Task 1: Aquatic Plant Survey The Contractor shall conduct aquatic plant surveys on all waterbodies during the peak of the 2025 growing season, between July 15, 2025, and August 31, 2025. Survey points shall be placed along transects across the waterbodies and recorded using a sub-meter accurate GPS unit. At each sampling point, the Contractor shall observe plants directly or using aquatic plant rakes, and note all submergent, floating, and emergent aquatic plant species, assess which species are dominant, estimate plant cover (percent aerial coverage of the lake bottom), and biovolume (percent of space in the water column taken up by plants). Plant cover and biovolume will be visually ranked according to a scale of 0%, 1-24%, 25-49%, 50-74%, and greater than 75%. The Contractor shall estimate the area of shoreline stands of Phragmites australis in square feet. The Contractor shall allow DSR staff to accompany the survey team on a minimum of one waterbody survey to observe survey methods and techniques to ensure future survey comparability. The Contractor shall be responsible for supplying all equipment, labor, and software required to conduct the survey and produce the reports. Task 2: Data analysis and reporting The Contractor shall prepare maps displaying the survey results. For each waterbody, maps shall be prepared displaying plant cover and plant biovolume at survey points. For each observed invasive plant species at each waterbody, the Contractor shall prepare maps displaying polygons of the estimated acreage and density, based on survey point observations. Maps will be used to guide future management efforts of invasive species. The Contractor shall also provide a geodatabase containing the collected survey data to support future comparative mapping projects. The Contractor shall prepare a written report summarizing survey methods and results, which shall include a list of the native and non-native plant species observed at each waterbody. The report shall also include management recommendations. The maps and report shall be completed by December 31, 2025.
