Penn State Water Resources Extension Webinar Series
Identifying and Managing Aquatic Invasive Species Questions and Answers
August 25, 2010, Noon and 7 PM
Presented by Diane Oleson, York County Cooperative Extension

Do kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts need to wash their boats when moving
them from one waterway to another or is bilge water typically the problem more
so than surface hitchhikers? Are there any species especially prone to being
transferred by unpowered craft? Because kayaks and canoes generally don’t
remain moored in water for extended lengths of time bilge water is going to be
the primary means of transfer on the vessel itself. If a trailer is employed, the
trailer can also become a method of transfer if it is backed into a waterbody. Any
vegetation should be removed from boats and trailers at the site you pulled the
vessel. All visible mud, animals or plant material and any water trapped in the
vessel should be removed and the vessels washed or dried for a minimum of 5
days. There are a variety of methods for washing available at the “Protect Your
Waters - Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” website: http://www.protectyourwaters.net/

(From a town in Massachusetts) We require boats to be washed before
launching until September. This policy may be driven by staffing and only
seasonal availability of a wash station. Is there a drop off in invasives in early
Fall? There is a seasonal drop off in some adult forms that would be likely to be
moved, however many invasives are still viable or you may pick up an even
tougher overwintering form, so be sure to clean and sanitize boats after
September. If you do your cleaning at home, be sure the water is not going
directly down a storm drain as many of those still connect to our waterways.

How long can Didymo survive out of water, on gear, children's toys, etc.? It
depends on the moisture level. If they are thoroughly dried in the sun, 48 hours
after they are dry to the touch. If you are dealing with something like the felt in
wading boots, it is difficult to get them dry it can remain viable for several days.
You may need to consider washing the toys or gear.

Has Didymo been found in water other than the upper Delaware? Can you be
more specific about presence of didymo in PA? According to the Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission, “Didymo has been confirmed in the East and West
Branches of the Delaware River (New York and Pennsylvania) as well as in the
Delaware River mainstem as far south as Callicoon, New York.” A map is
available at http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/ans/didymo/map_didymo.gif

From the Hydrilla slide - which levels of government control aquarium plant
sales? Federal government has jurisdiction over international and interstate
commerce, states can place plants on noxious weed lists. Practically speaking,
no one is inspecting every shop selling plants or controlling internet sales, and an
unwanted fragment or hitchhiking animal can be part of the medium along with
the plant that was ordered.

What practices will gas drillers have to follow in order to prevent the importation
and/or encouragement of the growth of presently existing invasive species as a
result of any and all aspects of the management of post fracking water?
[Participant comment: have seen the drillers here power washing their
equipment. We should encourage that] Power washing equipment so that seeds
and plant fragments aren’t carried is a good practice not only for drillers, but for
any equipment operator. Insects like the gypsy moth can also lay egg masses
directly on equipment if it is in an infested area at the proper time. Terrestrial
plants will probably be of more concern than aquatics, however, even legal
discharges have the potential to increase the salt levels in streams to levels that
will permit new species of algae and some insects and crustaceans to thrive.

How about the dumping of excess fishing bait into ponds? [Participant comment:
Yes, dumping of fish because of the belief that "if it comes from water" it can
return to water, may explain why a piranha was recently found in a local pond in
Bucks County. Education is key!] Excess bait should NEVER be dumped into
ponds, lakes or streams unless it was taken from those waterbodies. Young fish
are very difficult to differentiate and you can be introducing not only invasive fish,
but also pathogens, crustaceans and larval forms of mollusks. Always dispose of
unwanted bait bucket materials on dry land where none of the contents will reach
a waterbody.

What about water lilies? Even native water lilies (Nymphaea odorata, native to
eastern N. America) can become a very aggressive plant. Our native water lily is
considered invasive in Washington state, but is native to Pennsylvania and is of
value to our wildlife. Whenever planting anything, I recommend you do a little
homework to be sure it is native to the area. That way if it escapes, it is not an
ecological problem. The water lily of concern is Nymphoides peltata, (yellow
floating heart, fringed water lily). Avoid using this plant. Select spatterdock
(Nuphar lutea) or N. odorata. You may want to consider planting them in pots to
limit their spread. They do provide habitat and shade for fish in a pond.