Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan FAQ
Topics:
- What is a State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan and how is it developed?
- Level of funding available and how it can be spent
- Current and future ANS issues in Indiana
- Typical components of a state ANS plan
- List of stakeholders who may be involved in ANS Plan development
- Kinds of issues can be addressed by the plan
Questions and answers on the process of developing a State ANS Management Plan:
Will the ANS Plan replace existing exotic species activities in various state programs? The ANS Plan is meant to describe, coordinate, expand, and complement existing programs, but not replace them.
Will the steering committee for the ANS Plan include all agencies and nongovernmental organizations that have an interest in ANS management? This is the expectation of the federal government, as there is a strong requirement for broad-based public involvement and development of a comprehensive plan describing all activities in Indiana related to ANS management, regardless of the entity conducting the project. During the meeting, we began listing possible organizations to contact as representatives or reviewers on the committee.
When the plan is approved and the state becomes eligible for federal nuisance species management funds, do grant proposals have to be submitted by DNR or are other organizations in Indiana eligible if they are included in the plan? The DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife has budgeted funds for the development of the plan as an approved Sportfish Restoration project. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) guides and approves plans as the federal partner. Federal funds are provided through annual appropriations under the National Invasive Species Act, which specifies that state planning entity (steering committee for the plan) be the body that requests funds. Funding requests must implement the plan and show evidence of partnerships.
Will there be regulatory proposals in the plan? The plan must describe existing regulations and should include any gaps in regulatory approaches, including proposals for rule or law. Other parts of the plan will describe and propose nonregulatory approaches. Existing regulations are scattered throughout a number of programs. The document will be a resource that describes the jurisdictions of existing regulations. Such a document does not currently exist, so it can be difficult to answer questions related to regulatory oversight. Regulatory programs that may be included could be: importation, illegal species lists, and aquaculture, aquatic landscaping or aquarium industries.
Will there be legislators on the steering committee? Regulatory and budgetary aspects of similar projects guided by a steering committee, such as the Indiana Lakes Management Work Group, benefited greatly from active participation of legislators. The group suggested that legislative liaisons from allied organizations, like the Indiana Lake Management Society and the Indiana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, would be very valuable in supporting legislative efforts. These organizations could ask a legislator to submit a bill that would legislatively create the ANS steering committee. Legislators could then be official members of the steering committee and may take an interest in submitting an proposed statute changes or budget allotments.
What groups may oppose some proposals in the ANS Plan? Groups that may be concerned as directly affected stakeholders are aquarium dealers and possibly aquaculture or aquatic landscaping companies. These groups must be involved in plan development. The plan should cite the costs of ANS impacts to these and other groups in order to generate support for ANS control.
What is the tie to terrestrial exotic nuisance species issues? Dr. Bob Waltz and the Division of Nature Preserves are working with other agencies and organizations to develop systems for control of terrestrial exotics. The plan should be tied into those efforts, so ensure maximum use of resources and knowledge.
STEPS IN DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE ANS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Requirements to receive federal funding for ANS management
Typically, federal funding funding for implementing state plans is available at around $100,000 annually with a requirement for a 25% state cost-share under PL 101-646. Funding can be used for program development, staff salaries, and management actions. State plans must be drafted with adequate public involvement, approved by the NOAA/USFWS ANS Task Force and include the following:
- identify state and local programs for environmentally sound prevention and control of target ANS;
- identify federal activities that may be needed and a description of coordination with the state and local authorities;
- a schedule of implementing the plan, including annual objectives.
Resources and timeline for development of an Indiana Plan
Up to $25,000 has been allocated from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife to contract with a facilitator for development of the ANS Plan in FY2003. Proposed activities include:
- coordinate planning with DFW Fisheries Program Specialist;
- use model guidance from the Great Lakes ANS Panel to formulate and edit a draft plan;
- facilitate three (3) public meetings to:
- gather input on ANS management issues;
- review and comment on the draft document;
- present the final document for public approval; and
- submit a final draft plan to the DNR and USFWS regional coordinator for review.
The department must then:
- submit the plan to the Governor’s office for signature;
- submit the plan to the federal ANS Task Force for review and approval in September. Plans must be approved by November to be eligible for federal funding in the upcoming year; and
- submit proposals for federal funding in January for awards issued in March.
Plans in other states:
Finished Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Oregon, St. Croix River basin MN/WI
In review Iowa, Pennsylvania, Washington
Under development Minnesota
TYPICAL COMPONENTS OF A STATE ANS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Executive summary
Nonindigenous ANS background
Federal role USFWS and NOAA ANS Task Force
Regional role Great Lakes Commission Panel on ANS
State role federal support for state plan development, eligibility for funding
Policy background
Statutory authority
Education and management programs government and NGO
Management actions
Goal 1. Prevent new introductions of nonindigenous ANS
Strategic Action
Tasks
Goal 2. Limit spread of established populations
Strategic Action
Tasks
Goal 3. Abate harmful ecological, economic, social and public health impacts
Strategic Action
Tasks
Program monitoring and evaluation
Oversight
Evaluation
Dissemination
Glossary
Literature cited
Appendices
A. Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990(PL 101-646)
NISA reauthorization in 2002-03
B. Members of the ANS State Management Plan steering committee
C. Public input summary
Distributed to organizations for review results
DRAFT LIST OF STEERING COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
- The following are agencies or organizations that should be approached as committee members or reviewers of the state ANS management plan.
- legislators (both houses and parties)
- Indiana Lakes Management Society
- Indiana Lakes Management Work Group
- associations for pet stores; major pet store chains
- IDEM (Water Quality Standards; Drinking Water; Biological Assessment; Lake Management)
- IDNR (Entomology; Fish & Wildlife; Soil Conservation/Riverwatch/LARE; Nature Preserves; Law Enforcement)
- Indiana University Clean Lakes Program
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Tourism
- Purdue University (Botany, Fisheries)
- Department of Health (Teclaw)
- USFWS (Pruitt)
- Board of Animal Health
- US Coast Guard
- Department of Transportation
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
- ORSANCO (Ohio River)
- Army Corps of Engineers
- US EPA
- Indiana Aquaculture Association (IAA)
- B.A.S.S. Federation
- Hoosier Environmental Council; Sierra Club; etc.
- Indiana Native Plant Society
- Commissioner of Agriculture’s Office
- The Nature Conservancy
- Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable; Indiana Wildlife Federation; etc.
- Indiana Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society, etc.
- boating industry association ("Power Squadron")
- recreational users groups (skiiers, sailboaters, etc)
- coordinators of other state’s ANS plans
- nursery or landscapers associations (backyard ponds)
- any other groups that are interested
DRAFT LIST OF CURRENT ANS ISSUES IN INDIANA
- need invasive aquatic plant information (beyond milfoil)
- predatory fish interest (piranha, snakeheads)
- Asian carp threat to Great Lakes through Chicago
- bighead carp catch data and photos from state record fish
- effectiveness of existing control methods
- more public attention to nuisance organisms that don’t bite or make you sick
- partnering with pet store corporations as a marketing/distribution tool for educational materials and ethical restraint from selling potentially harmful exotics
- establish the state ANS website
- public reporting process for ANS (who would respond?)
- program budget and coordinator (funding needs)
- education on unusual organisms that are not a threat (e.g., bryozoans, freshwater jellyfish, bowfin) at the child and adult level
- state fair display opportunities on ANS issues in the DNR building
- aquaculture and bait business information (e.g., rudd, sticklebacks, gizzard shad, crayfish)
- traveling display
- brochures specific to Indiana
- exotic species trunks are available for purchase or loan from Wisconsin and Minnesota, including resin preserved species (make Indiana-specific trunks)
- cost of printing and distributing existing information (e.g., launch ramp signs)
- use of zebra mussel decontamination proceedures (e.g., stations at marinas or ramps, protection of state and private hatchery supplies, enforcement issues, education through creels at ramps)
- Go FishIN and Riverwatch programs as conduits for distribution
- lake association newsletters
- need information on vigilante fish stocking (aquarium dumping, live bait, fish releases by anglers)
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