its importance; clear definitions of terms and concepts and clear descriptions of events and materials; and so forth. Effective highlighting of salient details. Syntax and vocabulary appropriate for the specific audience. A high level of clarity. A thoughtful attention to possible counter-perspectives, complications, qualifications, and limitations. (Forthright, with concern for coherence of presentation and generic construction.) Revision Club Grade: Dear Steven, Your well-crafted article offers compelling and accessible technical knowledge to a lay audience. We see a provocative lead. We receive salient botanical detail as well as detail on measures to mitigate the problem. Maps, photographs inform us on geographical spread of the phenomenon, features of the plant itself, and mitigation measures. The article proceeds coherently, with transitions from paragraph to paragraph. This is your strongest writing of the term. Excellent. I hope these comments are specific and encouraging. Yours,

X X X X

Tom Akbari

Excellent

Good