Summary of Public Comments, Responses, and Plan Modifications to the Draft 2007 South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Santee Cooper Lakes:
Commenters: Hunter Suggs, Rep. Phillip Lowe
Comments:
1. "I am in complete opposition to releasing any additional carp
into the Santee cooper Lakes. Ever since the original stocking
occurred, ALL of the native and non-native grasses and vegetation
disappeared, and the Upper End of Lake Marion has become a mud hole.
The ducks that used to winter in this area do not visit “The Swamp”
anymore. Please do not release any additional carp into the Santee
Cooper Lake System." (Suggs)
2. "Aquatics do not currently pose a problem. Your previous
overstocking hurt waterfowling and fishing. You have proved you can
stock enough to control vegetation. The vegetation you state has
recovered is not hydrilla. Let more vegetation return. Do not
restock yet!!!" (Lowe)
Response:
The original grass carp stocking between 1989 and 1996 added over
760,000 sterile grass carp to Lakes Marion and Moultrie. That amount
was needed to control the 48,000 acres of hydrilla that was present
at the time. That multi-year stocking was successful, but after
hydrilla was controlled the fish also impacted desirable native
vegetation. That was ten years ago and since then the number of
grass carp have declined to about 5,800 fish and beneficial
vegetation has come back. Native vegetation has shown a 60% increase
in acreage from 2005 to 2006 for a total of 12,960 vegetated acres.
Total vegetative coverage now is conservatively estimated at 9.3 %
in Lake Marion and 6.2% in Lake Moultrie based on annual aerial
surveys and photography. Some hydrilla is beginning to return in the
main lakes. To avoid the occurrence of widespread hydrilla
infestations again in the Santee Cooper Lakes, a small maintenance
stocking of sterile grass carp is needed. The maintenance stocking
plan calls for adding a small number of grass carp to the system to
equal the number present at the beginning of 2006 when hydrilla was
under control yet native species were present (8,200 fish). That
additional number is 2,100 fish in Lake Marion and 520 in Lake
Moultrie. This is a very small number of grass carp for a lake
system that is over 170,000 acres in size and about one percent of
the original stocking. The proposed stocking plan was reviewed and
approved by DNR fisheries and waterfowl biologists to help ensure
the protection of fish and wildlife populations.
Plan Modifications:
None at present.
East Branch of the Cooper River:
Commenters: Tommy Kellum
Comments:
1. "My concern is the East Branch of the Cooper River and the
adjoining rice fields and French Quarter, Quemby, and Huger Creeks.
I reviewed your Management Plan Draft and it stated that the
coverage was approximately 3000 acres. If this is referring to weed
coverage it is highly under estimated. I live on French Quarter
Creek and I see air boats spraying approximately every other year.
The weeds are closing off virtually all adjoining creeks and rice
fields. It appears that after the weeds gain control then silt fills
the creeks even further. Your draft mentions the use of carp in the
Santee cooper lakes as one method of control. What other options are
there for the creeks besides spraying? If there is none, what would
be the effects of spraying more often? Recreational use is on the
rise and our useable water area has greatly been reduced over the
past ten years." (Kellum)
Response:
The main aquatic weed problem in the creeks you refer to is the
growth of water primrose and water hyacinth. Neither of these plants
can be controlled by grass carp. Other biological controls are
available for water hyacinth but have not been successful in this
part of the country. So there aren't many options for the creeks
along the Cooper River except for herbicide application. In trying
to manage a complete system, one must start small by treating the
main channels and creeks most used by the public. After a certain
level of control is established then efforts can expand to include
the smaller creeks. Timing, water levels, and available funding play
a crucial part in all control efforts. Additional herbicide
treatments are possible if additional federal, state or local
funding were available. We are committed to a systematic approach
where control efforts are focused on the areas of greatest public
use first then expanded into adjoining creeks where public use is
less.
Plan Modifications:
None at present.