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Lakeland Restoration Services, LLC is committed to early detection, rapid response, containment, and management of both terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. Our equipment, including boats, applicators, GPS, GIS and vehicles are listed at the bottom. Services - Overview Survey Our survey technicians will find and identify both the noxious weeds and the desirable plants on your property or in your water body. A property survey can be accomplished using a variety of techniques. Plant locations are logged using GPS technology. GPS information is uploaded into our mapping software to allow us to constantly monitor the progress of the survey. Once complete, the data is used to create maps for our customer showing the locations of the plants, the size of any noxious weed infestations and data on the terrain. Based on the results of the survey, recommendations can be made for the control of any undesirable plants. Control Control of noxious weeds is performed by using Integrated Pest Management practices. Every tool in the toolbox is considered including cultural, physical, mechanical, biological, and where needed, chemical. When herbicides are chosen, they are selective, targeting the noxious plants and leaving native non-noxious plants to re-inhabit the area. Application equipment is calibrated to insure that the products are applied precisely on the target area. GPS information is uploaded into our mapping software and used to create maps of the treatment to communicate the process to customers and demonstrate the thoroughness of the applications. Monitoring After an application, the area will be surveyed again to document the effectiveness of the application. Water samples will be taken to check for residue, and dissolved oxygen levels will be checked to insure that the level does not drop below the critical level. Final Reports For all projects, a Final Report is compiled at the completion of the project outlining the tasks performed and any requested information including but not limited to: treatment recommendations, survey or treatment results, herbicide amounts, maps, and other related data as required by law. Point Intercept Surveys Point Intercept Surveys yield a wealth of information, including data that aids in the development of management plans, use maps, and trend analysis. Prior to performing a survey, a survey plan/scope is outlined in coordination with the project manager to include the frequency of the points to be surveyed and the desired format for the results. The survey is performed by first obtaining an orthophotograph of the area and loading it into Manifold System 8.0 (GIS). An outline of the area is digitized and used to create survey points at the pre-determined intervals. Navigational maps are generated for the field crew, and points are loaded into several Garmin GPS units. The survey is conducted using an 18 foot Airboat and a 3 person crew. The pilot navigates to each survey location using the pre-loaded GPS units and a rake sample is collected. The rake is thrown twice at each location. The contents of each rake sample are recorded on a data sheet for the presence or absence of all aquatic plants, including EWM. A sample data sheet is attached. Depth, percent cover, density, sediment type, and surface observations near the shoreline can also be noted if requested. The resulting data is compiled and logged into Manifold System 8.0 (GIS) and used to create distribution and density maps for the purpose of documentation, planning, and treatment. Herbicide Treatments Herbicide treatments can be an effective control method for aquatic invasive plants. Our application systems have been used effectively for Eurasian Watermilfoil control in Idaho and Washington since 1999 and are continuously undergoing improvements as new technology, techniques, and ideas based on project experience become available. Upon approval of the treatment plan/scope, the Aquatic Herbicide Treatment Project Initialization Protocol is implemented (attached). Applications are accomplished using a nurse boat and airboats using the following methodology: A skid steer with pallet forks is used to load the herbicide onto a tractor trailer. Each load is tied down and transported to a location close to the loading site. Herbicide is manually loaded into a nurse boat (Hewes Craft) from its on-shore storage location and delivered directly to the application boat, which remains in the target area throughout the day, insuring a contiguous application. The nurseboat is operated by a two-person crew; a pilot and a loader. Both are responsible for loading the product from the trailer to the boat and delivering it to the application boat. Herbicide is inventoried each time the nurse boat delivers it to the application boat to insure the correct amount of herbicide is applied to each area. Each load is documented. Empty bags/containers (containers triple-rinsed and rendered incapable of holding liquid) are retrieved by the nurse boat to be taken to a landfill or presented for recycling. Airboats (equipped with a GPS and a bottom finder unit) are used to apply the herbicide to the application site. Each airboat is manned by a three-person crew. One crew member navigates the airboat, GPS units, and applies the product. The remaining two crew members opening the bag/containers and add the product to the concentrate tank or granular spreader. Liquid formulations are applied using a manifold boom style sub-surface injection system that is attached to each airboat (pictures at right/diagram below). The collection side of the system gathers lake water from built in water boxes at the rear of the boat using a high volume, close tolerance pump powered by a 5hp Honda motor. The pump generates pressure through a manifold system causing a venturi effect, which pulls the concentrate from the tank, thereby mixing it with the lake water to be injected directly into the water column through the manifold boom. The boom is 8’ wide and has five drop tubes, each 4’ long. Weighted hoses, as an option, are attached to each drop tube, to allow for the injection to be delivered directly into the plant bed. The weights are mounted in a vertical fashion so they will not collect plant debris. Injecting the herbicide directly into the plant bed exposes the plants to a higher concentration of herbicide and protects the herbicide from breaking down too rapidly due to ultraviolet light or water temperature thereby increasing the half life. This is especially important for the treatment of hybrid milfoil, as it typically grows lower in the water column and is more profuse. The concentrated herbicide is monitored with a liquid volume meter that is attached to the manifold system. The applicator controls the flow of herbicide with a hand-operated valve in order to achieve the desired concentration. Herbicide is continually poured from each container into a 25 gallon tank insuring a consistent application. Each container is triple-rinsed in the treatment area during the treatment. The entire treatment is monitored with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Each application vessel is equipped with two GPS devices. By using two GPS devices, the applicator is able to monitor their progress within the treatment area from multiple perspectives. In addition, using two devices insures that no loss of data will occur. GPS tracks are downloaded to Manifold System 8.0 GIS at the end of each treatment day. Tracks are analyzed for thoroughness of the treatment and are available for review by the Project Manager at the end of each day at the project site. • 18-foot, Airboat with 364 ci 550-hp motor capable of carrying 2,500-lb payload
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