Eddies Reflections on Fisheries Conservation Departments Headwaters 3 American Fishes 10 Watermarks 4 Meanders 30 Eddies Pioneers 8 Vol
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Summer/Fall 2010 Eddies Reflections on Fisheries Conservation Departments Headwaters 3 American Fishes 10 Watermarks 4 Meanders 30 Eddies Pioneers 8 Vol. 3, No. 2 Publisher Features Bryan Arroyo, Assistant Director Invasive Species in our “Rock Snot” Poses U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Waters–12 Problems for Fisheries Susan Jewell Conservation–22 Executive Editor John Bryan Stuart Leon, Ph.D. Deputy Editor Giant Salvinia–16 Conservation in a Richard Christian Bob Pitman Quagga-mire–26 David Britton, Ph.D. Editor Craig Springer Associate Editor Kenai’s Most Lauren Merriam Unwanted–20 Contributing writers Jeffry Anderson Jeffry Anderson Ken Peters David Britton, Ph.D. Bob Pitman John Bryan Randi Sue Smith Ricky Campbell Joe Starinchak Jason Goldberg Aaron Woldt Susan Jewell Bradley A. Young. Ph.D. Thomas McCoy Editorial Advisors Mark Brouder, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ryck Lydecker, Boat Owners Association of the United States Mark Maskill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hal Schramm, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey Michael Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired) Denise Wagner, U.S. Fish and Wildflife Service Assistant Regional Directors – Fisheries Julie Collins (Acting), Pacific Region Robert Clarke (Acting), Pacific Southwest Region Jaime Geiger, Ph.D., Northeast Region Linda Kelsey, Southeast Region Mike Oetker, Southwest Region Steve Klosiewski (Acting), Alaska Region Service Sharon Rose (Acting), Mountain–Prairie Region Mike Weimer, Midwest Region Park Contact For subscriptions, visit National www.fws.gov/eddies, email [email protected] Pythons have invaded the Florida Everglades. Read about call 505 248-6867, or write to: one man’s snake experience, returning home to Florida in Craig Springer this issue’s Meanders, page 30. USFWS Fisheries RM 9100D 500 Gold Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87103 Design The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Blue Heron U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Summer/Fall 2010 is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, Communications Eddies Reflections on Fisheries Conservation wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit On the Cover: Giant salvinia, an invasive of the American people. aquatic plant, has taken hold in lakes and CONSER VING bayous in the South. See page 16. USDA photo U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2 Eddies Summer/Fall 2010 Headwaters Join Us to Make a Difference This Task Force, made up of other federal agencies and regional panels whose participants are private By Bryan Arroyo enterprises, tribal governments and state governments, steers our work on the water. The Task Force is energized and looking at all avenues to better address invasive species. Legislative authority by itself isn’t enough. We are enjoined fully with limited resources, but I fear it’s a battle we are currently losing. These points are illustrated in this issue of Eddies in the story by David Britton, titled “Conservation in a Quagga- mire.” Dr. Britton refers to the quagga and zebra mussel invasions that occurred in the Great Lakes via ballast release, and then spread to points across the country as an “ecological cancer.” The metaphor is fitting. In the singular, these tiny mussels are unimpressive. In the aggregate—and they do amass upon one another in a large way—these little organisms are very destructive to USFWS native fish fauna, and to public water works. Aquatic invasive species are a clear and present danger to the aquatic biota of our country. It’s by boats, boots, Writer-biologist Susan Jewell punctuates the point in her and ballast that aquatic invasive species make their story, “Invasive Species in our Waters.” Jewell gives us an way into our waters. Once established, they can spread umbrella look at the issue in the U.S., and strikes a chord, aggressively and break links in the food chain. saying “Because water provides such a perfect pathway for pernicious pests, our continent is both blessed and Whether the invasive organisms are plants, bugs, cursed.” microorganisms, fish, snakes, snails, crabs, mussels, or algae—and the examples are many—the outcome is The ravages of injurious organisms will not be easily quite often a short-circuit in an ecosystem’s “wiring.” overcome. Witness the story on giant salvinia by retired Invasive species can change water quality, and they biologist, Bob Pitman. The Brazilian plant that can can be the vectors for novel diseases moving into spread by boats turns lake coves, bayous, ponds, and new waters. Invasive fish species can replace or duck marshes into fields of the leafy plant in short order. eliminate native fishes entirely, and this is particularly Controlling the plant is no easy matter. disconcerting when those native species are listed as threatened or endangered. The jury is still out on what “rock snot” may do to our fisheries. Also known as didymo, John Bryan tells how Then there are the costs. Invasive species can make this single-celled diatomaceous algae moves by boots, and your wallet thinner. Not only do invasive species tax grows, and what it may do in the future. It’s not much to native fish and plants by disrupting the ecosystem, look at, but what it may do to native ecosystems remains some devastate private property, damaging your boats, to be seen. marinas, irrigation systems, or public water works— and the expenses are passed on to consumers. In the All of the invasive species, terrestrial or aquatic, have end, we all pay. This is why we are aggressively tackling one thing in common: you. It’s you who can help stop the this threat to our native aquatic systems head on with spread. Through our social marketing efforts, as you will a multi-pronged approach. We are currently examining see on the back cover, we are attempting to educate folks all existing authorities both within and outside the throughout industry, through consumers, and through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to harness all of these you the reader, that it is they who can make a difference. authorities to better protect our aquatic systems. This If there’s any message to take home from this issue of approach includes prevention, control, and eradication Eddies, that’s the one. You can make a difference. strategies. The 1990 Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act gave us the legislative means to address invasive species. It was through Bryan Arroyo is the Assistant Director for Fisheries this legislation that we created the Aquatic Nuisance and Habitat Conservation in Washington, DC. Species Task Force, which I co-chair alongside with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Vol. 3, No. 2 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation RunningWatermarks Head Text Northern pike out, rainbow trout in Department Game and Fish California California Department of Fish and Game biologists apply CFT Legumine to kill unwanted, invasive northern pike in Lake Davis. Where northern pike are not native, and affect several sport fish species. from its American River Hatchery, they’re not wanted. Case in point, Northern pike also threatened to with a million additional trout stocked Lake Davis, California. Northern migrate over the spillway and spread in later years. pike were illegally introduced in into the Sacramento San Joaquin the watershed, and showed up in Delta, potentially damaging a much Removing invasive pike worked. Lake Davis in 1994. The California larger sport fishery. This prompted Recent creel surveys show that Department of Fish and Game the CDFG to plan another pike average catch per angler-hour (CDFG) eradicated northern eradication. They used Dingell- increased from 0.12 fish to 0.31 fish, pike with the piscicide rotenone Johnson Sport Fish Restoration turning Lake Davis back into an three years later. By 1999, CDFG Act funds to plan, buy materials, excellent trout fishery. biologists rediscovered northern test water quality, and conduct fish pike in Lake Davis. Following the surveys before and after treatment. Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish controversial use of rotenone and a Restoration Act funds come from lawsuit, biologists sought to remove In September 2007, CDFG personnel federal manufacturing excise taxes northern pike again, but without eradicated northern pike from on fishing tackle, trolling motors, rotenone. Lake Davis, and nearby streams and motorboat fuels, distributed to using the piscicide, CFT Legumine. state fish and wildlife agencies. These Through various means, about When biologists determined several funds support fishery management 65,000 northern pike were taken months later that the lake was free of that benefits anglers. F Thomas McCoy from the lake. But pike populations chemicals and pike, CDFG stocked continued to dramatically rebound, 31,000 Eagle Lake rainbow trout 4 Eddies Summer/Fall 2010 Running Head Text Internet provides global connection to fish health survey A new website allows anyone to access data from a nationwide survey focused on the health of America’s fisheries. Through the National Wild Fish Health Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service examines fish for important disease-causing pathogens and parasites in America’s lakes and streams. Knowing where pathogens occur is a first-line defense to prevent disease. Since 1996, nearly 220,000 fish have been examined from some 4,600 distinct sites in 2,560 water bodies. In all, fish health practitioners examined more than 260 fish species. Those fishes were tested at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s nine Fish Health Centers and the results posted on the website. The website allows users to query Bradley/USFWS using a search form and an interactive map, download reports, and create custom maps. Search results may Joshua be saved for use in spreadsheet applications or “earth This online map shows where Largemouth Bass Virus has browsers,” such as Google Earth®.