Invasive Species in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
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INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED A WORKSHOP TO DEVELOP REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES HELD MAY 7 -8, 2002 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND FINAL REPORT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM, INVASIVE SPECIES WORKING GROUP edited by FREDRIKA C. MOSER MARYLAND SEA GRANT COLLEGE AUGUST, 2002 A Maryland Sea Grant Publication Publication number UM-SG-TS-2002-03 Paper copies of this Maryland Sea Grant Progrma Publication are available by writing the Maryland Sea Grant office, electronic copies are available on the web at: www.mdsg.umd.edu/exotics/ Maryland Sea Grant College Program University System of Maryland Sea Grant 4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 300 College Park, MD 20740 TABLE OF CONTENTS Workshop Summary Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 Highlights from the Draft Invasive Species Management Plans ........................... 6 Workshop Background Introduction ......................................................................................................... 8 Basis for Selection of the Six Workshop Target Species ...................................... 8 Workshop Program Design ............................................................................................................... 11 Plenary Discussion: Key Issues ......................................................................... 12 Draft Management Plans Introduction ....................................................................................................... 14 Draft Management Plan (Phragmites australis- Common Reed) Breakout Session Participants............................................................................ 15 Species Summary .............................................................................................. 16 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................. 25 Implementation Tables ...................................................................................... 28 Key Issues ......................................................................................................... 33 Draft Management Plan (Lythrum salicaria- Purple Loosestrife) Breakout Session Participants ............................................................................ 35 Species Summary .............................................................................................. 36 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................. 44 Implementation Tables ...................................................................................... 48 Key Issues ......................................................................................................... 53 Draft Management Plan (Trapa natans- Water Chestnut) Breakout Session Participants ............................................................................ 54 Species Summary .............................................................................................. 55 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................. 60 Implementation Tables ...................................................................................... 63 Key Issues ......................................................................................................... 68 Draft Management Plan (Cygnus olor- Mute Swan) Breakout Session Participants ............................................................................ 69 Species Summary .............................................................................................. 70 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................. 79 Implementation Tables ...................................................................................... 83 Key Issues ......................................................................................................... 87 Draft Management Plan (Myocastor coypus- Nutria) Breakout Session Participants ............................................................................ 89 Species Summary .............................................................................................. 90 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................. 96 Implementation Tables ...................................................................................... 99 Key Issues ........................................................................................................ 103 3 Draft Management Plan (Dreissena polymorpha - Zebra Mussel) Breakout Session Participants ........................................................................... 104 Species Summary ............................................................................................. 105 Explanatory Text for the Implementation Table ................................................ 110 Implementation Tables ..................................................................................... 113 Key Issues ........................................................................................................ 118 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 120 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 121 Appendix I - Species Distribution Maps Phragmites presence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Purple loosestrife presence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Water chestnut presence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Mute swan presence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutria presence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Appendix II Invasive Species Groupings from the Chesapeake Bay Program's Invasive Species Workgroup Appendix III Guidance Document for Developing a Regional Species Management Strategy Framework Tables Priority Invasive Species ..................................................................................... 9 Workshop Plenary Speakers .............................................................................. 11 4 WORKSHOP SUMMARY Introduction The U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and Maryland Sea Grant College Program jointly sponsored a workshop May 7 - 8, 2002, in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss management strategy frameworks for six species identified as causing, or having the potential to cause, significant degradation of the Chesapeake Bay aquatic ecosystem. Ninety individuals representing government, private, academic and non-governmental organizations participated in the two-day workshop. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to discuss in plenary and breakout sessions the necessary components of an invasive species management plan. Through these interactions, six species-specific draft management strategy frameworks were completed by the close of the workshop. Included were: Phragmites (Phragmites australis); purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria); water chestnut (Trapa natans); mute swan (Cygnus olor); nutria (Myocastor coypus); and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). By design the workshop did not address issues specific to the introduction of species through the uptake and discharge of ship's ballast water. Instead, the focus was on species considered to be of highest priority for active management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by the Chesapeake Bay Program's Invasive Species Workgroup (ISW). This broad range of species were introduced through diverse pathways, have differing levels of population success (from well established populations, such as phragmites and purple loosestrife to limited populations such as zebra mussel), and present varying degrees of economic and ecological risks. Indeed, this diversity in selected invasive species proved beneficial for several reasons. First, it allowed participants to think expansively about the problem, rather than taking a more narrow approach that a single species discussion would have evoked. Second, it brought together specialists from different fields, thereby providing an exciting opportunity for new ideas and solutions to be proposed. Third, it addressed serious invasive species issues for specific areas of the Bay watershed. By developing management strategies for a broad spectrum of species the Chesapeake Bay watershed produced model species management plans that may serve as frameworks for managing invasive species of aquatic plants, invertebrates and vertebrates that emerge in the future. A unique aspect of this workshop was that it brought together representatives from a range of jurisdictions and interests within the Chesapeake Bay watershed to discuss management of multiple aquatic invasive species. Although numerous management plans exist for individual species, this workshop may have been the first in the United States to take a regional watershed approach to developing management strategies for six invasive aquatic species concurrently. This structure provided an important opportunity for the Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions to take a national leadership role in addressing a pressing environmental and economic problem. The success of this workshop is noteworthy. Six draft invasive species management strategy frameworks now exist for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Continued efforts by the jurisdictions, the Chesapeake Bay Program, other interested groups and the public will allow these plans to be finalized and implemented by the jurisdictions. 5 Highlights from