WRP Executive Committee Meeting
Attendance: Tina Proctor, Scott Smith, Mark Systma, Paul Heimowitz, Ted Grosholz, John Chapman, Randy Brown, Blaine Parker
1. NISA Reauthorization
2. Agenda for WRP meeting in September
3. Letter to Governors
4. Screening Process Agenda - Sept. 25/26
Introduction - Scott
Next morning - panel discussion
5. ANS Plan Workshop
6. Funds from ANS Task Force
7. Oregon passed Ballast Water legislation
8. Legislation from Congressman Brian Baird
9. 100th Meridian Meetings
Another meeting was held in Las Vegas, NV on June 13 to bring together people in the Colorado River Watershed to discuss zebra mussel prevention issues. States are publicizing the problem, but lots of education still to be done.
10. Participation in ExCom phone calls
11. Conference B Society for Environmental Journalists
Notes prepared by Tina Proctor, 303-236-7862, ext. 260 or bettina_proctor@fws.gov
June 14, 2001
List of suggestions will be coming from the meeting in California in June. Task Force wants our suggestions by July.
Suggestions coming from Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes as well. Give all information to WRP members with deadline to return comments. Then ExComm can compile recommendations based on that.
Scott will write down ideasBdistribute to ExComm. Sept. 25 and morning of Sept. 26 will be screening workshop. Afternoon of Sept. 26 and all day Sept. 27 for meeting. Suggestion that work plans done in advance, rather than spend so much time at meeting on this. Need more time for state updates. Tina will distribute work plan again soonBso that people can check assignments.
Letter has gone to WRP representatives about the WGA funds that are available to give workshops for states to create ANS plans. After discussion, it was decided that we will send a letter to four governors who have not appointed anyone to represent the state on the WRP.
Note: I wrote down these names as Scott read them on the phone. Don't expect accurate spelling!
Sen. Ken Jacobson - keynote
Henry Hutchinson - shipping industry - inspiration speech
Randy Westbrooks - USGS - briefing describe the issue
Craig Walton - Australia - heads up their screening program
Richard Orr - APHIS - National Invasive Species Council - federal screening endeavors
Craig Recklebrew - American nursery industry
Marshal Meyers - national pet industry trade association
Lunch
Dr. Jeff Canings - outreach to states
Larry Cooper - Oregon invasive species program
Diane Cooper - aquaculture industry perspective
Mary Tuey - Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
Domingo Cravello - Hawaii invasive species screening program
Dr. David Lodge - Notre Dame - how to identify invasive species
(can't come - still looking for someone to do this wrap-up)
Scott will develop questions to guide the discussion. Purpose is to develop actions that we can do by state and nationally.
Letter has gone out to state representatives on WRP. Money available for two workshops. Mike Bradenberg is the consultant coordinating the workshops. He can call each state representative and ask about response to letters. Use as a poll to find out where states are in their planning process. Will get list of states that are interested. Tina will contact WGA to see if it is possible to extend October 1st deadline.
Tina will contact Sharon Gross about 2001 funds - how much is available and when can we get it. We need to know when the money needs to be spent. Committees can be more constructive if there is money available for projects. Scott discussed use of funds to help states come together for meetings on issues. Check with Sharon about funding from NAFTA. Resurrect idea about appointing Mexican representative to WRP.
The legislation passed unanimously. Discussion about ballast water exchange and where this occurs. This may be an issue where WRP money could serve as seed funds to get more research done.
Congressman Baird (D-Washington) is interested in legislation which would fund stopping the spread of zebra mussels into western waters. He would like to fold this into NISA reauthorization. Scott's suggestion is that we look at the Minnesota program which includes mandatory boat checks. Nothing has been drafted yet.
Meeting held in Tulsa, OK June 6-7. Field trip to Oklahoma Welcome Center at Miami, OK in the northeast corner of the state. A press conference was held to announce the opening of the short range radio system with a zebra mussel message. Good attendance by print, radio and TV media. Presentation by Dr. Bob McMahon from the U. of Texas in Arlington. He has developed a database of survey data from 100th Meridian states about where trailored recreational boats are coming from, where they are going to and how long they have been out of the water. A 100th Meridian website can be found at www.uta.edu/biology/cbmr/100th.html.
Tina will call all the members and ask people to let her know whether they will be participating each time. She will send a reminder with the agenda by e-mail and snail mail.
In Portland, October 17-21. This would be a good place for WRP display. Mark will suggest a panel on invasive species.