As we enter the final week of August, we can see the end of summer just around the corner. All of the recent precipitation has provided a stark contrast to the weather from May and June. Over the past two weeks, we have seen the aftermath of tropical storm Fred and additional passing showers from Hurricane Henri’.

Rainstorms are categorized by their rainfall intensity and frequency of occurrence. This is determined by calculating the amount of rainfall per hour, or the total rainfall for a 24-hour period. For example, in Wayne County, a one-year storm event will drop 1.9” of rain over 24 hours, whereas a 100-year storm will provide between 5” to 5.5” of rain for the same time period. The intensity is the amount of rain falling and the frequency is listed as the 1-year or 100-year storm. The frequency represents the probability that a storm of that magnitude will occur. In other words, it is a safe bet that Wayne County will receive a storm that drops at least 1.9” of rain over a 24 period, or 0.08” in an hour. On the other hand, there is a 1% chance (1/100) that a storm will drop at least 5” of rain over a 24-hour period. Between 1” – 1.5” of rain was forecasted to fall throughout the County on the 18th. Lyons received nearly 3” of rain over the course of the day, which puts last week’s storm at about a 10-year storm event for the region. This high-flow rain event had an immediate impact on our local streams and rivers.

In other news, Wayne County wrapped up its Water Chestnut hand pull season on Friday, August 13th. A patchwork crew from FL-PRISM and NYS-PRHP (Parks) surveyed a new location within the Black Creek Unit of DEC’s Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area. The crew of seven had to carry kayaks 1/2 mile to and from the hand launch due to a fallen tree blocking the access road. 1.25 miles of stream corridor was surveyed, and a small population of water chestnut was found towards the end of the stream. The infestation was documented, and all the invasive plants were removed from the wetland within an hour of finding them. After reporting to NYSDEC, it was determined that this will be a targeted area for next year’s management efforts.

At first glance, this event may seem insignificant, but it highlights some critical points for invasive species control. First and foremost, the working partnerships between agencies are critical for keeping up with landscape-wide surveying and management. Secondly, since this infestation is relatively small, this site is a great candidate for eradication with one to two annual management events.

Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District has hosted five water chestnut awareness events this season. Work was done in 4 locations with 75 people, 21 hours on the water hand pulling and surveying for this invasive species.

At the end of the day, the District and Partners covered over 4 miles of streams and removed ~2650 lbs. of water chestnut.

Water Quality Observations and Updates 08-09 to 08-13

All the County’s embayments are looking turbid and have varying tints of green due to planktonic algae growth. Some areas of each waterbody may have more than others depending on wind intensity and direction. Each rainstorm we have brings nutrients, whether caused by humans, animals, or plants, to the aquatic vegetation of the bays. An interesting observation was witnessed involving the aquatic food chain.

The wind had blown algae towards the channel of Lake Ontario and Port Bay. You could see young-of-the-year fish swimming through the algae and making short, quick movements in different directions as if feeding on something. Hint: They’re feeding on zooplankton (tiny aquatic “bugs”). Then, you could see slightly larger fish breaking the surface and smaller fish fleeing by skipping across the water. This was the aquatic food chain happening right before your eyes. Wind-concentrated algae was being grazed by zooplankton. The zooplankton was being preyed upon juvenile fish, and consequentially, the small fish were the quarry of other larger piscivorous fish. Perhaps there was a few bass or pike in the area that were stalking their next meal. Just up the channel was a Great Blue Heron slowly wading and waiting for its turn.

Good news for the AVC Program: The trailer has been repaired and we are now able to transport to the other Bays. As of mid-week, the harvesters will be on East Bay and once complete there, they will proceed to Port Bay. Water levels and some logistics are still making launching the harvesters and unloading material an interesting event. We are doing the best possible work we can do with the circumstances we have encountered.

East Bay has a very dense concentration of Coontail (Cerstophyllum demersum) in the middle of the bay that has grown right to the surface. Coontail is a native, dark green, submerged perennial aquatic plant that lacks true roots. It is loosely anchored to the bottom by specialized stems (rhizoids). Because of this, Coontail absorbs nutrients directly from the water.

 

Blind Sodus Bay is currently in a clear state in the south half of the bay. There is low planktonic algae biomass and sediment that isn’t being disturbed by wind and waves. The southern shallows of the bay are dominated by Flat-stem pondweed (Potamogeton zosteriformis) with some sparse Eel grass (Vallisneria americana) also present. The high rooted plant biomass is most likely attributed to clear water and less algae.

Port Bay is currently in a turbid state throughout the bay. The water has a green hue and visibility is less than 1.5 feet. There’s some sparse milfoil visible growing up to the surface. The sheltered coves have an accumulation of duckweed and filamentous algae on the surface and dense concentrations of aquatic plants. The algae may be limiting the amount (biomass) of rooted aquatic plants underneath it in certain areas. The large biomass of planktonic algae may be a result of continuous nutrient recycling in relation to the depth of the bay and the ability of wind to cause mixing. There is an isolated Blue-green algae bloom occurring in the marina of the Port Bay RV and Campground. People in this area should limit possible exposure to themselves and pets.

Sodus Bay is in a semi-turbid state. With a flush of organic material-rich tributary water from the watershed a few weeks ago and the bay possibly thermal stratifying, there is an abundance of food (nutrients) in the water column.

`
Thermal Stratification – the trend of impoundments to form separate and distinct thermal layers during warm weather. There are usually three distinct layers:

• • • • Epilimnion comprising the top warm layer,
      • Metalimnion (or thermocline): the middle layer, which may change depth throughout the day, and
      • Hypolimnion colder layer extending to the floor of the waterbody.

The hypolimnion can become depleted of dissolved oxygen in summer because of the biological oxygen demand of bacterial decomposers, reduced photosynthetic activity, and the minimal mixing with upper layers. Anoxia, or absence of oxygen, in the bay’s sediment, has been strongly correlated with internal phosphorus loading to the water column. The soluble phosphorus released is readily available for uptake by algae.

NYS DEC Reminder: Report Observations of Cladophora Along NY’s Great Lakes Shorelines

Please let the NYSDEC know if you see the filamentous algae, Cladophora, by using the online observation form. Thank you in advance for helping us understand where, when, and the extent to which Cladophora is accumulating along our Great Lakes shorelines. Email GLCladophora@dec.ny.gov if you have any questions.

NYS DEC How to report a Suspected Algal Bloom? (Click here)

Water chestnut (Trapa natans) can be found this time of year in many of the waterways in Wayne County.  The newest infestation was found in 2018 at Port Bay and is being managed strictly by hand-pulling.  It is major nuisance because these dense mats of rooted vegetation are very difficult to get through in a boat, kayak, canoe, or when swimming. For water quality alone, Water Chestnut completely depletes the oxygen by pressing down from the surface, heating the water columns, and prohibiting water movement because of the long-rooted tendrils beneath the rosette.  Water chestnut spreads by rosette and fruits detaching from the stem and floating to another area and by clinging to floating objects including recreational watercraft, the pads of boat trailers, and fishing equipment. In addition, the dense mats shade out native aquatic plants that provide food and shelter to native fish, waterfowl, and insects. Decomposition of these dense mats causes dissolved oxygen levels that may kill fish and then nutrient recycling causes the next generation to return stronger than before.

#waterqualityupdates #waterchestnut #invasivespecies

What you need to know about Water Chestnut:

*In NY, Water Chestnut is an annual. It does not propagate from fragmentation and can have up to 3 stands in NY

*1 Seed Pod can produce up to 144 plants and stays viable for up to 10 years and even if dislodged and floating can still repropagate.

*Management techniques vary by waterbody but harvesting this Annual Plant by hand pulling or mechanically the rosette before they produce their seed, mitigates several next generations and will open up waterways for other native vegetation to return creating habitat and flow for better water quality

Currently, New York State Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation & Finger Lakes Partners of Regional Invasive Species Management are partnering with the District to address several areas that cannot be managed by mechanical harvesting in Wayne County to hand-pull under NYSDEC permits. It will take years of management to address some of the seedbeds in Wayne County. Some of the oldest “seedbeds” of water chestnut include East Bay, South of Sodus Bay Bridge, and Second Creek. Thank you to SOS and SBIA for continued efforts in addressing stands on Second Creek, the inlet at the end of Grieg Street in Sodus Point, and Clark Creek.  Without partnership, management would not be possible.