The Rhode Island Natural History Survey, URI Cooperative Extension’s Watershed Watch Program, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management are sponsoring an evening educational program entitled, “What’s in the pond? A look at freshwater invasive plants and their management.” The presentation will be held on Tuesday, October 7 from 6-8:30 pm, in the Weaver Auditorium located in the Coastal Institute Building on URI’s main campus in Kingston. The event is open to the public (including our neighbors in Connecticut and Massachusetts), however advance registration is required as seating is limited. The cost to attend is $5.00, payable at the door. Light refreshments will be provided. Please register by Monday October, 6^th through the URI Watershed Watch office at 401-874-2905 or 401-874-4552, or via email.

Although aquatic plants are a beneficial component of freshwater pond ecology, the proliferation of non-native species can have a negative impact on the health and function of a waterbody. Generally referred to as “exotic, invasive, or weeds”, non-native plants can crowd out native aquatic plants, reducing biodiversity, a healthy mix of plants and animals, as well as harm water quality. The evening presentation will focus on the ecology of aquatic plants, the invasive species presently known to be in Rhode Island waters, as well as some that are in our neighboring states. Management techniques will be presented as well as a discussion of Rhode Island’s new Aquatic Herbicide application process.

As a part of the event, the Rhode Island Natural Survey will accept freshwater aquatic plants for identification. A maximum of 5 plants will be accepted per participant. Those bringing in plants for identification will be asked to fill out a form detailing where the plant was collected (Aquatic Plant ID Submission Tag PDF 91K). Plants submitted for identification should be presented as follows: Collect one specimen of the plant, ensuring that the specimen contains all representative leaf types. Many aquatic species have a combination of underwater (submerged) leaves and above water (emergent) leaves and/or flowering structures. It is also important to collect representative flower or seed structures if possible, as they are often crucial for correctly identifying a plant. Flowers may be inconspicuous as they are often very small and may be somewhat hidden by being located where a leaf attaches to the stem.

Gently rinse all debris and dirt from the plant and its root structure. Place the cleaned specimen in a sealed plastic bag with enough tap water to keep the plant moist. Keep the bagged plant refrigerated until you deliver it to the RINHS staff on the night of October 7^th.

This program is part of RINHS’s Skills Workshop series. The ongoing series of evening programs is designed to provide training for naturalists and would-be naturalists in practical skills such as specimen preparation and identification and use of specialized equipment and literature. In 2008-09, the series is sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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