ASIAN CARP Control Strategy Framework June 2014 THE ASIAN CARP REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework June 2014 Contributing Members: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Indiana Department of Natural Resources Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan Office of the Great Lakes Minnesota Department of Natural Resources New York Department of Environmental Conservation Ohio Department of Natural Resources Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Quebec Ministère de la Forêt, de la Faune et des Parcs U.S Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Department of Transportation/Maritime Administration U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey White House Council on Environmental Quality Fisheries and Oceans Canada City of Chicago Great Lakes Fishery Commission Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Asian Carp Control 2014 Strategy Framework June 2014 Table of Contents Section Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Situation ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 Ecological and Biological Risk ......................................................................... 3 1.1.2 Social Risk ........................................................................................................ 5 1.1.3 Financial Risk ................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Framework Background ............................................................................................... 6 1.3 ACRCC Transition ....................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Strategic Program Focus .................................................................................. 8 2.0 Framework Strategy for Asian Carp Control .......................................................................... 10 3.0 Organizational Contributions to the strategy ........................................................................ 14 3.1 Critical Efforts Underway ........................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 Targeted Monitoring and Assessment ........................................................... 14 3.1.2 Response Activities ......................................................................................... 17 3.1.3 Commercial Harvesting and Removal Actions .............................................. 18 3.1.4 Electrical Barrier and Support Activities ....................................................... 19 3.1.5 GLMRIS and Other Pathways ........................................................................ 21 3.1.6 eDNA Monitoring and Technology Refinement .......................................... 24 3.1.7 Research Activities ......................................................................................... 28 3.1.8 Risk Assessment .............................................................................................. 31 3.1.9 Enforcement ................................................................................................... 32 3.1.10 Outreach and Education ............................................................................... 33 3.1.11 Control Technologies .................................................................................... 35 3.1.12 Program Support ........................................................................................... 40 3.2 Asian Carp Control Efforts Outside the Great Lakes Basin: Quebec ....................... 40 3.2.1 eDNA Sampling .............................................................................................. 41 3.2.2 Rapid Response Plan....................................................................................... 41 3.2.3 Action Plan ...................................................................................................... 41 3.2.4 Strategy ........................................................................................................... 41 3.2.5 Monitoring: Commercial Fisheries ............................................................... 42 3.2.6 Outreach Activities ........................................................................................ 42 3.2.7 Sport Fishing and Boat Cleaning Activities .................................................. 42 3.2.8 Ministry’s Website ......................................................................................... 42 3.2.9 Regulations .................................................................................................... 43 3.2.10 Ministerial Asian Carp Scientific Task Force ................................................ 43 3.3 Non-Framework-Related Asian Carp Efforts ............................................................ 43 i Asian Carp Control 2014 Strategy Framework June 2014 4.0 The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee .............................................................. 45 4.1 CAWS Monitoring and Response Workgroup .......................................................... 46 4.2 Communications and Outreach Workgroup ............................................................ 47 5.0 Stakeholder Participation ....................................................................................................... 49 Exhibits Figure Page Figure 1. Bighead and Silver Carp Distribution Since 1980 .................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Asian Carp Impact on Great Lakes Ecosystem ..................................................................... 5 Figure 3. ACRCC Path Forward ........................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4. Electric Barrier System Location ........................................................................................ 20 Figure 5. Electric Barrier Design ......................................................................................................... 21 Figure 6. Chicago Area Waterway System ........................................................................................ 22 Figure 7. GLMRIS Study Area Map .................................................................................................... 23 Figure 8. ACRCC Organization .......................................................................................................... 45 Figure 9. Technical and Policy Workgroup....................................................................................... 49 Appendices Appendix A 2014 Asian Carp Control Strategy Matrix – Funding by Agency Appendix B 2014 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework Action Items ii Asian Carp Control 2014 Strategy Framework June 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Asian carp, particularly bighead and silver carp, pose a significant threat to the waters they invade. One of the most severe aquatic invasive species (AIS) threats facing the Great Lakes today is movement of Asian carp species through the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) and other pathways that can connect the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin. The Obama Administration is implementing an unprecedented and comprehensive set of actions to prevent the introduction and establishment of bighead and silver carp populations in the Great Lakes. These actions are being carried out by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), with support from federal, state, provincial, and local agencies, and from private stakeholders and citizens. The ACRCC implements actions for protecting and maintaining the Great Lakes ecosystem from an Asian carp invasion via all viable aquatic pathways. The ACRCC management strategy and current and future ES-1 Asian Carp Control 2014 Strategy Framework June 2014 actions are reported annually in the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (Framework) using the best science available. The Framework is accessible online at www.asiancarp.us. The Framework’s strategy is to perform activities that will directly prevent bighead and silver carp dispersal towards the Great Lakes. Each Framework action item is categorized within a component of the Framework strategy and addresses specific management actions. The Asian carp control strategy features the following new initiatives: Expanded harvesting of silver and bighead carp downstream of the electric barriers New electric barrier construction Water gun testing and the evaluation of other potential control technologies at Brandon Road Lock and Dam approach site to determine whether fish can be kept out of locks Field testing of a fish toxicant (microparticle) Construction of Eagle Marsh berm to stop Asian carp threatening Lake Erie Identifying options for blocking carp pathways at Killbuck Creek and the Ohio-Erie Canal in Ohio Development of a hand-held real-time