RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Managing Great Lakes Invaders Video Series

The five-part short video series, Managing Great Lakes Invaders, was developed by Michigan Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). Each short video focuses on a different Great Lakes invasion story, including ballast water, sea lamprey, dreissenid mussels, and invasive carp, along with a capstone video that unites them. A playlist of the Managing Great Lakes Invaders video series is available online at Michigan Sea Grant’s YouTube account. The goal of these videos is to highlight AIS success stories and the ongoing research and collaboration that is essential to the fight against aquatic invaders. This project demonstrates how cooperation between researchers, legislators, industry, and other stakeholders can make a powerful difference in protecting the Great Lakes.

American Fisheries Society

A call for abstracts has been made by the American Fisheries Society for their 152nd annual meeting in Spokane, Washington on August 21-25, 2022. The Invasive and Introduced Species Section of the American Fisheries Society is coordinating a symposium entitled “Invasive and Introduced Species: Negative impacts and unexpected opportunities” at that annual meeting. Deadline is April 8.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Long Island-Metro Area: Virtual Symposium

March 15th-16th, 9:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Aquatic Organisms in Trade: Focus on Behavior Change

Please join us for a virtual symposium focusing on the role aquatic gardening, aquaria, and live markets in invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species introductions and how to promote behavior change in these target audiences.

Aquatic Organisms in Trade Symposium Day 1

Aquatic Organisms in Trade Symposium Day 2

NAISMA Monthly Webinars: NPS Integrated Pest Management Webinar Series

March 16, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - Invasive Tegus: An Emerging Threat to Southeastern Ecosystems

April 20, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - A Biocultural Approach to Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Western Science for Invasive Species Management and Policy

May 18, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - Using Community Based Social Marketing to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

Michigan Invasive Species Program’s NotMISpecies Webinar Series:

March 24, 2022, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m ET. - Step aboard Michigan’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters grant program

Looking for resources to help your community protect a local water body from aquatic invasive species? The Michigan Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program provides $1k - $3k grants annually for groups interested in aquatic invasive species prevention through increased boater education and awareness. Kelsey Bockleman and Paige Filice from Michigan State University Extension and Kevin Walters from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will reveal 2022 CBCW award recipients, share information on past projects and help your group prepare to apply for a CBCW grant in 2023.

Collaborative Conservation and Adaptation Strategy Toolbox Webinar

March 24, 2022, 11:00 AM Pacific/12:00 PM Mountain/1:00 PM Central. -  Developing a Regional Strategy to Curtail Illegal Stocking of Sport Fish and Baitfish in the Colorado River Watershed

In 2020, members of the Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council began developing a Strategic Plan to Curtail Illegal Fish Movement designed to (1) mitigate the expansion of nuisance invasive fish populations, (2) improve administrative and political support for interstate containment efforts, (3) increase the consistency of proactive prevention and reactive responses to illegal fish movement, and (4) increase public buy-in for halting illegal fish movement and subsequent control efforts.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Lake Champlain Basin Program / NEIWPCC

NEIWPCC, LCBP, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) are seeking a full-time Environmental Analyst to join our collaborative team as the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Outreach Specialist focused on the Champlain canal corridor. This specialist will conduct targeted outreach to anglers, angler groups, relevant stakeholders, and communities along the Champlain Canal to increase awareness of round goby and reduce the risk of overland transportation of this invasive species. They will build connections with communities along the Champlain canal corridor to increase awareness of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study to construct an AIS barrier that will allow for continued recreational use of the canal system and respond to questions and concerns from these communities around the benefits and impacts of the project to their community. They will also assist the NYSDEC Lake Champlain Coordinator and LCBP AIS Management Coordinator with additional AIS-related outreach, organizing, spread prevention, monitoring, and management work in the basin, as needed. FULL ANNOUCEMENT

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

The Maine DEP Invasive Aquatic Species Program is seeking an individual to join the team working to prevent, detect and manage invasive aquatic species in Maine. The Program focuses on invasive aquatic plants but also works to prevent and detect invasive aquatic animals in collaboration with other state agencies. The successful candidate will work closely with the three incumbent members of the Program and with outside contractors, lake residents and organizations. This position will share in overall program operations including field work to investigate and evaluate invasive aquatic plant populations, providing technical support to lake groups with prevention and early detection, and helping residents and lake associations assess and implement invasive aquatic plant management. Candidates interested in this position need to complete and submit an online State of Maine application at http://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#dep, along with a detailed resume and cover letter.Please contact John McPhedran at (207)215-9863 or john.mcphedran@maine.gov with questions.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) recently approved a project to test multiple methods of control of invasive aquatic plant species in an area known as the Tahoe Keys. The Tahoe Keys waterways are approximately ~170 acres with various channels that have a direct connection to Lake Tahoe. The test will be implemented at 27 test sites, totaling ~ 41 acres. The test includes using aquatic herbicides, ultraviolet light, and other mechanical methods to determine what set of methods is likely to be successful to treat the entirety of the Tahoe Keys.

 There are significant monitoring requirements to track fate and transport of aquatic herbicides (and a tracer dye), water quality and biology parameters, and lab services. The RFP package being released by TRPA is attached, and can be found here: https://www.trpa.gov/contact/request-for-proposals/

In addition, the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (TKPOA) that manages the waterways and is the project proponent, has released an RFP that relates to implementation. That RFP can be found here: https://www.keysweedsmanagement.org/blog/final-cmt-implementation-services-rfp. Potential bidders may bid on any of the scopes from either RFP, and bidders can be awarded contracts from both TRPA and TKPOA.

RECOMMENDED READING

Vector control reduces the rate of species invasion in the world's largest freshwater ecosystem

Ricciardi, A., & MacIsaac, H. J. (2022). Vector control reduces the rate of species invasion in the world's largest freshwater ecosystem. Conservation Letters, e12866.

Assessing the potential for invasive species introductions and secondary spread using vessel movements in maritime ports

Costello, K. E., Lynch, S. A., McAllen, R., O'Riordan, R. M., & Culloty, S. C. (2022). Assessing the potential for invasive species introductions and secondary spread using vessel movements in maritime ports. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 177, 113496.

Economic costs of invasive bivalves in freshwater ecosystems

Haubrock, P. J., Cuthbert, R. N., Ricciardi, A., Diagne, C., & Courchamp, F. (2022). Economic costs of invasive bivalves in freshwater ecosystems. Diversity and Distributions.

ANS IN THE NEWS…

Stemming the tide of invasive species in Great Lakes

March 11, 2022. New research shows that a bi-national regulation targeting ships entering the Great Lakes since the mid-2000s has been remarkably effective in reducing a large proportion of the invasive species in the world's largest freshwater ecosystem.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department hosts classes for aquatic invasive species inspector certification

March 11, 2022. Members of the public can now be certified Wyoming aquatic invasive species inspectors following a class now being offered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Invasive smallmouth bass caught north of Yellowstone

March 10, 2022. An angler caught a smallmouth bass on Feb. 19 on the Gardner River at the confluence with the Yellowstone River, according to a March 9 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release. 

Residents asked to identify, report invasive snakes

March 10, 2022. While residents need to be on the lookout for non-native snakes, it can be easy to misidentify them or confuse them with native species.

Bill To Fight Invasive Species Moves Forward

March 7, 2022. Congressional representatives Garamendi, D-Calf., and Amodei, R-Nev., have been pushing the bipartisan “Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act” since last year. The bill recently advanced out of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Program Provides $3.6M To Detect, Control Invasive Species

March 7, 2022. The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program is providing $3.6 million to 31 projects across the state. The state says the program addresses prevention, detection, eradication and control of water-based and land-based invasive species.

Ulster boat launch to have invasive species inspections

March 7, 2022. Town Board members agreed last week to allow a program to conduct voluntary boat inspections at Charles Rider Park in an effort to halt the spread of invasive species.

Invasive fish destroying life in Texas rivers and waterways

March 7, 2022. In San Marcos, research scientists are racing to come up with data that could save Texas rivers from the damaging impact of an alien invader. They say an assault is underway by invasive fish that are destroying sensitive habitats all over the state.