100th Meridian Initiative Intruders Among Us! Nonnative Aquatic Species in the Columbia River Basin A Different Kind of Pioneer This Problem Affects YOU!

When Lewis and Clark navigated the vast waters of Why worry about whether the Columbia and Snake rivers, were they serenaded the Columbia River Basin by the chorus of bullfrogs? contains harmful aquatic Did they paddle through nonnative species? tangled filaments of For one thing, they cost Eurasian watermilfoil? us a lot of money. States Did they dine on carp and like Idaho are spending catfish? They did not— millions of dollars per because these species Nutria damage stream banks year just to control didn’t exist in the aquatic weeds such as Eurasian watermilfoil. Columbia Basin 200 A recent project to eradicate an introduced baitfish years ago! in Oregon’s Diamond Lake cost $6 million. Beyond what we spend on control, rack up At least 85 species have direct economic losses, such as damage by nutria Meriwether Lewis, been introduced to the Capt. John Clark to streamside property owners. Columbia Basin over the last two centuries, and those are just the ones Aquatic intruders also limit we know about. Some, like New Zealand mudsnails, our ability to enjoy the region’s hitchhiked here from foreign lands. Others, like natural resources. It’s no fun to brook trout, were introduced on purpose from boat in a lake matted with other parts of the United States. With this global Brazilian elodea or to find your mix of organisms, the Columbia River Basin is an favorite fishing spot is closed due international melting pot of alien aquatic species. to an introduced fish disease.

Are these exotic species Although harder to measure, all bad? invasive species cause major No. But some plants Aquatic intruders impacts to our ecosystems. and explode in can lead to fishing closures Nonnative game fish prey on numbers when introduced young salmon, purple loosestrife outside their native range. crowds out native wetland plants, and New Zealand Such organisms are mudsnails modify the entire food web of streams labeled as invasive, pests Bullfrog they take over. And these problems all pale in or nuisance species when comparison to the billions of dollars in damage that their expansive populations lead to economic or aquatic intruders like zebra mussels inflict on other ecological damage. But nonnative species provide regions, costs we would likely face if they arrive in the human benefits as well and that complicates how Columbia Basin. we manage them. Worse yet, these impacts Nonnative species have permanently changed the don’t go away, they just nature of Columbia Basin waters and in some cases grow. have caused economic and environmental damage. Once invasive species Understanding these impacts helps us better sink their teeth in a new appreciate the importance of preventing and rapidly location, they’re rarely detecting new introductions of harmful species. eliminated or contained. See pages 10 and 11 to learn how you can help. Zebra mussels clog pipes, costing taxpayers billions

– 2 – – 3 – River of Change… ...Agents of Change!

Human development in the Columbia River Basin Throughout history, whether on purpose or by produced a wave of physical and ecological changes. accident, people have transported aquatic nonnative With those changes also came a parade of exotic species in many ways: species introductions. Here’s a glimpse of that history: Shipping: Ships entering the Columbia may discharge contaminated ballast 1792 Arrival of Robert Gray into the 1800 Columbia River water (used to keep ships stable) and 1805 Lewis and Clark Expedition can also harbor nonnative species on reaches the Snake River their anchors, hull, etc. 1820 Recreational boating: Boaters may unknowingly spread aquatic plants and 1840 animals attached to their watercraft 1844 Oregon City: rst incorporated U.S. city in the Columbia Basin and trailers or traveling in their livewells. 1860 Fishing: Many nonnative fish in the 1871 Shad introduced into California 1876 Shad caught in the Columbia River Columbia Basin were put there 1880 1879-1880 Introduction of common carp intentionally to enhance fishing opportunities. Imported live bait is also 1894 U.S. Fish Commission shows decline an introduction source. of native salmon sheries 1900 1896 Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery Outdoor recreation: Hunters, hikers, begins operations campers and other outdoor enthusiasts 1914 Bullfrog introductions (and associated pets or animals) can authorized 1920 spread invaders between watersheds. Aquariums and water gardens: From 1933 Construction of Rock Island Dam, rst Columbia River dam goldfish to yellow iris, nonnative plants 1940 1938 Asian clams discovered in the Columbia River and animals have found their way from 1943 Feral nutria documented in the Paci c Northwest hobbyist tanks and ponds into the Columbia Basin. 1960 and live : 1965 Eurasian watermilfoil rst documented in the Northwest Can be a problem when nonnative 1972 Construction of Lower Granite Dam shellfish and other species escape or on the Snake River 1980 1980s New Zealand Mudsnail found are disposed of improperly. in the Snake River Research and education: Scientists 1995 Siberian found in the lower Columbia and teachers working with nonnative 1997 Chinese mitten collected in the Columbia River 2000 2001 1st major Columbia River aquatic invasive survey species can themselves be an 2005 Rusty cray sh found in the John Day River, Oregon introduction source and also may 2006 Amur goby found in the Columbia River 2007 Hydrilla found in Idaho’s Bruynneau River spread problems during fieldwork. 2013 Northern pike found in Lake Roosevelt 2016 Flowering rush found in Habitat restoration: Although done with Entiat Lake in the upper 2020 good intentions, equipment movement, Columbia River plants and other site restoration materials can introduce unwanted invaders. Common carp – 4 – – 5 – The Columbia River Basin: A Melting Pot

The Columbia Basin drains over 250,000 square miles. Purple loosestrife Recent surveys have detected over 80 aquatic non- Its lavender flowers native species in the Columbia River and Snake may look pretty, but River [pages 8 and 9 have a detailed list]. Many this invader takes more have uncertain origins. These exotic over wetlands. plants and animals represent native ranges that span the planet, from American shad to Brazil, making the Columbia Basin a Introduced in the 1800s from the true melting pot. Surveys also reflect eastern U.S., these migratory fish now an increasing rate of introductions. outnumber our native salmon. From the 1800’s to the 1970’s, a new nonnative species appeared in the lower Columbia at an average rate of one every five years but in the last decade that rate increased to one every five months! Asian copepods These microscopic critters were likely introduced by ship ballast water and now dominate the base of the foodweb in the lower Columbia.

Eurasian watermilfoil This aggressive weed chokes out native vegetation and was likely introduced Amur goby through aquarium Discovered in the lower dumping. Columbia in 2006, this small freshwater Asian fish indicates continued risk of new introductions. Red-eared slider A popular pet species from Brook trout the eastern U.S., these turtles Like many eastern game fish outcompete native turtles when purposefully introduced into released into the wild. the Northwest, brook trout can cause problems for Asian clam native fish like bull trout. Nutria (Corbicula) Originally imported for Introduced over fur farming, nutria now 70 years ago, this cause widespread damage coin-size freshwater New Zealand mudsnail to streamside habitat clam with golden It only takes one of these and property. Rusty shells is found tiny clones to hitch a ride A recent Northwest invader, throughout the on a boot or net and start infamous for aggressively displacing Columbia Basin. a new colony. native crayfish. – 6 – – 7 – Intruder Log : Balanus improvisus, The following list represents Caecidotea laticaudatus, many of the nonnative aquatic Caecidotea racovitzai species occuring and documented racovitzai, Caecidotea racovitzai, in the Columbia Basin. Quite a Crangonyx floridanus, Crangonyx few lack common names, pseudogracilis, Grandidierella reflecting that others likely japonica, Harpacticella paradoxa, remain undiscovered. Limnoithona sinensis, Limnoithona Siberian tetraspina, Melita nitida, Plants: Allegheny monkey-flower, Monocorophium acherusicum, American white waterlily, brass Nippoleucon hinumensis, buttons, Brazilian elodea, cress, Pseudodiaptomus forbesi, Eurasian curlyleaf pondweed, Eurasian Pseudodiaptomus sinopinus, red watermilfoil watermilfoil, European pond swamp crayfish, ringed crayfish, water-starwort, fanwort, rusty crayfish, Siberian prawn, flowering rush, narrowleaf Sinocalanus doerri, Sinelobus cattail, parrotfeather milfoil, stanfordi purple loosestrife, reed canarygrass, spike watermilfoil, Fish: American shad, water speedwell, water celery, Arctic grayling, banded kilifish, yellow flag iris, water mint, water black bullhead, blue catfish, black primrose Bluegill crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, brook trout, brown trout, channel Cnidarians: Cordylophora caspia, catfish, common carp, convict starlet sea anemone cichlid, fathead minnow, flathead catfish, golden trout, goldfish, Bryozoans: Magnificent bryozoan grass carp, grass pickerel, green (Pectinatella magnifica), sunfish, lake trout, largemouth Yellow flag iris Urnatella gracilis bass, mosquitofish, northern pike, Oriental weatherfish, pacu, potted Annelid Worms: Branchiura catfish, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish, sowerbyi, Chaetogaster red-bellied pacu, smallmouth bass, diaphanous, Eukerria split-tails, spottail shiner, striped saltensis, Hobsonia floridana, bass, tadpole madtom, tench, tiger Manayunkia aestuarina, muskie, tilapia, walleye, warmouth, Manayunkia speciosa, white catfish, white crappie, Paranais frici, Polydora yellow bullhead, yellow perch cornuta, Pseudopolydora kempi, Stylodrilus heringianus, Amphibians: Bullfrog Streblospio benedicti Reptiles: Red-eared slider, Molluscs: Big-ear radix, snapping turtle Chinese mystery snail, Asian Mammals: clam (Corbicula), New Zealand Purple varnish Nutria clam mudsnail, purple varnish clam, softshell clam

– 8 – – 9 – What YOU can do! Watch Out! Report what you see! Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Early detection greatly improves the odds that we can Here are some simple things you can do to prevent eliminate a new intruder. the spread of aquatic intruders into and within the If you see or suspect a new introduced species, Columbia Basin: report it to: http://nas.er.usgs.gov • Drain water and remove any attached debris, plants, or animals...before transporting boats, Some of the most harmful invaders that we need to keep fishing gear, and other equipment from one water out of the Columbia and Snake Rivers include: body to another. Clean and dry when possible, and re-inspect before using in a new location. • Zebra and quagga mussels— See page 12 (back) to get more information on These striped freshwater cleaning methods and online resources. shellfish foul boats, docks, pipes, and other objects. Young mussels look like grains of sand; adults are thumbnail-sized and attach with hair-like threads. (Zebra mussel shown at top right; quagga mussel below.)

• Hydrilla— This freshwater weed grows quickly, taking over lakes and rivers. It can reproduce from fragments, as well as from small tubers (a Wash and dry boats thoroughly distinguishing feature) attached to the roots. • Never release live bait, plants or aquarium animals into a water body. • Silver carp— • Provide adequate containment for nonnative Infamous for leaping from the water when alarmed, aquatic plants or animals on your property, these large fish spell trouble for water recreation. particularly in areas subject to flooding. Unlike common carp, they have a large • Learn to recognize upturned mouth nonnative species. and low-set eyes. Report suspected invaders to: • Mitten crab— http://nas.er.usgs. A migratory crab that breeds gov. in saltwater and rears • Share your in freshwater. knowledge with Adults possess others to prevent the namesake new introductions hairy claws, with legs of invasive species. up to 6 inches long. Be assertive but Clean fishing gear between sites, and polite if you see dispose of wash-water safely. risky behavior! – 10 – – 11 – For More Information

For more information on aquatic intruders and how to prevent their spread, visit: http://nas.er.usgs.gov www.protectyourwaters.net www.100thmeridian.org

When you leave a body of water: • Remove any visible mud, plants, fish, or animals before transporting equipment. • Eliminate water from equipment before transporting. • Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, clothing, dogs, etc.) • Never release plants, fish, or animals into a body of water

Image Credits: Lewis & Clark—NOAA; bullfrog—Bill Leonard; nutria—The Agency; pipe with mussels—Don Schloesser, Great Lakes Science Center/Michigan Sea Grant; boat inspection—Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; angler cleaning, and mitten crab—Paul Heimowitz; zebra and quagga mussel—U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); hydrilla—John Madsen; silver carp— David Rieck, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant; Columbia Basin Map—Northwest Power and Conservation Council; American shad—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); purple loosestrife —Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture; Asian copepod—Jeff Cordell, University of Washington; Amur goby — USGS; nutria—William Vann, EduPic Graphical Resource; red-eared slider—Wikipedia; Corbicula—John Caldeira; New Zealand mudsnail — Dan Gustafson, Montana State University; brook trout — USFWS; Eurasian watermilfoil—Alison Fox, University of Florida; Eurasian watermilfoil and yellow flag iris line art—University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants; purple varnish clam—Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; bluegill—Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; bullfrog, nutria and Siberian prawn line art—Barbara Gleason/BGleason Design & Illustration, LLC; Columbia Rediviva—Discovering Lewis & Clark® and Columbia River Maritime Museum; Rock Island Dam—Chelan Public Utility District; common carp—USFWS; Rusty crayfish—Jeff Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant. Thanks to Barbara Gleason/BGleason Design & Illustration, for design and editing; to the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership for assistance with printing costs; and to the members of the 100th Meridian Initiative Columbia Basin Team who provided images, information, and technical review. November 2019