Lakewatch Citizen Science Since 1986

LAKEWATCH CITIZEN SCIENCE SINCE 1986

Dedicated to Sharing Information About Water Management and the Florida LAKEWATCH Program Volume 80 (2018) Florida LAKEWATCH is Fundraising to Establish an Endowed Assistantship for Graduate Students. By Mark Hoyer, LAKEWATCH Director Florida LAKEWATCH was require graduate student re- • MS Endowment: Gifts total- started in 1986 when Lake search but the cost of support- ing $350,000 will support Santa Fe residents started ask- ing graduate students has been $14,000/year ing for science based infor- increasing and the money for • PhD Endowment: Gifts to- mation on their lake to help graduate student funding has taling $500,000 will support become better stewards and been shrinking. Currently, the $20,000/year lake managers. Many other average cost of a University lakes soon followed also ask- of Florida graduate student is ing questions about the most approximately $45,000/year. important lake in Florida “My Lake.” While LAKEWATCH To make sure graduate stu- has strong research and exten- dents are always available for sion components the third leg research, LAKEWATCH is of LAKEWATCH is teaching, fundraising to establish an en- primarily in the form of Grad- dowed assistantship. Gifts to uate Students (more than 35 support an endowed assis- students since 1986). All of tantship will be invested in these components are im- perpetuity to provide perma- portant and complement one nent annual support for other, however, many of the LAKEWATCH graduate stu- questions asked by our volun- dents. Our initial goal is to es- teers are answered with re- tablish a Master’s endowment. search conducted by LAKE- WATCH graduate students. LAKEWATCH volunteers continue to ask questions that

In this issue: Florida LAKEWATCH is fundraising to Establish an Endowed Assistantship for Graduate Students……………..1 Meeting the resource needs of the private well owner community after extreme flooding events…………… 3 Volunteer Bulletin Board…………………………………………………………………………….…………..………………………………..5 Shellfish, Sportfish and Aquatic Plants, More Than Just and Energy Company..………………………………………….6 Freshwater benthic ecology and invasive species research program at the University of Florida………………..8

1 • Identify neighbors, com- • Please direct gifts to munity organizations UF/IFAS Advancement, and businesses with an PO Box 110170, interest in Florida’s wa- Gainesville, FL 32611. ter resources and a will- • Gifts can also be made ingness to support online at LAKEWATCH www.uff.ufl.edu/give/LW41 • Make a personal or busi- ness gift to support For more information, please LAKEWATCH: contact John Hooker at 352- o Cash, Stocks, 294-7868 or Real Estate [email protected] o Pledge over multiple years I thank you for helping o Estate planning, LAKEWATCH with this im- insurance policy, portant endowed fellowship trust project.

Checks to support this endow- Mark Hoyer ment should be made payable The first $30,000 raised will Director Florida to the UF Foundation, Inc. be matched by the University LAKEWATCH with “LAKEWATCH assis- of Florida and once estab- tantship” in the memo line. lished, an assistantship will be augmented with tuition support from the Dean of the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences through the ’41 Fellows Initiative, valued at $11,000/year. While we grow the endowment to $350,000 spendable interest may be used to provide program support for LAKEWATCH. A LAKEWATCH endowment will support a graduate student addressing volunteer questions on aquatic systems, covering such topics as aquatic plants (herbicides, grass carp) exotic species (plants, fish, invertebrates), harmful algae blooms, bacteria, water clarity, and more.

How You Can Help? • Share with others the im- pact your work has on Florida lakes, streams All pictures are of Graduate students working on some form of aquatic resource and estuaries management. Photo credit LAKEWATCH.

Meeting the resource needs of the private well

owner community after extreme flooding events Andrea Albertin is the UF/IFAS Regional Water Resources Agent for the Northwest Extension District

An estimated 2.5 million Flo- Rapid Research Response Grant their water or drink from con- ridians (approximately 12% of from the National Science Foun- taminated wells, and it is sus- the population) rely on private dation to offer free well water pected that the risk of con- wells for home consumption. testing to homeowners impacted tamination increases after While public water systems by flooding. They partnered with flooding events. are regulated by the U.S. Envi- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s ronmental Protection Agency Well Owner Network (run by Di- In response to widespread to ensure safe drinking water, ane Boellstorff and Drew Gholson) damage and flooding caused private wells are not regu- and us, at UF/IFAS Extension to by Hurricane Harvey in Texas lated. Private well users are provide this service. The effort at and Irma in Florida in August responsible for ensuring the VT was led by members of Marc and September 2017, Virginia safety of their own water. Edward’s lab in the Civil Engineer- Polytechnic Institute and State Few public data exist on how ing Department: Kelsey Pieper, many well users regularly test University (VT) received a

3 Kristine Mapili, William Although the sampling kits samples were shipped over- Rhoads, and Greg House. were available, a major chal- night and analyzed at VT, in lenge in the wake of Irma was Blacksburg. Anyone from VT made 1,200 sampling kits getting the word out as coun- nearby counties was welcome available in Texas and 500 in ties were just beginning to as- to submit samples as well. This Florida, and offered free anal- sess damage and many areas effort complemented free ysis for total coliform bacteria were without power. We co- well water sampling offered and E. coli as well as inorganic ordinated the sampling effort by multiple county health de- analytes including nitrate, out of Quincy, Florida, where I partments throughout the lead, arsenic, iron, chloride, am based, and spread the state. sodium, manganese, copper, word to extension agents in fluoride, sulfate, and hardness the rest of the state primarily In all, 179 water samples were (calcium and magnesium). through a group texting app, analyzed at VT and results of Homeowners were also asked by telephone and word of the bacterial analysis are to complete a needs assess- mouth. Extension agents in 6 shown in the table below. Of ment questionnaire regarding affected counties (Lee, Pasco, 154 valid samples, 58 (38%) their well system characteris- Sarasota, Marion, Clay and tested positive for total coli- tics, knowledge of proper Putnam) responded with a form bacteria, and 3 (2%) maintenance and testing, per- need for sample kits, and in tested positive for E. coli. Re- ceptions of the safety of their turn advertised sampling to sults of the inorganic parame- water and how to best engage their residents through press ters and the needs assessment them in future outreach and releases. Residents picked up questionnaire are still being education efforts. sampling kits and returned analyzed. water samples and surveys on Response in the aftermath of specified days and the Irma

Table 1. Bacterial analysis of private wells post-Irma.

County Number of Positive for Positive total Positive for Positive for samples (n) total coliform coliform (%) E. coli (n) E. coli (%) (n) Citrus 1 0 0% 0 0% Clay 13 5 38% 0 0% Hernando 2 1 50% 0 0% Hillsborough 1 1 100% 0 0% Marion 19 5 26% 1 5% Monroe 1 0 0% 0 0% Pasco 40 19 48% 1 3% Putnam 61 19 31% 0 0% Sarasota 16 8 50% 1 6% Overall 154 58 38% 3 2%

4 Of 630 samples analyzed in We at IFAS Extension are Abbey Tyrna – Sarasota County Texas over the course of 7 working on using results from and Yilin Zhuang - Marion weeks post-Harvey, 293 sam- this sampling effort and the County.

ples (47% of wells) tested pos- needs assessment question- itive for total coliform bacteria naire filled out by residents to For more ionformation on bacteria and 75 samples (2%) tested develop the UF/IFAS Florida see LAKEWATCH Information Cir- positive for E. coli. Well Owner Network. Our cular 106- A Beginners Guide to goal is to provide residents Water Mangement Bacteria. (http://lak- Following Florida Department with educational materials watch.ifas.ufl.edu/pubs/circu- of Health (FDOH) guidelines, and classes to address gaps in lars/Circ106BacteriaLR.pdf) we recommended well disin- knowledge regarding well fection to residents whose maintenance, the importance samples tested positive for to- of testing and recommended tal coliform bacteria, or both treatments when pathogens total coliform and E. coli. This and other contaminants are is generally done through present. shock chlorination by either hiring a well operator or doing UF/IFAS extension agents that it yourself. The FDOH website led the sampling efforts in provides information on how their respective counties are: to shock chlorinate as well as Roy Beckford – Lee County; potential contaminants and Brad Burbaugh – Clay County; how to maintain your well to Whitney Elmore – Pasco ensure the quality of your well County; Sharon Treen – Put- Andrea Albertin is the UF/IFAS Regional Wa- water (http://www.flori- nam and Flagler Counties; ter Resources Agent for the Northwest Ex- dahealth.gov/environmental- tension District health/private-well-testing/index.html). A Beginner’s Guide to Water Management — Bacteria

Information Circular 106

Florida LAKEWATCH Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Gainesville, Florida

February 2003 1st Edition

Volunteer Bulletin Board

Rodman Legend Cox Osceola Write a description for your map. Feature 1 Hog Valley Volunteer Fire Put-Rodman Riverside Island

➤ ➤ N © 2018 Googlle 2 mi © 2018 Google The water samples I am collecting this December complete 17 years of sampling Rodman's waters for me. For the past three or four years I have been doing it pretty much by myself with only occasional help. I'm eighty and tired!

Back in the year 2000, Dr Canfield made it possible for us to join Lakewatch and the data harvested from the water samples provided statistics proving the plant life in Rodman removed major amounts of nutrients from the water as it passed through the reservoir. This information was very helpful in the fight to save the reservoir. Those of us that wish for the reservoir to remain will be forever grateful to Dr Canfield for his assistance.

The ruckus seems to have become much more legal and less environmental over the years.

It's time for me to pack it in. This December's samples are my last to send to you. I will pack up my equipment and leave it at the sample drop station in Silver Springs, unless you wish me to do otherwise.

Please keep me on your data distribution list until you have processed all of 2017's water samples. I would like to work up an analysis of the reservoirs effect on the water's nutrients for 2017.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of your program. Thank You! Bob Andry

Florida LAKEWATCH thanks you for all of your service.

6 Shellfish, Sportfish and Aquatic Plants, More Than Just an Energy Company Authors: Rhett Gehring, Justin Branch, and Enrique Latimer

In 1991 the Crystal River Mar- iculture Center (CRMC) began operation as result of a collab- orative effort between former Florida Power (now Duke En- ergy), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At that time, two coal fired and one nuclear electric genera- tion units utilized water from the Gulf of Mexico for their once-through condenser cooling systems. This withdraw can cause both entrainment and impingement of marine species. A committee of biolo- gists developed a mitigation plan to ameliorate these impacts. In combination with in- take flow reduction and con- struction of helper cooling Figure 1: Justin Branch holds a large mat of Vallisneria americana. towers, the concept of a multi-species mitigation atus). Broodstock for each full completion of hatching hatchery was realized. species is housed in individual and larval yolk sack absorp- photothermally controlled tion. The larvae are then The CRMC targeted species rooms. Each spawn room has moved to one of the eight, for cultivation based on eco- a bio-filtration system, UV one million gallon outdoor logical, recreational, and com- sterilization, and egg collec- ponds (one acre), where they mercial importance. This in- tion system. Hatchery staff in- feed on both natural and pre- cluded pink shrimp, pinfish, tegrate knowledge of marine pared diets and grow into har- pigfish, mullet, stone and blue ecology and biology with aq- vestable sizes. Prior to har- crab. The hatchery and its uaculture techniques in order vest, the young fish are health staff currently cultivate spot- to achieve controlled repro- certified and a release permit ted seatrout (Cynoscion nebu- duction of these selected spe- is obtained from the Florida losus) and red drum (redfish) cies. Upon spawning, eggs are Fish and Wildlife Conservation (Sciaenops ocell- placed in special incubation Commission (FWC). The mini- tanks until success- mum size at release

7 is 75 millimeters or approxi- “tape” or “eel-grass” (Vallis- school term CRMC staff help mately three inches. Spotted neria americana) biotypes for the kids plant the eelgrass seatrout and redfish are not submerged aquatic vegetation where it really counts, Kings the only aquaculture endeav- (SAV) restoration projects. Bay. ors that the hatchery team The “Rockstar” of the show is pursues. an all-female cross developed Working with Dr. Carrie Ad- by Dr. Lyn Gettys at the Uni- ams and Dr. Laura Reynolds of The bay scallop (Argopecten versity of Florida. This particu- the University of Florida, Soil irradians) is a new and devel- lar cross has an extremely fast and Water Science Depart- oping effort for CRMC. The vegetative growth rate and ment, hatchery staff are grass flats of Crystal River are quickly establishes itself under providing technical assistance an extremely productive fish- proper conditions. The plant and mesocosm location to ery, rich with native was named “Rockstar eel- studies involving Lake Apopka seagrasses and an abundance grass” by Dr. Lyn Gettys. This restoration. In conjunction of species diversity. This area name is very popular with the with Dr. Savannah Barry with is highly regarded for its water hundreds of Crystal River Pri- the University of Florida, Na- clarity and draws thousands of mary School children that the ture Coast Biological Station, people to Citrus County annu- CRMC staff works with, as CRMC staff plans to provide ally to enjoy scalloping, or as each class gets to plant a tank technical assistance and pro- many call it, the “adult Easter with “Rockstar eel-grass”. The vide a home for a Spartinia al- egg hunt”. The staff hopes to plants are grown in the class- terniflora donar population successfully spawn and cul- room and at the end of the ture bay scallops allowing for an increased rate of survival of larvae as compared to wild spawning, where mortality rates can be high. Restoration efforts have been imple- mented in other parts of Flor- ida due to a significant decline in bay scallop population from both environmental conditions and over harvest. As stock enhancement of this species grows in popularity, the CRMC staff hopes to be part of the bay scallop recreational sustainability goals of Citrus County.

Another focus of CRMC environmental stewardship initiatives includes lake and spring system restoration. CRMC Figure 2: Rhett Gehring releases a 26” hatchery raised redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus). maintains cultures of various

8 This population will also be regulatory necessity to an ap- tournament that generates a used in restoration and mitiga- plied science center for envi- state wide push for conservation projects around the Na- ronmental stewardship. CRMC tion of costal resources; and ture Coast, as well as for works with multiple non-gov- the Audubon Society, where worthwhile initiatives such as ernmental organizations shorebirds are a primary fo- living shorelines. Living shore- (NGO’s) at the local, state, and cus. These collaborations are lines are described as a natural national level. These include all functioning parts of the wave action barrier that will Save Crystal River, a local res- Duke Energy CRMC environ- not only provide additional toration effort in Kings’s Bay; mental stewardship mission. habitat for coastal species but The University of Florida, in The end goal is to produce and reduce sediment erosion and many studies and education assist in effective environmen- increase aesthetics. collaborations; Costal Conser- tal awareness, education, re- vation Association (CCA) Flor- search, and restoration efforts The mission of the Crystal ida as provider of redfish and as part of the largest utility River Mariculture has since transportation/release team company in the United States. evolved from a strict for the STAR tournament, a i s a m a n - m a d e l a k e n e a r B r a n d o n . L Figure3: Crystal River Mariculture Center grow-out ponds. i k e 9 m o s t e

Freshwater benthic ecology and invasive species research program at the University of Florida Lindsey Reisinger is a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Forest Resources and Con- servation’s program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida

My name is Lindsey Reisinger Crayfish originated about 200 species in Florida, with the and I am a new faculty member million years ago when an an- greatest diversity occurring in in the School of Forest Re- cestor of lobsters invaded the panhandle. sources and Conservation’s freshwater ecosystems on the program in Fisheries and supercontinent Pangaea. To- Crayfish play a central role in Aquatic Sciences at the Univer- day, they can be found in a freshwater food webs. They sity of Florida. My research is wide variety of habitats includ- are extremely omnivorous and broadly focused on freshwater ing wetlands, streams, lakes, their diets often consist of a benthic ecology, or the study ditches, caves, and springs. variety of foods such as algae, of organisms that live on the Some species of crayfish can leaf litter, aquatic plants, bottom of lakes and streams, even live in terrestrial ecosys- aquatic insects, snails, and fish with an emphasis on freshwa- tems far from bodies of water eggs. They are large compared ter crayfish. My research also by constructing deep burrows to most other freshwater in- focuses on the impacts of inva- that reach below the water ta- vertebrates (such as snails and sive species in freshwater eco- ble. 75% of the world’s crayfish freshwater insects) and can be systems. species live in North America, present at high densities, so and the southeastern United they often make up more than Freshwater crayfish are a di- States has the greatest diver- half of the biomass of freshwa- verse group of organisms, with sity of crayfish in the world. ter invertebrates in lakes and over 600 species in the world. There are 56 different crayfish streams. Crayfish can be an

The creole painted crayfish is a non-native crayfish present in the Flint River in southern Georgia.

important food source for fish crayfish are present within the likely due to the reduction of as well as terrestrial animals United States, and many of aquatic plants that provide such as wading birds. They are these invasions are the result refuge and foraging habitat for typically active and night and of people releasing crayfish young fish. There are currently spend the day hiding in a bur- that were used as bait for fish- not any known invasive cray- row or underneath a rock, log, ing, were used in school pro- fish in Florida, but because or undercut stream bank. If jects, or were pets in aquari- crayfish can replace one an- you shine a flashlight into the ums. other, if non-native crayfish water at night, you are likely are introduced they could to see many more crayfish Different species of crayfish have major impacts on native than you would during the can have dramatically differ- crayfish and on lake and day. ent ecological impacts. For ex- stream ecosystems. Non-na- ample, in lakes in the mid- tive crayfish are present in Humans have transported western United States, inva- some streams in southern crayfish to new locations sive rusty crayfish replace na- Georgia, and I will investigate throughout the world. In Eu- tive northern crayfish. Rusty whether these crayfish are rope, for example, native cray- crayfish are more aggressive also present in northern Flor- fish abundance has declined and exclude northern crayfish ida. by 85% in several countries from shelter, so that northern due to the introduction of sev- crayfish are more vulnerable I am excited about the poten- eral species of crayfish from to predators. This species re- tial to collaborate with LAKE- the United States. These cray- placement can lead to sub- WATCH to study benthic ecol- fish were originally introduced stantial increases in crayfish ogy in Florida’s lakes. I am par- for aquaculture due to the de- densities along with a 90% re- ticularly interested in the di- mand for crayfish as a food duction in aquatic plant abun- versity of crayfish in Florida’s source. Crayfish can move dance and a 99% reduction in waters, their life history char- over land in damp conditions snail abundance in some acteristics, and the factors and can easily escape from lakes. In addition, the abun- that promote the coexistence outdoor aquaculture ponds. In dance of bluegill and pump- between species. I am also in- addition, numerous invasive kinseed sunfish can decline, terested in studying the inter- actions between crayfish and other freshwater species. For example, because crayfish can have major impacts on the organisms they consume, they may control the abundance of invasive freshwater species such as plants and snails. Fi- nally, I am interested in evalu- ating different freshwater invasive species management techniques and their impacts on benthic ecological commu- nities. I appreciate this

The rusty crayfish is an invasive crayfish in the Midwest.

The devil crayfish is a common burrowing species in Florida.

opportunity to introduce myself feel free to contact me using more information. to the LAKEWATCH commu- opportunity to introduce my- and my research program to the the information provided be- self and my research program nity. Please feel free to con- LAKEWATCH community. Please low if you would like any

tact

CITIZEN SCIENCE SINCE 1986 This newsletter is generated by the Florida LAKE- WATCH program, within UF/IFAS. Support for the Lindsey Reisinger LAKEWATCH program is provided by the Florida 7922 NW 71st St. Legislature, grants and donations. For more information about LAKEWATCH, to inquire about vol- Gainesville, FL 32653 unteer training sessions, or to submit materials for 352-294-1355 inclusion in this publication, write to: Florida LAKEWATCH https://reisingerlab.weebly.com Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences School of Forest Resources and Conservation PO Box 110600 Gainesville FL 32611-0600 or call 1-800-LAKEWATCH (800-525-3928), Lindsey Reisinger is a Re- (352) 392-4817, E-mail: [email protected], search Assistant Professor Website: http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/ in the School of Forest Re- All unsolicited articles, photographs, artwork or Lindsey Reisinger sources and Conserva- other written material must include contributor’s 7922 NW 71st St. name, address and phone number. Opinions ex- Gainesville, FL 32653 tion’s program in Fisheries pressed are solely those of the individual contrib- and Aquatic Sciences at utor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or 352-294-1355 policy of the Florida LAKEWATCH program. https://reisingerlab.weebly.com the University of Florida. [email protected]