Marilee Chase 1, Rob Hyde 2, Doug Jensen 3, John Jereczek 4, Matt Preisser 5, Henry Quinlan 6, Kyle Rogers 1, Michele Wheeler 7 1 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2 Environment Canada, 3 Minnesota Sea Grant, 4 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 5 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 6 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources October 22, 2014
Presentation Outline I. Lake Superior Background II. The Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species III. Project Profiles IV. Next Steps: Opportunities, Challenges, and Wish List
Lake Superior (Kitchi-gummi)
Shared Resource, Shared Management Note: Ceded territory and tribal reservation boundaries are representations and may not reflect the actual legally binding boundaries
The Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species Ecological Social/Cultural Economic Photo Credits: GLFC, EPA-GLNPO
FISH (n=18) Alewife Brook silverside Common carp Eurasian ruffe Freshwater drum Goby, round Goby, tubenose Goldfish Rainbow smelt Sea lamprey Stickleback, fourspine Stickleback, threespine White perch 5 Trout/Salmon INVERTEBRATES (n=31) Zebra and Quagga mussels New Zealand mudsnail Spiny waterflea Rusty crayfish Asian clam Bosmina coregoni (zooplankton) Cyclops strenuus (zooplankton) Echinogammerus ischuus (shrimp) Eurytemora affinis (zooplankton) Gammarus fasciatus (shrimp) Ripistes parasita (worm) Vejdovskyella intermedidia (worm) Other (n=20) 13 parasites and diseases 7 submerged/wetland plants
New Species on the Doorstep Fishes Bighead Carp Black Carp Grass Carp Silver Carp European Rudd Northern Snakehead Tench Plants European Frogbit European Water Chestnut Fanwort Flowering Rush Water Lettuce Water Soldier Yellow Floating Heart Invertebrates Banded Mysterysnail Chinese Mysterysnail Bloody Red Shrimp Fishhook Waterflea Source: Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Guide (OFAH, 2014)
Project Profiles
Project: Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Complete Prevention Plan (rev 2014) Partners: Lake Superior Binational Program (20+ contributors) Activities: Developed plan to prevent new AIS from entering Lake Superior Vector(s)-Pathway(s): All (Maritime Commerce, Agency Activities, Organisms in Trade, Fishing and Aquaculture, Canals and Diversions, Illegal Activities, Tourism and Development, Water Recreation)
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lakesuperior
Project: Early Detection of Invasive Fishes in Lake Superior (2010-present) Partners: USFWS, USEPA, Fond du Lac Band, 1854 Treaty Authority, OMNR, DFO, Ashland County Activities: Surveillance of invasive fishes at key locations (St. Louis River, Upper St. Marys River, Thunder Bay and Chequamegon Bay) using multiple gear types Vector(s)/Pathway(s): Marine Commerce (ballast, hull fouling)
Project: Early Detection of Invasive Fishes in Lake Superior (2010-present) Results from 4 years (2010-2013) # fish captured: 77,482 # fish species captured: 58+ # invasive fish species captured: 11 # new invasive fish species: 0
Project: The Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Guide (2014) Partners: Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Lake Superior Binational Program, Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Activities: developed species identification & reporting guide Vector(s)/Pathway(s): Water Recreation (boating), Fishing & Aquaculture, Tourism & Development
Project: The Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Guide (2014) Taxonomic keys and species profiles physical characteristics, habitat, distribution, impacts 26 established species and 18 threat species (fish, plants, invertebrates) How to report new sightings Furthers clean-drain-dry messaging http://www.invadingspecies.com
Project: Paddle the Pearls (2013-2014) Partners: WDNR, Citizen Based Monitoring Network, Univ WI Extension, River Alliance of WI, Project RED, Cable Natural History Museum, Solstice Outfitters, Bad River Tribe, No. Great Lakes Visitor Center, others. Activities: on-water educational experience that involves AIS training (identification & reporting) Vector(s)/Pathway(s): Water Recreation
Project: Paddle the Pearls (2013-2014) ~7 trips per summer, 15-20 people/trip Starts with classroom training prior to field visits Provides use of kayaks & PFDs Hoping to develop more longterm citizen volunteers http://fyi.uwex.edu/paddlethepearls
Project: Lake Superior Binational Forum AIS Outreach (on-going) Partners: Lake Superior Binational Forum & multiple partners & guests Activities: Lake Superior Day; weekly radio show; basinspecific website; newsletters; targeted outreach Vector(s)/Pathway(s): All
Project: Lake Superior Binational Forum AIS Outreach (on-going) http://www.superiorforum.org
Project: Joint MN/WI/MI Public Service Announcement (2014) Partners: Michigan DEQ, Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Activities: 30-sec video spot targeting boaters and anglers with consistent clean, drain, dry message Vector(s)/Pathway(s): Water Recreation, Fishing & Aquaculture
Project: Joint MN/WI/MI Public Service Announcement (2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njbintlii8s (or YouTube search Michigan prevent invasive species )
Project: Development of Lake-wide Planning Strategies (2003-present) Partners: Lake Superior Binational Program and Great Lakes Fishery Commission s Lake Superior Committee (20+ agencies = U.S. & Canadian federal, state, provincial, tribal, and First Nations) Activities: AIS has figured prominently in major basinwide plans/reports Vector(s)/Pathway(s): All
Project: Development of Lake-wide Planning Strategies (2003-present) LS Fish Community Objectives (2003) LS Zero Discharge Demonstration Program (2012) LS Ecosystem Climate Change Adaptation Report(Jan 2014) LS Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (in prep) LS LAMP (planned 2015)
Next Steps: Opportunities Most planning is done! Ample knowledge, experience Multiple agencies & organizations Generally, we know what we have to do Interest in AIS has never been higher! For Lake Superior, it is not too late! (sea lamprey notwithstanding)
Next Steps: Challenges Logistics (huge lake with long remote shoreline) - complexity of field monitoring; difficulty tracking activities of so many groups Balancing AIS resources: Prevention Vs. Management Public Engagement & Interest - broadening & sustaining constituency Climate Change
Next Steps: Moving Forward Maintain the AIS prevention momentum for Lake Superior Assess the extent of implementation of the AISCPP are vectors/pathways being adequately addressed? Evolve the field surveillance (e.g. methods, locations, species, life stages) Consider having new lakewide species-specific prevention plans or collaborations (e.g., invasive Phragmites) Explore having a formal network of invasive-free zones around Lake Superior.
Thank you! Matt Preisser Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Great Lakes preisserm@michigan.gov