Three years and boat launch steward program is big success

Sept. 24 marked the end of Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch steward program at Bristol and Monkton ponds.

The two ponds see many visitors throughout the summer months, from anglers to recreational boaters to wildlife enthusiasts, making them ideal locations to educate the public about aquatic invasive species. As of 2023, there are three known aquatic invasive species in Bristol Pond: European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), and brittle naiad (Najas minor) (discovered by the boat launch stewards in 2021 at Bristol Pond). There are two known aquatic invasive species in Monkton Pond: Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus).

The presence of these aquatic invasive species in these popular ponds means that they could function as points of introduction for the spread of aquatic invasive species in the Lewis Creek watershed and throughout the state. The goal of Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch steward program is to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by inspecting watercraft for aquatic invasive species and other biological materials, identifying and removing suspicious specimens, collecting data and educating the public about aquatic invasive species spread prevention.

Though the exceptional amount of rain during the summer of 2023 may have prevented a few people from visiting Bristol and Monkton ponds, many were still undeterred. Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch stewards interacted with a total of 230 watercraft at Bristol Pond and 79 watercraft at Monkton Pond.

The vast majority of visitors were already familiar with aquatic invasive species, likely due to the longevity of the Lewis Creek Association boat steward program and repeated instances of boat stewards across the state educating the public about aquatic invasive species concerns. However, boat stewards intercepted 35 watercraft with aquatic invasive species on them before and after entering Bristol and Monkton ponds. If the aquatic invasive species were not removed by the boat stewards, these watercraft could have introduced aquatic invasive species to new waterbodies throughout the state and further.

The boat stewards also helped remove brittle naiad near the dock at Bristol Pond during the free time between greeting visitors. Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation sent a small team to help the stewards remove brittle naiad on July 8, though further work will be required to eradicate the plant from Bristol Pond.

For the third summer, Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch steward program was successful in intercepting aquatic invasive species and educating the public on the issues surrounding these species. Most of the visitors to Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond seemed genuinely excited to have the program at the ponds and many people from the community went to the ponds to see Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch stewards in action.

Research has shown that visual inspection and hand removal of aquatic vegetation is extremely effective at preventing aquatic invasive species from spreading to other bodies of water, making Lewis Creek Association’s boat launch steward program integral to maintaining the health of waterbodies within the Lewis Creek watershed. The program could potentially prevent, both directly and indirectly, aquatic invasive species from spreading to other uninfested waterbodies.