Diet for a Small Lake

318 Pages·2012·8.55 MB·English

Diet for a Small Lake
The Expanded Guide to
New York State Lake and
Watershed Management
Second Edition
PhotograPh by Carl heilman ii / Wild Visions, inC.
Prepared by the New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Diet for a Small Lake
The Expanded Guide to New York State
Lake and Watershed Management
Second Edition, 2009
Copyright © 2009 New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
(except for images credited to specifc people or organizations,
and images credited to various government agencies)
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by an information storage or retrieval
system without the prior written permission of the New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law.
Citation: NYSFOLA. 2009. Diet for a Small Lake: The Expanded Guide to New York State Lake and
Watershed Management. New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL CONTROL
Scott Kishbaugh Sharon K. Anderson
Sharon K. Anderson Nancy Craft
Rebecca Schneider Scott Kishbaugh
Lyle Raymond Nancy Mueller
John Foster George C. Kelley
Jim Cunningham
Cover photograph copyright Carl Heilman II / Wild Visions, Inc., used with permission.
Book design and typesetting by Roy Reehil, The Forager Press, LLC.
Printed in the USA on recycled paper.
See Preface Two for more details, including artists and others.
Cataloging Data
New York Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
Diet for a small lake: the expanded guide to New York State lake and
watershed management. 2d ed. / NYSFOLA in cooperation with the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation: NYSFOLA:
2009.
xv, 352 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.
Includes index, bibliographical and internet references.
ISBN 978-0-9823547-0-4 (Hard cover)
ISBN 978-0-9823547-1-1 (Soft cover)
1. Lakes—Management. 2. Watershed management. 3. Lake ecology.
4. Fishery management. I. New York (State) Department of Environmental
Conservation. II. Title.
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of either the New York State Federation
of Lake Associations, Inc. (NYSFOLA) or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC). Any mention of a commercial product, frm or service should not be construed as an endorsement
by NYSFOLA or DEC. To the authors’ knowledge, the information contained within was correct and accurate
at the time of publication. The suggestions contained in this book will serve as a guide and are not necessarily
appropriate for every lake, nor are they intended as a substitution for the services of a lake management
professional.
Copies of this book are available from New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc.
Phone/Fax: [phone] • www.nysfola.org
Contents
2 From Montauk to Erie:
Diet for a Small Lake 7850 New York State Lakes
Introduction 21
Water, water everywhere 21
What’s in a name 21
Lake classifications and characteristics 21
Best intentions 21
Water-quality parameters 22
The Expanded Guide to
Box 2-1: A tale of two lakes 22
New York State Lake and
What’s the dirt on New York State lakes? 24
Watershed Management
Bureaucratic tags 25
Ecozones and ecoregions 25
PhotograPh by Carl heilman ii / Wild Visions, inC.
Hydrologic Unit Codes 26
Location, location, location 26
Preface to the Second Edition xiii
Long Island and New York City lakes 26
Preface to the First Edition xv Downstate lakes 28
Box 2-2: Snapshot of the New York City
About NYSFOLA xvii
Reservoirs 29
Introduction: Designing a Health Plan for a Lake Central New York lakes 30
Welcome xix Adirondack lakes 32
The ideal lake xix Finger Lakes region lakes 34
Lake management xx Western New York lakes 36
Accept what you cannot change and Summing it up 37
manage the rest xx
3 Lake Problems: Acid Rain to Zebra Mussels
How to use this manual xxi
Introduction 39
Summing it up xxi
Problems, problems, problems 39
1 Lake Ecology: Getting your Feet Wet Invasive species: A new focus for
Introduction 1 a growing problem 41
A lake by any other name 1 Nuisance plants: Aquatic plants gone wild 41
In the beginning… 2 Nuisance algae: It’s not easy being green 46
The power of glaciers 2 Exotic but not rare animals 47
Human hands shape the land 4 Box 3-1: Case study:
Water colors 4 Algal toxins in Craine Lake 48
The water cycle 5 Pathogens: Itching swimmers and
What’s so special about water? 6 water fowlers 50
At the base of the ecosystem 8 Box 3-2: Case study:
The cycles of the elements 10 Impacts of waterfowl on Collins Lake 51
Food webs 11 Acid raining, mercury rising and
Little green dots and other stuff 12 other toxic troubles 52
Weeding through the larger plants 12 The emerging frontier:
Primary consumers 14 From the pharmacy and laboratory 54
Box 1-1: The vanishing Common Loon: Tastes bad 54
Harbinger of trouble in the food chain 15 Case of the disappearing lake 54
Second-order consumers and beyond 15 Curiosities 55
Lake habitats 16 Poor fishing 56
Lake eutrophication and the Box 3-3: Case study: Responding to an
succession of lakes 17 emergency—Koi Herpes virus 56
Really big picture stuff 19 People problems 57
Summing it up 19 Summing it up 57
v
Diet For A SmAll lAke
4 Problem Diagnosis: 5 Fisheries Management:
Seeing Beyond the Symptoms Matching Expectations to Reality
nItroducotin 59 nItroducotin 95
Box 4-1: Concentraotin versuso lad 59 Gathernig sfihereis niformaotin 95
Montoirnig 60 Habtaimti l ntig factors and ccrtia plarameters 96
Why? 60 Physciami l ntig factors 97
Who? 61 Chemciami l ntig factors 98
Long, olng ago (1926 to 1980) 61 Boiolgciami l ntig factors 99
Recenytl defunct programs (1980 to 2000) 62 Sceincfti technqiues for conducntig
Ongonig programs 62 sfihereis surveys 100
Academci,o lca glovernment
Fsih surveys 100
and prviate montoirs 63
Angelr surveys 101
Voulnteer montoirnig and CSLAP 65
Habtait surveys 102
What? 66
Anaylssi of sfih popualotins 103
Secch idsik transparency 66
Fsih communtyi structure 103
Temperature and dsisovled oxygen proelfis 67
Popualotin structure 104
Precpitaiotin anda lkee lve ml ontoirnig 68
Fsih popualotin szie 105
Macrophyte surveys and mappnig 68
Popualotin we blenig 106
Water chemsitry parameters 69
Managnig sfih popualotins 107
Sampnilg technqiues 70
Managnig sfih habtait 110
Nutreints 70
Managnig the angelr 113
Cholrophy al 71
Educaotin to adujst expectaotins 113
Palnkton 71
Ecoolgy 113
Conducvtityi 71
Fsihereis regualotins 114
Dsisovled organci carbon 72
Harvest regualotins 114
Coolr 72
Summnig t iup 115
Turbdityi 72
Aklaniltyi and pH 72
Metasl, tracers and organci compounds 73
6 Aquatic Plants: Not Just Weeds
Mcirobai alnaylses 74
nItroducotin 117
Sedmi ents hodl cules 75
Aquacti palnts ni the ecosystem 117
What other niformaotin shoudl be coelcted? 76
Preparnig for acotin 118
Envrionmenta slentig 76
Deveolpnig a paln 118
Foolwnig the oflw 78
Aquacti palnt diencftiaotin 118
Dye tesntig 78
Who’s ni charge 119
Dam nispecotin 78
An ounce of prevenotin 120
Cutulra clontext 79
Rapdi response 121
Surveys for quatailvtie niformaotin 79
Palnt management technqiues: What works? 122
dIenftiynig gaps and coelcntig addotina l
Loca ml anagement acvtietis 123
niformaotin 80
Hand harvesntig 123
Back to square one 80
Prnicpiel 123
Where? 81
Advantages and dsiadvantages 124
When? 82
Box 6-1 nIsdier’s gudie to
How do we use a tlhlese data? 82
hand harvesntig weeds 124
Trophci state 82
Target and non-target palnts 125
Raotis 84
Costs 125
Meentig the standards 84
Regualtory sisues 125
Budgets for wate, rnutreints
Hsitory and case studeis ni
and other poultants 86
New York State 125
Taknig advantage of realotinshpis and
niterconnecotins 88 Dvier harvesntig 126
Modenilg 89 Prnicpiel 126
How much w t ilcliost? 90 Advantages and dsiadvantages 126
Thea lkeo loks bad 91 Box 6-2: Case study: Hand harvesntig by
Symptoms determniaotin 91 dviers ni Upper Saranac Lake 126
Causes determniaotin 92 Target and non-target palnts 128
Sources determniaotin and acotins 92 Costs 128
Brnignig t iback to “Why?” 93 Regualtory sisues 128
Summnig t iup 93 Hsitory and case studeis ni New York State 129
vi
ContentS
Benhtci barerirs 129 Grass carp 148
Pnricpiel 129 Pnricpiel 148
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 129 Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 148
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 130
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 150
Cosst 130
Cosst 150
Box 6-3 :Ann isdiers gudie ot
Regualotrys isues 150
benhtci barerirs 131
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i
Regualotrys isues 132
New York Satet 151
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 132
Rootvanitg / Hydroraknig 132 Box 6-9 :Case sutdy :Grass carpn i
Pnricpiel 132 Lake Mahopac and Lake Carme 1l51
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 133 Box 6-10 :Case sutdy :Anecdoat relporst
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 133 regardnig hte use of grass carpn i
Cosst 133
Pylmouht Reservor i 152
Regualotrys isues 133
Aquacit herbcidies 153
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 134
Pnricpiel 153
Lakewdie or whoel-alke managemen tacveititis 134
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 154
Mechancia hlarvesnitg 134
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 155
Pnricpiel 134
Cosst 157
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 134
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 136 Regualotrys isues 157
Cosst 136 Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i
Regualotrys isues 136 New York Satet 157
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 136 Box 6-11 :Case sutdy :Aquacit herbcidies
Box 6-4 :Case sutdy :Mechancia hlarvesnitg
ni Waneat and Lamoka Lakes 158
ni Saraotga Lake 137
Box 6-12 :Case sutdy :Aquacit herbcidies
Dredgnig 138
ni Snyders Lake 159
Pnricpiel 138
Shadnig 160
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 138
Pnricpiel 160
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 139
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 160
Cosst 139
Box 6-5 :Case sutdy :Dredgnig on Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 160
Conils Lake 139 Cosst 160
Box 6-6 :Case sutdy :Dredgnig Regualotrys isues 160
on Ann Lee Pond 140 Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i
Regualotrys isues 140
New York Satet 161
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 140
Box 6-13 :Case sutdy :Mupitlel srtaetgeis
Waet-relve dlrawdown 141
fonr ivasvie speceis conrto l
Pnricpiel 141
ni Adroindack Lake 161
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 141
nIetgraetd Paln tManagemen t(PIM)
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 142
Box 6-14 :Case sutdyn :Ietgraetd Paln t
Cosst 143
Regualotrys isues 143 Managemen etchnqiuesn i
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 143 Lake George 162
Boiolgcia clonrto 1l43 Ohter managemen tacveititis 163
Herbviorousn isecst 143 Decsioin rtees for Eurasain waetrmfol ili
Pnricpiel 143
and waetr chesntu t 164
Box 6-7 :Case sutdy :Herbviorousn isecst—
Punitg ta i otlgehter :The ar tof aquacit
Nautra clonrton il Cayuga Lake 144
paln tmanagemen t 164
Advanatges and dsiadvanatges 145
The convergence omf it nigo ,lngevyti and
Targe tand non-atrge tpalnst 146
pubcil percepoitn 164
Cosst 146
Sacfirinig hte wrong palnst 164
Regualotrys isues 146
Hsiotry and case sutdeisn i New York Satet 147 A alre equa blu tsome are more equa 1l64
Box 6-8 :Case sutdy :Herbviorousn isecst— Theres i no such htnig as eradciaoitn 167
Acvite managemen t 147 Summnig tu ip 167
vii
Diet For A SmAll lAke
7 Algae and Other Undesirables: Barely straw 186
Prnicpiel 186
Geting Rid of Yuck
Advantages and dsiadvantages 187
nItroducotin 169
Aglae contro bly physcia ml eans 169 Costs 187
Arcftiai clricualotin 169 Regualtory sisues 187
Prnicpiel 169 Hsitory and case studeis ni
Advantages and dsiadvantages 170 New York State 188
Costs 170 Other ni-alke probelms 188
Regualtory sisues 171 Nusiance speceis management 188
Hsitory and case studeis ni Waterfow clontro sltrategeis 188
New York State 171 Box 7-6: Case study: Waterfow clontro l
Box 7-1: Case study: Arcftiai clricualotin
on Conils Lake 189
ni East Sdiney Reservori 171
Swmi mers tcih 190
Hypomil noin aeraotin 171
Muscnilg out the zebra (and quagga)
Prnicpiel 171
mussesl 191
Advantages and dsiadvantages 172
Box 7-7: Case study: nIvasvie speceis
Costs 172
contro nil Lake George 192
Regualtory sisues 172
Leeches 192
Hsitory and case studeis ni New York State 172
Seaa lmprey 193
Box 7-2: Case study: Aeraotin ni
Just skmi mni’ the surface 193
Lake Waccabuc 172
Water-quatyil probelms 193
Hypomil necti wthidrawa l 173
Mgtiantig acdi rani efects
Prnicpiel 173
Advantages and dsiadvantages 174 throughmi l nig 193
Costs 174 Prnicpiel 193
Regualtory sisues 174 Box 7-8: Case study: Lake pH
Hsitory and case studeis ni neutrazilaotin ni Wof lPond 194
New York State 174 Advantages and dsiadvantages 195
Aglae contro wl thi chemciasl 175 Costs 195
Aglacdies 175 Regualtory sisues 196
Prnicpiel 175 Hsitory and case studeis ni
Advantages and dsiadvantages 175
New York State 196
Box 7-3: Case study: Aglacdies ni
Box 7-9: Case study: Large scael
Baslton and Kniderhook Lakes 177
management – Lake pH neutrazilaotin
Costs 178
wthimi l e 197
Regualtory sisues 178
Taste and odor probelms 197
Hsitory and case studeis ni
Not so celar 197
New York State 178
’mI not gonna drnik that! 198
Nutreint precpitaiotin and niacvtiaotin 178
Other ni-alke management soulotins for
Prnicpiel 178
water-quatyil probelms, and why
Advantages and dsiadvantages 179
they are gvien short shrfit here 198
Costs 180
Duliotin and uflshnig 198
Regualtory sisues 180
Hsitory and case studeis ni Fung, ibacterai, and vria plathogens 198
New York State 180 Sedmi ent oxdiaotin 199
Box 7-4: Case study: Nutreint niacvtiaotin Nutreint addotin 199
(aulm) ni Kniderhook Lake 181 Can’t stand the nosie 199
Aglae contro tlhrough boiolgy 182 Summnig t iup 199
Boimanpiualotin and sfih stocknig 182
Prnicpiel 182
Advantages and dsiadvantages 183
Costs 184
Regualtory sisues 184
Hsitory and case studeis ni
New York State 184
Box 7-5: Case study: Boimanpiualotin ni Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
Moe Pond 185 (C redit: CroW and hellquist)
viii
ContentS
8 UserC oncfilts:L earnnigt oS hare Tertiaty treatment 225
nIrtoducoitn 201 Post treatment 226
nIcompabitel uses 201 Solids-handling systems 226
Waet-relves ilsues 202 Phosphorus and nitrogen removal 226
Pubcil accesss isues 202
Role of lake associations 228
nIcompabitel uses :Use and user conciflst 203
Nonpoint source pollution controls 228
Use rescrtioitns 203
Best Management Practices 228
Box 8-1 :Case sutdy :Speedmi l sti on
Box 9-2: Pollution control guidelines for
hte Eeri Canawl ay . 203
lakeshore homeowners 229
Box 8-2 :Case sutdy :Access permsti for
Erosion and stormwater runoff 229
hte New York Cyti Reservor Siysetm . 204
Agricultural sources 230
Lake zonnig 204
Box 9-3: Case study: Agricultural Best
Swmi mnig prohbietid 205
Roel oaf lke assocaioitns 205 Management Practices 230
Waet-relves ilsues 205 Residential development 231
Waet-relve clonrto 2l05 Town maintenance 231
Fxinig hte dam 206 Nutrients and pathogens 232
Dock managemen t 207
Agricultural sources 232
Box 8-3 :Case sutdy :Dock managemen t
Urban sources: On-site wastewater
usnig de-ciers . 208
treatment systems 233
Roel oaf lke assocaioitns 209
Traditional septic systems 233
Pubcil accesss isues 209
Alternatives to traditional septic systems 234
Guardnig hte keys ot htea lke 209
Box 9-4: Case study: Septic
User fees andci lenses 210
management and education 234
Lfeis’ a beach 210
Systems for small communities 235
Roel oaf lke assocaioitns 210
Summnig tu ip 211 Role of lake associations 236
Pesticides 236
Agricultural uses 237
9 Watershed management: The Big Picture
Homeowner uses 237
Introduction 213
Antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and
Natural water flowpaths 213
health care products 237
Human effects on watersheds 215
Human effects on water quality 217 Role of lake associations 238
What can you do? 218 Natural-areas management 238
General strategies for watershed management 218 Forestry Best Management Practices 239
Regulation 218 Streamside erosion control 239
Box 9-1: Sample ordinance: Buffer strips or greenbelts 240
Streamside protection setback 219
Streambank and roadbank stabilization
Stakeholder outreach and education 219
and management 240
Financial incentives 219
Summing it up 240
Comprehensive watershed planning 220
Management of growth 221
Zoning 221
Zoning variances 222
Reality check on the power of
zoning controls 222
Land acquisition 222
Point source pollution control 223
Wastewater treatment facilities 224
Large-scale municipal
wastewater-treatment systems 224
Preliminary treatment 225
Primary treatment 225 Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
Secondary treatment 225 (Credit: CroW and hellquist)
ix
Diet For A SmAll lAke
1 0 Legal Framework: It Helps to Know the rule s 11 Management Plan Development:
nItroducotin 241 Puting the Pi
eces Together
Government roels and responsbietilis 241 nItroducotin 261
Federa glovernment 241 G
entig peopel together for a common purpose 262
Federa glovernment and nIdain trbies 242 Who to nicu
lde? 262
New York State government 243 Box 11-1: Budlinig partnershpis 263
nIterstate Rvier Basni Commsisoins 243 Wh
o we liad? 264
Loca glovernment 243 Who can hepl? 264
Roel of prviate organziaotins 244 Pu
bcil outreach and nivovlement 265
Roel ofa lke assocaiotins 245 Box 11-2: Technqiues for budlinig
Watera lw 245 aw
areness ni the communtyi 266
Laws and regualotins 248
Watershed niventory 267
Federa alnd State Poulotin Dsicharge Emil niaotin
Box 11-3: Data that can be niculded ni a State of
System 248
the Lake Report 267
State Envrionmenta Ql uatyil Reveiw act 249 Boiph
yscia alssessment 268
Weatlnds 250 Assessnig
trends and pubcil concerns 269
Federaa lws and regualotins 250 Ana
ylznig the data 270
New York State Freshwater Weatlnds act 251 Watershed management strategeis 270
Protecotin of Waters Program 252 nIdcia
tors and obejcvties 271
Pubcil water suppyl regualotins 252
Box 11-4: Movnig from goa tlo management:
Box 10-1: Who owns your dam? 253 a sm
i psilcti exampel 272
Dock and moornig regualotins 253
Choosnig management strategeis 272
Boantig regualotins 254
The dev sili ni the detasli 273
Specai dlsitrcits 254 B
ox 11-5: Ounitle of a typcia Wl atershed
County 255
Management Paln 273
Town 255 The management paln 274
Valige 256 n
Iformaotin and educaotin 274
Dsitrcit operaotin 256 Summni
g t iup 274
Locaa lnd-use palnnnig and regualotin 256

Roel ofa lke assocaiotins 258
1 2 Implementation and Evaluation:
Land protecotin fora lke protecotin 258
Summnig t iup 259 Don’t Stop Now
Introduction 275
Proposal writing 101 275
Finding the pot of gold 276
Federal funding sources 276
New York State funding sources 277
Local funding sources 278
Cruising the information highway 278
Proposal preparation 278
Conflict is normal 279
Is the management plan working? 280
Summing it up 281
ABCs of lake management 282
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
Top: Single zebra mussel. Bottom: Colony of zebra mussels
attached to a hard surface (clam).
(C redit: Wendy skinner)
x
ContentS
Appendcies
A . Czitiens’ Satetwdie Lake Assessmen tProgram
(CSLAP) 285
B . New York Satet Waetr Quaytil Calsscfiaoitns 286
C . Who Owns New York Satet Lakes? 287
D . nIcorporanitg andn Isunrig a Lake Assocaioitn 290
E . nIetrsatet Rvier Basni Commsisoins 293
F . nIetrne tResources :Governmen tand Pvriaet 295
G . References Cetid 302
H . Addoitina Rleadnigs 308
Indexo fT erms3 11
Waterc hestnut( Trapan atans)
(C redit: CroW and hellquist)
xi