NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT O F ENVIRONMENTAL SERVIC ES E X O T I C A Q U A T I C S P E C I E S P R O G R A M R EPORT 2013-2017 R-WD-18-19 Exotic Species Program Report 2013-2017 Prepared by Amy P. Smagula Limnologist/Exotic Species Program Coordinator Watershed Management Bureau Robert Scott, Commissioner Clark Freise, Assistant Commissioner Rene Pelletier, Water Division Assistant Director New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301 des.nh.gov 2 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................3 SECTION 1 - PROGRAM OVERVIEW .........................................................................................6 SECTION 2 - PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................... 18 SECTION 3 – PROGRAM REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES ......................................................... 34 SECTION 4 – THE FUTURE ..................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX ONE- PROGRAM LAWS AND RULES ...................................................................... 41 TITLE L WATER MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION ................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 487 CONTROL OF MARINE POLLUTION AND AQUATIC GROWTH ................................ 41 APPENDIX TWO: CHRONOLOGY OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ................................................... 71 APPENDIX THREE: FACT SHEETS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS .......................................... 88 APPENDIX FOUR: EXOTIC PLANT SIGNAGE ............................................................................ 90 APPENDIX FIVE: EXOTIC AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL TECHNIQUES ......................................... 91 APPENDIX SIX: CRITERIA FOR CONTROL TECHNIQUE SELECTION ........................................... 92 APPENDIX SEVEN: SFY 2013-2017 BUDGET SUMMARY ......................................................... 96 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report summarizes the spread and distribution of exotic aquatic species in New Hampshire and the activities of New Hampshire’s Exotic Aquatic Plant Program to control these species. The program history is summarized in this report, and activities that occurred from 2013 through 2017 are described in detail. While this report will focus on state-listed invasive aquatic plants, it will also include information on invasive aquatic animals documented in the state. The first exotic aquatic plant infestation in New Hampshire was discovered in 1965 in Lake Winnipesaukee. By the end of 2017, there were 113 infestations in 88 waterbodies, including six waterbodies infested with the Asian clam (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Several waterbodies now have more than one species of exotic aquatic plants: Mine Falls Pond, Nashua (variable milfoil, Eurasian water milfoil, fanwort, European naiad, curly-leaf pondweed); Robinson Pond and Otternic Pond, Hudson (milfoil and fanwort); Lake Massabesic, Auburn (milfoil and fanwort); the Nashua River, Nashua (variable milfoil, Eurasian milfoil, fanwort, curly-leaf pondweed and water chestnut); the Connecticut River south of Hanover (Eurasian water milfoil, two exotic water naiads, curly-leaf pondweed and water chestnut); Phillips Pond in Sandown (variable milfoil and fanwort) Winnipesaukee River/Silver Lake in Tilton (variable milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed); Turtle Pond in Concord (variable milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed); and Glen Lake in Goffstown (variable milfoil and European naiad). Exotic aquatic plant fragments can easily become attached to aquatic recreational equipment, such as boats, motors and trailers, and can spread from waterbody to waterbody through transient boating activities. Infestations can have detrimental effects on the ecological, recreational, aesthetic and economic values of the state’s surface waters, limiting use of the waterbodies and potentially decreasing shorefront property values by as much as 10% to 20%according to a UNH study (Halstead, et al., 2001). Since its inception in 1981 with the passage of RSA 487:15, the Exotic Aquatic Plant Program has grown to become a cooperative effort among state agencies, lake organizations and concerned citizens. At the state level, this involves a partnership among the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Department of Safety, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Foods to prevent the spread of exotic plants to new waterbodies and to monitor and treat infestations. Many lake associations and other nonprofit organizations, such as the New Hampshire Lakes Association and the New Hampshire Rivers Council, and individual lake and river associations, participate in monitoring, education and control efforts. Program funding is derived from a fee on boat registrations. In 2014, additional funds were added by legislation for control activities ($2.00 increase). The Exotic Species Program receives a total of $9.50 per boat registration. There are roughly 94,000 boats registered in New Hampshire each year, yielding a working budget of approximately $893,000 annually. Recent Program Activities Program activities fall into five focus areas: 1) Prevention of new infestations through education and outreach; 2) Monitoring for early detection of new infestations; 3) Control of new and established infestations; 4) Research towards new control methods; and 5) Regional/national cooperation with other exotic species programs. Education, Outreach, and Prevention: From 2013 through 2017, the Exotic Aquatic Plant Program gave more than 175 presentations on exotic aquatic plants across the state and beyond. These presentations took place during annual lake association meetings, special training sessions, legislative committee meetings, municipal conservation commission meetings, lake management meetings, high school and college classes, and professional meetings. Additionally, the NHDES Exotic Species Program participated in some notable New Hampshire public media stories, including participation in New Hampshire Public Radio’s The Exchange, and WMUR’s NH Chronicle. Prevention activities were strengthened by expanded legislation and regulations during this reporting period, adding to the list of prohibited species, and banning transport of any plants on recreational gear. A new law passed in 2017 mandates removal of drain plugs for water-containing devices to help promote clean and drain initiatives to ward off additional infestations of invasive aquatic animals, whose larvae can travel in mere drops of water. Monitoring for Early Detection: Each year, NHDES staff biologists and the Exotic Species Program Coordinator monitor for early detection of invasive species. The NHDES Lake Assessments program was reinstated in 2013, getting biologists out on about 10 new lakes a year, with visits to 30 total waterbodies each summer during the sample rotation. In 2016, staff biologists participated in the National Lake Assessment Program and surveyed 31 waterbodies across New Hampshire. No new infestations were found during those assessments. The Exotic Species Program Coordinator performed over 400 inspections on waterbodies across the state in this reporting period (many infested waterbodies had repeat surveys, and approximately two dozen investigations were performed each year on waterbodies where complaints were received about potential infestations). To ensure high quality data, a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) was written in 2013, and it was subsequently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. This document outlines the scope of program activities, and provides detailed methodologies on field and laboratory data collected under the Exotic Species Program. The QAPP expires in 2018, and updates and revisions will be made to extend the QAPP into future years. Retail pet store inspections are conducted directly by Exotic Species program staff, usually seasonal interns, to ensure that the listed prohibited plants are not offered for sale, and that store owners and their staff are aware of state regulations pertaining to invasive species. During the 2013-2017 fall seasons, NHDES staff performed 158 pet store investigations. During these visits, a thorough inspection of all fish tanks and ponds was conducted for any prohibited plant species. The owner or the employee in charge during the inspections was given educational materials about invasive plants and the state laws prohibiting their sale. The owner or employee in charge was then asked to sign the inspection sheet confirming that they have received the appropriate information and are aware of the prohibited plant list. Table 4 in this report summarizes the outcomes of these inspections. 4 Control Activities for New and Existing Infestations In this four-year reporting period, $4,939,061 has been spent on exotic aquatic plant control activities in New Hampshire, which paid for multi-faceted and integrated control activities in over 40 waterbodies (just shy of half of the infested waterbodies in the state). Of that, $1,712,041 (35%) was supported with state grant funds. The balance of the costs was assumed by local entities such as lake associations and municipalities. In general, non-chemical means of control (diving, Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting) are on the rise, and use of herbicides has declined during the reporting period. There has been a solid