by: ann pierce, ewr section manager to: 2015 roundtable january 16, 2015 aquatic invasive species
TRANSCRIPT
By: Ann Pierce, EWR Section Manager
To: 2015 Roundtable
January 16, 2015
Aquatic Invasive Species
Work with citizens to conserve/manage state’s natural resources
Provide outdoor recreation opportunities
Provide for commercial uses of natural resources to create sustainable quality of life
DNR Mission
PREVENTION AND RISK ASSESSMENT
EWM with Zebra Mussels
• Legislature – policy and funding
• DNR – statewide prevention
• Local Govt. and organizations – local actions
• Boater / angler – personal responsibility
InspectionsStop Aquatic Hitch hikers
PSA
Partnerships in Prevention
• Legislature – policy and funding
• DNR – statewide prevention
• Local Govt. and organizations – local actions
• Boater / angler – personal responsibility
InspectionsStop Aquatic Hitch hikers
PSA
Partnerships in Prevention-1
• Local Govt. and organizations – local actions
• Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention AID (4.5M 2014 and 10M in subsequent years)• Creating a plan• Public Awareness• Watercraft Inspections
Inspections
Draining
Partnerships in Prevention-2
Prevention Efforts
o Examples of Strategies:o Regulationso Enforcemento Watercraft Inspectionso Public Awarenesso Signage o Permits and Conditions
Prevention Efforts-1o Examples of Strat
egies:o Regulationso Enforcemento Watercraft Inspectionso Public Awarenesso Signage o Permits and Conditions
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/prevention.html
Enforcement Efforts
o Local peace officers can enforce AIS laws, must attend training to issue civil citations
Conservation Officer inspection
Watercraft Inspection
What do inspectors do?o Educate the public about
AISo Inspect Watercraft and
deny launch if necessaryo Gather data
Two Levels of Authorized Watercraft Inspectoro Both conduct inspections,
only level 2 can decontaminate watercraft with high pressure, high heat equipment
Who can hire authorized watercraft inspectors?
DNRLocal Units of Government
Portable Decontamination Unit
Watercraft Inspection-1
How do Local Units of Government hire Watercraft Inspectors?o Complete a delegation
agreement with the MN DNRo Complete a plan for where to
place inspectors, including which level
o Hire inspectors and have them trained by the MN DNR
o Deploy inspectors (schedule, supervise and manage)
There are two types of programs an LGU can have with a delegation agreement: Watercraft inspections at
the public access Watercraft inspections
within a geographic area- this program requires a comprehensive plan that addresses all requirements listed in 84D.105 (g)
Watercraft Inspection-2
Volunteers or AIS ambassadorso Local citizens can also
volunteer to do AIS education at the public water access
o The DNR provides training for all volunteers, anyone who will be at a DNR access is required to take the training and pass a background check
AIS ambassadors are staff who are hired by an LGU but are not authorized, they obtain permission to be at accesses.
Inspection
Public Awareness
Local Units of Government can create public awareness through:o Signage (at places other
than the watercraft access)
o Public Service announcements
o Radio and News ads o Stock images, text and
products are available on the DNR Website
Public Awarenss
Occurrence of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Veligers in Residual Water from
Gary Montz, Research ScientistMN-DNR, Division of Ecological and Water Resources
Microscopic VeligersMicroscopic Veligers
Residual water samples
Samples collected after exiting watercraft were drained.
Lakes: Carlos, Le Homme Dieu, Gull, Mille Lacs, and Minnetonka
Areas sampled: Live well, bilge, motor, ballast bag/tank
75 boats from two seasons• 70 fishing • 3 wakeboard• 2 runabouts
Samples• 51 live well• 16 bilge• 7 motor• 1 ballast
bag/tank
New York DEC
Residual water samples
Veliger countsminimum - 0mean - 6median - 0maximum - 217
Number of veligers collected in residual water samples
Veligers
0 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+
# of sam
ples
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
54, 65, 217
Residual water samples - veligers
Water volume - mls (oz) minimum - 3 (0.1)mean - 152 (5.1)median - 70 (2.4)maximum - 875 (30.0)
Volume of water in samples collected from drained watercraft
Water volume (mls)
0-50 51-100 101-200 201-400 400+
Nu
mb
er of sam
ples
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
700, 700, 875
Residual water samples – water volume
Veliger samples Prior Lake, Dakota Co MN
• Two sites in eastern end of lake Closing plankton net, 20cm mouth, 80
micron mesh
Biweekly samples, ten samples/site Depths (ft): 0 – 2 10 – 15 0
– 30 2 – 4 15 – 20 4 – 6 20 – 25 6 – 8 25 – 30 8 – 10 Counts with cross polarized light
microscopy
Methods
Veliger density by depth intervals, Prior Lake 2014
Veliger density (#/L)
0 5 10 15 20
De
pth
inte
rvals
(ft)
2468
10
15
20
25
30
SiteA-6/27SiteA-7/10SiteB-7/10 SiteA-7/24 SiteB-7/24 SiteA-8/8 SiteB-8/8
mean #/L; 0 – 30’ tow, Site A, 6/27
mean #/L; 0 – 30’ tow, Site A, 7/24
Veliger water column distribution
Numbers of veligers and volumes of water in drained watercraft are very low: 96% < 16 veligers, 69% < 200 mls (7 oz)
Draining laws (removing plug, draining live well) can be very effective in dramatically reducing water transport pathway for zebra mussels (and perhaps other invertebrate AIS)
Possible high mortality of veligers in small amounts of residual water may reduce risk even further.
Vertical distribution of veligers in the water column may reduce exposure to watercraft
Risk
QUESTIONS?
