Water Lettuce on Lake Onalaska: Wednesday Oct 21

Date: 10/22/2015 07:09 AM
From: Fritz <fritz@funk.io>
To: Participating Natural Resource Agencies and Volunteers

Survey Effort from Wednesday October 21:

Scott Caven surveyed the Upper Spillway boat landing and adacent dike in the afternoon and didn't find any water lettuce or hyacinth.

Marc Schultz surveyed the entire Brice Prairie channel by flatboat about 2pm and found no plants.

Marie French kayaked from Fred Funk landing to source at tubes and found no plants.

I surveyed the east end of the Brice Prairie barrier island area mid-morning, finding 4 plants, and also surveyed from the east end of the barrier island to the Fred Funk landing just before sunset, finding 6 additional plants.  All but 1 of the 10 plants found were hung up in the wild rice bed off the east end of the barrier island.  I don't think they are newly arrived, but have been lingering there awhile, becoming more visible as the vegetation beds thin out and some surface-drive boats have been cutting through and churning the vegetation up a bit.  These plants in the wild rice bed are starting to look a little bit unhealthy - a few yellow or discolored leaves.  Are they perhaps showing some cold stress?  Plants I have found in the channel itself seem to still be green and healthy.  Survey track with locations attached.

Also, the distribution map (attached) is updated to reflect the 2 plants discovered October 19 across from Nelson Park landing.

--Fritz

Attachments:
LakeOnalaskaMap_OpenStreets.jpg	106 KB
Wed.jpg	22.6 KB