24th Annual Western Aquatic Plant Management Society Meeting March 10-11, 2005 Denver, CO ABSTRACTS Oral Presentations (Alphabetized by first author’s last name) Preliminary evaluation of SolarBee effects on water quality at Lake Tahoe. Lars Anderson, Wailun Tan, and Chris Mallek; USDA-ARS Exotic and Invasive Weed Research, UCDavis One Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616 E-mail:
[email protected] The SolarBee Corporation installed four water circulation systems at Tahoe Keys in the early summer of 2004. Subsequently, this study was begun to assess impacts of the systems on water quality, sediments, plant quality (CHN) and ability of adjacent sediments to support growth of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). During July, 2004, transects were established at three of the SolarBee stations and at three “control” stations in the West Tahoe Keys marina (West Basin) areas where no SolarBee systems were installed. Sampling stations were established at 4, 12, 36 and 100 meters from the SolarBee systems. During each sampling period (July, August, September (twice), November), light levels (at 20 cm-intervals) and water quality measurements (temp, DO, turbidity, pH) were recorded mid-depth and 20cm from the bottom. Triplicate samples of sediments were taken along the transects using an Ekman dredge (15cm x 15cm x15cm) and combined to form one sediment sample at each station (point) along each transect. Sediments were distributed into triplicate 1.5 l containers and each container was planted with three 15 cm apical shoots of M. spicatum obtained from the Tahoe Keys Marina. Planted containers were placed in a randomized pattern in temperature-controlled fiberglass tanks, 1 m deep, with recirculating deionized water and exposed to ca.