CFE agenda 091415 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Eno River Hydrilla Treatment Status From: Emens, Rob Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 To: Eno River Hydrilla Task Force members Subject: Eno River hydrilla treatment status Hello Eno River Hydrilla Task Force, I have a few things to share with you: 1) Since July 27 or soon afterwards the entire river has flushed of fluridone, at least at detectable levels, see attached FasTEST report. The injection unit was turned off on July 20. This was initially expected as a temporary treatment suspension and was done as a cautionary act responding to a report on anecdotal observations of water willow and riffleweed being impacted. The thought was to further evaluate conditions and possibly resume treatment in August, or even early September. I will not get into the full analyses of water willow, riffleweed, snails, etc. conditions here, rather save that for an update by our Research & Monitoring Committee at our next task force meeting. On Aug 3 a group of folks, including myself, visited several sites, some within, and some outside of the treatment zone to compare condition of non - target plants and presence /condition of hydrilla. We found there to be no significant difference in riffleweed condition. Water willow within the treatment zone did express some chlorosis which was expected. Hydrilla was found to be controlled to a large extent. Mark Heilman also visited several sites later that week. He provided a report on his observations, interpretation, and offered some future actions. Since we attained 95 +% hydrilla control (possibly 99 + %), and realizing at this point additional treatment would incur additional cost but diminished return, a decision has been made to not resume further treatment this year. 2) 1 will start planning for a full Task Force meeting, looking at dates in September. Once I get an idea of meeting place availability I will send out a poll with a couple times to choose from. 3) 1 visited the Pleasant Green access (part of the State Park and within the treatment zone) last Thursday. I attached a photo of the hydrilla plants I found there. There is healthy new growth and potentially some tuber sprouting occurring. Overall there doesn't seem to be a lot of plants out there and what I found took some hunting around. 4) The Research & Monitoring Committee met last week. I wasn't able to attend but heard that is was a productive meeting. They are lining things up to get the surveys that are needed to be done this fall. One level of surveying is to inspect the various impoundments and tributaries within the Eno watershed. Speaking of which I visited Compton's Pond last Friday. This was in response to residents who contacted me. They happened to be at our "open house" and recalled my request to everyone that if they think they see hydrilla to please contact me. Compton's Pond is severely infested with hydrilla. This is the impoundment upstream of Lake Orange between Compton Rd and NC 86. The attached photos were taken from a park that sits behind the schoolhouse along NC 86. Rob Emens Aquatic Weed Control Program NCDENR — Division of Water Resources 919 - 707 -9012