Federal Agencies Work Group Opportunities for Federal Action: Managing Non-native Aquatic Nuisance Plants and Animals

Control the introduction, spread and impacts of nonnative aquatic nuisance species in order to preserve the integrity of the Lake Champlain ecosystem.

KEY FEDERAL ACTIONS Environmental Protection Agency EPA provides funding for the Lake Champlain Water Chestnut Management Program through the LCBP along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vermont DEC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, USFWS, and local partners, like the Nature Conservancy. EPA has also supported exploring non-chemical alternatives to sea lamprey control. Projects have included research on the development of a sea lamprey life history model, which will help quantify the levels of control needed on specific streams, and hydrologic modeling and site analysis for a sea lamprey barrier in Quebec.

VERMONT DEC Lake Champlain's water chestnut problem is addressed through the cooperation of Federal, State, and local partners.

As part of the Lake Champlain long-term monitoring program, EPA also provides funding for monitoring the zebra mussel population throughout Lake Champlain and several inland lakes in the Basin. Two small grants through the LCBP have been targeted towards controlling Eurasian watermilfoil, one in Vermont and one in New York. EPA is also involved in the NEPA review process, which provides an opportunity for screening Federal environmental projects that might contribute to the aquatic nuisance species problem. These reviews, conducted in EPA’s regional offices, now include an explicit consideration of the proposed action with regard to invasive species. EPA also supports other invasive species control efforts both regionally and nationally.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act authorizes Service expenditures for implementing Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) management plans. The last four years the Service has allocated from $45,000 to $100,000 annually to support an aquatic nuisance species coordinator and water chestnut control activities as part of the LCBP's implementation of the ANS plan. Cooperating with a variety of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and landowners, the Service has also participated in purple loosestrife control using beetles (Galerucella spp.) that feed on infestations, and removing water chestnut from Lake Champlain wetlands. Missisquoi Refuge and lower Missisquoi Bay were also intensively surveyed for water chestnut annually.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

LCSG is extensively involved in ANS programmatic efforts. Through its research initiatives, LCSG supports nuisance species research, including an innovative approach to water chestnut control, to better understand how the Lake’s various sea lamprey nursery areas contribute juvenile lampreys to the adult population, and to contribute to regional efforts to manage cormorant populations and their impacts. Sea Grant research is also studying rainbow smelt population structure and dynamics. These fish are under threat from the newly introduced invasive alewife. Sea Grant extension efforts include the production and distribution of educational materials to boaters, anglers and the general public about practical approaches to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Extension/education efforts include the following reports: Lake Champlain Alewife Impacts—February 2006 Workshop Summary—2006 (published jointly with LCBP); Feasibility of Champlain Canal Aquatic Nuisance Species Barrier Options—2005; Zebra Mussels fact sheet—2003; Co-authorship of Adirondack Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan—2005. Sea Grant staff have recently provided presentations on ANS topics to the Adirondack Water Quality Conference, Trout Unlimited, NYS Canal Corporation, NY-CAC to LCBP, Rotary Club, American Fisheries Society, and the Lake Champlain Committee.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Implementation of specific cost-shared projects by the Army Corps of Engineers under Section 542 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 may include specific invasive species removal projects to help manage non-native nuisance plants while replanting native species, where appropriate, to help restore the affected area.

Aquatic Plant Control Program—Authorized by Section 104, River and Harbor Act of 1958, as amended. The Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with other Federal and non-Federal agencies, participates in a comprehensive program for the control of invasive aquatic plants, including water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil, which have adverse effects on navigation, flood control, drainage, agriculture, public health and fish and wildlife conservation. If appropriated, FY 2007 funds will be used to execute the annual agreement and continue the program with the State of Vermont on Lake Champlain.

Sea Lamprey Barriers Study—Authorized by Section 1135, WRDA 1986, as amended. The Corps completed, in cooperation with the USFWS, the LCBP, and the States of New York and Vermont, a Preliminary Restoration Plan in FY 2006 and found that a feasibility study is warranted to analyze potential restoration alternatives focused on sea lamprey barriers. When Federal funds are appropriated, a feasibility study will be initiated.

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