2008-2010 Research & Development Information and Specifications
US Army Corps Research Team
In collaboration with the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (AERF), Water Exchange Evaluations were carried out by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Research and Development Center (ERDC), on the Pend Oreille Project during the summer of 2008, and the initial observations shows that the LittLine™ was able to make the herbicide applications at desired depths throughout the water column.
In the Pack River treatment sites, through an independent review by Mississippi State University (MSU) scientists in 2008, control was rated at 92% with little to no impact to the native plant community as outlined in the report, "Aquatic Plant Community and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) Management Assessment in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho for 2008" (The report can be downloaded from the link above). The Pack River liquid tricolpyr treatments were performed using the LittLine™ system. Only the bottom half (1/2) of the water column was treated with liquid triclopyr, using 50% less aquatic herbicides than would be required through conventional surface applications. Control can be rated at 92% (EWM presence pre treatment at 39 points, EWM presence post treatment at 3 points).
In July and Augsut 2009, Clean Lakes, Inc. participated as a Research Cooperator with the the Chemical Control and Physiological Processes Team (CEERD-EP-P), U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and Mississippi State University, Geosystems Research Institute to carry out research activities for the Sanders County Extension and the Montana Department of Agriculture's Eurasian Watermilfoil/Curlyleaf Pondweed Research Project. The U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Chemical Control and Physiological Processes Team led the Research Cooperators in conducting water exchange evaluations and aquatic herbicide trials for controlling mixed stands of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) and curlyleaf pondweed (CLP) in selected locations in Noxon Rapid Reservoirs, Montana. Pre and Post Treatment Aquatic Vegetation surveys were performed by the research team from Mississippi State University, Geosystems Research Institute (MSU-GRI). Water-exchange evaluations were conducted using the inert tracer dye, rhodamine (RWT), approved for use by USEPA in surface waters, using in-situ fluorometric instrumentation. The RWT applications were conducted using a multi-depth water injection system (LittLine®, Clean Lakes Inc.), simulating an operational aquatic herbicide application calibrated for delivery to targeted submersed plant stands. An herbicide combination of the systemic auxin triclopyr (Kraken) and endothall (Aquathol K) to control both EWM and CLP was used, as these target plants occur as mixed stands in the reservoir. Application rates were selected based on the results of the water exchange evaluations conducted prior to the herbicide treatments (A Report on the Water Exchange Evaluations will be provided under separate cover from the ERDC).Herbicide applications were also conducted using a multi-depth water injection system (LittLine®, Clean Lakes Inc.).
October 28, 2009, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory (ERDC-EL), and Clean Lakes, Inc. entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for the “Research and Testing of a System for Precision Littoral Zone Application of Aquatic Herbicides”. The Scope of the Cooperative Research and Development Program is to provide for the joint conduct of research and development investigations related to coupling the LittLine® System (Littoral Zone Treatment Technology) with ERDC-EL Hydroacoustic Detection and Characterization capabilities (SAVEWS™ and related developments). The technologies will be used together to achieve precision application of herbicide to submerged, nuisance aquatic vegetation.
The Project Objective is to design a LittLine® System that utilizes SAVEWSTM or variations of that technology in an optimized system for automated aquatic herbicide applications. Field testing and modifications will yield a new real-time application system capable of delivering excellent plant control with a reduction in the amount of herbicide required by conventional delivery methods.
