Big Island Pond Exotic Species Management Plan Presented by: Jody Connor DES Limnology Center Director

Exotic Plants In Big Island Pond  Fanwort Dates back to at least 1970s  Variable milfoil Dates back to approximately 2002

Fanwort

Variable milfoil

This area is the primary variable milfoil infestation in Big Island Pond The whole area in pink is about 74 acres Dots in pink area are actual milfoil colonies in 2007 Remapping in 2008 will likely reduce this overall area to a more specific footprint for control

A Quick Summary of Activities  Several meetings and s with BIPC directors  Field visits in 2003, 2004, 2005 by DES biologists for mapping and hand-pulling  Field mapping in fall 2007 for current map/footprint  Preparation of a DRAFT Long-Term Management Plan for BIP

Elements of Long-Term Management Plan  Summary of information about infestations within BIP  Overview of lake ecology/biology/etc.  Establishment of goals  Evaluation of treatment options  5-year plan/scenario for control

Goals  Contain further spread of variable milfoil  Eventual eradication of variable milfoil from the lake through the use of an integrated plant management approach  No control of fanwort

Evaluation of Control Options MethodUse in BIP Restricted Use AreaNo Fragment BarrierYes Hand-PullingYes Diver-Assisted Suction HarvestingPossibly Benthic BarriersPossibly HerbicidesYes Extended DrawdownNo DredgeNo Biological ControlNone available No ControlNo

YearManagement StrategyResponsible PartySchedule 2008Weed WatchingBIPC Weed WatchersMay through September Weed Control Diver (WCD) milfoil removal of small patches/single stemsBIPC Weed Control DiversJune through September Benthic barrier placementDES/BIPC WCDJuly through September Fragment barrier placementDESJune/July 2009Selective spot treatment of larger milfoil patches with 2,4-D (as needed)Licensed Applicator TBDMay/June Weed WatchingBIPC Weed WatchersMay through September Weed Control Diver (WCD) milfoil removal of small patches/single stemsBIPC Weed Control DiversJune through September Benthic barrier placementDES/BIPC WCDJuly through September Fragment barrier placementDESJune/July 2010Weed WatchingBIPC Weed WatchersMay through September Weed Control Diver (WCD) milfoil removal of small patches/single stemsBIPC Weed Control DiversJune through September Benthic barrier placementDES/BIPC WCDJuly through September Fragment barrier placementDESJune/July RECOMMENDED EXOTIC AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL 5-YEAR PLAN FOR BIG ISLAND POND

RECOMMENDED EXOTIC AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL 5-YEAR PLAN FOR BIG ISLAND POND 2011Weed WatchingBIPC Weed WatchersMay through September Weed Control Diver (WCD) milfoil removal of small patches/single stemsBIPC Weed Control DiversJune through September Benthic barrier placementDES/BIPC WCDJuly through September Fragment barrier placementDESJune/July 2012Weed WatchingBIPC Weed WatchersMay through September Weed Control Diver (WCD) milfoil removal of small patches/single stemsBIPC Weed Control DiversJune through September Benthic barrier placementDES/BIPC WCDJuly through September Fragment barrier placementDESJune/July 2013Update and revise Long-Term Variable Milfoil Control PlanNH DES, F&G, and interested parties Spring 2012 Year Management Strategy Responsible Party Schedule

The Plan (Basically)  2008 Fragment barrier (sometime the week of July 14 or 21) Re-mapping in August or September  2009 Herbicide treatment w/ 2,4-D on larger/thicker patches Hand-pulling single stems/small patches  2010 and beyond Hand-pulling Diver-assisted suction harvesting Monitoring/Evaluation  Weed Watching every year, monthly for any new growths!

What You Need to Do  Send in a formal request for funding to Amy Smagula All information you need is online at Formal request due September 15 th for matching funds  DES will notify BIP of grant availability/amount by November 30 th Need bids from applicators  BIP contacts applicators requesting bids- PLEASE WAIT FOR UPDATED MAP FROM DES IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Contact towns around pond and see if they would contribute any funding Raise funding for your match

Questions? For more specific information relative to this control/management process, please contact: Amy P. Smagula Exotic Species Program Coordinator 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH