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Invasive Spotlight:
Creeping Jenny Moneywort
(Lysimachia nummularia)
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Creeping Jenny Moneywort is a non-native, introduced species that hails from Europe.
It is a vine with yellow flower blooms that spreads aggressively and rapidly across the ground.
This plant is adapted to both sun and shade, and both upland habitats and wetland areas. It is a facultative wetland plant, meaning that it can function in wetlands with moist to wet soils.
What can you do?
Creeping Jenny spreads quickly along the ground and develops knotted root systems that are extremely difficult to remove! The earlier you catch it and begin removal, the less likely it is to gain a stronghold on your property. It is possible to be eradicated by hand, but requires complete removal of the roots.
Make sure to check out DLWID's Save Our Shoreline native vegetation planting program here to see how to add native, beautiful, low-maintenance plants to your Devils Lake landscape!
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"Kids Don't Float...Give Them Something That Does."
Just in time for Spring Break 2015 -- The Devils Lake Water Improvement District and the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a rainy and windy Ribbon Cutting for the new LIFE JACKET LOANER STATION at Regatta Park on Devils Lake. Spearheaded by DLWID Board Member Randy Weldon and developed in partnership with the Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon Corrections Enterprises, and Lincoln City's Park and Rec Department this station is the first of its kind on Devils Lake.
The Life Jacket Loaner Station is now stocked with life jackets of all sizes from kids to adult, which can be borrowed for use out on Devils Lake, swimming or wading in the lake, or out fishing on the docks. When in and around the water, safety is priority one, and this new station provides the greatest single tool to prevent accidental drowning directly to the public. The multi-lingual station also provides details on the properly fitting of life jackets in English and Spanish, and serves to educate all users of the lake the legal requirements that children 12 and under must wear life jackets at all times while boating.
What else is happening? A lot...from potential changes to the summer impoundment (aka the dam) to a lake wide aeration project...For all the details be sure to sign up for the monthly meeting materials or visit the Meetings Page of our website: www.DLWID.org
Public Hearing Notice: The Devils Lake Water Improvement District will hold a Public Hearing as part of its April 9, 2015 meeting. The meeting will start at 6pm and will be held at Lincoln City Council Chambers, 801 SW Hwy 101, 3rd Floor, Lincoln City, Oregon 97367. The purpose of the public hearing will be for the board to take public input on the potential replacement of the impoundment structure otherwise known as the dam and the overall managed use and/or continuance of the District's Water Right Certificate 69267, Permit to Appropriate the Public Waters #52672, and Permit to Store the Public Waters #R-11968.
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Water Quality Monitoring begins
in May.
It won't be long until the District begins filling your inbox with weekly summer water quality reports!
As usual, sampling will begin the week before Memorial Day and will run through Labor Day. The District monitors and samples for E. coli on a weekly basis...
The water quality results are then sent out via this listserv on weekly basis and posted at public access points around the lake.
We also sample for water quality indicators like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and electrical conductivity.
For more information on the District's water quality program see the
water quality section of the District's website!
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The Importance of Phosphorus
Phosphorus is essential for life on earth! For starters, this element 'is incorporated into many molecules essential for life such as ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which is important in the storage and use of energy. It is also in the backbone of DNA and RNA which is involved with coding for genetics' 1.
'Phosphorus is a natural (e.g. not man-made) element that is found in nature in a finite supply'. The result of 'weathering and the erosion of rocks is the gradual release of phosphorus as phosphate ions which are soluble in water. When plant materials and waste products decay through bacterial action, the phosphate is released and returned to the environment for reuse' 1.
'Until the mid-20th century, farmers maintained phosphorus levels in soil by composting plant waste or spreading phosphorus-rich manure. Then, new mining and refining techniques gave rise to the modern phosphorus fertilizer industry-and farmers, particularly in the rich temperate zones of Europe and North America, who quickly became hooked on quick, cheap, and easy phosphorus' 2 .
'Human influences on the phosphate cycle come mainly from the introduction and use of commercial synthetic fertilizers. Plants may not be able to utilize all of the phosphate fertilizer applied, as a consequence, much of it is lost form the land through the water run-off. The phosphate in the water is eventually precipitated as sediments at the bottom of the body of water. In certain lakes and ponds this may be redissolved and recycled as a problem nutrient.
Much phosphate eventually is washed into the water from erosion and leaching' 1. This is an example of eutrophication.
Eutrophication is, "The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of
nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish.
"Eutrophication is a natural, slow-aging process for a water body, but human activity greatly speeds up the process
"3 - Art, 1993
'Aquatic plants and algae utilize the phosphate as a nutrient. Studies have shown that phosphate is the limiting agent in the growth of plants and algae. If not enough is present, the plants are slow growing or stunted. If too much phosphate is present excess growth may occur, particularly in algae' 1.
Eventually, not unlike all other living organisms, the life cycle of an alga (singular of algae), cyanobacterium or other form of HABs comes to an end and this end has consequences felt by all members of the aquatic ecosystem.
Bacteria and other types of microscopic organisms that live in aquatic ecosystems need oxygen just like fishes and humans do for respiration. Inputs of excess fertilizer and nutrients found in stormwater run-off are used by the microorganisms. Large inputs most often lead to large blooms.
When HABs die, bacteria and other decomposers use large amounts of oxygen to respire ("breathe") when breaking down HABs structures (cell walls, organelles, ...). This leads to anoxic (low oxygen) conditions that are not suitable for most species of fish and aquatic wildlife that are not adapted to live in these conditions.
Sources:
1. http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/308phosphorus.html
2. http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html
3. http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/05/fertilizer-peak-phosphorus-shortage
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 28:
Devils Lake Family Fishing Frenzy!
Brought to us by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this now annual event provides a unique opportunity for young, aspiring anglers to learn the trade on Devils Lake. Hundreds of fish are released into a penned area around Regatta Grounds Dock providing for a fantastic first fishing experience for the budding enthusiast. Bring the kids or grand kids to Regatta Grounds to enjoy this family friendly event!
SOLVE Spring Beach Cleanup
An Oregon tradition for 30 years, the twice-annual coast wide beach cleanups have seen nearly 225,000 Oregon volunteers remove an estimated 2.8 million pounds of trash from our beaches since 1984.
For more information, call 503-884-9571 x317 or register at
SOLVE Spring Beach Cleanup.
April 18: Devils Lake Paddle
As part of Community Day and Lincoln City's 50th celebration the Devils Lake Paddle invites all human powered lake enthusiasts to Regatta Grounds. Launching out of Regatta Grounds from 9 am - 11 am this event will have all sorts of fun activities.
April 24-25: Devils Lake Dash
Come out to Regatta Park on Devils Lake in Lincoln City! Join the NW Jet Sports Association for a jet ski race for all ages and skill levels. For more information, click
here.
The Devils Lake Revival will return for its fifth year! The Revival will be held on Saturday, July 18, from 10am-2pm at Regatta Park. All of your favorites will return: boat tours, stand up paddle board & kayak demos, bands, food, and more!
Interested in volunteering for the Revival? We'd love to have you! Contact us and we'll make sure you are a part of the festivities.
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Find DLWID on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter
In addition to our website, {www.DLWID.org}, you can get updates from the District on Facebook and Twitter. Plus, now you can catch a video or two on our YouTube channel. Watch recent storm footage, get up to speed with our SOS program, or geek out on our science channel!
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Enjoy the spring weather and thanks for reading!
Paul Robertson, MSc Environmental Diagnosis
Imperial College of London
Lake Manager
and
Ava Laszlo, BS Environmental Sciences
Oregon State University
Water Quality & Educational Outreach Intern 2014
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