Aquatic Invasive Plant Survey (Lake Erie Basin)'s Journal

Nice work in 2019, everyone!
This project has really grown in number of observations and observers. Early detection is important for land managers to make informed decisions about which species to tackle and where to direct effort. Observations from this project have updated range maps for the US Geological Survey's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Point maps reveal details about each plant observation, so be sure to check out the maps section on the database website: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/

In 2020 there are a few, top-tier plants on the move in Ohio I would like to pay special attention to:

1) European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) - Ohio's coastal wetlands have just been covered with EFB in 2019. Maumee Bay State Park, Magee Marsh, Metzger Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge... There was detection further east and inland, in Lorain County, so it could turn up in unexpected places.

2) Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) - A longtime ornamental that has been spotted around Columbus and in Mentor Marsh and Lagoon area in 2019. Its seeds have velcro-like hairs that have evolved to hitchhike on duck feathers.

3) Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) - Hydrilla remains a top concern in 2020. Two new populations were discovered in 2019: one in Wayne County on a small private pond and the other at a lake in Fairfield County. I am curious to know if northeast Ohio has any hydrilla hot spots waiting out there - a large infestation at Pymatuning State Park still persists and could be a source.

Thank you for submitting observations to this project. I look forward to what we will find in 2020. Feel free to tag me in posts if I can be helpful, or get in touch over email (mjw1@clevelandmetroparks.com). I am a resource for aquatic invasive species in Ohio's Lake Erie Basin and I will help connect you to other folks in the rest of Ohio.

Mark Warman
Aquatic Invasive Species Project Coordinator at Cleveland Metroparks

Hello Everyone,

We are up to 650 observations from 196 observers in the Aquatic Invasive Plant Survey project! Thank you to everyone who has helped so far.

This is a brief orientation to the project goals and update on AIS in Ohio's Lake Erie Basin. For more info send me a message here or shoot an email to mjw1@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Data collected here will be shared with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as part of an effort to record invaders in Ohio's Great Lake drainage. iNaturalist records may also be picked up by national efforts like the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database from USGS. Two goals of this project are to stop the spread of invaders and prioritize which plants receive management activities.

In order to pick which plants get the 'boot', we need accurate information on plant distribution and abundance. Two species of nuisance vegetation that we stand a good chance to detect early are Hydrilla verticillata, http://hydrillacollaborative.com

And starry stonewort (Nitella obtusa), which is technically algae:
http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/starry-stonewort-collaborative

So keep the plant and habitat pictures coming! If you are new to the world of invaders and underwater forests I recommend the Ohio AIS guidebook - https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/products/4j7wz/ohio-field-guide-to-ais

If you have access to a permanent waterbody that falls in this project, please get in contact me. We may be able to survey together in the field. I appreciate suggestions, too!
Thanks, and happy almost-spring!

Mark Warman
Aquatic Invasive Species Project Coordinator at Cleveland Metroparks