Oregon, Washington and Hawaii will receive a total of nearly $211,000 this year from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help them manage invasive aquatic nuisance species (ANS) such as zebra mussels and New Zealand mud snails.
The grants are among more than $1 million awarded nationally to 14 states and one Native American fish and wildlife commission to help fight the growing problem of non-native species that are invading U.S. waterways.
"Invasive species are the number one environmental threat in the United States today," said Matthew J. Hogan, Acting Service Director. "Most non-native species are benign, but the relatively few that cause problems represent serious trouble. They cost us in dollars and in untold damage to native plants and wildlife. Were pleased to be able to help States move their programs along."
The grants will help pay for identification of the ways aquatic nuisance species are introduced, the establishment of boat-washing stations in high risk areas (such as those where zebra mussels are established), the development and implementation of management and control plans, the expansion of education and outreach programs, aquatic nuisance species monitoring, evaluating the economic impact of aquatic invaders and implementation of early detection and rapid response protocols.
The Service has awarded grants to states to help combat aquatic nuisance species since 1994.
Washington, Oregon and Hawaii will each receive $70,303 to support their efforts in 2005.
In 1998, Washington became the first state in the West to have an approved state ANS management plan. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) implements their state ANS management plan through these annual US Fish and Wildlife Service Grants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can fund up to 75 percent of the implementation costs of a state or regional ANS management plan which has been approved by the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. The state provides the final 25 percent.
These funds have been used for ANS coordinator salaries, monitoring programs, creation of monitoring and rapid response plans, public education through the creation of information and education materials (handouts, slide shows, signs, and videos) and training programs, enforcement, and research.
This years grant will support staff coordination positions and associated activities in administering the states ballast water management program, participating in regional and national ANS projects such as the 100th Meridian Program to prevent zebra mussel introductions, and managing existing invasions, such as the nonnative tunicate Didemnum lahilleirecently discovered in Puget Sound. This years funds will also help support continued monitoring for zebra mussel larvae and adults in the state.
In Oregon, development of the states ANS management plan was led by Portland State Universitys Center for Lakes and Reservoirs and PSU continues to oversee implementation of the plan. The FWS grants have helped support a state coordinator position and associated activities in monitoring programs, education and outreach projects, and ballast water management. This years funds will help support the Oregon Invasive Species Council, Oregon Ballast Water Task Force, 100th Meridian Project, and other state/regional programs. They will also help with coordination between state agencies to develop Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans aimed at reducing spread of ANS by natural resource management activities; development of a statewide 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 education/outreach campaign; development of response plans for New Zealand mud snails and zebra mussels; development and distribution of ANS signage at water bodies and other education/outreach materials; and development of a symposium on nutria management.
Hawaii is the most recent state in the Fish and Wildlife Services Pacific Region to complete a state ANS management plan. Funds received last year were used to fund a new state ANS coordinator position within the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. This years grant will be used to support this position. This coordinator will work with private and agency partners to carry out education, monitoring, prevention, and response activities in conjunction with broader, more general invasive species programs already established in Hawaii. Particular objectives for this year include development of a centralized reporting system; verifying and responding to ANS sightings; developing a formal prioritization of existing/potential ANS and associated introduction pathways; and holding an annual stakeholder and industry partnership workshop.
"Our state partners represent a very important role in a collective mission to protect this region from further impacts of aquatic invasive species," said Dan Diggs, Assistant Regional Director of Fisheries.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
(For more information, contact the Branch of Invasive Species, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203, telephone 703-358-2464, or visit the
