1. Point-intercept aquatic plant sampling Ray Valley, Cindy Tomcko, Donna Dustin 19 November 2008

2.  Development of plant indicators that reflect status of plant community and habitat  Understanding factors contributing to curly- leaf pondweed dominance in lakes.  Short-term variability of plant indicators in a range of lakes  Development and publication of a point- intercept protocol. Suggested sample effort Indicators to monitor, ways of analyzing Recommended frequency of assessment Objectives

3. Highlights from 2008 Completing surveys on all sentinel lakes were a collective effort of Area and Regional Fisheries, Research, SWCD’s, SNF. Completing surveys on all sentinel lakes were a collective effort of Area and Regional Fisheries, Research, SWCD’s, SNF. P-I surveys took a fair amount of time on the large sentinel lakes P-I surveys took a fair amount of time on the large sentinel lakes

4. Help in 2009 - Master Naturalist Program Cooperative U of MN extension & DNR volunteer program that teaches adults about Minnesota`s natural resources- empowers them to educate others and provides opportunities to do conservation projects Cooperative U of MN extension & DNR volunteer program that teaches adults about Minnesota`s natural resources- empowers them to educate others and provides opportunities to do conservation projects Mission: to promote awareness- understanding- and stewardship of Minnesota`s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities Mission: to promote awareness- understanding- and stewardship of Minnesota`s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities

5. Cooperation with Master Naturalist program 1-2 volunteers to help on Aq. plant surveys 1-2 volunteers to help on Aq. plant surveys 1 DNR or SNF Crew leader 1 DNR or SNF Crew leader I forward interest to crew leader, crew leader coordinates logistics I forward interest to crew leader, crew leader coordinates logistics Program coord. believes interest will be high Program coord. believes interest will be high

6. Recommended changes in 2009 Continue sampling 0.7 pt/acre grid with minor tweaks to some lakes (Elk, Cedar, Carlos) to more representatively sample steep slopes Continue sampling 0.7 pt/acre grid with minor tweaks to some lakes (Elk, Cedar, Carlos) to more representatively sample steep slopes Avoid throwing rake over waste lands. Avoid throwing rake over waste lands. Verify plant absence occasionally Verify plant absence occasionally Record depth at sample point, move to next point Record depth at sample point, move to next point  Measuring maximum depth of plants (optional) Travel perpendicular to shore from one VP to VP Travel perpendicular to shore from one VP to VP Capture waypoint and depth at edge of plants Capture waypoint and depth at edge of plants Save waypoints to shapefile, forward to GIS shop Save waypoints to shapefile, forward to GIS shop Topic and justification discussed further on SLICE blog Topic and justification discussed further on SLICE blog

7. What to look at for final protocol Best allocation of sampling effort Effort required to robustly yet quickly assess “status” or biotic integrity Effort required to robustly yet quickly assess “status” or biotic integrity Stratify effort by depth? Stratify effort by depth? 0 – 5 ft zone – most diverse and vulnerable to nearshore disturbance 0 – 5 ft zone – most diverse and vulnerable to nearshore disturbance Focus only on areas with substrate supporting veg growth? Focus only on areas with substrate supporting veg growth? Issue: should baseline surveys follow this same protocol or be more comprehensive to delineate areas of veg growth and species list? Issue: should baseline surveys follow this same protocol or be more comprehensive to delineate areas of veg growth and species list?

8. Analysis Many discussion topics on how to analyze data posted to BaseCamp feedback is encouraged Many discussion topics on how to analyze data posted to BaseCamp feedback is encouraged i.e., Over what depth do we calculate percent frequency? i.e., Over what depth do we calculate percent frequency? Constant number (15 ft) – current method Constant number (15 ft) – current method Compute over depth ranges? Compute over depth ranges? Geostatistics (kriging) the best but most complex way Geostatistics (kriging) the best but most complex way Addresses issues comparing results within/among lakes with differing sample intensity. Addresses issues comparing results within/among lakes with differing sample intensity. Evaluates patterns of areal cover Evaluates patterns of areal cover Addresses thorny issues of spatial autocorrelation of neighboring survey points. Addresses thorny issues of spatial autocorrelation of neighboring survey points.

9. Geostatistics - Examples CLP - KrigingPearl Survey Points

10. Acoustic BiovolumePoint-intercept CLP