1. Aquatic Habitat Restoration in Little Bear Creek Lake Joe Jernigan Aquatic Plant Manager Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

2. Mission Statement The mission of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is to manage, protect, conserve, and enhance the wildlife and aquatic resources of Alabama for the sustainable benefit of the people of Alabama.

3. We Work to Protect The Resource

4. We Work to Improve the Quality of Hunting and Fishing in the State

5. Areas that look like this we change to this

6. Good habitat

7. Little Bear Creek Reservoir

12. Little Bear Project B.A.S.S. Little Bear Millennium Group Bear Creek Development Authority Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

19. What’s Missing? Several limitations have likely prevented natural establishment of submersed native aquatic plants in LBCL: absence of a source of aquatic plant propagules water-level fluctuation Herbivory

20. Approach Monitor emergent vegetation with the water willow beds present already Plant native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and evaluate the success

21. Water willow

22. hydroseeding

23. Approved SAV Valisineria (2 forms), V. americana Water stargrass, Heteranthera dubia Elodea, E. canadensis Sago pondweed, Potamogeton pectinatus American pondweed, P. nodosus Giant pondweed, P. foliosus

24. Native SAV 06 Southern Valisineria American Pondweed Water stargrass Elodea

25. Grow out facility

27. cages

29. July 06

30. Sept 06

33. Will it survive the drawdown?

36. Year 2 Get graduate student on board Evaluate success of different plant species in the cages. Replant sites with species that showed the best potential to establish Plant additional TVA approved species that we were not able to acquire this year Actually hydro seed areas

42. BENEFITS? Hopefully improved fish habitat which will result in better fishing and better water quality Even if the plantings fail ALWFF has entered a relationship with angler groups that helps to foster good communication By getting anglers educated and involved there is less likelihood of them taking matters in there own hands and planting invasives like hydrilla

43. Questions?????? Joe.Jernigan@dcnr.alabama.gov (251) 626-5153 (251) 331-7066 cell