What's New Advance of the invader: Asian Carp continue march to Northern waters Circle of blue (1/6) Live carp have been found in North Dakota and past the electric barriers in Chicago. As the carp push forward, Michigan and other Great Lakes states are once again asking the U.S. Supreme Court to speed up action to stop the advance of the invader.
GLIN January Site of the Month (1/3) GLIN's January Site of the Month is AsianCarp.us, the website of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee. The Committe aims to protect and maintain the integrity and safety of the Great Lakes ecosystem from an Asian carp invasion via all viable pathways.
Study of waterways stirs debate on roles in the region’s future The New York Times (12/31) A new Army Corps of Engineers study of Chicago-area waterways has stirred the debate over whether to sever the connection between Lake Michigan and inland waterways that was created by the construction of canals a century ago.
USACE seeking public comment on ANS control paper (12/22) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released for public comment the "Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) of Concern - Chicago Area Waterway System," an interim product of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS). Comments will be accepted through Feb. 17.
Lake Erie’s tiny new invader Great Lakes Echo (12/22) A tiny invader, the parasitic copepod Neoergasilus japonicus, almost slipped into Lake Erie unnoticed.
Overview
Exotic species have threatened the Great Lakes ever since Europeans settled in the region. Since the 1800s, more than 140 exotic aquatic organisms of all types - including plants, fish, algae and mollusks - have become established in the Great Lakes. As human activity has increased in the Great Lakes watershed, the rate of introduction of exotic species has increased. More than one-third of the organisms have been introduced in the past 30 years, a surge coinciding with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
General Resources Biological Pollution Northeast-Midwest Institute The Institute is undertaking a number of efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of nonindigenous invasive species.
Exotic Pest Plant Home Page Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission Get acquainted with some of the most notable invasive (non-native) plants that are expanding their populations in the Great Lakes region. Includes a photo gallery, GIS mapping interface and species information.
Exotic Species Minnesota Sea Grant This site provides general information about zebra mussels, ruffe and more, including how to identify these species.
Exotic Species and Their Effects on the Great Lakes Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council The council represents the national sport fishing community on the congressionally mandated federal Ruffe Control Committee and Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, and recognizes the seriousness of the introduction of nonindigenous species into our ecosystem.
Great Ships Initiative The Great Ships Initiative (GSI) is a collaborative effort to end the problem of ship-mediated invasive species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System through independent research and demonstration of environmental technology, financial incentives and consistent basin-wide harbor monitoring.
Invading Species Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters This site focuses on how to control the spread of several aquatic nuisance species.
Invasive Plants of Canada Parks Canada, Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada IPCAN compiles information on invasive exotic plants of wetland and upland habitats, including databases of several major invasive exotic plants for computer mapping.
Invasivespecies.gov This is the web gateway for the National Invasive Species Council, which coordinates U.S. federal efforts concerning invasive species.
Nonindigenous Fish of the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Color illustrations or photographs and descriptions of nonindigenous fish species.
Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS) Great Lakes Sea Grant Network This site offers a comprehensive collection of research publications and education materials produced by Sea Grant programs across the country on zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.
Zebra Mussel/Aquatic Nuisance Species Office Michigan Sea Grant This office serves as a centralized source for information exchange among Michigan Sea Grant staff, state and federal agencies, researchers, water users and others.
Great Ships Initiative The Great Ships Initiative (GSI) is a collaborative effort to end the problem of ship-mediated invasive species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System through independent research and demonstration of environmental technology, financial incentives and consistent basin-wide harbor monitoring.
National Ballast Water Information Clearinghouse Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Established in 1997 by the U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, as a clearinghouse for the synthesis, analysis and interpretation of national data concerning ballast water management and ballast-mediated invasions.
The Challenge of Treating Ballast Water (PDF) From Ohio Sea Grant's Twine Line Outlines initial studies that will be used in designing ballast water treatment systems, considered an important strategy for controlling the spread of exotic aquatic species.
Exotic CD Great Lakes Sea Grant Network A CD-version of the award-winning Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS). Includes recent research findings, training and education materials, distribution maps, photos, video clips and more.
Habitattitude U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Adopt a conservation mentality: Protect our environment by not releasing unwanted fish and aquatic plants into the wild. Find out what you can do to help this growing problem on this site.
Traveling Trunks Minnesota Sea Grant/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Exotic Aquatics and Zebra Mussel Mania traveling trunks are full of hands-on activities to teach children about nonindigenous species and how they?re affecting the health of the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
Laws National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (NISA) Thomas, Library of Congress NISA is the U.S. federal bill to reauthorize and expand the 1990 federal nonindigenous species legislation. A key element of the legislation is that it provides for ballast water management to prevent the introduction and further spread of nonindigenous species in U.S. waters.
Thomas Library of Congress Search full-text versions of U.S. House and Senate bills from recent sessions of Congress. Enter "aquatic nuisance" as key words to find bills relating to ANS.
ANS Update Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species A quarterly publication of the Great Lakes Panel, convened by the Great Lakes Commission to address ANS issues in the Great Lakes basin.
Aquatic Nuisance Species Handbook for Government Officials (PDF) Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of the Great Lakes Developed pursuant to Michigan's Comprehensive State Management Plan targeting non-native species, this handbook was created to educate local, county and state government officials about problems and solutions relating to the on-going invasion and spread of aquatic nuisance species.
Lake Huron Initiative Nonindigenous Species Action Plan Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) As part of the Lake Huron Initiative Action Plan, this plan provides information regarding nonindigenous species in Lake Huron and highlights the importance of historical introductions on the current status of the Lake Huron ecosystem and recommendations to prevent future introductions.
Making a List: Prevention Strategies for Invasive Plants in the Great Lakes States Environmental Law Institute This report surveys plant listing programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin to assess the effectiveness of listing as a tool to prevent the proliferation and spreads of invasive plant species.
Michigan Sea Grant Bookstore Michigan Sea Grant Aquatic Nuisance section includes factsheets and more, available for order online.
Model Guidance for Great Lakes Jurisdictions (PDF) Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Legislation, Regulation and Policy for the Prevention and Control of Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species: Model Guidance for Great Lakes Jurisdictions (June 1999).
STATE MANAGEMENT PLANS A Model Comprehensive State Management Plan for the Prevention and Control of Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species (PDF) Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species This report is presented to the Great Lakes states as guidance in developing comprehensive state management plans under Section 1204 of the federal Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (P.L. 101-646). Although prepared specifically for the Great Lakes states, this model plan also has application for other states and Canadian provinces.
Invasive Plant Council of New York State This group provides coordination and guidance on the management of invasive plants to protect biodiversity in New York State. Includes a list of the state's top 20 most invasive species, along with photos, and information on biology, range and habitat.
Invasive Species Committee U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Find out how the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team is addressing invasive species issues along with many helpful links.
Invasivespecies.gov This is the web gateway for the National Invasive Species Council, which coordinates U.S. federal efforts concerning invasive species.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species National Task Force The task force is an interagency committee established by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to coordinate the development and implementation of programs addressing issues within the Act. The task force's 1994 Report to Congress provides recommendations for "reducing the risk of adverse consequences associated with intentional introductions of aquatic organisms."