Triploid Grass Carp

Triploid Grass Carp

Introduction

The use of Triploid Grass Carp is one of several methods to control the hydrilla in Johns Lake. Triploid grass carp are unique, olive-green, cigar-shaped fish often observed basking in the sunshine in shallow water as they soak up warm surface temperatures. What sets these fish apart from others is their intense appetite for a wide variety of underwater plant life. Often, plant problems in ponds and lakes are due to invasive, exotic species such as hydrilla, which have no natural enemies in Florida. It is in everyone’s best interest to prevent these plants from spreading and taking over our waterways.

Grass carp come from Asia and also have no natural enemies in Florida. The triploid “grass carp” is a sterile version of the white amur. It has been used in private and public Florida waters for the control of noxious aquatic plant species since 1972. Triploid grass carp are considered a natural method for controlling aquatic vegetation and macro-algae. They can live for many years (20 plus years in some cases). Their ability to live long typically makes them significantly more cost effective than herbicides.

Grass carp usually take six months to a year to be effective in reducing problem vegetation, although they provide much longer term control than other methods, often up to five years before restocking is necessary. When used in conjunction with herbicide treatments, control of problem vegetation can be achieved quickly, and fewer carp are required to maintain the desired level of vegetation.

Physical Characteristics

Grass carp are actually members of the minnow family. Grass carp grow to an average of 15-20 pounds and 20-35 inches in length. In larger lakes with large numbers of plants, they can grow up to 50-60 pounds and exceed 50 inches in length. In Florida, the largest reported grass carp weighed 75 pounds.

Grass carp sometimes appear silver in color, but often display an olive green or dark gray hue on top with light gold or pale yellow sides. Their belly is silvery or bluish-white and fins are light green or gray. Unusually large fish scales are another distinguishing characteristic.

Grass Carp Sterility

When grass carp are able to reproduce, they are called “diploid”. Florida law dictates that grass carp used for weed control must be sterile, or “triploid.” “Triploid” grass carp are hatchery-raised fish that have been sterilized by “shocking” fertilized eggs. This leaves the fish unable to produce viable eggs. This technique is used to eliminate reproduction in Florida waters.

Permitting

In Florida, only triploid grass carp are allowed and a permit is always required, even when stocking privately owned waters. Permits may be obtained by contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

What They Eat

They are normally readily available for purchase year round in several sizes but require a permit. The smaller ones are cheaper but have a higher chance of being eaten by bass. Most grass carp are shipped at about 11 inches. If stocked at a proper rate, at correct sizes, targeting proper plant species, and the right time, you will achieve significant vegetation control the first year, depending on the severity of the problem.

They prefer softer, pliable aquatic vegetation such as hydrilla and milfoil.  Fortunately, hydrilla is their favorite food. This desire for delicate vegetation reduces tendencies to eat most desirable emergent and floating aquatic vegetation species. Grass carp’s selective diet is perfect because it allows floating plants such as watermeal, and emergent species as pickerelweed, lilies and duck potato, to coexist with the fish. This allows these floating and emergent species to both serve as refuge for fish and wildlife, while also helping to manage influxes of nutrients that occur over the growing season.

Plants Preferred by the Grass Carp

  • Hydrilla
  • Coontail
  • Muskgrass
  • Naiad
  • Slender and jointed spikerush

Plants Preferred by the Grass Carp

  • Water hyacinth
  • Water lettuce
  • Water lilies
  • Torpedo grass
  • Hygrophila
  • Cattail

Conclusion

In May of 2019 FWC added approximately 1,000 sterile grass carp to Johns Lake. 500 were released near the public boat ramp and 500 near the Deer Island Cove.  There were also 1,000 stocked in April/May 2015 and 750 in Feb 2016. There is no way to accurately say how many of those carp are alive because we don’t have perfect numbers for stocking mortality (predation by largemouth bass when they are young, etc.). From what some have observed, you start to lose 10-20% per year after age 6 or so. Most do not live past age 10-12. 

FWC agreed to stock the additional 1,000 carp because of the way the hydrilla expanded so quickly in September 2018. When you get the right balance of carp, you shouldn’t have to treat with as much herbicide.  All lakes are different and the stocking of carp should always be in conjunction with small, sometimes frequent, herbicide treatments.

From an FWC perspective Johns Lake looks great. We have good coverage of submersed vegetation and the water clarity is good. We are seeing an upward trend in our largemouth bass population and noticing more ducks as well.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Public Forum on the use of Herbicides on Lakes in Florida

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Public Forum on the use of Herbicides on Lakes in Florida

On February 26, 2019, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWC”) held the last of six public forums on the control of excessive vegetation and/or exotics on freshwater lakes in Florida. This series of meetings is during a “pause” in the use of herbicides throughout the state. The first portion of the meeting, the FWC discussed their four ways of controlling excessive and/or exotic vegetation. Chemical (use of selective herbicides), mechanical (removal of vegetation with equipment), biological (stocking lakes with sterile carp to eat invasive/exotic vegetation), and physical (controlled burns and drawdowns of water). They explained that each lake is unique in the way they control the vegetation.

The next portion of the meeting allowed residents up to three minutes of time to express their opinions on herbicide use. Duck hunters and guides were predominantly opposed to herbicide use as they felt wildlife was being adversely affected by herbicides in that there was no longer sufficient vegetation to support fish and/or ducks. Some of the lakes they mentioned were treated with helicopter and/or airplane spraying. This method of spraying is not used on Johns Lake; the FWC uses airboats, from which they spot treat vegetation.

Fishermen and pleasure boaters were for and against herbicides. Some felt fish were being adversely affected by herbicides, whereas others felt herbicides should be used in conjunction with mechanical and biological means to control vegetation and/or exotics so that navigation would not be impeded. Many felt hydrilla that limits boaters’ navigation would adversely affect the local economy (i.e., bait shops, Tavares Seaplane Base, fishing excursions and lakefront home values).

Most residents expressed concern over hydrilla affecting so many of the lakes in Florida. Ron Hart with Lake County Water Authority stated how easily hydrilla propagates and is transferred from lake to lake by boats. He felt treating hydrilla by whatever means necessary is imperative to the wellbeing of all waterbodies throughout the state.

There was discussion on the bad effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round Up. FWC clarified that they do not use Round Up to treat lakes as it is not effective in treating hydrilla. The chemicals that are being used are all FDA approved and the people that apply them are licensed and trained to do so.

Many felt if the FWC waits too long to continue treatment, hydrilla will thrive and the cost and amount of chemicals used would go up considerably. It is more effective to spot treat more often than to treat an entire lake once or twice a year. The FWC always has to determine which lakes get the most, or soonest, treatment. There were concerns over FWC’s budget for aquatic plant control. Suggestions ranged from soliciting more money from the state, to adding a fee onto boat registrations. Several private companies expressed interest in partnering with FWC to explore new combinations of methods of plant control.

Invasive Plants 2019

Invasive Plants 2019

The lake was treated by FWC for Hydrilla during the week of December 13th. They applied herbicide to treat some areas but did not treat the entire lake. Some hydrilla helps water clarity. They plan to use a mix of herbicides and grass carp to keep in in check. This past summer the high-water levels kept FWC from treatments. FWC is on a pause right now pending upcoming public hearings on herbicide application.

In April of 2019 FWC plans to stock approximately 1,000 sterile grass carp. Grass carp stocked into Johns Lake that would still be alive in 2019; 1,000 stocked April/May 2015, 750 stocked Feb 2016. There is no way to accurately say exactly how many of those carp stocked are alive because we don’t have perfect numbers for stocking mortality (predation by largemouth bass when they are young, etc.). We are working to get better numbers on the natural grass carp mortality curve. From what some have observed, you start to lose 10-20% per year after age 6 or so. Most do not live past age 10-12. 

FWC agreed to stock an additional 1,000 carp this winter because of the way the hydrilla expanded so quickly in September. When you get the right numbers in a system you shouldn’t have to treat 1,000 acres at a time like we did in December 2018. This is no one’s fault. All systems are different, weather patterns are different, and the stocking of carp should always be in conjunction with small, sometimes frequent, herbicide treatments.

From an FWC perspective the lake looks great. We have good coverage of submersed vegetation. Water clarity is good. We are seeing an upward trend in our largemouth bass quality and noticing more ducks as well. 

Some hydrilla comments:

  • In general, the target is 5 carp per acre of hydrilla we want to control.
  • FWC doesn’t want/recommend we control all of it.
  • There is a huge down side to too many carp because it only requires low numbers of carp to control hydrilla, if you add too many carp, they will eat all of the hydrilla and other plant species that are important to maintain optimal water quality.
  • There are mechanical options for removal, but they are either too expensive, ineffective, or detrimental to the native plants.

In addition, FWC was treating the oxycaryum cubense or Cuban bulrush along the shoreline around the lake where they found it during the same timeframe. Other known problem plants are Torpedo Grass.

Algae

Algae

You may have noticed that in some parts of the lake we have an unusual algae bloom that has many of us concerned. We’ve reached out to Orange County EPD and FWC for input/feedback. Jim Sweatman from FWC, toured the lake and on February 11 and 12 to evaluate the issue.

He was on Johns Lake Monday doing creel and Tuesday electrofishing for bass. He did notice the algae bloom in the area we reported. They did not see that type of algae bloom anywhere else on the lake and in fact, the west side of Deer Isle that hooks up to the boat ramp cove did not have a noticeable bloom, nor did the north shoreline east of Johns Cove. They reported that they had a similar winter bloom on the west side of Clear Lake last year. It took a few weeks, but it eventually went away.

When we first mentioned algae they thought we meant filamentous algae. Filamentous algae are colonies of microscopic plants that link together to form threads or mesh-like filaments. While they did notice some  filamentous algae in Johns Cove and in a few places around the lake, it was not at nuisance levels.

Julie Bortles, OC Regulatory Compliance Program Coordinator has confirmed that OC does sample Johns Lake on a quarterly basis throughout the year. The last visit to the lake was February 14 and we typically sample the east and west main lobes. They will be looking at sources of nutrient pollution this year into the lake. You may want to visit the Orange County Water Atlas to look at historic trends in the lake. Overall, the nutrient pollutants look like they are trending down in a good way.

As mentioned, the areas north of Deer Island and south of Johns Cove appeared to the worst area. The rest of the lake is not impacted as much. Several comments at this point:

  1. The areas that are the most stagnant are more vulnerable.
  2. Many other lakes in Orange and Lake County are seeing the same thing right now.
  3. The recent treatment of Hydrilla and the resulting vegetation decay may have added to the issue by increasing nutrient levels.
  4. The water levels are unusually high for “dry season”.
  5. Water Quality test results show the lake overall to be in good health.
  6. Warmer winter water temperatures could also contribute to the additional algae.

Lake Levels

Lake Levels

The official recorded lake level as of January 2nd was 96.42

This is less than one foot below Normal High-Water Elevation. As you are aware this is pretty high for “dry season.”

As we’ve mentioned in prior newsletters, the outfall from the lake goes to Lake Apopka and the pathway is critical to control lake level. On one hand changes in elevation are very good for the health of the lake and fish habitat.

However, since this 39 square mile drainage basin must be capable of getting water out in periods of extreme weather, there might be some conditions that have changed that we are working to re-evaluate. On 2/19 we had a meeting with OC Commissioner Betsey VanderLey, Michael Drozeck Public Works Manager, Jeff Charles Drainage Project Manager, Mike Parker Town of Oakland Public Works Director, Steve Koontz Town of Oakland Manager and John Schmidt JLIA President to prioritize some of the issues we face on about the lake. We agreed that there is a need to update the Storm Water Drainage Basin data and particularly the flow rates. Some of the other issues we face are dependent on the results of this work and we cannot wait several years to get it done. Mike Drozeck will move this work up on the schedule and provide a timeline.

There is a Joint Planning Agreement that was signed in 2016 between Orange County and the Town of Oakland that also needs to be further developed around the “outfall ditch” to lake Apopka. The details around the specifics of who will handle the work, how easements will be obtained, who pays for the costs and so on were supposed to be worked out in three years. We are working with the various agencies to make sure our interests are taken in to account. This work is complex, will take some time, has budgetary concerns, and requires the updated study information already mentioned to be completed.

Public Hearing on Herbicides

Public Hearing on Herbicides

Date: February 26th, 2019
Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Eustis Community Center: 601 Northshore Dr. Eustis, FL 32726
Several of the JLIA board members will attend and provide a summary.

You should be aware that as of January 28th, 2019, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has temporary paused its aquatic herbicide treatment program throughout the state. During this pause, FWC staff will work to collect public comment regarding the FWC’s aquatic plant management program. FWC will hold a public meeting at the Eustis Community Center to gather input about the program. 

Everyone is invited to attend to provide valuable input about the program. This has not affected private property owners permits and their contractors. The issues and possible chemicals in question however could be the same. 

Stay tuned.

Your New Board Members!

Your New Board Members!

We elected new officers for the Johns Lake Improvement Association in
January. The new board is made up as follows:

President – John Schmidt (Johns Cove)
Vice President – Rick Stuebing (Johns Lake Homesites OC)
Secretary/Treasurer (combined) – Ann Megler (Magnolia Island LC)
Communications – Jason Nadrowski (Johns Cove)
Martin Davis (Deer Island)
Don Hickman (Johns Lake Homesites OC)
Frank Dreano (Johns Landing)

     We are working on several issues and have plans to do a better job communicating, setting up a proactive website, and add value to our stakeholders. We’d like to be a proactive one stop shop rather than having you to reach out to all the various agencies, counties, towns, and so on.

     There are several examples of Lake Associations in the County/State that do a great job of this for their lakes. We believe that as the lake continues to be more populated with residences that we can also educate and provide valuable information to new or prospective owners.

     One of the immediate actions is to make sure we have a good contact list for lake and near lake owners who utilize the lake, so we may need help from HOA’s. We’ll certainly make sure the HOA presidents and agencies are kept informed. Please feel free to forward or provide added contacts for us. Let us know if you have any questions/comments.

Johns Lake 2019 Angler Survey (Creel)

Johns Lake 2019 Angler Survey (Creel)

     Johns Lake is a Fish Orlando BIG WATER BODY that is managed by FWC to keep good fish habitat. The creel is just one way they evaluate their work, along with electrofishing, guide reports, Wednesday night tournament results, hook and line samples, TrophyCatch submissions and angler diaries. FWC creels are set up the same every time they run them, so they can be compared with one another. FWC used to conduct them every five years, but they recently shortened it to every 3 years, in order to evaluate the new bass regulation implemented in July 2016 (5 bass limit of fish < 16 inches of which one may be > 16 inches).

      In 2019 the creel will run from January 6, 2019 to April 19, 2019. The creel is broken into four periods (Jan 1 – Jan 28th; Jan 29th – Feb 25th; Feb 26th – Mar 25th; Mar 26th – April
22nd). The computer randomly picks 6-week days and 4 weekend days from each period. It also randomly picks whether they will be out there in the morning, mid-day or evening. 

     The Wednesday night tournament shuts down when we “fall back” from daylight savings time and then starts again when we “spring forward” into daylight savings. There are two randomly selected creel week days that will fall during the Wednesday night tournament time. However, as mentioned above, they track the information on the Wed night tournaments aside from the creel.

     During similarly constructed creels conducted on Johns Lake in 2011 and 2016, they had largemouth bass catch rates that were around 1 bass/man-hr. For example, if two average bass fishers on Johns lake fished from 6 am – 12 pm, that would be 12 man-hrs (6 hrs fished x 2 fishers). Accordingly based on the last two creels, they would catch an average of 12 bass during their trip. 

     There are very few waters in Florida that can brag of catch rates of one bass/man-hr or higher. In the last two decades, bass catch rates this high have only been recorded in this area on West Lake Tohopekaliga, the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Reservoir in Palm Bay, Turkey Lake (A Fish Orlando FAB FIVE) in Orlando and the Winter Park Chain (A Fish Orlando BIG WATER BODY) in Winter Park.

     One of the main reasons Johns Lake’s bass fishery is good is because the water levels fluctuate. The low’s allow for growth of terrestrial and transitional wetland plants, that when flooded, provide energy for the system via epiphytic algae (the green algae slime that is on the stems of plants). The aquatic insects and small fishes eat the algae, which are in turn are eaten by bigger predators. The highs allow for flooding and control nuisance plants (cattails, etc.), and flood associated wetlands, which after the waters subside, bring the baitfish produced in these wetlands, back into the lake to provide food and energy. While you may not believe this after the last two years of high water on your docks, the highs don’t get as high for as long as they historically used to before canals and structures were built, which is part of the reason they must spend some time treating cattails, floating mats, etc. on Johns Lake. However, it is nothing compared to the mess that would result if water levels were strictly stabilized!

     An extreme low occurred in 2001, when most of Johns Lake dried up. It stayed down until 2003, and in the process, large stemmed woody plants, etc. grew on the lake bottom. When the lake re-flooded, FWC stocked it with 250,000 fingerling bass. Stocking of bass only works on new waters and those that have dried up and re-flooded. Only a small percentage of the bass stocked survive after the first year, but these become the brood stock (spawners) that repopulate the lake. 

     With all the energy produced from the flooding of the terrestrial vegetation came amazing action for big bass in 2006 – 2012. This was documented in our 2011 creel. Approximately 400 – 600 trophy bass were caught Jan – Apr in the 2011 creel! In the first year of TrophyCatch (2012), Johns Lake was second in the state for submissions.

     All good things do come to an end, and by 2013, most of the woody stemmed vegetation produced from the 2001 drought was gone. While the catch rates for bass were still good in the 2016 creel, accordingly, with this energy source reduced, we saw a drastic reduction in memorable (> 20 inch) and trophy (> 24″) bass. 

     One trophy bass FWC shocked and tagged ($100 prize) on Johns Lake last spring was caught by an angler within one week of tagging. All the fishery biologists in the state insert $100 trophy tags in bass that they electrofish in order for the research division to get a “handle” on how many are kept and how many are released. In the past few years on Johns Lake they have tagged approximately 11 trophy bass and 9 of the 11 tags have been returned. Fortunately, the anglers released all their tagged Johns Lake trophy bass.

     FWC’s Fish Orlando annual report can be found each year on their website. You can also check out FWC’s web page. They also have a Fish Orlando app available for apple phones, but it only covers the FAB FIVE, URBAN PONDS and fish ID. It is currently being updated to IOS12. Good luck fishing!
 

18th Annual Johns Lake Holiday Boat Parade

18th Annual Johns Lake Holiday Boat Parade

This year is the 18th Annual Johns Lake Boat Parade! The event will be held on Sunday, December 18th at 6:15pm. Come out and decorate your boat with lights and join in the fun! Last year we had 32 boats in the parade, and many spectators at the public boat dock on Lake Blvd.in Winter Garden, as well on the shoreline in many backyards.

     All boats participating should gather by 6:10 PM in the NW corner of Johns Lake. THIS IS A NEW MEETING LOCATION FROM LAST YEAR. The lead boat will start the parade at 6:15 PM by blasting an air-horn several times. All boats should follow in-line and slowly head east. The parade route will follow the northern, eastern, and southern shores of Johns Lake (from Johns Lake Landing in Lake County to Twinwaters in Orange County, where the parade ends). The parade will take about 2 hours to complete. Please see the Parade Route Map.

If this is your first time decorating your boat for a parade, here are a few tips:

  • Christmas lights run on 120v AC and are designed to operate from your home electrical current. To operate lights on your boat, you will need to purchase a DC to AC power inverter. Power inverters are available at most auto parts stores, Wal-Mart, and Harbor Freight. Power inverters convert your boat’s 12v DC power to 120v AC. Inverters do have a limit as to how much power they can generate from your boat’s DC battery. Inverters are rated by watts; the more watts the inverter can handle, the more lights you can put on your boat. Most power inverters above 150 watts will need to be connected directly to your boat’s battery terminals to provide full power as 12v outlet plugs (cigarette lighters) are power limited by a fuse.
  • The use of LED lights provides the ability to power many more lights than incandescent lights. A 300-watt power inverter connected directly to your battery could power over 600 LED lights as opposed to 60 incandescent lights!  Be careful though, as some units will overheat if too much load is placed on them.  Test your lights for a period of time before the parade starts.  Make sure you use UL-approved outdoor lights as the lights on your boat may get wet and you do not want to cause a fire or shock someone on your boat!

Johns Lake Improvement Association Financial Statement

Johns Lake Improvement Association Financial Statement

For year ended 12/31/17

Balance at 01/01/17
$6,884.46
Income
Member dues
1,430.00
Interest received
0.69
Balance with income
8315.15
Expenses
Cattails mailings
263.10
Corporate filing fee
61.25
P.O. box annual fee
68.00
Commercial service charge
8.00
Donation ONP
150.00
Donation FOLA
100.00
Total expenses
650.35
Balance at 12/31/17
$7,664.80

State and Local Agencies

Lake County Aquatic Plant Management
(352) 343-9419
Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities
(352) 343-3776
Orange County Environmental Protection Agency
(407) 836-7400
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (EDPA)
(407) 893-3303
St. Johns River Water Management District
(386) 329-1429 or (407) 897-4346
Orange Storm Water Management
(407) 836-7990
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
(407) 858-6170
Town of Oakland
Dennis Foltz – town manager (407) 656-1117, ext 2103

JLIA Board of Directors

Martin Davis
President
407 877-3455

Ann Megler
Treasurer
407 654-1269

Don Hickman
Secretary
407 656-2392

Mary Louise Grable
407 656-2919