May 2021 meeting updates

Dear NEANS Panelists and ANS friends,

Please post to this page your Roundtable updates so that those not at the meeting will be able to read them and to keep the meeting summaries concise.

Thank you.

Michele L. Tremblay

4 thoughts on “May 2021 meeting updates”

  1. Lake Champlain Basin Program
    – Lake Champlain Steering Committee and Lake Champlain Sea Grant approved spending for a two year grad student to populate the Lake Champlain GLANSIS information.
    – 2021 Lake Champlain boat launch watercraft inspection and decontamination program training and operation will start May 24th
    – $200k was awarded in up to $15k amounts to watershed/lake groups in the basin for AIS management and spread prevention programs
    – Water chesnut control continues on Lake Champlain
    -LCBP is collaborating with northeast, UNH, and USGS efforts to evaluate different eDNA sampling techniques for zebra mussels and Asian clam
    – Additional rapid response funding for AIS response in the Lake Champlain basin was secured
    -LCBP continues to support CT River hydrilla response coordination, collaboration with USACE, and genetic testing of different populations in the northeast
    – The Lake Champlain State of the Lake 2021 Report will be released in June 2021 with updated AIS program information

  2. New York State

    – More than 250 Watercraft Inspection Stewards will be deployed to 200+ locations throughout New York on the official start of boating season on Friday, May 28th. They will carry out inspections and education/outreach efforts. DEC will be launching a press release, live videos, and social media posts in support of the start of this seasonal program.
    – New York will join the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces for the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz June 25 – July 4th (https://www.glc.org/work/blitz).
    – New York will continue large-scale hydrilla control projects in collaboration with partners in Cayuga Lake (Cayuga and Thompkins Counties, Spencer Pond (Tioga County), Green/Hickory Lakes (Erie County), Croton River (Westchester County), and Erie Canal/Tonawanda Creek (Buffalo/Niagara Counties).
    – LI-Metro AIS Task Force (including DEC Region 1 AIS Coordinator) will commence surveying and monitoring priority waterbodies as well as engaging in aquatic invasive plant removal efforts (water chestnut) at multiple locations.
    – Department of Environmental Conservation(DEC), in collaboration with SUNY Stony Brook and contractor, will conduct the pilot study for the Peconic River Ludwigia Control Project (Suffolk County). Project goals include testing effectiveness of herbicide, delineating aquatic plant infestations in the entire Peconic River to Grangabel Island (brackish water), a five-year management plan, and building a foundation for community support/investment in a large-scale project.
    – DEC will continue to reach out to the pet trade industry and provide pet trade education tip strips for stores and develop live release educational materials.

  3. U.S. Geological Survey Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database updates

    Four alerts for the region since Nov. 2, 2020:
    – First report of wild Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrotfeather milfoil) in Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes County, MA
    Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frogbit) was found in Buckhorn Island State Park, along the Niagra River, Erie County, NY
    Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush) at Lakeside Memorial Park, near Mt. Vernon, Erie County, NY
    Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush) in ponds, north of Brownville, Jefferson County, NY

    Zebra mussels confirmed in moss balls in 46 States and 10 Canadian provinces and territories as of 4/26/2021.
    NAS will NOT publicly display any privately cultivated moss ball sightings, including those with zebra mussels.
    However, NAS will notify state contacts of any moss ball and zebra mussel reports.

    NAS has revamped the display of species impacts on our public website. The impacts are now displayed in a table summarizing the effects of a species with literature citations. We are releasing the new display one species at a time as we compile the literature. The impacts will be constantly updated as more literature is found. See the news release here.

  4. What MassDEP has done since Fall 2020:

    • Review and issue Chemical Application Licenses/Water Quality Certifications to projects of invasive species management.

    • Assessing MA waterbodies with invasive species infestation and add them to the CWA 303d List and 303b report

    • While issuing 401 Water Quality Certification to individuals/towns, providing conditions with best management practices on waterbodies with invasive species to prevent their further spread to other waterbodies

    • Update Invasive parrot feather in Massachusetts

    • Technical supports to communities (from high school kids to ANSTF staff) on invasive species prevention, detection, and management

    • Provide several invasive species prevention and control associated presentations to communities:
    Asian Clam Range Shift to Massachusetts: Should Climate Change be to Blame? Massachusetts Association of Conservations Commission Annual Conference (Virtual). April 7, 2021.

    Invasive Animals and Plants in Massachusetts Lakes and Rivers. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Resources. March 16, 2021.

    Monitoring and Management of Invasive Common Reed Grass (Phragmites australis). Northeast Aquatic Biologist Annual Conference (Virtual). March 3, 5, 9 and 11, 2021.

    Sediment Dredging/Disposal and Aquatic Invasive Species: A Clean Water Act 401 Water Quality Certification Perspective. New England Region Dredging Team. February 3, 2021.

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