Doug Pullman and Paul Skawiosk Combined

Notes from Starry Stonewort meeting in Michigan 2/7/2016

Doug Pullman and Paul Skawiosk combined

Starry Stonewort Destabilizes the ecosystem Blooms and Crashes Results in large area of dead plants which float to surface, sulfurous bi-products, and eventually blue green algae come in to area. Very dangerous! Un-predictable. A crash takes almost everything else with it before it goes to the blue-green algae. SS gets release of phosphorus from the bottom of the lake when you smell it from the phosphorus release it is about to crash and go down. Mixes with other Chara algae and then takes off Easy to kill, hard to treat Management challenge but not the end of the world. As SS decreases “weeds” increases. Crowds out native good plants Impacts bio diversity Blankets spawning areas and bad for flora and fauna Grows up to 12 feet of water depth (other data says 27 feet) Dense biomass Grows top to bottom Non vascular Living with SS compromises reasonable lake management goals Easy to spread around Focus on the goal for the lake and if SS is in the way, go for it. (An ecologically stable lake has happier people. Biodiversity information Bulbils throughout season grow Accelerated growth in July (2 -4 cm per week) Crash in September Have treated large lakes Size of bulbil has been to 1/16 inches Sampling information to have Biomass Plant height Abiotic measurements needed Water depth Surface and bottom temperature, pH, dissolved Oxygen %, conductivity Water samples Light transmittance air and bottom Michigan has a SS species strategy www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wrd-ais-nitellopsis-obtusa-strategy_499687_7.pdf

Characeae family characteristcs – (Starry Stonewort in this family.) Branchlets Cortex Stipuledes (Paul Skawioski at 715-316-4853 U of WI) Spine Cells Oogonium Antheridium Bulbils

Algae Treatment BioSafe Systems Copper treatment Concerns – Reduced efficacy in turbid and hard water systems Environmental fate of copper Some level of toxicity Use restrictions Plant resistance Alternative Treatments Peroxide based products – solid and liquid formulations Can be perceived as more costly Wide range of use rates Reduced efficacy in water with high suspended organics Algae can’t develop resistance (Bio Clean Pro – may be effective on Starry – ask Tom Warmuth)

Influences on Algae pH CO2 Alkalinity Phosphorus

Lake Muskego Paul Skawinski Fact Sheet on Starry available 2016 plan involves, Drawdown of lake, a DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Hose) program, herbicide trials, plant survey, possible dredging. Big Muskego Hand pulling and raking at boat landings Potentially could use Clipper at a rate of 1.25 lbs. /acre in an area of 2.23 acreas

NY Botanical Gardens Dr. Carrol may have information on viability sturdy of SS

Bill Ratajczk Lonza Chemicals

Water Characteristics important pH Alkalinity Hardness Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Temperature Chlorophyll concentration

Clear Gate Algaecide was used in a challenge test at 2.2 gal./acre foot which gave a 87.5% decrease in SS This was less than normal treatment. Application timing needs target critical times in the phenology of SS to achieve max. efficacy. Water flow is important Best to treat at bottom Contact would be - Ryan Wersal 678-624-5891 cell 770-354-4818, [email protected]

John Rogers

Management is a combination of water resource and algaecide and Nitellopsis Must have and Adaptive Water Resource Management Plan that answers or includes and must define - What is problem? Where is it? What can we do? Valunerability – The science an Algae Challenge Test (ACT) Trigger for a treatment? Design Treatment ? Implement the best option What happened? Monitor Durability / Efficacy Non-target species effects What is next?

SS has the ability to go after Phosphorous Grows in benthic areas and slow moving water Somewhat high temperature sensitive

ACT (a test that was performed) ClearGate and Clipper Cutrine Ultra and Clipper Clipper Citrine Ultra

Design field work for lab results is recommended Density of plant changes the design of the plan Timing of treatment is important Additional treatment may be necessary Sensitivity to algaecides containing copper and endothall based compounds With a low growing plant the algaecides can treat the whole plant, if plant is tall only a haircut can be achieved.

Design Treatment Effective algaecide Plan ahead Permits Applicant of algaecide Get algaecide to algae (bottom) Density and contact time important Monitor results

Pretreatment Monitoring Water and sediment samples Algae samples (know the amount of water background copper) Biomass Chlorophyll A in area Chlorophyll A in mass of algae

Algaecides can control SS. Use what you need and need what you use. Procrastination is COSTLY No decision is a decision and INCREASES risks Adaptive Management remains the best approach.

Scott Brown

Oligo-mesotrophic to mesotrophic lakes Requires 15 – 25 mg Ca/Litere Calcium carbonate drives SS density and length of growth rate

Looking at lake size and depth as a key characteristic for SS growth Maximum depth mean was 11.59 Meters (other data didn’t reveal anything significant.)

SS likes in a lake Gradually sloping bottoms contours Likes depth diversity Multiple deep basins Relatively low mean depths High percentage of littoral area pH 7.5 to 8.5 (pH goes as high as 10 noted during peak growth) Co-inhabits with Coon Tail, Chara vulgaris, Eurasian milfoil also but does compete and by late June SS will win out.

Ben Willis

Potential use of herbicides on SS because of close relationships is good.

Bulbil is susceptible to chemicals, however is more tolerant to Cu (Komeen crystals)

Long term control of SS requires bulbil management

Komeen crystals work on bulbil and vegetative cells.

Low light may induce bulbil growth