Written by Lake Gaston continues to make significant progress in the control of aquatic weeds, although much work remains.
Jessica Baumann has been the North Carolina State Extension Associate assigned to Lake Gaston’s aquatic weed control program for the past five years,
On April 3, 2024, she presented to the Lake Gaston Association’s Membership Meeting the results of recent efforts. She also discussed some challenges ahead.
Baumann began her presentation with an overview of the 2023 Aquatic Weed Survey and Treatment Results for Lake Gaston.
The Fall 2023 survey, which was conducted from August 19 to November 3, 2023, would not have been possible without the participation of more than 150 volunteers at Lake Gaston. Many were homeowners and people who enjoy participating in activities around the lake.
“The LGA Environmental Committee puts together the volunteers for this survey,” Baumann said. “You guys are amazing. We capture way more data than any other system that I talk to with other plant biologists. They’re always amazed at how much data is collected through this volunteer effort.”
The average time commitment for each volunteer was less than 4 hours, but officials said the effort had a significant impact on the progress to control aquatic weeds at Lake Gaston.
Eel Grass Proliferation At Jimmies Creek
The survey identified a significant increase in Eel Grass, particularly in the Jimmies Creek area. “For some reason, this year, across multiple systems (lakes), it seems to have a really banner year of growth,” Baumann said.
Eel Grass, a native species, falls within Dominion Energy’s shoreline management plan, which means treatment options are restricted and must be confined to those prescribed in the SMP.
“You can treat it (Eel Grass) to have egress and ingress to your boat docks, but you cannot have a widespread treatment of it at your docks,” Baumann said.
Note: Click here to view Appendix E (Aquatic Weed Control) of Dominion Energy’s SMP for Lake Gaston
Hydrilla: Winning The Battle
Baumann also discussed hydrilla, an aquatic weed first documented in the 1980s. Hydrilla became a problem in the 1990s at Lake Gaston, when it grew to cover more than 3,000 acres in 1995.
In 2005, NC State University, in conjunction with the LGA’s Weed Control Council, began efforts to control the spread of hydrilla at Lake Gaston.
Efforts included an integrated approach, leveraging both herbicides and biological control through the introduction of sterile grass carp, which consume hydrilla as part of its diet.
In 2023, Lake Gaston officials treated 95 acres for hydrilla, out of the 166 acres identified as having hydrilla in the 2022 survey. The 2023 survey results indicate hydrilla has nearly doubled in size at Lake Gaston, to 329 acres. However, hydrilla remains about 1/10th of the lake area it covered in 1995.
“Hydrilla ebbs and flows in terms of its overall acreage,” Baumann said. “It’s been low for the last few years, and it did increase slightly, but again, not to any level that we are concerned about.”
She said there have been a couple of areas of Lake Gaston that have seen increases in the growth of hydrilla, including the upper section of Poplar Creek.
This year, officials propose to increase the number of acres treated for hydrilla from 95 to 198 acres. They also propose to add 1,385 sterile grass carp to Lake Gaston in 2024.
No grass carp were added in 2023 due to an assessment that determined no additional carp were required to control hydrilla at the levels present during the 2022 survey.
Officials focused hydrilla treatments on Lizard Creek and Songbird Creek in 2023, and while those areas will be treated again in 2024, Baumann said other areas Lake Gaston that exhibited higher growth of hydrilla will be added this year as well.
Lyngbya: A Standoff In A Long War
“Our main problem child… is lyngbya,” Baumann said.
Lyngbya, although native to North Carolina, was first documented at Lake Gaston in the 1990s and became problematic in the 2010s.
It is a filamentous Cyanobacteria, a blue-green algea, also known as black mat algea. It is particularly problematic throughout the Southeast.
Given its unique characteristics, lyngbya (pronounced “ling-bee-ah”) requires a different treatment strategy than hydrilla.
In 2022, there were 1,285 acres of lyngbya at Lake Gaston, according to survey results. Officials treated 375 acres of Lake Gaston for lyngbya in 2023.
“The main restriction to this acreage amount is budgetary,” Baumann said. “Because for lyngbya, you have to go out and treat it for six consecutive months for multiple years in a row in order to gain some kind of control. Compared to hydrilla treatments, which are three consecutive months at price points that are much lower when you talk about from a chemical perspective.”
The 2023 survey indicated lyngbya remained near 2022 levels, essentially holding steady. Baumann said the estimated lyngbya acreage was between 1,134 and 1,377 acres in 2023.
For 2024, Lake Gaston officials were able to secure additional funding that enables them to treat 500 acres for lyngbya, up significantly from the 375 acres treated in 2023.
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To view a video of Jessica Baumann’s presentation, click on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arObv3Ie3jk
Lake Gaston Association’s 2024 Interactive Lyngbya Treatment Sites Map
Lake Gaston Weed Control Council’s statement on 2024 lyngbya control treatments
Appendix E (Aquatic Weed Control) of Dominion Energy’s SMP for Lake Gaston