Evaluation of Aquatic Vegetation Management Techniques at Wilmington District Lake Projects

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Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Work is necessary to accomplish the objectives listed below. Tasks to accomplish the objectives may occur at one or more of the lake projects during the period of performance for the base year and the four option years. Tasks may address more than one objective. Annual tasks would be based on study design, site conditions, and available funding for that fiscal year. Status reports would be submitted quarterly, with a final report at the end of the performance period. Objective 1: Develop, implement, and evaluate methods track fluctuations in the populations of native and invasive aquatic vegetation in reservoirs by conducting surveys to measure the extent and volume of vegetation and to determine the estimated area available for spread of aquatic vegetation. The researcher will identify and implement methods for the survey of standing vegetation and sampling of hydrilla tuber banks. Need for survey and sampling at the lakes will be determined annually. It is anticipated that the base year would include whole lake vegetation point surveys at Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, and Philpott Lake, and tuber bank sampling at Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, and Philpott Lake. It is anticipated that Option Year 1 would include whole lake vegetation point surveys and tuber bank sampling Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, and Philpott Lake. Additional option year activities will be determined based on-site conditions and research findings. Objective 2: Develop, implement, and evaluate methods for control and/or eradication of invasive aquatic vegetation by evaluating the effects of treatments on native and invasive aquatic vegetation and the hydrilla tuber bank. The researcher will identify, recommend, and evaluate chemical, biological, and/or mechanical methods for aquatic vegetation control and/or eradication. Methods currently utilized are stocking of triploid grass carp and selective herbicide treatments. Methods recommended may be implemented by the government, government lessees, permit holders, and/or the researcher.  The base year is anticipated to include the evaluation of the effectiveness of the ongoing government stocking of triploid grass carp in Kerr Lake and the effectiveness researcher applied herbicide treatments on infestations at Philpott Lake (up to 33 acres of hydrilla and 2 acres of Brazilian elodea) and Falls Lake (up to 7 acres of hydrilla). Option year activities will be determined based on-site conditions and research findings. Objective 3: Develop, implement, and evaluate methods to promote spread of beneficial native aquatic vegetation by identifying planting sites, evaluating sediment and water quality, identifying appropriate species for planting, identifying suitable plant sources, preparing planting plans, installing plants, and assessing status of plantings over time. The base year would include assessment and maintenance of existing native vegetation planting sites at Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, Philpott Lake, and Scott Lake; installation of native vegetation planting sites at Jordan Lake; and water quality monitoring at Scott Lake. Option year activities will be determined based on-site conditions and research findings. Objective 4: Present research results at public and technical meetings to disseminate    findings and inform regional aquatic vegetation management efforts.

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