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Summary of
Public Comments,
Responses, and
Plan Modifications to the Draft 2004
Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Commenters: John A.
Ball III, Ben Baroody, Tripp Bradley, Ben Bethea, Culver Choate,
Bennett Griffin, Robin Inabinet, Robert E. Keener (Lake Murray
Association), H. Moore, W. J. Lyday Jr., John Michael Otis Jr., Rick
Reames III, George Selkinghaus, Patrick Stowe.
Lake Murray:
Comments:
We support the plan as written. (Keener)
Why not more carp, why are we going to wait another
summer for something positive to happen? (Selkinghaus)
I disagree with the use of grass carp in Lake
Murray. Let the history of Santee Cooper teach us a lesson. (Lyday)
Response:
64,500 triploid grass carp (15 fish per vegetated
acre) were stocked in Lake Murray in 2003 to control the growth of
hydrilla. The management strategy is to control some of the hydrilla
by the drawdown (for construction of the new dam) and control the
remaining hydrilla (4300 ac) that is still in the water below 345-foot
contour with grass carp. Stocking while the lake is down minimizes the
number of grass carp initially needed to control the hydrilla and
should provide enough fish to keep it controlled when the lake returns
to its normal level.
This year’s plan is consistent with the 2003 plan.
The 2004 plan call for no stocking of grass carp on Lake Murray unless
hydrilla coverage
exceeds 4300 acres above the 330-foot contour at which
time the Aquatic Plant Management Council may reconsider the need for
additional grass carp.
Based on our experience on other lakes, we
anticipate that it will take about three years for the grass carp to
achieve measurable control of the hydrilla. But once that is achieved,
control will last for years. Water users need to be patient while the
grass carp grow and feed on the plants.
Plan Modifications:
None at present.
Santee Cooper Lakes:
Comments:
Santee Cooper is a desert; too many carp caused it.
Don’t release any more carp. (Inabinet)
Don’t eradicate plants above I-95 Bridge this will
likely result in lower numbers of ducks. (Bethea)
Hydrilla is an attribute and eliminating it is a
severe destruction of waterfowl habitat. (Moore, Ball)
Oppose the use of grass carp in the Santee Cooper
lakes. (Bradley, Reames)
Response:
The language in the draft plan is consistent with
the comments not to stock more grass carp in the Santee Cooper Lakes.
No additional grass carp are planned for 2004, but the Council may
reconsider the need for additional fish if hydrilla regrowth and
regrowth potential warrants it.
The long-term management strategy for hydrilla
control in the Santee Cooper Lakes is to maintain a sufficient number
of grass carp in the system to keep hydrilla suppressed while allowing
desirable native vegetation to flourish. The DNR and Santee Cooper
recognize that although the grass carp have been effective in
controlling hydrilla they have also controlled many desirable
submersed aquatic plant species. In response to this concern, the
agencies have signed an agreement that identifies management goals and
objectives that try to maintain 10% of the lakes’ surface area as
beneficial vegetated habitat for fish, waterfowl and other aquatic
organisms. The Aquatic Plant Management Council has adopted the
management agreement as part of the long-term management strategy for
the Santee Cooper Lakes and has included it in the final 2004 Aquatic
Plant Management Plan. An important part of the agreement
between the agencies is accurate and timely monitoring of aquatic
vegetation. The agencies will work together in developing a monitoring
work plan. Decisions regarding subsequent stocking of grass carp will
be determined by the Council following assessment of monitoring
results by DNR, Santee Cooper, and other agency representatives on the
Council.
Plan Modifications:
None at present.
General:
Comments:
The irresponsible use
of grass carp in this state causes the destruction of waterfowl
habitat. (Otis, Stowe)
Waterfowl numbers are
decreasing due to the use of grass carp to control aquatic vegetation.
(Baroody, Griffin, Ball, Choate)
AVM should be taken
into account in management decisions but study the possibility of
using hydrilla in selected areas. (Ball)
Response:
Submersed and emergent vegetation provides important
habitat for waterfowl and fish as well as other types of wildlife.
Management plans in public waters always attempt to control invasive
species while trying to maintain desirable vegetation. Grass carp are
used only after other more selective control methods have proven
ineffective and after ample discussion in public meetings and plan
reviews. Except for one small state park lake, no grass carp are
planned for any state waterways in 2004.
The DNR is very concerned about waterfowl and bald
eagle deaths due to AVM. AVM is already a major problem in some areas
of South Carolina and the DNR is actively participating in research by
major universities to identify the specific cause. Studies to date
clearly indicate that the consumption of hydrilla in certain lakes by
waterfowl and coots leads to AVM. It appears that a specific alga that
grows on the hydrilla emits a toxin that causes the neurological
disease in birds. When these sick birds are eaten by bald eagles, they
also contract the disease. On going studies will hopefully confirm the
specific cause of the disease. Because hydrilla appears to be
involved in birds contracting AVM and because it is illegal to
distribute and plant hydrilla in South Carolina waters, it cannot be
used as waterfowl habitat.
Plan Modifications:
None at present.
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