Hi All,
I wondered if there were specific ecological problems involved
when hydrilla invades, beyond the loss of plant biodiversity, and asked
a friend who works in the field if hydrilla poses specific dangers to
birds and other flora/fauna. She said there are several but she is tied
up with a deadline today and could give only a quick answer. She
referred me to a paper that describes how once hydrilla gets established
and forms dense mats, those mats can harbor micro-organisms that are
fatal to waterbirds (mostly coots) & raptors that prey on them (mostly
eagles). A summary of it is here
<http://www.forestry.uga.edu/swilde/>. Others on this list will be far
more knowledgeable about the details of all this than I am.
Of course, this doesn't address the question of what control
measures are appropriate, but it does seem as though failure to act
could cause problems for creatures besides boaters.
Alicia
On 9/9/2011 8:55 AM, Linda Orkin wrote:
> I want to thank Dave for his appropriately in depth email about
> hydrilla. I forwarded Dave's email to Todd Bittner from the Natural
> Areas, Cornell Plantations and his response is below. I have not
> included that attachment that he sent me, a pdf file which gives much
> more info about the current status of the plant here. If anyone would
> like me to sent this to them, email me off list and I will forward it
> to you.
>
> Thanks,
> Linda
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Todd Bittner* <[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>>
> Date: Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 8:16 AM
> Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] OT: herbicide for Cayuga Inlet invasive plant
> To: Linda Orkin <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
>
>
> Hi Linda.
>
> I have not personally worked with aquathol, so am not the best
> resource for issues pertaining to off target impact. However, I have
> been following this conversation through conference calls each week
> with interested parties, and can say definitively that this is an
> environmental emergency. Note the response that is proposed has been
> widely used across the US for years in response to Hydrilla. The
> impacts of the treatment should be weighed against the impacts from
> inaction or slow action. If this invasive isn't controlled now, the
> inlet and lake edge fringe will be a solid monoculture mat of
> hydrilla, impacting the natural resource, recreation, and aesthetics
> of the lake ecosystem. I have attached some additional info too.
>
> *From:*Linda Orkin [mailto:[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>]
> *Sent:* Friday, September 09, 2011 6:43 AM
> *To:* Todd Bittner
> *Subject:* Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] OT: herbicide for Cayuga Inlet
> invasive plant
>
> Todd. Do you have an opinion about this herbicide. Let me know.
>
> Thanks
>
> Linda
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From:* Dave Nutter <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
> *Date:* September 8, 2011 10:22:40 PM EDT
> *To:* <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
> *Cc:* <[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>>
> *Subject:* *[cayugabirds-l] OT: herbicide for Cayuga Inlet
> invasive plant*
> *Reply-To:* Dave Nutter <[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>>
>
> This summer an invasive plant called HYDRILLA VERTICILLATA was
> discovered in Cayuga Inlet.
>
> I am told that:
>
> * it grows rapidly
>
> * it clogs waterways preventing boating
>
> * it shades out other species of water plants
>
> * the nearest place it is known is Long Island
>
> * it is not yet in the Great Lakes, but could get there from here
>
> * it is now on about 9 acres but by next year it could be 90 acres.
>
> * it can take root as deep as 12 feet below the water surface
>
> The greatest concentrations of it are at
>
> * the RED LIGHTHOUSE JETTY
>
> * the mouth of Cascadila Creek and adjacent Johnson Boatyard &
> Farmers' Market
>
> * the area around the Cornell & IC crew boathouses and the lagoon
> immediately to the north
>
> * plus various places south as far as the Route 89 bridge.
>
> The City of Ithaca (and perhaps DEC and other groups) plan to try
> to eliminate the Hydrilla this fall by pulling the rooted plants
> using scuba divers where necessary and by applying to the
> individual plants an herbicide called AQUATHOL K Aquatic Herbicide
>
> It will probably happen within the next few weeks. If anyone has
> reasons this should not be done or advice how or when to apply it
> to maximize effectiveness or minimize the effects on wildlife -
> such as the birds which rest and feed around the red lighthouse
> jetty - please contact:
>
> ROXANNA JOHNSTON,
>
> Watershed Coordinator
>
> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
>
> 607-273-4680 <tel:607-273-4680>.
>
> More specific info on the heribicide:
>
> The active ingredient (40.3%) is Dipotassium salt of endothall
>
> (7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid equivalent
> 28.6%).
>
> 4.3 pounds per gallon
>
> EPA Registration No. 70506-176
>
> EPA Establishment No. 62171-MS-003
>
> Manufactured by:
>
> United Phosphorus, Inc,
>
> 630 Freedom Business Center, Suite 402,
>
> King of Prussia PA 19406,
>
> 1-800-438-6071 <tel:1-800-438-6071>
>
> www.upi-usa.com <http://www.upi-usa.com>
>
> It is water soluble and will diffuse from where it is applied.
>
> It is toxic to fish.
>
> It is toxic to wildlife.
>
> It is corrosive and coauses irreversible eye damage.
>
> It may be fatal if swallowed.
>
> It is a contact herbicide, "effective against a broad range of
> aquatic plants" at dosages in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 ppm
> dipotassium endothall.
>
> It may be sprayed on the water surface, or injected below the
> surface.
>
> There are formulas given for how much to use and how frequently in
> various situations.
>
> If you think this is liable to be ineffective or terribly
> detrimental to wildlife, please also let me know, and I may be
> able, as a landowner near the Cayuga Inlet, to influence the
> situation.
>
> --Dave Nutter
>
> --Dave Nutter
>
> --
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