Executive Committee Conference Call Minutes on Aquatic Nuisance Species

Executive Committee Conference Call Minutes

WRP Executive Committee Meeting
July 12, 2001

Attendance: Tina Proctor, Scott Smith, Jim Athearn, Paul Heimowitz, Mark Sytsma, Randy Brown, Ted Grosholz. Pat Akers also attended.

1. ANS Plan Workshops - selection of states
California and Montana were selected to receive the pilot workshops. Because Montana does not have a representative on the WRP, they will be asked to appoint one and have that person attend the annual meeting in September. Alaska and Arizona are alternates.

2. Agenda for WRP meeting in Las Vegas, NV

Suggestions for the agenda:

Updates need to be consolidated and there should be a time limit. It needs to be accompanied by a written report. Group discussion at the end. 1 2 hours.
Committee meetings: 1 hour - it was suggested that the committees meet by conference call ahead of time and bring proposal for review to the meeting in Las Vegas
Summary of Screening Process Workshop: 30 minutes
New Work Plan and budget review - Jim Athearn will do a proposal for a budget process
Allow some time for special presentation by Nevada.
Add update on 100th Meridian
Add update on Lewis and Clark
Add discussion of Headwaters vs. Talent Decision - Mark will find speaker
Add a science presentation with a success story - Caleurpa - Ted will find speaker
Review charterBare there any suggestions for changes?
What are we accomplishing?

3. House Science Committee
Scott will testify in front of the Congressional Committee on July 26th about NISA reauthorization, specifically about ballast water. He will write testimony and send to ExComm for review.

4. Letter to FWS for funding for FY2001
Committee reviewed letter from Scott going to Cathy Short at FWS to release WRP funding of $52,150 for FY2001. Discussion of what the money will be used for. Jim Athearn suggested that there needs to be a process for dealing with WRP funding and he agreed to draft one. The committees are encouraged to come up with projects by looking at the current work plans. Another suggestion is to provide additional workshops for states to prepare ANS plans.

5. Updates:

Rapid Response Plan - Pat Akers. Only received 3 responses at the time that it was sent out in April. He will send it out again to encourage more responses. Important goal: coming up with a procedural structure for developing a model system. The RRP gives direction on how responses should proceed. The key word is Arapid@ because it should save time with the use of this document. Needs to be in final form by WRP meeting in September for approval.

Tina got a message from Lisa Owens-Viani that the draft brochure will be sent to the WRP for review at the end of this week or next week. They had a slight delay because of difficulty coming up with good quality photos. The brochure will have draft illustrations as well.

6. NISA Reauthorization
ANS Task Force wants our suggestions by the meeting in Chicago July 24-25. Because of the very short time frame, Scott will send general suggestions to the ExComm for review. ExComm suggestions will be given to the ANS Task Force with the caveat that the whole panel will need time to review and approve at the WRP meeting in September.

7. New Zealand Mud Snail Meeting
Tina attended the first "Annual" New Zealand Mud Snail meeting in Bozeman, MT this week at Montana State University. Minutes will be forwarded when they are complete. Scientists who are studying the mud snail in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Madison River in Montana, the Snake River and the Owens River in California gave reports on results. All of these mud snails are clones and are parthenogenic, probably introduced by aquaculture near the upper Snake River. These snails have also been found in Lake Ontario and at the mouth of the Columbia River. Early research is showing huge negative effects on mayflies, midges, caddisflies, etc. Studies will be extended to organisms that depend on these macroinvertebrates.

Notes prepared by Tina Proctor, 303-236-7862, ext. 260 or bettina_proctor@fws.gov