Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring by Natural Resources Agencies in the United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aquatic plant monitoring is becoming increasingly important to document the spread and introduction of nonnative plant species. This paper presents results from a telephone poll of state-agency biologists familiar with plant monitoring; natural resources agencies in all fifty United States were contacted. Twenty-seven states conduct some form of aquatic plant monitoring. Of the states without programs, fourteen believed that macrophyte monitoring was needed. Seven states conduct full-scale aquatic plant monitoring and twenty states have partial programs (i.e., a limited number of waters, selected species, or short-term). Although quantitative information is considered ideal, most states collect semi-quantitative data. The primary reason for this situation is a lack of funding — sixteen states conducting semi-quantitative monitoring believed that program expansion was necessary. Monitoring data are routinely used in formulating management strategies, most frequently for nonnative plant control. However, a number of native plants (e.g., Myriophyllum laxum) were listed as nuisance species, becoming the focus of control and monitoring programs in eight states. Based on the knowledge shared by the poll participants, a few general recommendations on aquatic plant monitoring are presented.