Starry Stonewort Update for Lake Koronis

Starry Stonewort Update for Lake Koronis

A little background information:

It is a plant-like macro alga that grows into a large very dense mat. So dense it is thought that it interferes with fish spawning. It is similar to muskgrass which is a native plant that is found in Lake Koronis. It has a green colored stem that goes to a bulb and splits to several branches, sort of like umbrella spines. The algae will also have a very small clear filament that looks like very small delicate fishing line. On that clear filament small white star shaped bulbils can be found. They are very tiny but perfect stars. The clear filament and the stars are not always present. The alga has no root structure and basically lies on the top of the bottom soil. The algae’s stem and branches feel smooth to the touch and when broken sort of “pop” and the inside of the algae can be squeezed out leaving the remaining “skin” clear rather than green. It is thought that the algae can grow and spread from intact fragments as well as the stars. Muskgrass does not have these stars, will not “pop”, and feels rough/course to the touch.

It is unknown how long it has been in Lake Koronis and up into Mud Lake as it is unknown how fast it grows. It will out compete the native plants and also out competes Eurasian Milfoil. Some of the latest information is that when the algae is chemically treated because it is so very dense that the chemical treatment doesn’t go to the bottom but stays on top of the mass and kills just the top portion, sort of like “giving it a haircut”. This reduces the biomass, but the algae can quickly grow back. It is also believed that new growth is more susceptible to chemical treatment before its cell membrane becomes “hardened” to the chemical absorption. This alga has not been studied a great deal in the US.

MN DNR’s actions anticipated in 2016:

DNR’s strategy is focused on preventing the spread of Starry Stonewort out of the lake in two ways. First, they will furnish 7 day a week inspectors for 10 hours a day at the Hwy. 55 access site. They will also perform a 4 acre chemical treatment in the access bay and up into Mud Lake. The strategy of the chemical treatment is to reduce the biomass in this area to reduce the risk of boats transferring Starry Stonewort out of the lake. This does not address the .8 miles of the invasive in the southeast bay of the lake that is as heavy as the access bay that boats have had to travel through to get to the access or away from the access. DNR has no plans in the remainder of the lake.

Lake Koronis Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan for 2016:

The Lake Koronis Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan for 2016 is based on three key principles; CONTAINMENT – PREVENTION - MANAGEMENT

Containment – Strategies to contain Starry stonewort and stop the spread outward from Lake Koronis.

Prevention – Strategies to prevent the next AIS from entering into Lake Koronis.

Management – Strategies to manage the current infestation within Lake Koronis, including the further spread within Lake Koronis.

It is important to understand these strategies and how the projects in proposed and in place can assist in each of these areas.

Project 1:

Project 1 is to develop a reduced biomass .82 mile long and 20 ft. wide identified channel into the main lake through the highest and thickest Starry Stonewort area of the lake in the South east bay going to the Hwy 55 access location. This is approximately 4 acres. Reducing the biomass in this area is consistent with the DNR strategy for this access point and will reduce the risk for those boats exiting the lake and for carrying around within the lake. This will be accomplished by plant removal and/or chemical treatment. It will allow the development of a buoy lined channel (8 buoys) from the main body of the lake to the Hwy 55 access point.

Financial discussion -

Cost of pulling $6000 ($1500/acre).

Each buoy with anchor is approx. $300 X 8 = $2,400

Chemical treatment estimate of $150 to $300 per acre and would treat 4 acres = $1,200

Preparation and handling estimate of in-kind $1000.

Actual cost of pulling and treatment is $9,600

Dollar amount granted from state funds through Stearns County AIS Committee - $9,600

Cash and/or in-kind service -$1,000

Total Project Budget/Estimate -$10,600

Chemical treatment and/or plant removal permits will be required and it is unknown if DNR and county sheriff permits will be required for channel markers.

This project is fully funded the way it is written. It will be interesting to observe the re-growth time in this channel.

Project 2:

Project 2 will develop a small area and a large area management strategy for Starry Stonewort infestations in Lake Koronis that has applicability across the county, state, and possibly the nation.

The project has two major steps;

Step 1 in Year 1-2. Define a specific known infested area on Lake Koronis, remove, and manage Starry Stonewort. This is to reduce the risk of the area as a source of spreading Starry Stonewort around Lake Koronis and demonstrate that the pilot is successful. Evaluate for 5 years.

Step 2 in Year 3-4. Expand area of treatment to approx. 250 more acres within Lake Koronis. This is a scale-up to demonstrate efficacy.

If these steps are successful it may not result in eradication, but for Lake Koronis it may be a management plan, and for any lakes in the state that have early detection a possible eradication plan.

Background: The main area of Starry Stonewort infestation in Lake Koronis was noted by DNR to be the Southeast bay of the lake and around the small bay surrounding the Hwy 55 access and up into a widened area of the river feeding the lake, called Mud Lake. An additional several (7) locations were found around the lake during the DNR littoral area survey. These other areas (see attached map) were found in or very near to recognized fishing areas.

The first year of this project involves a three step approach to the management of Starry Stonewort infestation surrounding one of these localized infested areas. With the design and development of a new piece of equipment that mechanically pulls plants and algae from the bottom this pilot can establish the equipment’s value for not only Starry Stonewort removal, but for possible other invasives in the lakes in Minnesota. Along with this piece of equipment is a filtering net used to manage any fragments and the star bulbils that could become loose and free floating. To verify the effectiveness of the process SCUBA Divers that are trained and experienced in hand removal of invasives will glean the area. Following this, a chemical treatment will be performed as the third step of the management process. (To the greatest extent possible the native species will be spared from removal to assist in normal re-population of the test areas and where density varies, adjustments to the protocol may need to be made to facilitate this goal.) Performing the chemical treatment on the area will take advantage of the latest scientific thinking for effectiveness. Each of these steps will be overseen and evaluated by a private third party for efficacy. The complete process including necessary permitting will be performed with DNR approval and consultation. The documentation necessary for the funding contributors will be managed by the firm that owns the equipment and managers the divers along with the third party. As part of this proposal the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Center will be used to review the effectiveness of this pilot to assist in establishing it as a nation-wide solution. (Please note that constant literature research may impact the protocols used, such as soil removal in lieu of chemical treatment. Consultants will be used for all adjustments.)

To reiterate year 1:

Step 1: Mechanically pick an area of about 4 acres to remove all Starry Stonewort.

Step 2: SCUBA divers will hand glean the area and complete or verify step 1 along with mesh net straining.

Step 3: Barrier if necessary and chemically treat the area with the best DNR recommended algaecide. (Natives spared are a key element unless area selected is a high density SS area.)

All three of these steps to be evaluated by a third party auditor for effectiveness.

Year 3 and 4, earlier if possible, with the demonstration of positive results will expand the project to include an additional 250 + acres in Lake Koronis which will be most of the Starry Stonewort infestation known in the lake. Full project life will be 5 years.

Firms Involved:

Matt Riehm, OwnerSteve McComas

Dockside Aquatics, LLCBlue Water Science

651.442.6467550 South Snelling Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55116

651-690-9602

Budget: Estimated budget for the full project is $500,000 (Grant request to the Initiative Foundation is $250,000.)

First year funding needed is $36,900 for work and third party auditing.

Funding: This project has been submitted to the Initiative Foundation as a Starry Stonewort Management Pilot. As an Initiative Foundation project it will require a 50% match. The first year 50% match will be obtained from the following sources listed with projected dollars:

Koronis Lake Association $ 4,000

Stearns COLA $ 250

Stearns County AIS committee$11,000

In kind labor $ 3,200

Initiative Foundation Grant? $18,450

Funding match for year 3 – 4 is yet to be determined and will be developed from an additional RFP to the county, Koronis stakeholders, and stakeholders across the state. This is a significant risk to the year 3 – 5 portion of the project.

Value to the state and county: DNR has admitted that they are not experts in the management and control of Starry Stonewort. They also have not been able to find anyone that has done extensive research or has extensive knowledge in this area. This will be a first attempt in developing a protocol like this for the management of this invasive using an integrated approach. This project could be of a major value across not only Minnesota, but across the US.

Value to the lake: This is an attempt to reduce the amount of Starry Stonewort within the lake. If this technique works we may be able to apply it in small and large areas around the lake to reduce the impact and manage the spread around and external to the lake.

Project budget first year

Dollar amount requested -$11,000

Total Project Budget/Estimate - $36,900

Cash and/or in-kind service you will provide - $7,200

Permits will be required from DNR and have not yet been requested.

This project is funded by a grant from Stearns County of $11,000. This amount plus the Cash and/or in-kind is enough to do the pilot program but without all the third party auditing. The Cash and/or in-kind money would need to come from the KLA budget for AIS funds. The pilot can move forward and we would have to use additional funds from KLA or go to our sponsors for any auditing of success or failure. The auditing would need to be reduced to a less frequent frequency. We can still learn from the pilot, it just may not have the needed scientific value to the broader state.

On Feb. 18th we have a meeting with the Initiative Foundation Grant Evaluation Committee. It is a question and answer session about the details of the project. After that we will find out if we can go forward to further develop the project.

Boat launch Inspections:

This portion of our AIS program continues to be a part of the CONTAINMENT and PREVENTION strategy.

We have received a grant of $10,000 from Meeker County for our work. $5,000 is to go towards the projects and an additional $5,000 for inspections at the Regional Park. The North Fork of the Crow River Watershed District also received $35,000 from Stearns County AIS Committee towards inspections across the watershed. Even with those funds we will still need all of our sponsors to step up even more as our program this year needs to be more aggressive than it has in the past. CONTAINMENT and PREVENTION are difficult and costly. We don’t want to be the source of spread across the state.

We again look forward to working with our sponsors;

Paynesville Township

City of Paynesville

Union Grove Township