The Lakes Preservation Committee monitors Lake Lariat and works to keep it safe, pleasing to look at, free from odors, good for fishing and boating, and swimmable. They study issues, implement solutions, and address concerns about the fishery, invasive species, water quality issues like algae blooms and E. coli, and encourage ways to reduce nutrients entering the lake. Volunteers are needed, especially for the role of secretary.

1. Lakes Preservation Committee
Chair – Dr. Andy Rogers
Secretary –
Don Bouchard
Frank Gaylord
Dave Hardy
Linda Jacobson
Dominic Scaduto
Lila West
John Bugno
Randy Schnoebelen
Mike Jones
John Glynn
Martin Greenbaum
• POACRE All Member Meeting
• July 2014
Volunteers do not
necessarily have the
time; they just have
the heart. Elizabeth
Andrew

2. Goals for Lake Lariat:
– Safe -
– Pleasing To Look At -
– Free From Unpleasant Odors -
– Good For Fishing -
– Good For Boating -
– Swimmable -
– Healthy

3. What the LPC Does
– Monitor Lake Lariat.
– Study the literature.
– Interview experts in government, indusry and
academia.
– When we get new information, we review it carefully.
– Look for environmentally sound solutions
– Implement solutions.
– Not looking for quick fixes or expensive, hard to maintain
equipment.
– Address member concerns
– Working with POACRE administration to bring in
outside dollars
– Foundation for Community Partnerships
– County

5. Lake Lariat in 2008

6. Fishery
• DNR study (2009) shows lack of cover for fish
development in Lake Lariat. This includes
downed trees and wetland/aquatic plants.
• Solution: We installed artificial cover in 2011
and 2012.
• Floating islands provide cover as well.
• Fisheries expert Dave Beasley recommended
encouraging fishermen to take home what
they legally catch to improve the fishery.

7. Fishery
• Trophy Bass Management was implemented
in Lake Lariat in 1991.
• Trophy Bass Management allows anglers to
keep five Largemouth Bass per day.
• All bass between 11 and 15 inches in length
must be released. One bass, greater than 15
inches in length, may be kept as part of the 5
fish creel.

8. Fishery
• MDE recommended removing the larger bass
that are more highly contaminated with
mercury.
• DNR does not recommend this strategy based
on the Trophy Bass Management.
• Has Trophy Bass Management for 23 years
improved the fishery?

9. Invasive Species
• Corbicula clams
• Snakeheads

10. Snakeheads
• Two have been reported caught on CRE property.
• If you catch one, kill it, then report it to the Md.
Department of Natural Resources.
• If you catch it in or near CRE, please report it to the
office here.
• There is no evidence of any in Lake Lariat.
• They are reported to be “Delicious”.

11. Corbicula (Asian) clams
• Twenty or so were found at Lake Lariat Beach
this summer.
• According to DNR they could have been
introduced to the lake by several means.
•No known way to remove them.
•You can harvest them but it requires a
permit to stock them in a pond or lake.
•They are known for being a delicacy,
however, DNR advised against
harvesting them out of the lake.

12. Fish Habitat
Installation

13. Installed Units

14. Stormwater Management
Durango Trail Access to
Lake Lariat

15. Lake Lariat Water Quality
Concerns
• Blue green algae
• Mercury
• E. Coli
• Eutrophication
15

16. Blue Green Algae
July 2011
16
No blooms have been
reported on Lake Lariat
for several years
although other ponds
are infested with it.

17. Mercury
• Lake Lariat is considered impaired
because it is not safe to eat a constant
diet of large mouth bass (no more than 10
8-ounce servings per year.) and other fish
from the lake.
• US EPA safe drinking water level for
mercury is 1000 times higher than the
mercury level in Lake Lariat water.
17

18. Calvert County Testing Results for E. Coli
2003 – 2014
• Average E. Coli rating based on the geometric mean of 5 samples taken the same day on the Lake
Lariat beach
• If geometric mean exceeds 235 cells/ml, Calvert County issues an advisory
• If the 30-day geometric mean exceeds 126 ml, Calvert County issues an advisory.
• For advisories go to:
http://www.calverthealth.org/community/environmentalhealthservices/beachmap.htm

19. Causes of E. Coli
• Failing septic systems
• Stormwater carrying pet waste
• Wild animals
Major rain events can
wash a fair amount of
animal waste into any
nearby bodies of
water.

20. Microcystis Auregenosa
20

21. Phosphate Concentration
21
TP (total P) - below 0.01 mg/L (<10μg/L)

22. Nitrate/Nitrite Concentration
22

23. Ammonia Concentration
23
EPA’s recommended criteria is
0.02 mg/L for freshwater
aquatic. Acute lethal levels for
fish ranges 0.2 to 2.0 mg/L

24. Ammonia Concentration
24
EPA’s recommended criteria is
0.02 mg/L for freshwater
aquatic. Acute lethal levels for
fish ranges 0.2 to 2.0 mg/L

25. Oxygen Concentration
25
Depth
in
Feet

26. Some Don’ts
Do NOT put Hydrilla in our lake.
•It can become so dense that swimmers and
motorboats cannot pass.
•It can harbor blue green algae leading to the death
of birds including bald eagles.
•It can grow in 20 feet of water.
If you think you have a great idea for how to fix the
lake, please come to the LPC. We are in
communication with experts.

27. What you can do.
Reduce nutrient inputs to the lake
Rain gardens
Rain barrels
Reduce fertilizer use
Fix your septic system
Encourage proper stormwater management

28. 28
Volunteers Needed
We need a secretary
•To Volunteer
Contact CRE office or use CRE webpage
Unofficial Facebook Page:
CRE Lakes