AIS Survey

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Aquatic Invasives Survey

The Department of Conservation and Recreation Lakes and Ponds Program and the Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership are collaborating on a survey of lake groups to determine the best means of providing service to these organizations. This survey particularly targets those organizations who have participated in the DCR Lakes and Ponds Weed Watchers program.

General Information:

Contact Person First Name
 (required)
Contact Person Last Name
(required)
Organization Name
Lake/Pond
 (required)
Town
 (required)
Street Address
City
State
Zip Code
EMail
Phone

Program status information:

At the present time, what is your level of concern about aquatic invasive species (AIS)(1= most concerned, 5=not concerned)? 

Do you know if any of the following invasive species occur in your pond? If so, how concerned are you about them? (1= most concerned, 5=not concerned).
( See DCR fact sheets for more information on each )

Established non-native species:
Asian Clam
Curly-leaved Pondweed
Hydrilla
S. American Waterweed
Yellow Floating Heart
Swollen Bladderwort
Eurasian Milfoil
Phragmites
Variable Milfoil
European Naiad
Fanwort
Purple Loosestrife
Water Chestnut

Potential invaders:
Hygrophilia
Water Hyacynth
Parrot Feather
Zebra Mussel
Other (please specify:)
What year did you start in the Weed Watchers Program?
Are you still active in the program?
If yes, what do you do?
Please indicate which of the following additional activities your program has been involved in and what year(s)  (If conducted more than once in a year, indicate how many times that year):

Shoreline survey (E.G. Riverways Lake Watershed  or similar survey ):

Vegetation Mapping/Identification:
Plant Removal:
(list type of removal, e.g.: herbicide, harvest, handpull, etc.)  
Removal Frequency:
Access/Boat Ramp outreach/education programs (e.g. leaflets, kiosks, etc.):
Other (specify): Year(s) conducted:
How many volunteers now participate in your program?
How has this number changed over the years?
Have your volunteers received any followup training since their last direct contact with DCR staff? 
If so, who provides the training? 
How often is this training provided?
Are you or your volunteers in need of retraining or new/additional training?
If so, what type?
Please describe your assessment of the organizational state of the volunteers at this time.  (E.g. have you found it difficult or easy to retain volunteers? To keep up their enthusiasm? Is there a problem with turnover?)  
On average, how long would you estimate a volunteer remains active in the program? 

Please describe any results from your Weed Watchers program:

How would you describe the plant condition of your pond or lake?
For the aquatic invasive species that existed in your lake prior to your involvement in Weed Watchers:

Comments:
Have you detected any new invasive species?
If Yes, list species:
For any new AIS, have you been able to:
Reduce the population?
Stop the spread?
Comments:
Has your organization produced any of the following materials documenting the aquatic plants in your pond?
Other (please specify):
Has your organization engaged in any of the following public education/outreach efforts?  Please indicate the approximate frequency of each:
Signage at boat ramps or other locations:
Leaflets distributed at events or through mail:
Press releases/reports:
Public meeting presentations:
Other (specify):
What other types of monitoring, if any, does your organization conduct in addition to weed watching?

Is your program in need of additional resources? If so, please specify what type:
Other (specify):
Additional Comments:

THANK YOU! We appreciate your willingness to take the time to answer this survey. 
We may wish to follow up with phone conversations with some survey respondents. 
Are you willing to participate in such a phone call (10-20 minutes)?   
If so, what days of the week and times are best for you? 

Please click button to submit your survey.

Jerry Schoen, Françoise Walk
MassWWP

Jim Straub, Michelle Robinson
DCR Lakes and Ponds Program
____________________________________________________________________________
Aquatic Invasive Species
The following information is adapted from the DCR Weed Watcher’s web site:

Massachusetts lakes contain a wide variety of plants and animals that are essential parts of a lake ecosystem. Many species originated here in New England and are well adapted to our climate and to the other species that live here. Other species have been brought here from other parts of the country and the world. When they are introduced into our region, these imported species are called "exotic" or "non-native."

Because the local ecosystem did not develop natural controls (animals or other plants to limit their growth and spread) for exotics, their populations may increase very rapidly. When a species is able to dominate or significantly alter an area's ecology, it is considered an "invasive species."

Many native plants cannot compete for space or food with invasive species and are crowded out or eliminated from the area. And, since the invasive species often does not provide an ideal source of food or nesting areas for native animals, the area can lose its original variety of plants and animals.