Aquatic Habitat Restoration in Little Bear Creek Lake Joe Jernigan Aquatic Plant Manager Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

Aquatic Habitat Restoration Aquatic Habitat Restoration in Little Bear Creek Lake in Little Bear Creek Lake

Joe JerniganJoe Jernigan

Aquatic Plant ManagerAquatic Plant Manager

Alabama Wildlife and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater FisheriesFreshwater Fisheries

Mission StatementMission Statement

The mission of the The mission of the Wildlife and Freshwater Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is to Fisheries Division is to manage, protect, manage, protect, conserve, and enhance conserve, and enhance the wildlife and aquatic the wildlife and aquatic resources of Alabama for resources of Alabama for the sustainable benefit of the sustainable benefit of the people of Alabama.the people of Alabama.

We Work to Protect The We Work to Protect The ResourceResource

We Work to Improve the Quality We Work to Improve the Quality of Hunting and Fishing in the of Hunting and Fishing in the

State State

Areas that look like this we change Areas that look like this we change to thisto this

Good habitatGood habitat

Little Bear Creek ReservoirLittle Bear Creek Reservoir

Little Bear ProjectLittle Bear Project

B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S.

Little Bear Millennium GroupLittle Bear Millennium Group

Bear Creek Development AuthorityBear Creek Development Authority

Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater FisheriesFisheries

What’s Missing?What’s Missing?

Several limitations have likely prevented Several limitations have likely prevented natural establishment of submersed natural establishment of submersed native aquatic plants in LBCL:native aquatic plants in LBCL:

absence of a source of aquatic plant absence of a source of aquatic plant propagulespropagules

water-level fluctuationwater-level fluctuation

HerbivoryHerbivory

ApproachApproach

Monitor emergent vegetation with the Monitor emergent vegetation with the water willow beds present alreadywater willow beds present already

Plant native submerged aquatic vegetation Plant native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and evaluate the success(SAV) and evaluate the success

Water willowWater willow

hydroseedinghydroseeding

Approved SAVApproved SAV

Valisineria (2 forms), Valisineria (2 forms), V. americanaV. americana

Water stargrass, Water stargrass, Heteranthera dubiaHeteranthera dubia

Elodea, Elodea, E. canadensisE. canadensis

Sago pondweed, Sago pondweed, Potamogeton pectinatusPotamogeton pectinatus

American pondweed, American pondweed, P. nodosusP. nodosus

Giant pondweed, Giant pondweed, P. foliosusP. foliosus

Native SAV 06Native SAV 06

Southern ValisineriaSouthern Valisineria

American PondweedAmerican Pondweed

Water stargrassWater stargrass

ElodeaElodea

Grow out facilityGrow out facility

cagescages

July 06July 06

Sept 06Sept 06

Will it survive the drawdown?Will it survive the drawdown?

Year 2Year 2

Get graduate student on boardGet graduate student on board

Evaluate success of different plant species in the Evaluate success of different plant species in the cages. Replant sites with species that showed cages. Replant sites with species that showed the best potential to establishthe best potential to establish

Plant additional TVA approved species that we Plant additional TVA approved species that we were not able to acquire this year were not able to acquire this year

Actually hydro seed areasActually hydro seed areas

Monday Night Tournament Averages 1994-2006

5.95

5.25 5.78

5.76

4.05

3.70

3.57 4.

74

2.75

2.74 3.04 3.59

10.8

0

8.23

8.05

8.19

6.01

5.70 6.04

7.82

5.66

5.82

7.60 8.

66

16.1

5

12.1 13

.75

10.1

5

8.9

8.2 9.

7

15.7

5

11.7

3

9.23

19.3 20

.32

0.00

2.50

5.00

7.50

10.00

12.50

15.00

17.50

20.00

22.50

25.00

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999MilleniumProjectBegan

2000 2001 2002 Slot LimitBegan

2004 2005 2006

Year

Wei

gh

t

Average Bag Weight

Average Winning Weight

Max Bag Weight

BENEFITS?BENEFITS?

Hopefully improved fish habitat which will result Hopefully improved fish habitat which will result in better fishing and better water qualityin better fishing and better water quality

Even if the plantings fail ALWFF has entered a Even if the plantings fail ALWFF has entered a relationship with angler groups that helps to relationship with angler groups that helps to foster good communicationfoster good communication

By getting anglers educated and involved there By getting anglers educated and involved there is less likelihood of them taking matters in there is less likelihood of them taking matters in there own hands and planting invasives like hydrillaown hands and planting invasives like hydrilla

Questions??????Questions??????

[email protected]@dcnr.alabama.gov

(251) 626-5153(251) 626-5153

(251) 331-7066 cell(251) 331-7066 cell