Aquatic Invasive Species Plant Management Plan for Public Activities
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South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species MANAGEMENT PLAN South Carolina Department of Natural Resources • www.dnr.sc.gov DNR South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared in coordination with the South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources September 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ____________________________________ iv Executive Summary _____________________________________ v Introduction ___________________________________________1 Purpose and Scope ________________________________________ 1 Plan Development Process __________________________________ 1 Interaction with Other Plans _________________________________ 2 Definition of Aquatic Invasive Species _________________________ 2 Problem Description ____________________________________3 Background ______________________________________________ 3 Economic Impacts ______________________________________3-4 Ecological Impacts ______________________________________ 5 Species Introductions ______________________________________ 8 Invasive Species of Concern _________________________________ 8 Freshwater Plants _____________________________________9-14 Freshwater Animals _____________________________________ 15 Marine/Estuarine Animals _____________________________ 24-30 Pathways of Introduction ____________________________ 31-32 Stocking ________________________________________________ 33 Aquascaping (water gardens, plant nurseries) _________________ 33-34 Aquarium/ Pet Releases and Escapes _________________________ 34 Shipping (maritime) ____________________________________ 34-35 Bait Releases ____________________________________________ 35 Aquaculture ___________________________________________ 35-36 Hitchhikers (boating) _____________________________________ 36 Other Pathways __________________________________________ 36 Jurisdictions and Responsibilities _________________________37 State Entities ____________________________________________ 37 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) _____ 37 South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Council ___________ 37 South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) ____________ 37 Department of Plant Industry, Clemson University (DPI) _____ 37-38 South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (SCSGC) and Extension Program (SCSGEP) ____________________________ 38 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) ___________________________________ 38-39 i Federal Entities __________________________________________ 39 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ____ 39 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA APHIS PPQ) ________________________________________ 39-40 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) _________ 40 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) _____________________________ 40 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Ballast Water Management (BWM) Program _____________________________________________ 40 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Charleston District ______________________________________________ 41 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District _____ 41 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) __ 41-42 U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) _____________________________________________ 42 Electric Power and Water Utilities _________________________ 42-43 Santee Cooper Public Service Authority _____________________ 43 South Carolina Electric and Gas Company _________________ 43-44 Duke Energy __________________________________________ 44 Management Goal and Objectives ________________________45 Goal ___________________________________________________ 45 Objectives ______________________________________________ 45 Management Actions and Legislative Initiatives __________ 45-46 Implementation Table _______________________________ 47-52 Monitoring and Evaluation ______________________________53 Literature Cited ____________________________________ 53-55 Glossary of Terms and Acronyms ______________________ 56-57 Appendices ___________________________________________58 Appendix A. Member Agencies and Participants of the South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force ____________ 58-59 Appendix B. State Prohibited Species _________________________ 60 Aquatic and Wetland Plants on the South Carolina Noxious Weed List _____________________________________ 60 South Carolina Prohibited Fish ____________________________ 61 Appendix C. Federal Prohibited Species _______________________ 62 Aquatic and Wetland Plants on the Federal Noxious Weed List (as of March 6, 2008) ____________________________________ 62 ii Federal Prohibited Fish, Mollusks, and Crustaceans __________ 62-63 Appendix D. Non-Indigenous Species in South Carolina __________ 64 USGS-NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species List (as of March 6, 2008) __________________________________ 64-66 Additional Nonindigenous Species Reported in South Carolina __ 67-68 Appendix E. Summary of South Carolina State Laws, Programs, and Regulations Relevant to Aquatic Invasive Species __________ 69-79 Appendix F. Summary of Federal Laws, Programs, and Regulations Relevant to Aquatic Invasive Species ______________ 80-90 Appendix G. Summary of International Laws and Treaties Relevant to Aquatic Invasive Species ________________________ 91-94 Appendix H. Public Comments Received and Responses __________ 95 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan was developed over a two-year period by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) in close collaboration with the South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. The AIS Task Force, composed of 47 representatives of federal and state agencies, academic institutions, public and private electric utilities, and several nongovernment organizations, was established to ensure input from a variety of interests. This dedicated team of individuals who generously gave of their time and knowledge is listed by name and affiliation in Appendix A. Special thanks are extended to Marilyn Barrett O’Leary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator for the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, for her tireless assistance, encouragement, and guidance throughout the entire planning process. Certain SCDNR staff deserve individual recognition for their extra efforts to bring this plan together. Steve de Kozlowski provided overall coordination of the plan, served as principal editor, and chaired the AIS Task Force meetings. Chris Page, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator, assisted in planning the meetings, setting agendas, compiling and maintaining the master draft plan, establishing and maintaining the AIS Management Plan website, and writing and editing sections of the plan. Michael Hook and Walt Meitzen, also with the Aquatic Nuisance Species Program, assisted in compiling background information and creating graphics. David Knott, Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, updated the state’s nonindigenous species list, drafted write-ups for all the marine species, and provided detailed editorial comments. For all they did behind the scenes, we are grateful. Finally, we thank those organizations who hosted AIS Task Force meetings: South Carolina Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Marine Resources Research Institute), South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, South Carolina Forestry Commission, United States Forest Service, Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, and the South Carolina Aquarium. We are also especially grateful to all those who gave educational presentations and tours of their facilities. iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY South Carolina’s abundant freshwater and saltwater resources play an essential role in supporting the growing economy and the diverse ecosystems that characterize our state. Over 11,000 miles of rivers, including 521,000 acres of lakes, discharge over 30 billion gallons of freshwater per day. The state encompasses more than 750,000 acres of critical estuaries along 200 miles of Atlantic shoreline. All of our water resources provide important habitat for fish and wildlife populations, as well as recreational opportunities, such as boating, swimming, fishing and hunting. Our lakes and rivers also provide water that is essential for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses and electric power generation. Our coastal waters are important habitat for marine and estuarine species, such as shrimp, crabs, oysters, and a variety of fish. They are also home to two of the largest ports on the U.S. East Coast, providing important ties to international trade. In the past 50 years the state has seen an eight-fold increase in the number of exotic species introductions. While many of these introduced species may have no noticeable effect (and may even be beneficial), several have established large populations that adversely impact the economic and ecological viability of our waterways. Water hyacinth growth in coastal counties has blocked water access and use on Goose Creek Reservoir, Back River Reservoir, and the Ashepoo, Cooper and Pee Dee Rivers. Hydrilla infestations in the Santee Cooper Lakes restrict boating, degrade water quality, and shut down hydroelectric power production resulting in over $4 million in losses in a single year. Similar infestations in other waters, such as Lake Murray, Strom Thurmond Lake, and the Cooper River impair flood flows, block water access and use,