Weeds, Trash, Yard Waste and Wakes

• 

• 

• 

Weeds and Yard Waste Dumping

We are receiving multiple reports regarding homeowners depositing weeds and yard waste into the waterways. Please know this is illegal and unhealthy for the waterways. The ordinance is: 8.32.020 Types of nuisances – Authority to abate Section V. Depositing any cut or uprooted water weeds, reeds, brush, grass clippings or any other type of debris into any body of water, including but not limited to lakes, canals, creeks, streams, drainageways, wetlands or any other public place.

Disposal, of harvested weeds is an issue. Harvested weeds are mostly water. When piled, they dry out after a few days and shrink to a small, manageable mound that can be churned up with your rotary mower and turned into a healthy lawn and garden mulch. Please, even when dried out, do not toss dried weeds or grass clippings back into the water. Doing so just compounds the weed and algae problem. Decaying biomass is a major nutrient source for algae growth. Also, if you cut down water reeds growing close to shore please remove the cuttings from the water. The decaying biomass creates navigation obstructions and contributes significantly to the nutrient density. The result is a rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide) and massive algae blooms during the summer.

Thanks for doing your part in keeping the waterways healthy and pristine.

Noxious Weeds

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pennywort, Milfoil, Coontail, Brazilian Elodea and various other noxious aquatic weeds can choke waterways. You can help by keeping aquarium plants in aquariums and clean your boat when trailering from one lake to another.

Most of the bothersome weeds in the Ocean Shores waterways are controlled by treating annually, as needed, using the safest herbicides available. You can read either of the Doug Dorling slide presentations to learn about the toxicity of the herbicides used, which is very low. A better, but significantly more labor intensive approach to weed control would be to wade in the water and physically pull the weeds. Sadly, some of the weed roots are rhizomes. Like starfish, breaking rhizomes into smaller pieces simply creates more plants, so completely removing the rhizome is essential and very labor intensive.

Pennywort is very troublesome in many locations throughout the waterways. You can borrow a long handled weed rake from Bruce Malloy the OSFWC president. You can call him at (206) 818-4118. I prefer to use a smaller 3 tined garden rake. I have found that tying a rope onto the rakes handle lets me toss and then drag back a lot of the offending weed. As I stated above, I then pile the weeds up, let them dry out, then mulch them into my yard.

It is against city ordinance to put biomass into any of the Ocean Shores waterways. I encourage you to report violators to the police.

Wakes

• 

• 

• 

• Boat wakes cause bank erosion. The eroded bank material then fills-in the waterway. The result, compounded by all of the leaves and other biomass that finds its way into the waterways makes the waterway shallower.
• It has been suggested that wakes over 6 inches are illegal in No Wake Zones. My Google search could not confirm this. In Ocean Shores, No Wake and 5 MPH or less pretty much mean the same thing. However, I am not law enforcement and my opinion will not stand up in court. Youse pushes yur throttle and youse takes yur chances.
• Please, Obey the No Wake ordinance and report violators to the police. Wake damage to the shoreline and the resulting waterway fill-in are real issues here in the Ocean Shores (very) shallow waterways system.
• Erosion allows reeds fill which results in narrowing the waterway over time.
• Clearing natural vegetation down to the waterline speeds erosion of the banks.
• Property owners are encouraged to leave a buffer of natural vegetation.

Boat Wake Reference

Even though this was written for Wisconsin, and the laws may or may not be different, the information applies to Ocean Shores. The Ocean Shores NO WAKE and 5 mph speed limit applies any time a boat is within 50 feet of the shore or a bridge. See the “Maximum Speed” page for more information

The effects of Motorized Watercraft on Ecosystems Timothy R. Asplund, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Integrated Science Services and University of Wisconsin, Water Chemistry Program March 17,2000:

Why is shoreline erosion important in aquatic ecosystems? Shoreline erosion may affect water clarity in near shore areas, shading submerged aquatic plants as well as providing nutrients for algal growth. It can interfere with fish use of shallow water habitat, as well as wildlife use of the land-water edge. Excessive shoreline erosion can negatively affect property values and can be expensive for riparian (waters edge) dwellers to prevent and control

How might boats affect shoreline erosion? Boats produce a wake, which may in turn create waves that propagate outward until dissipated at the shoreline. Wave height and other wave characteristics vary with speed, type of watercraft, size of engine, hull displacement, and distance from shore. Propeller turbulence from boats operating in near shore areas may also erode shorelines by destabilizing the bottom.

What do we know? Waves or wake produced by boats is the primary factor by which boats can influence shoreline erosion. Wave heights depend upon speed, size and draft of boat, but can reach heights of 40-50 cm (15-20 in.) equivalent to storm-induced waves., however, wave heights dissipate rapidly as they move away from the boat, while wind waves increase with larger distances. Therefore, river systems, channels connecting lakes, and small lakes are likely to be most influenced by boat-induced waves, as boats may operate relatively close to shore and wind-induced waves are reduced. Shoreline erosion has been documented in river systems and has been attributed to frequency and proximity of boat traffic. Loosely consolidated, steep, unvegetated banks are more susceptible to shoreline erosion.

What can we do about it? No-wake zones are designed to minimize boat wake, so the obvious solution would be to use no-wake zones to limit shoreline erosion, particularly in channels or small sheltered lakes (i.e. areas where effective wind fetch is less than 1000 feet). Currently in WI, boats are restricted from operating at speeds greater than no-wake within 100 feet from fixed structures such as boat docks and swimming platforms. Many lake communities have established no-wake ordinances at 100 feet from shore or more. Seawalls and riprap have been used extensively in lakes and rivers to prevent shoreline erosion; however, these engineering approaches have little wildlife value and are expensive. Maintaining and restoring natural shorelines would help reduce the impacts of all types of waves on shoreline erosion.

Trash

Throwing trash of any kind into the waterways, including grass clippings or other vegetation, is against city ordinance and subject to fine. Trash contaminates our waterways, may damage watercraft and cause injury to boaters and swimmers.

Chemicals

Lawn chemicals and engine oil among other chemicals are hazardous to the waterways. Keep them away from the water’s edge.

These are some of the threats to the waterways. Please be alert to others and act accordingly. For example —

Reed Control

Management of reed growth, control, and removal poses a challenge for shoreline homeowners and waterways volunteers. Care must be exercised when reeds are removed to keep erosion and bank sloughing from filling the channels.

Approved bulkhead placement, with appropriate landscaping, may prevent waterway narrowing and erosion which leads to shallow channels.

Floating Debris

• 

Debris such as old dock material, logs, storm damaged trees and limbs, etc., are unforeseen obstacles until they damage a watercraft. Locating, tagging, photographing and arranging for removal is required.

Low Hanging Branches or Leaning Trees

Trees and/or branches leaning over the waterways that threaten to damage boats and passengers should be pruned or removed. The OSFWC volunteer group has several work parties each summer to help control branches and dangerous trees (but please remember there are 23 miles of freshwater ways… and 8 OSFWC of us).

Bass canal has not been addressed for a couple of years (other than what the local residents have undertaken). Maybe this year? Is there a Bass Canal resident who would allow branches to be piled up on their property? The city public works department comes with their big truck and shredder/chipper to shred and remove the harvested limbs. If you are willing to participate, the city would need access to get close to the water’s edge. You can see in other work party photos how we pile the brush up in preparation for the Public Works crew.