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 August, 2007 Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 5 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 6 Purpose and Scope ........................................................................................................ 6 Interaction with Other Plans ....................................................................................... 8 Define “aquatic invasive species” ................................................................................ 8 Problem Description ......................................................................................................... 9 Background ................................................................................................................... 9 Species Introductions.................................................................................................. 13 Invasive Species of Concern....................................................................................... 15 Freshwater Plants ................................................................................................... 15 Freshwater Animals.................................................................................................... 26 Mammals ................................................................................................................. 27 Reptiles..................................................................................................................... 27 Fishes........................................................................................................................ 28 Insects....................................................................................................................... 34 Crustaceans ............................................................................................................. 35 Mollusks................................................................................................................... 36 Marine/Estuarine Animals......................................................................................... 41 Fishes........................................................................................................................ 41 Crustaceans ............................................................................................................. 42 Pathways of Introduction............................................................................................... 49 Stocking........................................................................................................................ 52 Aquascaping (water gardens, plant nurseries)......................................................... 53 Aquarium/ Pet releases and escapes.......................................................................... 54 Shipping (Maritime) ................................................................................................... 54 Bait Releases................................................................................................................ 56 Aquaculture................................................................................................................. 56 Fish, shellfish and shrimp diseases............................................................................ 58 Hitchhikers (boating).................................................................................................. 59 Other Pathways........................................................................................................... 59 Jurisdictions and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 59 State Entities................................................................................................................ 59 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) ............................ 59 Department of Plant Industry, Clemson University............................................ 61 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ................. 63 Federal Entities ........................................................................................................... 63 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA APHIS PPQ)...................................... 63 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service .................................................. 64 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service..................................... 67 U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service................................ 68 Electric Power and Water Utilities............................................................................ 69 2 Santee Cooper - need information........................................................................ 69 South Carolina Electric and Gas........................................................................... 69 Duke Energy............................................................................................................ 71 Management Goal and Objectives ................................................................................ 73 Goal:............................................................................................................................. 73 Objectives: ................................................................................................................... 73 Proposed Management Actions and Legislative Initiatives ........................................ 74 Implementation Table .................................................................................................... 77 Monitoring and Evaluation............................................................................................ 84 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 85 Glossary of Terms and Acronyms................................................................................. 89 Appendices....................................................................................................................... 91 APPENDIX A. MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES TASK FORCE ...................................................................... 92 APPENDIX B. STATE PROHIBITED SPECIES.................................................. 93 Aquatic and Wetland Plants on the South Carolina Noxious Weed List .......... 93 South Carolina Prohibited Fish............................................................................. 94 APPENDIX C. FEDERAL PROHIBITED SPECIES............................................ 95 Aquatic and Wetland Plants on the Federal Noxious Weed List (as of June 30, 2006) ......................................................................................................................... 95 Federal Prohibited Fish, Mollusks, and Crustaceans.......................................... 95 APPENDIX D. NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA .......... 97 USGS-NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species List .............................................. 97 APPENDIX E. SUMMARY OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LAWS, PROGRAMS, AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.................................................................................................................... 102 TITLE 46 - AGRICULTURE.............................................................................. 102 TITLE 49 – WATERS, WATER RESOURCES AND DRAINAGE............... 110 TITLE 50 – FISH, GAME AND WATERCRAFT............................................ 112 APPENDIX F. SUMMARY OF FEDERAL LAWS, PROGRAMS, AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES............... 117 APPENDIX G. SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND TREATIES RELEVANT TO AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES ............................................. 131 APPENDIX H. PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED AND RESPONSES ......... 136 3 Acknowledgements 4 Executive Summary 5 Introduction It is well documented and acknowledged that non-native aquatic invasive species cause serious ecological and economic harm to water resources in many regions of the country. Congress first addressed this concern by passing the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, which targeted the control of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes. Later it passed the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-332), which greatly expanded nationwide recognition and coordination of aquatic invasive species. This law established the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and made it responsible for developing voluntary national guidelines for ballast water management. It also charged the ANS Task Force with national coordination of aquatic invasive species through regional panels. Section 1204 of the Act specifically authorized the development of comprehensive state