2. Discussion of Next Year’s Meeting

Tina received 22 responses to the e-mail inquiry about having the meeting in Anchorage. Fifteen said yes, they could get permission to attend, 2 said no and 5 said probably or weren’t sure. Eight people said they might need travel assistance. Overall the response was positive. The EC decided to hold the meeting in Anchorage since we had an invitation to go there and the Alaska members are willing to work on the arrangements. The annual meeting committee will be: Bob Piorkowski, Denny Lassuy, Marilyn LeLand, Adelheid Hermann, Scott Smith, Mark Sytsma and Tina Proctor.

3. Work Plan Committee

The EC discussed the formation of a new work plan committee which will take the place of the Inland and Coastal committees. Tina will send a message to the members asking for volunteers to be co-chairs of the committee.

The deadline for receiving proposals for funding for WRP projects in FY2004 is set for January 15. Tina will send out a notice to the members.

4. State Management Plans

The WRP has $19,000 to disburse for the development of state ANS management plans. Tina will send out an announcement for states to apply for funds, for a maximum of $10,000. They need to have a scope of work and use the budget template distributed by Mark.

5. Rapid Response Plan for Zebra Mussels in the West

Mark and Tina will work on a RFP for a Rapid Response Plan for Zebra Mussels in the western U.S. The WRP has $20,000 from a NOAA grant to use for this project. The EC will review before it is released.

6. ANS Task Force Meeting

Tina reviewed the ANS Task Force Meeting. She reported that the Task Force would like a WRP member to serve on each of the standing committees. The committees are: Research, Communication/Education, Prevention (combined with the ISAC Prevention Committee), Monitoring, and Control. The EC is concerned that it will be difficult to find a volunteer unless there is a clear idea of how it will benefit the WRP. Tina will talk to the ANS Task Force staff about the EC concern. [Note: Don MacLean said that the WRP member would not have to attend meetings, but could read minutes, monitor e-mails and bring pertinent issues to the WRP.]

7. Other Issues

Mark mentioned the North American Lake Management Society will be meeting in Connecticut next November in Victoria, Canada. Mark will be working on the Program Committee and asked if the WRP could co-sponsor. There will be 500 people for 3 full days.

Scott worked with David Britton at U. of Texas as Arlington to put together 4 slides based on 100th Meridian data which show where boats go from the ElDorado Reservoir in Kansas where there is a new zebra mussel infestation. The possible spread from ElDorado is impressive. Scott will be presenting a program to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and will use the slides. Other EC members are interested in seeing the slides so Scott will sent to Tina, who will get them out to the committee members.

Minutes prepared by Tina Proctor, WRP Panel Coordinator
bettina_proctor@fws.gov