Biologists with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) are conducting research on largemouth bass and waterfowl populations in the Spring Creek arm of Lake Seminole. The researchers will evaluate the effects of an herbicide being used to control the growth of hydrilla. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began treating hydrilla in Spring Creek with the aquatic herbicide flouridone (Sonar) as part of their "Hydrilla Action Plan", in May 2000. The goals are to reduce hydrilla to 20 - 40 percent of the surface of Lake Seminole and to restore native aquatic vegetation.
"Hydrilla is a non-native plant that was introduced in Lake Seminole in the 1960s," says WRD Chief of Fisheries Management Chuck Coomer. "This fast-spreading plant covered 76 percent of Spring Creek by 1997 and created many problems including poor water quality, reductions in fish growth and difficulties in boat navigation."
Impacts of hydrilla treatment include:
- Treatment controlled hydrilla on 3,400 acres in Spring Creek.
- Pondweeds, eelgrass and other native plants are growing again in areas previously dominated by hydrilla.
- Radio-tagged largemouth bass within the treatment area have not changed movement or behavior patterns.
- Growth of young largemouth bass has increased. Small striped bass were abundant for the first time in many years in Spring Creek in the fall of 2002.
- A creel survey conducted in 2001 showed that anglers spent more time fishing in Spring Creek than before the treatment.
The results of this aquatic herbicide treatment are positive for anglers. Lake Seminole also is popular with duck hunters, and some of these hunters are concerned that this same treatment is negatively affecting duck populations on this lake.
"Preliminary results from survey research indicate that the reduction of hydrilla in Spring Creek has not affected the total number of ducks wintering at Lake Seminole," says WRD State Waterfowl Biologist Greg Balkcom. "The ducks have simply begun using alternative areas of the lake, and to be successful next fall, duck hunters will need to do the same."
The Corps of Engineers plans to continue the application of flouridone on Spring Creek for one more year, followed by two years without treatment. During this time, WRD will monitor and research the fish and waterfowl populations to measure the impacts of the hydrilla treatments at Lake Seminole.
For more information, contact Greg Balkcom at the Ft. Valley Game Management Office at (478) 825-6354 or the Albany Fisheries Management Office at (229) 430-4256.