AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES

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1 Crown Managers Partnership AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES Background As the variety of life in all its forms and functions, biodiversity is the lifeblood of ecosystems. The greatest negative impact on ecosystems is habitat loss, which can displace plant and animal populations or result in species loss. Invasive Species represent the second largest threat to ecosystem health and biodiversity. Accordingly, the Crown Managers Partnership (CMP) has made addressing Aquatic invasive species (AIS) a conservation priority. The Partnership desires to establish common Crown-wide outcomes and management strategies to prevent and/or control AIS. These species pose a great ecological, economic and social threat to freshwater resources. Moreover, since the most noxious AIS have not yet been introduced within the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (CCE), the CMP has a unique opportunity to keep these invaders out. Prevention has been shown to be a more effective strategy than the much more intensive management necessary once introduction and reproduction has occurred, as is the case with most terrestrial invasive alien species. Two of the world s most problematic biological invaders are zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis). They are colonizing lakes and rivers across North America. Indeed, these two species have infected the waters of three provinces and 29 states (and counting) since their introduction to the Great Lakes in They were transported from Europe in the water ballast of ships from the Baltic Sea that delivered their cargo along shipping lanes via the Great Lakes. Timeline for Introduction of Invasive Mussels: Arriving in the Great Lakes from water ballast dumped by ships from the Baltic Sea, zebra mussels were first identified in 1988: By 2000, most of the east coast and mid-west waters were covered zebra and quagga mussels; In 2007 quagga mussels were detected in the west for the first time (they crossed the 100 th Meridian ) in Lake Mead (right outside Las Vegas); In 2009 Lake Havasu & Lake Pleasant were infected (near Phoenix); In 2013 quagga mussels were detected in Lake Powell; In October 2014: Zebra mussels were discovered in Lake Winnipeg, MB. This is the first prairie province to have a positive hit; and In November 2016: juvenile quagga mussels (veligers) found in Tiber and Canyon Ferry reservoirs, MT, just off I-15 and close to the boundaries of the Crown. These mussels breed in large numbers (one female can release over 1 million eggs in her 3 year lifetime). Since their introduction to US waters, control of these animals have cost the U.S. billions

2 page 2 of dollars each year. They can clog water intakes and damage equipment by attaching to boat motors and hard surfaces. They can damage ecosystems by collapsing fisheries, smothering native mussels and crayfish, and littering beaches with their sharp shells that cut the feet of children and animals. Recent research indicates that they also change water quality by causing algal blooms, causing some waters to become anoxic, and even lead to the proliferation of blue-green algae and associated mycrocystin toxins which can be lethal to dogs and harmful to human health. Another troublesome invasive species is Eurasian water milfoil (EWM). It is a perennial, aquatic, submersed herb introduced from Eurasia. It forms large, floating mats that impair boating, swimming and fishing, Additionally, these plants can adversely affect hydropower and irrigation systems and prevents light penetration into water bodies, which robs native plants of needed sunlight. This plant is expensive to control and treat. It is present in the northwest, but there is only one known occurrence in the CCE (Beaver Lake, which is under control and eradication is probable). What has been done? In 2010 the CMP held its Annual Forum in Polson, MT on the theme of AIS. Attendees were exposed to the wide range of negative impacts posed by these species and some of the prevention and control options available. Subsequently, the CMP Steering Committee prioritized developing common Crown-wide outcomes and management strategies, recognizing that networked management of AIS greatly increased each jurisdiction s chances for success. In line with adaptive management principles, the Steering Committee adopted a start simple approach. The following priorities were identified for AIS: Geography: the entire Crown of the Continent Ecosystem: Target Species: zebra mussels, quagga mussels and Eurasian water-milfoil; and Desired outcome: to maintain the status quo in ecosystem biodiversity and prevent the introduction and establishment of the target species in any surface waters. The Steering Committee piloted an initial AIS strategy in the AB portion of the CCE in This was chosen since, with the exception of a federal inspection station at Waterton Lakes National Park gate, at this time there was no AIS program or capacity in place. The pilot project began with a multi stakeholder workshop held in Waterton in September 2012 focused on risk assessment. Based on this, a comprehensive program with five components was established: Set up a number to facilitate rapid response (24/7); Conduct education and awareness;

3 page 3 Set up a watercraft inspection program; Address policy, planning and legislative gaps; and Implement a water column and substrate monitoring program. This pilot project in the CCE rapidly expanded to become a full-fledged provincial-wide program. Subsequent workshops involving AB, MT and BC participants have been held: In March 2013 Cranbrook, BC to discuss a Crown-wide prevention and monitoring program; And in Feb 2014 in Kalispell, MT the group met again to discuss a coordinated response strategy in the event of an infestation by any of the three target AIS. Most of the elements of a transboundary AIS strategy are now in place across the CCE, and include: Legislation/Policy: All jurisdictions now have quarantine authority for zebra/quagga fouled boats and MT and AB have pull the plug requirements. In the four years since the AB pilot was first initiated, amendments have been made to the Fisheries (Alberta) Act. It now includes mandatory watercraft inspections, an extensive list of prohibited species, enhanced authority over conveyances and quarantine of AIS. The Act is enforceable by Fish and Wildlife Officers, Conservation Officers, Transport Officers, the RCMP and Traffic Sheriffs. Specified penalties for failing to stop at a mandatory inspection station and failing to pull the plug while in transport are being pursued in AB to increase compliance. Inspections: In all jurisdictions, inspection stations run at minimum from May to September and commercially hauled boats, as well as recreational traffic, are inspected. Seasonal boat inspection stations are in operation at National Park entrance stations at both Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park (St. Mary s and West Glacier). There are stations in MT at Ronan and on the Blackfeet Reservation between Browning and East Glacier. In AB, in the Crowsnest Pass at Burmis, National Park entrance gate and at Coutts on the AB/MT border. At the Coutts station at the southern border AB inspects traffic going both north and south. This assists MT by allowing redeployment of resources to their higher risk stations. In BC watercraft inspections rove on highways and local sites primarily along the southern and eastern borders. Additional stations are layered on major highways outside the CCE in all jurisdictions. Building from MT s Working Dogs for Conservation there are now certified K-9 units deployed in both MT and AB to detect dreissenid mussels. All K-9 inspection training standards and protocols are aligned between the two jurisdictions. Extension: The Clean, Drain, Dry messaging is used consistently in AB, MT and BC. Working with partners, the CMP produced an AIS pocket field guide. Ten thousand copies were printed and distributed free throughout the CCE in the summer of An update and reprint in 2014 generated another 5000 copies. Alberta is developing an identification guide for all 52 prohibited species in 2017 and has launched the Don t Let it Loose campaign targeting intentional release vectors as well. Monitoring: At present all monitoring results in the CCE have come back negative for Dreissenids. In Nov 2016 juvenile quagga mussels (veligers) were located in two Montana reservoirs, Tiber (aka Lake Ewell) and Canyon Ferry. Both reservoirs sit in the Missouri River Basin headwaters just to the east of 1-15 and close to the CCE in the case of Tiber Reservoir, within 20 miles (32km) of the CCE.

4 page 4 Response: There are internal agency draft plans outlining steps and actions to be taken if there is a positive detection of mussels. BC has a formal Early Detection Rapid Response plan available for invasive mussels. What s next? Complete a Transboundary Management Protocol for AIS. Use the urgency created by the recent invasive mussel infestations on the borders of the Crown to: Finalize rapid response strategies and notification protocols in all three jurisdictions; Determine treatment options and protocols; Evaluate inspection programs for additional locations, longer hours and extended seasons; Identify sites and undertake risk assessments water infrastructure and waterbody locations; Reassess monitoring protocols (frequency and number of sites); and Strengthen involvement of community-based organizations in messaging and education. Links to other initiatives The Pacific North West Economic Forum (PNWER) has an active working Group addressing invasive species with a strong focus on Dreissenid mussels: The Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative has supported work on zebra and quagga mussel research priorities: The Columbia River Basin 100 th Meridian Initiative has a strong focus on preventing the westward spread of mussels and other AIS. The Western Regional Panel on aquatic nuisance species was formed to help limit the introduction, spread and impact of aquatic nuisance species into the western region of North America The CMP is participating in America s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO). The CCE is one of five focus areas. Invasive species are an identified priority and action item. Currently the AGO is focusing most of its efforts on terrestrial invasive species while the CMP takes the lead on AIS. Region 1 of the US Forest Service, as part of AGO, contributed funding for development of a DNA protocol for the detection of zebra and quagga mussels. Collaboration (who is involved) Active engagement by a broad range of staff from a suite of federal, state and provincial agencies much broader than the core CMP participants and including compliance/enforcement and police

5 page 5 officers, risk assessment, parks officers, field staff, planners and policy staff, Canadian Border Services and US Homeland Security, monitoring crews, dam infrastructure and operations staff and communications and engagement specialists. Government agencies are not the only entities involved with this initiative. There has been active engagement and participation by a wide range of local and basin scale watershed groups, Irrigation Districts, NGO s, Tribes and First Nations, tourism facility operators and power operating utilities. Links to other websites Alberta Invasive Species Council: Invasive Species Council of BC: Flathead Basin Commission: Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks: th Meridian Initiative: Pacific North West Economic Region: Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species: The Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN): Products CMP AIS resources and field guide: Website link: Transboundary Conservation Initiative: Contacts: Crown Managers Partnership Caryn Miske, Caryn Miske, Flathead Basin Commission: CMiske@mt.gov Cindy Sawchuk, AIS Conservation Priority co-lead Infrastructure, Alberta Environment and Parks, Cindy.Sawchuk@gov.ab.ca Brian Marotz, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: BMarotz@mt.gov Dennis Madsen, Waterton Lakes National Park: dennis.madsen@pc.gc.ca Erin Sexton, Flathead Lake Biological Station: erin.sexton@mso.umt.edu Greg Watson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Greg_Watson@fws.gov Ian Dyson, Planning, Alberta Environment and Parks: Ian.Dyson@gov.ab.ca Julia DalSoglio, Environmental Protection Agency: DalSoglio.Julie@epa.gov Len Broberg, University of Montana: len.broberg@umontana.edu Linh Hoang, U.S. Forest Service, Region 1: lhoang@fs.fed.us Mary Riddle (Chair), Glacier National Park: Mary_Riddle@nps.gov Mike Bruised Head, Blood Tribe: chiefbird@hotmail.com Mike Durglo, Confederated Salish and Kootenay Tribes: miked@cskt.org

6 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES Mike Munoz, USFS, Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forest Mike Quinn, Mount Royal University: Peter Swain, Parks, Alberta Environment and Parks: Rich Janssen, Confederated Salish and Kootenay Tribes: Rob Davies, USFS, Flathead National Forest: Rob Simieritsch, Alberta Environment and Parks: Agency Program Contacts Kate Wilson, Fish and Wildlife Policy, Alberta Environment and Parks: Cindy Sawchuk, Infrastructure, Alberta Environment and Parks, Thomas Boose, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative Yvette Converse, US, Fish and Wildlife Service: Tom Oliff, National Park Service: Stephen Waste, Western Fisheries Research Center, USGS: page 6