Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management in Massachusetts Final Generic Environmental ...

514 Pages·2004·14.42 MB·English

Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management
in Massachusetts

Final Generic Environmental Impact Report

Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2004
Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management
in Massachusetts

Final Generic Environmental Impact Report

June 2004

Prepared by

Mark D. Mattson and Paul J. Godfrey
Regina A. Barletta and Allison Aiello
Water Resources Research Center
University of Massachusetts
Amherst MA 01003-0820

Final Revisions by Kenneth J. Wagner
ENSR International

for

The Department of Environmental Protection
and
The Department of Conservation and Recreation
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management in Massachusetts

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS________________________________________________________ xi
DISCLAIMER __________________________________________________________________ xii
INFORMATION SOURCES ______________________________________________________xiii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ________________________________________________________xiv
PROJECT BACKGROUND ______________________________________________________xxi
CERTIFICATES _______________________________________________________________xxiii
1.0 INTRODUCTION________________________________________________________1-1
1.1 BACKGROUND ____________________________________________________________1-1
1.1.1 The Commonwealth’s Policy on Lake and Pond Management ____________________________1-1
1.1.2 The Audience __________________________________________________________________1-1
1.1.3 The Purpose ___________________________________________________________________1-1
1.2 UNDERSTANDING THE LAKE ECOSYSTEM _________________________________1-3
1.2.1 Overview _____________________________________________________________________1-3
1.2.2 Water ________________________________________________________________________1-4
1.2.3 Hydraulic Residence_____________________________________________________________1-5
1.2.4 Mixing _______________________________________________________________________1-6
1.2.5 Nutrients______________________________________________________________________1-9
1.2.6 Other Non-living Components____________________________________________________1-21
1.2.7 Living Components ____________________________________________________________1-21
1.3 BIOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS AQUATIC PLANTS_________________________1-31
1.3.1 Introduction___________________________________________________________________1-31
1.3.2 Submerged Plants______________________________________________________________1-32
1.3.3 Floating Attached Plants_________________________________________________________1-34
1.3.4 Floating Unattached Plants_______________________________________________________1-35
1.3.5 Emergent Plants _______________________________________________________________1-35
1.3.6 Algae________________________________________________________________________1-37
1.3.7 Managed Plants Present in Other States_____________________________________________1-39
1.3.8 Managed Plants in Massachusetts__________________________________________________1-40
1.4 LAKE MANAGEMENT AND THE MASSACHUSETTS WATERSHED INITIATIVE1-49
1.5 LAKE AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING _______________________1-51
1.5.1 The Lake and Watershed Management Plan__________________________________________1-51
1.5.2 Components of a Lake and Watershed Management Plan_______________________________1-53
1.5.3 Eutrophication Models__________________________________________________________1-58
1.5.4 Aquatic Plant Growth Models ____________________________________________________1-61
2.0 CASE HISTORIES OF LAKE MANAGEMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS_________2-1
2.1 TRENDS IN EUTROPHICATION AND MANAGEMENT NEEDS__________________2-1
2.2 LAKE MANAGEMENT COSTS AND FUNDING PROGRAMS____________________2-4
2.3 PROGRAMS FOR LAKE MANAGEMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS ________________2-5
2.4 CASE STUDIES IN MASSACHUSETTS________________________________________2-5
2.4.1 Non-Point Source Pollution - Best Management Practices________________________________2-6
2.4.2 Point Source Control- Advanced Wastewater Treatment_________________________________2-9
2.4.3 Hydrologic Controls - Diversion __________________________________________________2-13
2.4.4 Phosphorus Inactivation/Precipitation – Alum Treatment _______________________________2-16
2.4.5 Aeration – Artificial Circulation and Hypolimnetic Aeration ____________________________2-20
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2.4.6 Dredging – Sediment Removal____________________________________________________2-23
2.4.7 Drawdown – Water Level Control_________________________________________________2-30
2.4.8 Harvesting, Hydroraking and Hand Pulling – Direct Plant Removal_______________________2-36
2.4.9 Biological Control – Milfoil Weevil Stocking________________________________________2-44
2.4.10 Benthic Barriers - Plant Covering _______________________________________________2-46
2.4.11 Herbicide Treatment – Chemical Control _________________________________________2-48
2.4.12 Dyes and Surface Covers – Light Limitation_______________________________________2-58
3.0 METHODS TO CONTROL NUTRIENTS ___________________________________3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION___________________________________________________________3-1
3.2 NON-POINT SOURCE NUTRIENT CONTROL _________________________________3-9
3.2.1 The Nature and Control of Non-Point Source Pollution__________________________________3-9
3.2.2 Source Controls _______________________________________________________________3-13
3.2.3 Pollutant Trapping _____________________________________________________________3-16
3.2.4 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-22
3.2.5 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-27
3.2.6 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-28
3.2.7 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________3-28
3.2.8 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________3-28
3.2.9 Regulations___________________________________________________________________3-30
3.2.10 Costs______________________________________________________________________3-31
3.2.11 Future Research Needs________________________________________________________3-33
3.2.12 Summary __________________________________________________________________3-33
3.3 POINT SOURCE NUTRIENT CONTROL _____________________________________3-34
3.3.1 The Nature and Control of Point Source Pollution_____________________________________3-34
3.3.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-36
3.3.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-37
3.3.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-38
3.3.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________3-38
3.3.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________3-38
3.3.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________3-40
3.3.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________3-41
3.3.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________3-41
3.3.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________3-42
3.4 HYDRAULIC CONTROLS__________________________________________________3-42
3.4.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________3-42
3.4.2 Diversion ____________________________________________________________________3-43
3.4.3 Dilution and Flushing___________________________________________________________3-43
3.4.4 Selective Withdrawal ___________________________________________________________3-44
3.4.5 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-45
3.4.6 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-47
3.4.7 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-48
3.4.8 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________3-49
3.4.9 Regulations___________________________________________________________________3-50
3.4.10 Costs______________________________________________________________________3-51
3.4.11 Future Research Needs________________________________________________________3-52
3.4.12 Summary __________________________________________________________________3-52
3.5 PHOSPHORUS PRECIPITATION AND INACTIVATION _______________________3-53
3.5.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________3-53
3.5.2 Use of Aluminum Compounds____________________________________________________3-54
3.5.3 Use of Iron Compounds _________________________________________________________3-57
3.5.4 Use of Calcium Compounds______________________________________________________3-57
3.5.5 Use of Nitrate Compounds_______________________________________________________3-58
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3.5.6 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-58
3.5.7 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-60
3.5.8 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-63
3.5.9 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________3-63
3.5.10 Implementation Guidance _____________________________________________________3-63
3.5.11 Regulations ________________________________________________________________3-65
3.5.12 Costs______________________________________________________________________3-66
3.5.13 Future Research Needs________________________________________________________3-67
3.5.14 Summary __________________________________________________________________3-68
3.6 ARTIFICIAL CIRCULATION AND AERATION_______________________________3-68
3.6.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________3-68
3.6.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-71
3.6.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-73
3.6.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-74
3.6.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________3-75
3.6.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________3-75
3.6.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________3-78
3.6.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________3-79
3.6.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________3-79
3.6.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________3-79
3.7 DREDGING_______________________________________________________________3-80
3.7.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________3-80
3.7.2 Dry Dredging _________________________________________________________________3-82
3.7.3 Wet Dredging_________________________________________________________________3-83
3.7.4 Hydraulic (and Pneumatic) Dredging_______________________________________________3-83
3.7.5 Reverse Layering ______________________________________________________________3-84
3.7.6 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________3-85
3.7.7 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________3-86
3.7.8 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________3-90
3.7.9 Impacts in the Disposal Area _____________________________________________________3-91
3.7.10 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds________________________________________________3-94
3.7.11 Implementation Guidance _____________________________________________________3-94
3.7.12 Regulations _______________________________________________________________3-100
3.7.13 Costs_____________________________________________________________________3-101
3.7.14 Future Research Needs_______________________________________________________3-102
3.7.15 Summary _________________________________________________________________3-102
3.8 ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES ______________________________________________3-103
3.8.1 Bacterial Additives____________________________________________________________3-103
3.8.2 Removal of Bottom-Feeding Fish_________________________________________________3-103
3.9 NO MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE FOR NUTRIENTS ______________________3-104
3.9.1 Overview ___________________________________________________________________3-104
3.9.2 Effectiveness_________________________________________________________________3-105
3.9.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms ________________________________________________3-105
3.9.4 Impacts to Water Quality _______________________________________________________3-106
3.9.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds _________________________________________________3-106
3.9.6 Implementation Guidance_______________________________________________________3-106
3.9.7 Regulations__________________________________________________________________3-107
3.9.8 Costs_______________________________________________________________________3-107
3.9.9 Future Research Needs_________________________________________________________3-108
3.9.10 Summary _________________________________________________________________3-108
4.0 METHODS TO CONTROL AQUATIC PLANTS_____________________________4-1
4.1 OVERVIEW________________________________________________________________4-1
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4.2 DRAWDOWN _____________________________________________________________4-11
4.2.1 Water Level Lowering __________________________________________________________4-11
4.2.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________4-12
4.2.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________4-16
4.2.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________4-20
4.2.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________4-21
4.2.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________4-21
4.2.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________4-26
4.2.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________4-28
4.2.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________4-28
4.2.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________4-28
4.3 HARVESTING_____________________________________________________________4-29
4.3.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________4-29
4.3.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________4-31
4.3.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________4-36
4.3.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________4-38
4.3.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________4-39
4.3.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________4-39
4.3.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________4-41
4.3.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________4-42
4.3.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________4-43
4.3.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________4-44
4.4 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL __________________________________________________4-44
4.4.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________4-44
4.4.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________4-55
4.4.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________4-60
4.4.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________4-65
4.4.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________4-66
4.4.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________4-66
4.4.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________4-68
4.4.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________4-69
4.4.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________4-70
4.4.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________4-70
4.5 BENTHIC BARRIERS______________________________________________________4-71
4.5.1 Sediment, Porous Screens, Non-Porous Sheet Materials ________________________________4-71
4.5.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________4-73
4.5.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________4-75
4.5.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________4-76
4.5.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________4-76
4.5.6 Implementation Guidance________________________________________________________4-76
4.5.7 Regulations___________________________________________________________________4-78
4.5.8 Costs________________________________________________________________________4-79
4.5.9 Future Research Needs__________________________________________________________4-79
4.5.10 Summary __________________________________________________________________4-80
4.6 HERBICIDES AND ALGAECIDES___________________________________________4-80
4.6.1 Overview ____________________________________________________________________4-80
4.6.2 Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________4-86
4.6.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms _________________________________________________4-89
4.6.4 Impacts to Water Quality ________________________________________________________4-93
4.6.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds __________________________________________________4-96
4.6.6 General Implementation Guidance_________________________________________________4-96
4.6.7 Copper ______________________________________________________________________4-98
4.6.8 Diquat______________________________________________________________________4-104
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Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management in Massachusetts

4.6.9 2,4-D_______________________________________________________________________4-107
4.6.10 Glyphosate________________________________________________________________4-110
4.6.11 Fluridone _________________________________________________________________4-113
4.6.12 Endothall _________________________________________________________________4-119
4.6.13 Triclopyr _________________________________________________________________4-122
4.6.14 Costs_____________________________________________________________________4-124
4.6.15 Regulations _______________________________________________________________4-125
4.6.16 Future Research Needs_______________________________________________________4-126
4.6.17 Summary _________________________________________________________________4-126
4.7 DYES AND SURFACE COVERS ____________________________________________4-128
4.7.1 Dyes and Surface Covers _______________________________________________________4-128
4.7.2 Effectiveness_________________________________________________________________4-128
4.7.3 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms ________________________________________________4-129
4.7.4 Impacts to Water Quality _______________________________________________________4-130
4.7.5 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds _________________________________________________4-131
4.7.6 Implementation Guidance_______________________________________________________4-131
4.7.7 Regulations__________________________________________________________________4-132
4.7.8 Costs_______________________________________________________________________4-133
4.7.9 Future Research Needs_________________________________________________________4-134
4.7.10 Summary _________________________________________________________________4-134
4.8 DREDGING______________________________________________________________4-134
4.9 ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES ______________________________________________4-137
4.9.1 Introduction__________________________________________________________________4-137
4.9.2 Flooding ____________________________________________________________________4-137
4.9.3 Filtration____________________________________________________________________4-137
4.9.4 Settling Agents_______________________________________________________________4-138
4.9.5 Sonication___________________________________________________________________4-138
4.10 NO MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE FOR AQUATIC PLANTS ________________4-138
4.10.1 Effectiveness ______________________________________________________________4-139
4.10.2 Impacts to Non-Target Organisms______________________________________________4-139
4.10.3 Impacts to Water Quality_____________________________________________________4-139
4.10.4 Applicability to Saltwater Ponds_______________________________________________4-140
4.10.5 Implementation Guidance ____________________________________________________4-140
4.10.6 Performance Guidelines______________________________________________________4-140
4.10.7 Regulations _______________________________________________________________4-141
4.10.8 Costs_____________________________________________________________________4-141
4.10.9 Future Research Needs_______________________________________________________4-141
4.10.10 Summary _________________________________________________________________4-142
5.0 SUMMARY AND GUIDELINES___________________________________________5-1
5.1 INTRODUCTION___________________________________________________________5-1
5.2 PREVENT EUTROPHICATION ______________________________________________5-1
5.3 PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF NON-NATIVE PLANTS ___________________5-1
5.4 ESTABLISH A MANAGEMENT PLAN ________________________________________5-3
5.5 EVALUATE PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS _____________________________________5-3
5.6 EVALUATE IMPACTS TO NON-TARGET SPECIES____________________________5-3
5.7 EMPHASIZE NUTRIENT CONTROLS FOR ALGAE MANAGEMENT ____________5-4
5.8 CHOOSE AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL TECHNIQUES CAREFULLY____________5-5
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Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management in Massachusetts

5.9 APPLY INTEGRATED NUTRIENT AND PLANT CONTROL_____________________5-7
5.10 FOSTER INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AGENCIES______________________________5-8
5.11 SUPPORT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND POLICY CHANGES
___________________________________________________________________________5-8
5.12 SUPPORT PUBLIC OUTREACH_____________________________________________5-10
5.13 FACILITATE FUTURE DATA COLLECTION AND RESEARCH ________________5-11
5.14 RECOGNIZE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY NATURE AND HUMAN ACTIONS___5-12
6.0 CAC LAKE MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS _______________________6-1
6.1 INTRODUCTION___________________________________________________________6-1
6.2 PLANNING AND POLICY ___________________________________________________6-1
6.3 PERMITTING______________________________________________________________6-3
6.4 FUNDING__________________________________________________________________6-4
6.5 EDUCATION_______________________________________________________________6-4
7.0 REFERENCES __________________________________________________________7-1
7.1 JOURNAL ARTICLES AND REPORTS________________________________________7-1
7.2 VERBAL CORRESPONDENCE AND PRESENTATIONS________________________7-42
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APPENDICES

APPENDIX I – WATER QUALITY PROGRAMS.................................................................A-1

APPENDIX II – REGULATIONS.............................................................................................A-2
LOCAL PERMITS AND REGULATIONS...................................................................A-8
II.1 SSC- STATE SANITARY CODE and TITLE 5 (BOH)....................................A-8
II.2 ZONING - ZONING REGULATIONS (ZC).....................................................A-9
II.3 WPA- WETLANDS PROTECTION ACT (Conservation Commission)..........A-9
II.4 RPA- RIVERS PROTECTION ACT (Conservation Commission).................A-12

STATE PERMITS AND REGULATIONS..................................................................A-13
II.5 ACEC AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (DCR) ....A-13
II.6 ODS-OFFICE OF DAM SAFETY (DCR) ......................................................A-14
II.7 DRINKING WATER PROTECTION (DEP) .................................................A-14
II.8 GWDP-GROUND WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT (DEP) .........................A-16
II.9 SECP-SEWER EXTENSION OR CONNECTION PERMIT (DEP) .............A-16
II.10 WMA-WATER MANAGEMENT ACT (DEP) ..............................................A-17
II.11 NPDES-NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION
SYSTEM PERMIT (DEP) ...............................................................................A-17
II.12 SWP-SOLID WASTE PERMIT (DSW) .........................................................A-18
II.13 ORW- OUTSTANDING RESOURCES WATERS (DWM) ..........................A-18
II.14 LAC-LICENSE TO APPLY CHEMICALS (DWM) ......................................A-19
II.15 WPP-WETLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM (DWW) ...............................A-19
II.16 WRP-WETLAND RESTRICTION PROGRAM (DWW) ..............................A-20
II.17 C.91-WATERWAYS REGULATIONS CHAPTER 91 (DWW) ...................A-21
II.18 401- 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION (DWW) ............................A-22
II.19 PBL- PESTICIDE BUREAU LICENSE (DAR)..............................................A-23
II.20 DFW-DIVISION OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE (DFW) .........................A-24
II.21 NHESP NATURAL HERITAGE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (DFW) .A-25
II.22 CZM-MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT (EOEA) ..A-26
II.23 MEPA-MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (EOEA) .A-27
II.24 MDC-METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION (MDC) ......................A-29
II.25 MHC-MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION (MHC) .............A-29
II.26 NPDES- NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION
PERMIT, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) .......A-31
II.27 404-U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, SECTION 404 PERMIT
(ACOE) ............................................................................................................A-31

REFERENCES FOR APPENDIX II............................................................................A-33

APPENDIX III – AQUATIC HERBICIDE TOXICOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE PROFILES.........................................................................................................A-34
III.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................A-35
III.1 COPPER and COPPER COMPLEXES............................................................A-36
III.2 DIQUAT...........................................................................................................A-46
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III.3 2,4-D.................................................................................................................A-59
III.4 GLYPHOSATE................................................................................................A-76
III.5 FLURIDONE....................................................................................................A-86
III.6 ENDOTHALL..................................................................................................A-96
III.7 AQUASHADE................................................................................................A-110
III.8 TRICLOPYR..................................................................................................A-116
III.9 ADJUVANTS.................................................................................................A-126

APPENDIX IV – CLEAN LAKES PROGRAM PROJECTS...............................................A-134

APPENDIX V – RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST..........................................A-140

APPENDIX VI – NON-NATIVE PLANT DISTRIBUTION................................................A-158

APPENDIX VII – LAKE AND POND MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN.........................A-173

APPENDIX VIII – GLOSSARY............................................................................................A-177

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