Ecological Restoration
North America
Volume 17, Number 4, Winter 1999

Michael D. Moore, and Kurt D. Getsinger

 Recent reductions in government assistance have jeopardized the research and development process established for selectively managing alien nuisance aquatic species such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). Unfortunately, this loss of federal subsidies has occurred at a critical time in the fight against these and other exotic organisms menacing our valuable aquatic resources. In 1996, several public and private groups involved in the aquatic resource management responded to this funding crisis by forming the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (AERF), a non-profit applied research, development, and educational organization that seeks to provide the financial base needed to continue essential research in the area of aquatic ecosystem restoration. The Foundation's membership consists of all parties with a vested interest in restoring and managing aquatic ecosystems, including lake associations, scientific societies, resource management firms, conservation organizations, and private sector product development groups.

As one of its principle missions, the AERF sponsors research and development of environmentally sound products and methods for restoring and managing aquatic ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on selectively controlling exotic nuisance species. While these products primarily consist of aquatic herbicides and plant growth regulators, the Foundation also conducts research that integrates herbicide technologies with non-chemical control methods. It also funds studies on the biology and ecology of invasive aquatic and wetland plants that focus on the "weak points" in the life cycles of these species. In addition, the AERF offers educational symposia and academic scholarships, and facilitates dialogue and cooperation between pertinent public natural resource agencies and the private sector.

One of the major underpinnings of the AERF is the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with the United States government that encourages collaborative research and development efforts among federal scientists and their counterparts in the private sector. The Foundation's initial CRDA, for example, was established with the United States Army Corps of Engineer's Research and Development Center at the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg, Mississippi. This agreement provides the Foundation with access to specialized expertise and research facilities (laboratories, greenhouses, mesocosms, ponds, field sites) found at this facility and other locations nationwide.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million for priority research projects that have encompassed a variety of restoration and management topics. More than 20 projects are currently in progress, many of which have involved partnerships with state agencies such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Washington Department of Ecology. AERF has also funded projects at academic institutions such as Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, Purdue University, the University of Florida, and the University of North Texas. Recently completed AERF-sponsored projects include evaluations of a new selective aquatic herbicide; low-dose herbicide application techniques for restoring aquatic plant communities infested with exotic submersed weeds; the effects of dye colorants on swimming visibility in lakes; and an assessment of how grass carp influence aquatic ecosystems. Ongoing projects are focusing on native plant reintroduction techniques and ecosystem monitoring following the application of selective herbicides.

The AERF also supports technical symposia and articles in conjunction with regional affiliates of the Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS), the Frshwater Anglers Association, and the North America Lake Management Society on the selective control of aquatic nuisance vegetation. Moreover, the Foundation and the APMS co-sponsor graduate-level stipends for investigations into control technologies and their influence on ecological processes.