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Spring/Summer 2016Vol. 28, Nos. 1 & 2

Clean Lakes Program • Office of Water Quality • Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Periphyton: The tiny Amazing Overlooked World that Clings~ Melissa Laney So,youarefloatingalongthelake’sedgemaybeinacanoe,pontoon,orJetSkiandyouseethelittoralvegetation:thebeautifulspikesfromthepickerelweed,thefloatingyellowlilyleavesandflowers.Youareawarethatthesearegoodfishingspots,butdidyourealizethatclingingtoallthesurfaces,therearerichanddiverselayersof organisms?Youmayalreadyknowaboutthebenthosortheorganismsassociatedwiththelakebottom.Benthosisuniformlyappliedtoanimals,likemussels,scuds,mayflies.There’sanentiremicroscopicworldof microbialgrowthlovingonallthelittoralsurfacetypes:live,dead,plant,animal,andnonlivingsurfaces.Thisgrowthisperiphyton.Oftentimesyoucanseeitorfeeltheperiphytononasubmersedrockoralongthestemof aplant(Figure1).

Figure 1. Periphyton, attached algae, that is clinging to lake substrates.

Likewithallcommunities,weliketocreatecategoriestodifferentiatebetweenthetypesof plantsbasedonwhereyou’llfindthemorhowtheyattachandclingtothesurfaces.Followingisalistwiththeircorrespondinglocations(Figure2):

• Epipelic:algaegrowingonsediments(fine,organic)

• Epilithic:algaegrowingonrockorstonesurfaces

• Epiphytic:algaegrowingonmacrophyticoraquaticplantsurfaces

• Epizooic:algaegrowingonsurfacesof animals

• Epipsammic:algaegrowingonorthroughsand

If youhadthechancetozoomintothesesurfaces,theslickslimylayerwouldshowyouafullmicroscopiclayeringof plants,justasyousee

whenyouwalkintotheforest(Figure3). So,nexttimeyoupickuparockorplantfromthelakeandfeelthatslicklayer,younowknowthere’satinyforestof attachedplantsprovidingasignificantroleinthelakeforfoodchaindynamicsandnutrientcycling.

Epi: a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “upon,” “on,” “over,” “near,” “at,” “before.”

Figure 3. The major growth forms and layers of periphyton attached to substrates. The various layers offer different invertebrates food options based on their feeding style and group (Law 2011).

Figure 2. The major algal communities located within the littoral zone that live on different substrates (Wetzel 2001).

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EPA Leads New Effort to Improve America’s Aging Infrastructure ~ Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Safedrinkingwaterandeffectivewastewatermanagementarebasicbuildingblocksof publichealth.Toooften,weneglectourinfrastructureuntilitfails.WeneedtoinvestinAmerica’swaterinfrastructure–andweneedtobestrategicaboutdoingitright–especiallyindisadvantagedcommunities.We’veknownforyearsthatournation’sinvestmentsinwaterandwastewaterinfrastructureweren’tkeepingupwiththeneeds–whichEPAestimatesat$655billionoverthenext20years.Butthosestrugglesarenotthesameeverywhere–theyaremostacuteinlow-incomeandsmallcommunities.InthewealthiestcountryonEarth,cleanwaterneedstobeavailabletoeveryone–nomatterwhatpartof thecountryyoulivein,nomatterhowmuchorhowlittlemoneyyoumake,andnomatterthecolorof yourskin.Tofixtheproblem,we’llnotonlyneedinnovativefinancingtoleveragemoreinvestment,butwe’llalsoneedtohelpthesecommunitiesbuildcapacity–sotheycansustainablymanageandoperatetheirwatersystems,getaccesstothosefunds,andputthemtogooduse.Wehavetostartbyconfrontingthesameingrained,systemicchallengesthatthreatenourcountry’swaterresources–aresourcethat’sessentialtoeveryhumanbeingontheplanet.

Figure 4. This chart summarizes the events that caused 105 SSOs that led to beach closures in 1999 (NRDC 2000). As the chart shows, more than 70 percent of the SSOs were attributed to line/main breaks or line blockages.

Failing Infrastructure: Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)

Some communities have combined infrastructure for storm water and waste water, which cause many overflow problems during rain events. However, many places with separate systems still have infrastructure failures. Often it’s due to aging and antiquated systems, and sometimes it’s due to subsidence or land settling. When these separated systems fail, areas can experience a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). A sanitary sewer overflow can spill raw sewage into basements or out of manholes and onto city streets, playgrounds, and into streams, before it can reach a treatment facility. They can also occur without obvious overflows through cracked pipelines.

SSOs occasionally occur in almost every sewer system even though systems are intended to collect and contain all the sewage that flows into them. When SSOs happen frequently, however, it means something is wrong with the system (Figure 4).

Problems that can cause chronic SSOs include: • Too much rainfall or snowmelt infiltrating through the ground into leaky sanitary sewers,

which are not intended to hold rainfall or to drain property. Excess water can also inflow through roof drains connected to sewers and broken or badly connected sewer service lines.

• Sewers and pumps too small to carry sewage from newly developed subdivisions or commercial areas.

• Blocked, broken, or cracked pipes and other equipment or power failures that keep the system from doing its job. Tree roots can grow into the sewer. Sections of pipe can settle or shift so that pipe joints no longer match. Sediment and other material can build up and cause pipes to break or collapse. This can also happen to sewer service connections to houses and other buildings. Some cities estimate that as much as 60 percent of the water over-filling their sewer systems comes from service lines. The chart above shows major types of problems that cause SSOs most frequently.

• A deteriorating sewer system. When sewers are not properly installed or maintained, widespread problems that can be expensive to fix develop over time. Some municipalities have found severe problems, necessitating billion-dollar correction programs. Often, communities have had to curtail new development until problems are corrected or system capacity is increased.

Line Break/Main Break

Line Blockage

Urban Runoff Infiltration

Pump Station Failure

Residential Overflow

Vandalism/Illegal Disposal

Power Failure

Have you checked out the Indiana Clean Lakes Program

Web page lately? Take a look at

www.indiana.edu/~clp/and see what’s new

and happening with the program and with Indiana lakes!

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EPA and NEEF Launch Interactive Watershed Sleuth Challenge Hey,citizenscientists!WanttobelikeSherlockHolmes?Here’syourchance.It’selementary!Becomea Watershed Sleuth – orbetteryet,a Watershed Guardian or a Watershed Hero – bylearninghowtohelpsolvewaterqualityproblems.Tryyourhandatbuildingamodelaquifer,ortakeaninteractivequiztofindlocalwaterwasters.Thesearejustsomeof theonlineactivitiesofferedbyEPAandtheNationalEnvironmentalEducationFoundation(NEEF).Children,families,K-12schoolgroups,andotherscanearnadifferentdigitalbadgeforeachlessontheycomplete,andshowoff theirwatershedknowledge!

Checkout: www.neefusa.org/water-shed-sleuth!

Lake Closed Due to Weeds Weloveourlakes,enjoyspendingtimenearthem,andexpecttohaveaccesstothem.Soalakebeingclosedduetoweedsseemslikeaforeignconcept.GooseLakeWildlifeManagementAreainNebraskawasclosedthissummerduetoaninfestationof theinvasiveaquaticplantEurasianwatermilfoil(Figure5). Milfoilcanformverydensevegetationmatsthatgrowtothesurfaceof thewater.Thesematsinterferewithrecreationalactivitiessuchasswimming,fishing,waterskiing,andboating(Figure6).Becauseitiswidelydistributedanddifficulttocontrol,milfoilisconsideredtobeoneof themostproblematicinvasiveplantsintheUnitedStates.Theintroductionof milfoilcandrasticallyalterawaterbody’secology. Figure 5. Eurasian watermilfoil – close up showing the whorled leaves.

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Eurasianmilfoilhasplayedaroleinseverallakeclosures,whetherduetoeffortstolimitthespread,oruntilmanagementpracticescouldbeinstilled.ShadowLakeinVermont,LakePlacidinNewYork,andLakeWashingtoninWashingtonStateareafewof theaffectedlakes. WhileIndianahasnotclosedanylakesduetoEurasianwatermilfoil,thisaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS)hasspreadwidelyacrossthestate.

COMMON NAME: Eurasianwatermilfoil.Eurasianwatermilfoilmayalsobereferredtoasspikeorspikedwatermilfoil.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myriophyllum spicatumEurasianwatermilfoilisinthewatermilfoilfamily,Haloragaceae.

Thereareabout14differentspeciesof watermilfoils.

DISTRIBUTION: EurasianwatermilfoilisnativetoEurope,Asia,andnorthernAfrica.Asof 2003,45statesreportedthepresenceof Eurasianwatermilfoil.

Indiana: Of theapproximately616lakesandreservoirsinthenorthernone-thirdof thestate,Eurasianwatermilfoilinfestedatleast175of themasof thelate1990s.Throughoutthestate,approximately126,000acresof lakesandimpoundmentscontainsomelevelof Eurasianwatermilfoil.

DESCRIPTION: Eurasianwatermilfoilisasubmersedperennial.Ithasalongunderwaterstemthat

branchesprofuselywhenitreachesthesurfaceof thewater.Leavesarewhorledonthestemateachnode,andtherearegenerallyfourleavesperwhorl.Leavesarefinelydividedandfeather-likeinappearance.Thereareusually12to21pairsof leaflets.Eachleafletisthin,fine,andabout½inchlong.Itproducessmallreddishflowersthatemergeseveralinchesabovethewateronaspikegrownfromthetipof thestem. EurasianwatermilfoilisoftenconfusedwithacommonIndiananativeplant,northernwatermilfoil(M. sibiricum),anditissometimesdifficulttotellthedifference.If yourelyonthecharacteristicthatamatureEurasianwatermilfoilleaf has12to21pairsof leafletsandnorthernwatermilfoilhas5to10pairs,youwillbecorrectinidentificationmuch

Figure 6. Eurasian watermilfoil plant bed.

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of thetime.Theleavesof Eurasianwatermilfoilarelimpwhenheldoutof water,whereastheleavesof northernwatermilfoilstayrigid.

LIFE CYCLE BIOLOGY: Eurasianwatermilfoilcangrowinawidevarietyof habitatsandconditions.Itoccursinponds,lakes,reservoirs,andslow-flowingriversandstreams.Itwillgrowinshallowordeepwater,freshorbrackishwater,awidetemperaturerange,aswellasapHfrom5.4to11.Ittendstodowellinwatersthathavehadsomesortof disturbancelikeintenseplantmanagement,overabundanceof nutrients,orextensivemotorboatuse.Itgrowsbestinfine-texturedinorganicsoilswhereitcangetplentyof sunlight. Eurasianwatermilfoiliscapableof spreadingbyseedsandbyvegetativemeans.Eachplant

iscapableof producingover100seedsbutgerminationof theseseedsrarelytakesplace.DispersalthroughvegetativemeansisEurasianwatermilfoil’smainreproductivestrategy.Theplantgoesthroughautofragmentationduringthegrowingseason,whererootswilldevelopatthenodesandtheplantwillbreakoff atthesenodesonitsown.Fragmentscanalsobeproducedbywind,waves,andhumanactivity.Thesefragmentswillsetroottogrowintoanewplant.Newshootsbegintogrowfromtheoverwinteringrootcrownswhenwatertemperaturereachesabout60°Finthespring.Growthisrapidandwhentheplantnearsthewater’ssurfaceitwillbranchoutcreatingacanopy.Thefastgrowthandtopped-outcanopygenerallyoccursbeforenativespeciespeakingrowth.Floweringgenerally

occursinJuly.Autofragmentationusuallyoccursafterflowering.Plantsdiebacktotherootsinthefall.Theserootsstorecarbohydratesinordertoinitiatetherapidgrowthinthespring.

PATHWAYS/HISTORY: EurasianwatermilfoilwasfirstintroducedintotheUnitedStatesthroughtheaquariumtrade.Thefirstdocumentedidentificationof EurasianwatermilfoilinopenwaterintheUnitedStateswasin1942fromapondinWashington,DC.By1950thespecieswasintotheMidwestinOhioandwasalsofoundinwesternstatessuchasArizonaandCalifornia.EurasianwatermilfoilisnowfoundthroughoutthecontinentalUnitedStateswiththeexceptionof thenorthernGreatPlainsregionandMaine(Figure7).

Figure 7. Eurasian watermilfoil distribution map.

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DISPERSAL/SPREAD: Eurasianwatermilfoilhasspreadthroughaccidentalandintentionalintroductions.Pondownersintentionallyintroducedtheplantintotheirpondstoprovidefishhabitat.SinceEurasianwatermilfoiliscapableof reproducingbyvegetativemeansitislikelythatthespreadintomostnewbodiesof waterhasbeenbyfragments.AquaticequipmentthatwasusedatEurasianwatermilfoil-infestedwatersmayhavefragmentsattached;thesefragmentscanbetransportedtootherwatersandstartawholenewinfestation.Thisplantcanstayaliveforweeksoutof waterif keptmoist.

RISKS/IMPACTS: Eurasianwatermilfoilnegativelyaffectsthewaterbodiesitinvadesinseveralways.Duetoitstendencytobranchprofuselyandformadensecanopyoverthewaterssurface,itwillshadeoutthenativevegetation.Thiscanalterthespeciescompositionof thewater,whichcanresultinanearmonocultureof Eurasianwatermilfoil.Thisplantisnotavaluablefoodsourceforwaterfowlunlikesomeof thenativesubmersedaquaticplants.Plantbiomasscanbecomesodensethatpredatorfishwilllosetheirforagingspaceandwillbelesseffectiveatcontrollingpreyspeciesresultinginanimbalancedfishcommunity.Densebedsof Eurasianwatermilfoilmakerecreationalactivitiessuchasboating,fishing,andswimmingnearlyimpossible.ResidentialorindustrialwaterintakescanbecomecloggedwithEurasianwatermilfoil.Denseplantbedscanbenurseryareasformosquitolarvae.AlakeheavilyinfestedwithEurasianwatermilfoilwillbeaestheticallydispleasing,whichresultsinreducedpropertyvalues.In1998,160permitswereissuedforherbicidetreatmentsonpublicwatersinIndiana.Approximatelyfourof everyfivepermitsissuedtargetedEurasianwatermilfoil.Aconservativeestimate

of thecostof controllingexoticplantsthatinterferewithrecreationanddrinkingwatersuppliesinIndianaisintheneighborhoodof $1.2millionperyear.

MANAGEMENT/PREVENTION: Thebestmanagementisprevention.Preventingtheintroductionandspreadof Eurasianwatermilfoilistheeasiestandcheapestwaytocontrolit.If itistoolatetopreventtheestablishmentof thisinvasive,thereareafewtechniquesthatcanbeusedtocontrolit.

Mechanical: Mechanicalremovalof thisplantshouldonlybeconsideredif theEurasianwatermilfoilhasbecomewidespreadandallavailablenicheshavebecomeoccupiedbythisplant.Thisisimportantbecausemechanicaltechniquesusuallyresultinfragmentation,whichcanactuallyhelptheplantspread.Cutstemscanalsobranchabundantly,whichcanresultinevendenserplantbedsif harvestingdoesnotoccurfrequentlythroughthegrowingseason.Harvestersandhand-cuttingarethemostcommonmechanicalremovalmethods.Allfragmentsmustbecollectedanddisposedof properlyforthistobeeffective.Todisposeof theremnants,composting,burning,burying,ortrashdisposalareallacceptablemethods.

Habitat Alteration:Themostcommonhabitatalterationusedforaquaticvegetationcontrolisawinterlakedrawdown.Adrawdowncanbeeffectiveinreducingnuisancevegetationif youallowseveralweeksof dryingtimeandexposetheEurasianwatermilfoilrootcrownstosub-freezingtemperatures.Carefulconsiderationmustbegiventotheeffectonthefishcommunityasaresultof adrawdown.Youshouldconsultwithafisheriesbiologistbeforeimplementingthiscontrolmethodsoastonotputthefisheryatrisk.

Biological:Biologicalcontrolmethodsarehighlysoughtsincetheyareviewedas“environmentallyfriendly.”Tobemosteffective,abiologicalcontrolshouldbetarget-specificandnotcauseharmtounintendedspecies.ThemostcommonbiologicalcontrolusedforaquaticplantcontrolinIndianaisthegrasscarporwhiteamur.Unfortunately,grasscarpdonotpreferEurasianwatermilfoilandmayonlyturntoitasfoodonlyaftermayof thenativeplantshavebeenconsumed.PlantpathogenshavealsobeensoughtoutasabiologicalcontrolforEurasianwatermilfoil.LaboratoryresearchhasshownthatthefungusMycoleptodiscus terrestris reducestheplantsbiomasssignificantly.TheU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineersiscontinuingresearchwiththispossiblebiologicalcontrol.Themosteffectivebiologicalcontrolmethoddiscoveredsofarforthecontrolof EurasianwatermilfoilhasbeentheNorthAmericanweevil,Euhrychiopsis lecontei.Thisspeciesseemstoonlyattackmilfoilandcausesahighlevelof damagetotheplant.Theadultsfeedonthestemsandleavesof theplantandthelarvaeboreintothestemcausingextensivedamage.

Chemical: Untilrecently,chemicalcontroltargetingmilfoilusuallyresultedinextensivecollateraldamagetonon-targetnativespecies.Fortunately,advanceshavebeenmadewithchemicaltypes,applicationrates,andtimingof applicationthatcanselectivelycontrolEurasianwatermilfoil.TheactiveingredientFluridonehasbeenusedatlowratestoselectivelycontrolEurasianwatermilfoil.AquaticherbicidescontainingTriclopyror2,4-DhavealsoproveneffectiveforEurasianwatermilfoilcontrolwhileimpactingfewothernativesubmersedaquaticplants.TodeterminethemosteffectiveherbicidetocontrolEurasianwatermilfoilinyourparticularbodyof water,youshouldcontactan

aquaticherbicideapplicator.Onlyherbicideslabeledforaquaticusemaybeusedtotreataquaticplants.AnAquaticVegetationControlPermitisrequiredforweedcontroleffortsonIndiana’spublicwaters.Tohelpstopthespreadof aquaticinvasiveplantsincludingEurasianwatermilfoil,herearesomesimplestepsyoucanfollow.

• Rinseanymudand/ordebrisfromequipmentandwadinggearanddrainanywaterfromyourboatbeforeleavingtheaccessarea.

• Removeallplantfragmentsfromtheboat,propeller,andboattrailer.Thetransportationof plantmaterialonboats,trailers,andinlivewellsisthemainintroductionroutetonewlakesandrivers.

• Allowallequipmenttothoroughlydryforatleastfivedaysbeforetransportingitintoanewbodyof water

• Donotreleaseaquariumorwatergardenplantsintothewild,rathersealtheminaplasticbaganddisposeinthetrash.

NATIVE SPECIES AND HYBRIDS:Eurasianmilfoilisnottheonlytypeof milfoilfoundinIndiana.Thereareseveralnativemilfoilspecies,suchasnorthernmilfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum)(Figures8-10).SomenativespeciescloselyresembleEurasianmilfoilandarecommonlymistakenforit.However,thenativemilfoilsrarelyformdense,impenetrableplantbedslikeEurasianmilfoiloftendoes.Insomelakes,hybridizationbetweenexoticEurasianmilfoil(M. spicatum)andnativenorthernmilfoil(M. sibiricum)) isoccurring.Genetictestinghasfoundmilfoilhybridstobewidelydispersedacrossthenorthernportionof theUnitedStatesandhybridmilfoilappearstobewidespreadinMichigan.Thedocumentationof thepresenceof hybridmilfoilisimportantbecausehybridityinplants

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Figure 8-10. Comparison of Eurasian watermilfoil (INVASIVE) and Northern watermil-foil (NATIVE).

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

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isoftenlinkedtoinvasivetraits.Infact,hybridmilfoilmaybemoreinvasivethanEurasianmilfoil.Thereisconcerninthescientificcommunitythathybridscouldhaveacompetitiveadvantageover,andultimatelydisplacebothnorthernmilfoilandEurasianmilfoil. Intermsof physicalappearance,hybridmilfoilisdifficulttodistinguishfromEurasianmilfoil.Forpositiveidentification,genetictestingisrequired.Further,notallhybridmilfoilsarethesame.Thereisconsiderablegeneticvariabilitywithinhybrids.

The Indiana Lakes Management Annual Conference Update~Sara Peel TheIndianaLakesManagementSocietyhostedthe29thAnnualIndianaLakeManagementConferenceonMarch11and12attheSwanLakeResort.Unfortunately,therewerenolakesatbeautifulSwanLake!Morethan150individualsattendedtheconference,beingtreatedtogreatpresentations

theUpperandLowerSalamoniewatershedgroupswererecognizedastheOutstanding Lake Association/Group.

• ILMSawardedthe Outstanding Implementation Project AwardtotheIndianaUniversitySchoolof PublicandEnvironmentalAffairs(SPEA).SPEA,underthedirectionof MelissaLaney,hasworkedtogatherinformationoverthelasttwoyearsatGriffyLakeinBloomington,Indiana.GriffyLakerefilledin2014,afteranextendeddrawdownandIndianaUniversityresearcherssawthisasanopportunitytostudytheimpactsof fulllakedrawdown.Theirresearchhasincludedaquaticvegetationmapping,phytoplanktonandzooplanktonsampling,andextensivewaterqualitydatacollection.Withthehelpof studentsandvolunteersdatahasbeencollectedonamonthlybasissincethelakerefilled.Datahavebeenanalyzedtocomparehowthetrophiclevelswillrecoverandtheimpactonaquaticinvasiveplants.Thelakehasalwaysbeenaplantdominatedlakeandthequestionremainsif thatstatewillpersistorif thelakewillshifttoanalgaldominatedsystem. Despitelackof funding,monitoringcontinuesasanin-kindprojectfueledbystudents,aCityof Bloomingtonpartnership,andpersonalresearchinterestof SPEAfacultyandstaff.Thisuniqueopportunitytostudydrawdowneffectsonalakesystemwillhelpcreateabetterunderstandingof thepotentialimpactsof thismanagementstrategy.ILMSwouldalsoliketorecognizetheStudent Scholarship Winner–BrynneTaylorof IndianaUniversity.Brynnerepresentsthefutureof lakemanagementinIndiana.Allstudentscholarshipfundingisprovidedthroughtheconferencesilentauction–attendeedonationstotaledmorethan$1500atthe2015conference,whichwillallowILMStoawardthreestudentscholarshipsatour2016conference!

aboutlocallakes,invasiveplantmanagement,pondmanagementandraingardendesign.Moreimportantly,theyspenttimenetworkingwithotherlakeresidents,managers,andprofessionals. Thisyear,ILMShonoredthreeIndianaindividualsandgroupsforthetirelessworktheydotoimproveconditionswithintheirownbackyardandthroughoutIndiana’slakes(Figure11).

• JaneLoomiswithTheWatershedFoundationandUpperLakesof theTippecanoeRiverAssociation.Janewasrecognizedforhertirelessworktolaunchandmanagedailyoperationsof theUpperLakesof theTippecanoeRiver,developingmanyprojectstoeducatelakeresidents,engageindividualsinwaterqualitytestingandimprovingwaterqualitythroughoutnortheastIndiana.Fortheseefforts,JanewasrecognizedastheVolunteer of the Year.

• Afterintenseblue-greenalgaebloomsimpactedtheSalamonieReservoir,theUpperandLowerSalamoniewatershedgroups,coordinatedbytheHuntingtonCountySWCDandtheJayCountyCommissioners/SWCD,workedwiththeArmyCorpandotherlocalstakeholderstodeveloptwowatershedmanagementplansfortheSalamonieReservoirwatershed.TheLowerSalamoniewatershedgroupisimplementingtheirWMPwithacurrent319grant,andtheUpperSalamoniewatershedgroupisimplementingtheirWMPwithaCleanWaterIndianagrantandwillcontinuewitha319grantthiscomingyear.ThenutrientissuesintheSalamonieandsubsequentbloomsinthereservoirbecameahighprofileissuewhentwodogsdiedafterswimminginablue-greenbloomin2012.Bothwatershedgroupsworkedhardtobringtogetherlocalstakeholderstodrivetheplanningprocessandcontinuetodosonowinimplementation.Fortheireffort,

Fig. 10

Figure 11. ILMS Award Recipients: Robin Saywitz and Lori Lovell (Best Student Presentation); Brynne Taylor (Student Scholarship); Melissa Laney and Sarah Powers (Outstanding Implementation); Jane Loomis (Volunteer of the Year); Cheryl Jarrett and Tim Kroeker (Outstanding Lake Association).

         

 

         

 

         

 

         

 

 

• Purple  flowers  

• Branched  stems  are  square,  can  root  at  nodes  

• leaves  opposite,  lanceolate    

• up  to  2.5  million  tiny  seeds/plant  

Purple  loosestrife  Lythrum  salicaria  

• Grows  2-­‐9  feet  tall  

• Blades  flat  and  rough  on  both  sides,  alternate

 

• hairless  

Reed  canary  grass  Phalaris  arundinacaea  

• Large  yellow  flower  May-­‐July,  can  have  2-­‐3  on  

one  stem  

• Distinguishing  ridge  in  the  center  of  the  leaf  

• The  base  of  the  plant  is  fan  shaped  

Yellow-­‐flag  iris  Iris  pseudocorus  

• Up  to  12  foot  tall  grass  

• hollow  woody  stems    

• wide  stiff  leaves  

• large  feathery  flower  head  purplish  when  

young,  brown  in  seed  

Common  reed  Phragmites  australis  

               

         

 

                                     

       

 

 

 

Flashcards!With the fall and winter months approaching, you can print out these flashcards (on the following pages) and cut out along the lines. You might consider taking them to a print shop to print, laminate, and hole-punch on the corner so you can clip them together and use the next boat trip out. Enjoy and sharpen you identification skills for next year!

WATER COLUMNPublished quarterly by the

Indiana Clean Lakes Program as a medium for open exchange of

information regarding lake and watershed management in Indiana.

Address all correspondence to:Melissa Laney, Editor

SPEA 445, 1315 E. Tenth StreetIndiana University

Bloomington, IN 47405-1701

E-mail: mlaney@indiana.edu Phone: (812) 855-6905FAX: (812) 855-7802

Clean lakes Program

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• Purple  flow

ers  

• Branched  stem

s  are  sq

uare,  can  ro

ot  at  n

odes  

• leaves  opp

osite

,  lanceolate    

• up

 to  2.5  million  tin

y  seeds/plant  

Purple  loosestrife

 Ly

thru

m  sa

licar

ia  

• Grow

s  2-­‐9  feet  tall  

• Blades  flat  and

 rough  on

 both  sid

es,  alte

rnate  

• hairless  

Reed  canary  grass  

Phalar

is  ar

undina

caea  

• Large  yellow  flow

er  M

ay-­‐Ju

ly,  can  have  2-­‐3  on

 on

e  stem

 •

Distinguish

ing  rid

ge  in  th

e  center  of  the  leaf  

• The  base  of  the  plant  is  fan  shaped  

Yellow-­‐flag  iris  

Iris  p

seud

ocor

us  

• Up  to  12  foot  tall  grass  

• ho

llow  woo

dy  stem

s    •

wide  stiff  leaves  

• large  feathery  flow

er  head  pu

rplish  when  

youn

g,  brown  in  se

ed  

Common  reed

 Ph

ragm

ites  a

ustralis  

11

               

           

                                     

         

   

12

           

           

           

           

 

• sm

ooth  leaf  edges  

•  leaves  in  who

rls  of  4  (u

p  to  6)  

•  re

latively  show

y  flo

wer  

•  grows  in  up

 to  20  feet  of  w

ater  

Brazilian  elodea  

Eger

ia  den

sa  

 •

leaves  distinctly  wavy  and  stiff  

• olive  green      

Curly  leaf  pondweed  

Pota

mog

eton

 cris

pus  

• 14  or  m

ore  leaflet  p

airs  

• leaves  who

rled    

• leaves  collapse  against  stem  when  pu

lled  from

 water  

• flo

wer  sp

ike  held  abo

ve  water  

Eurasian  watermilfoil  

Myr

ioph

yllum

 spicat

um  

• Leaves  in  who

rls  of  5  

• Leaf  margins  distinctly  visible  saw-­‐too

thed;  

often  with

 one  or  m

ore  sharp  teeth  alon

g  the  

underside  midrib

 Hydrilla  

Hydr

illa  ve

rticillat

a  

13

                                     

           

                                     

         

   

14

           

           

           

           

   

• Large  algae  in  th

e  Ch

araceae  family  

• Who

rls  of  4-­‐6  long  branchlets  

• Star  sh

aped  bulbils  

• Prefers  m

arl  sediments  in  up  to  9  meters  d

eep  

water  

Starry  Stonewort  

Nite

llops

is  ob

tuse

 L.  

 •

Brittle  up  to  abo

ut  0.5  m  long,  often  branched  

toward  the  up

ward  po

rtion,  con

spicuo

us,  

brow

nish,  prickly  teeth  at  internod

es  

• Opp

osite

 or  som

etimes  in  pairs  along  stem

,  may  app

ear  to  be  in  who

rls  on  ends,  leaves  

are  1  to  2in  long,  too

thed,  stiff  and

 pointed  

Brittle  naiad  

Najas

 minor

 

   

• Brittle  up  to  abo

ut  0.5  m  long,  often  branched  

toward  the  up

ward  po

rtion,  con

spicuo

us,  

brow

nish,  prickly  teeth  at  internod

es  

• Leaves-­‐  o

pposite

 or  som

etimes  in  who

rls  of  three,  

-­‐tria

ngular  te

eth  alon

g  the  leaf  margins,  -­‐  prickles  

alon

g  the  midrib

 on  the  un

derside  

• Flow

ers:  -­‐  solitary  in  th

e  leaf  axils  

•  

Spiny  naiad  

Najas

 mar

ina  

 •

Large  algae  –M

acro-­‐alga,  having  no

 true  

leaves  

• Branches  and

 branchlets  o

f  single  column  

shaped  cells  that  who

rl  from

 stem

 •

Translu

cent  and

 smoo

th  to

 the  touch    

 

Brittlewort  species  

Nite

lla  sp

ecies  

 

15

                                     

       

                                     

         

   

   

16

           

           

           

           

   

• Subm

ersed,  very  long,  slend

er  and

 very  

branched  

• Leaves  opp

osite

 or  w

horls  of  3,  very  narrow

 (~2m

m  wide),  1  inch  and

 very  sm

all  teeth  on  

leaf  margins  

• Flow

ers  a

re  very  sm

all  on  axils  inconspicuou

s  

Southern  naiad  

Najas

 qua

dalupe

nsis  

• Long  leaves  can  be  several  feet  lon

g  a  1  in  

wide.  

• Leaves  have  roun

ded  tip

s  •

Leaves  have  5  distinct  ra

ised  rid

ges    

 

Eel  grass  

Valis

neria

 am

erican

a  

 

• branched  leaves  

• conspicuou

s  bulbo

us  bladd

ers  g

reen  when  

youn

g  and  turn  black  fu

rther  d

own  the  stem

 •

carnivorou

s  plant  

• sm

all  yellow  sn

apdragon

-­‐like  flow

er  is  held  

above  the  water  

Common  bladderwort  

Utricular

ia  vulga

ris  

 •

Perenn

ial,  grow

s  1-­‐3'  lon

g  •

leaves  1½-­‐5"  lon

g,  up  to  1.0  mm.  across,  

mostly  alte

rnate,  and

 needle  like  

• sheath-­‐like  stipules  grow  at  the  leaf  base  

abou

t  ½-­‐1½"  lon

g  and  up

 to  1.0  mm.  across  

• Flow

ers  a

bove  th

e  water  su

rface  

Sago  pondweed  

Stuc

kenia  pe

ctinat

a    

17

                                     

           

                                     

         

   

18

           

           

           

           

 

• very  large  heart-­‐shaped  leaves  

• ball-­‐shaped  yellow  flow

ers  

• stem

s  rigid  eno

ugh  to  hold  leaves  out  of  w

ater  

when  water  level  drops  

Spatterdock  

Nup

har  l

utea  

 •

Shrubb

y  •

Purple/pink  flo

wer  abo

ve  leaves  on  stem

 •

Opp

osite

 leaves  

Whirled  loosestrife

 De

cado

n  ve

rticillat

us  

 

• leaves  linear  

• who

rls  of  3  (som

etimes  2-­‐4)  o

n  the  stem

 

 

American  waterweed  

Elod

ea  can

aden

sis  

 •

Roun

ded  lance  shaped  leaves  th

at  stick  ou

t  of  

the  water  

• Purple  flow

ers  

• Form

s  dense  mats  

Pickerel  weed  

Pont

edar

ia  cor

data  

 

19

                                     

           

                                     

         

   

20

           

           

           

           

 

• leaves  narrow,  forked  and  who

rled  on

 the  

stem

 •

inconspicuou

s  flowers  

• plant  is  stiff  and

 holds  its  shape  out  of  w

ater  

Coontail  

Cera

toph

yllum

 dem

ersu

m  

 •

Floatin

g  leaves  with

 rooted,  purplish

 stem

s  attached  to

 leaf  center  

• Leaf  entire

 with

 no  cut  o

r  lob

es,  oblon

g  shape  

• Sm

all  red  flow

ers  that  resem

ble  a  sunb

urst  

• Ge

latin

ous  slim

e  coating  on

 und

ersid

e  of  

youn

g  leaves  Water  shield    

Bras

enia  sc

hreb

eri  

 

• Divided  leaves  arranged  in  who

rls  of  4  -­‐6  and

 feathery  

• Leaf  color  is  brig

ht  blue-­‐green    

• Stem

s  can  be  up

 to  five  feet  long  and

 trail  

becoming  erect  abo

ve  th

e  water  su

rface  

Parrot  feather  

Myr

ioph

yllum

 aqu

aticum

 

 •

Leaves  alte

rnate,  both  subm

erged  flo

ating  

• Leaves  1.5  –  2.5  inches  wide  and  1-­‐7  inches  

long  

• Leaves  elliptic  and

 pointed  

• Prod

uces  th

ick  spikes  of  greenish

 flow

ers  

above  water  su

rface    

Illinois  Pondweed  

Pota

mog

eton

 illin

oens

is    

 

21

                                     

           

                                     

         

 

   

22

Aquatic Invasive Monitoring Plant HighlightThiswillbethe16thplantintheplanthighlightseries.WewillbefeaturingoneaquaticplantineachWater Column

issue.Wewillfeaturebothnativeandinvasiveplantstoimproveourplantidentificationskills.

Water Stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), NATIVE

Waterstargrassisasubmergedplantcommonlyfoundinfreshwaterrivers,streams,andlakesthroughoutNorthandCentralAmerica.Waterstargrassisnamedforitssmallstar-shapedyellowflowersthatriseabovethe

water’ssurface.Theplant’sdark-greenleavesarelong,narrow,andgrass-like.Theleavesarearrangedalternatelyonfreelybranchingstemsandhavenoprominentmidvein.Theleavesarecommonly10-14cmlongand2-6mmwideandstemscangrowupto2mlong.Waterstargrassisknowntogrowtogetherintomasses

inshallowwaters,upto1mdeep.

Waterstargrassprovidesfishcoverandgoodhabitatformacroinvertevrates.Waterfowl,especiallyducks,areattractedtotheplantasafoodsource.

YoucanfindmoreinformationaboutourInvasivePlantMonitoringProgramandwaterstargrassontheCleanLakesProgramwebsitewww.indiana.edu/~clp.WewillbeupdatingtheInvasivePlantMonitoringpageto

includelinkstoseveralresourcesandtipsonidentificationguides.

Identificationtips:•Longgrass-likeleaves•Alternateleaf arrangementwithnoprominentmidvein•Smallyellowflowerswith6narrowpetals

23