Team Overview
The Aquatic Vegetation Project Work Team provides a forum for examination of the ecological effects of aquatic vegetation and treatment efforts, discussion and collaboration among scientists and managers working on aquatic vegetation ecology and control of invasive plants. The PWT formed in 2016 out of a need for coordination among new science projects and a recognition of the importance for increased and more consistent monitoring efforts. In addition to scientific discussion, this group has published a monitoring framework to track trends in vegetation species and coverage, and developed conceptual models of aquatic vegetation ecology in the Delta, published an integrated field dataset of submerged vegetation communities in the Delta and conducted several aquatic vegetation identification workshops with live specimens for the Delta research and monitoring community.
Left to right: Water primrose, sago pondweed, alligator weed, water hyacinth and Brazilian waterweed in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta. Photos taken in the Delta by field crew of the Center for Spatial Technologies and Remote Sensing, UC Davis.
Objectives
- Provide a forum where researchers can discuss research and monitoring activities on Delta aquatic macrophytes
- Provide guidance and evaluation of aquatic vegetation management efforts to improve aquatic habitat
- Support the development of detailed work plans for proposed new studies
- Coordinate with the Tidal Wetland Monitoring PWT to facilitate information sharing and communication among other groups also working on invasive macrophytes in the Delta
Products
- Khanna, S., J. L. Conrad, J. Caudill, M. Christman, G. Darin, D. Ellis, P. Gilbert, R. Hartman, K. Kayfetz, W. Pratt, and V. Tobias. (2018). Framework for Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring in the Delta. Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Technical Report #92.
- Conrad, J. Louise, D. Chapple, E. Bush, E. Hard, J. Caudill, J. D. Madsen, W. Pratt, S. Acuña, N. Rasmussen, P. Gilbert, A. Calderaro, and S. Khanna (2019). Critical needs for control of invasive aquatic vegetation in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta. White paper submitted to the Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee Meetings (DPIIC).
- Rasmussen, N., J. L. Conrad, H. Green, S. Khanna, et al. (2020). Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy: 2017-2018 Action for Enhanced Control of Aquatic Weeds & Understanding Effects of Herbicide Treatment on Habitat. Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Technical Report #94.
- Rasmussen, N., L. Conrad, H. Green, S. Khanna, H. Wright, J. Caudill, P. Gilbert, K. Hoffmann, and S. Lesmeister. 2023. Efficacy and fate of fluridone applications for control of invasive submersed aquatic vegetation in the estuarine environment of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ver 2 Environmental Data Initiative.
- Rasmussen, N. 2023. Submersed aquatic vegetation community composition in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta integrated across four surveys ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative.
Join the PWT
To join the PWT or attend one of the meetings, contact the Project Chair(s).
Meeting Frequency & Location
The PWT meets remotely the first Thursday of every quarter (March, June, September, December) via Microsoft Teams.
Project Chairs