Vegetation community structure inside/outside the St. Lawrence River AOC at Massena/Akwesasne

Session: Great Lakes Reefs: Research, Monitoring, Creation, and Maintenance (2)

Andrew Brainard, Ramboll, [email protected]
Christopher Fidler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, [email protected]
Michael Kuzia-Carmel, NYSDEC Divison of Water, [email protected]
Anthony Eallonardo, Ramboll, [email protected]

Abstract

The St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) at Massena/Akwesasne encompasses portions of the St. Lawrence, Grasse, Raquette, and St. Regis Rivers, with six current Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) including loss of fish and wildlife habitat. Delisting criteria for this BUI includes, in part, documenting similar habitat conditions inside the AOC compared to nearby reference locations. To evaluate fish and wildlife habitat related to delisting criteria, we compared the spatial extent and community metrics (richness, diversity, dominance of invasives, and presence of culturally significant species) of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and emergent vegetation (EV) at sites both inside and outside of the AOC. The spatial extent of aquatic vegetation was mapped by collecting aerial photography and delineating vegetation based on field-derived training data. Community metrics were determined at both reach (~300m) and plot (1m²) scales with timed meanders and quadrats, respectively. We found that SAV extent was lower inside the St. Regis portion of the AOC. SAV extent was lower and invasive EV cover was significantly greater (p=0.003) inside the St. Lawrence River portion of the AOC. Results add to our collective understanding of BUIs and highlight possible restoration efforts to increase habitat inside the AOC.

Twitter handle of presenter
@AquaticEcology