Aquatic Nuisance Species monitoring and outreach program for the Mountain Columbia province (Montana portion) of the Columbia River Basin proposal 200710900

FY07-09 proposal 200710900

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Aquatic Nuisance Species monitoring and outreach program for the Mountain Columbia province (Montana portion) of the Columbia River Basin
Proposal ID	200710900
Organization	Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Short description	Establishment of an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) monitoring program, identify potential ANS vectors and continue and expand ANS public awareness efforts within the Mountain Columbia province.
Information transfer	The ANS distribution data will be included into several databases including the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species USGS database located at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/default.asp. It will also be included in the Montana ANS distribution databases which are available at http://fwp.mt.gov/default.html and in the 100th Meridian Initiative Program databases http://www.100thmeridian.org/. Data collected from Angler/Boater surveys will be incorporated into the 100th Meridian Boater Survey database http://www.100thmeridian.org/database.asp. The data will also be incorporated into a database established to identify waters at highest risk of introduction form ANS. Part of the project will also be to develop and maintain an illegal pond stocking database for the region.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Eileen Ryce	Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks	eryce@mt.gov
All assigned contacts
Eileen Ryce	Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks	eryce@mt.gov
Karen Zackheim	Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks	kzackheim@mt.gov

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Mountain Columbia / None Selected

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
			The project will occur throughout the Mountain Columbia region, including within the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Flathead and Kootenai subbasins

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Other Resident
Additional: Aquatic Nuisance Species including: zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, New Zealand mudsnails, and Myxobolus cerebralis (the causative agent of whirling disease)

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
Other: ANS Task Force	1448-60181-3G53	Montana Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Program	The proposed work will be carried out as part of the Montana ANS Management Program under the direction of the Montana ANS Coordinator, within the Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Funding for the Montana ANS Program is almost exclusively provided through the federal ANS Task Force.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy
Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations	In order to effectively respond to an introduced population early detection of the pioneering population is essential. Within this objective monitoring will occur for zebra mussels, aquatic invasive weeds, New Zealand mudsnails and other aquatic nuisance species. To identify waters at risk from introductions hatcheries will be inspected for the presence of aquatic nuisance species, a databse of illegally stocked fish ponds will be developed and angler movement data will be collected.	Flathead	Prevent further expansion, suppress and where possible remove non-native species.
Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations	In order to effectively respond to an introduced population early detection of the pioneering population is essential. Within this objective monitoring will occur for zebra mussels, aquatic invasive weeds, New Zealand mudsnails and other aquatic nuisance species. To identify waters at risk from introductions hatcheries will be inspected for the presence of aquatic nuisance species, a databse of illegally stocked fish ponds will be developed and angler movement data will be collected.	Kootenai	Reduce and prevent non-native introductions. Suppress and remove non-native species.
Prevent the spread and introduction of ANS	Once aquatic nuisance species or other non-native invasive species become established erradication is often impossible. Therefore, the best strategy is prevention of introduction. Within this objective boat inspections will be used to ensure boats are not introducing invasive species when launching. In addition public outreach will be carried out and evaluated to increase public awareness of invasive species and their harmful effects.	Flathead	Prevent further expansion, suppress and where possible remove non-native species.
Prevent the spread and introduction of ANS	Once aquatic nuisance species or other non-native invasive species become established erradication is often impossible. Therefore, the best strategy is prevention of introduction. Within this objective boat inspections will be used to ensure boats are not introducing invasive species when launching. In addition public outreach will be carried out and evaluated to increase public awareness of invasive species and their harmful effects.	Kootenai	Reduce and prevent non-native introductions. Suppress and remove non-native species.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element name	Work element title	Description	Start date	End date	Est budget
Outreach and Education	Conduct inspections of boats, trailers and aquatic recreating equipment (e.g. fishing gear) at popular fishing access and boat launch sites.	Boats, trailers and equipment will be inspected for the presence of aquatic nuisance species, sediment, weeds, or other illegally transported organisms such as live fish. Cleaning stations will be available at all inspection sites to safely decontaminate any boats or equipment prior to their launch. The boat inspection program was initiated in Montana in 2004, this program has been very successful and very well received by the public. Several cases of illegal live fish have been found being brought into the state from out-of-state in addition to many cases of other illegal live bait coming into the state from out-of-state. Boats have also been prevented from launching which have contained weeds, sediment and water from out-of-state and from other bodies of water within state, and in 2005 a boat from Indiana was found to be contaminated with zebra mussels. This program will continue throughout the summer on an annual basis. The inspections will be carried out in conjunction with the angler/boater surveys.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$20,654
Biological objectives Prevent the spread and introduction of ANS			Metrics
Outreach and Education	Evaluate public outreach efforts.	As part of the boater/angler surveys the public awareness of aquatic nuisance species will be evaluated and the effectiveness of different outreach tools will be gauged based on the methods the public list as their means for gaining awareness on the issue.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$7,327
Biological objectives Prevent the spread and introduction of ANS			Metrics
Outreach and Education	Increase public awareness of the harmful impacts of aquatic nuisance species and how to prevent their further spread and introduction.	In conjunction with the inspections and surveys the public will be given information on the harmful impacts of aquatic nuisance species and how to prevent their introduction and spread. One-on-one contacts with the public have been found to be a very useful tool for public outreach. This has been conducted as part of the statewide program since 2004 and will be continued on an annual basis.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$20,654
Biological objectives Prevent the spread and introduction of ANS			Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment	All major lakes and reservoirs will be sampled for aquatic invasive weeds	Using standard submersed plant sampling procedures (Washington State Department of Ecology 2001) all major lakes and reservoirs within the region will be sampled for aquatic invasive weeds. This work will be carried out between 2007 and 2009. Water bodies identified as highest risk for the establishment of Eurasian watermilfoil will be sampled annually.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$40,780
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment	All major lakes and reservoirs will be sampled for zebra mussels	Zebra mussel monitoring on lakes and reservoirs identified as at highest risk of introduction will occur annually (2007 – 2009). Vertical plankton trawls will be used to sample for zebra mussel veligers (the free floating larval stage of the mussel). On each lake/reservoir a minimum of three sites will be sampled, three replicate samples of the whole water column will be sampled at each site, samples will be concentrated and analyzed by microscopy at the state Fish Health Laboratory under cross-polarized light. In addition zebra mussel substrates will be installed in all lakes and reservoirs within the region and will be monitored monthly (2007 – 2009) for settled adult zebra mussels. Both of these protocols are standard sampling procedures for zebra mussels and are the same procedures used by the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$20,654
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment	All state, federal and private hatcheries within the region will be monitored annually for the presence of aquatic nuisance species.	An annual aquatic nuisance species inspection program for all state, federal and private hatcheries was started in 2005. All hatcheries are inspected for the presence of aquatic nuisance species annually. Within the region all hatcheries will be inspected annually for the presence of aquatic nuisance species to ensure that none of the hatcheries are acting as vectors for invasive species. The aquatic nuisance species inspection program is carried out in conjunction with the Montana Fish Health Program.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$7,327
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment	New Zealand mudsnail monitoring will be conducted at major fishing access sites throughout the region.	Statewide New Zealand mudsnail monitoring was initiated in 2005. During this monitoring no New Zealand mudsnails were detected within the region. However, New Zealand mudsnails are very abundant elsewhere in Montana and in Idaho, therefore monitoring west of the divide will continue.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$11,612
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics
Create/Manage/Maintain Database	A database of illegally stocked fish ponds will be developed to identify areas at risk from the introduction of aquatic nuisance species.	A database will be developed of illegally stocked private ponds based on comparisons between the pond permit database and sales records from commercial fish growers. It is known that illegal stocking and movements of fish are significant pathways for the introduction and spread of invasive species. It is suspected that many private ponds within the region have been stocked illegally. The database will be completed during summer of 2007 and will then be periodically updated and maintained annually. The database will be used by this project to identify waters that may have been contaminated with invasive species through illegal stocking activities. It will also be used to aid the enforcement of stocking laws and will aid in public outreach of this issue.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$2,350
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics
Create/Manage/Maintain Database	Angler movement data will be used to identify bodies of water at risk from the introduction of aquatic nuisance species.	Angler/boater surveys will be conducted at all major fishing access and boat launch sites throughout the region annually (starting in summer 2007). The survey will be the same as that used throughout the state, which is based on the survey developed by the 100th Meridian Initiative (http://www.100thmeridian.org/SurveyForms/LSF.pdf). All survey data will be entered into the national 100th Meridian boater movement database to establish movement patterns of boaters throughout the country. This information will help the program identify waters at highest risk of invasive introductions from water recreators.	5/1/2007	10/31/2009	$7,327
Biological objectives Monitoring and detection of pioneering populations			Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Personnel	Field technicians (1920 hours @ $9/hour)	$17,280	$17,280	$17,280
Fringe Benefits	Field technician benefits (50% of salary)	$8,640	$8,640	$8,640
Travel	Mileage (5,000 miles @ 0.36/mile)	$1,800	$1,800	$1,800
Travel	Per diem	$6,600	$6,600	$6,600
Supplies	Field supplies (lake weed rakes, plankton nets, collection jars, ethanol, misc. supplies)	$2,500	$1,500	$1,500
Supplies	Lab supplies (slides, fixatives, misc. supplies)	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000
Supplies	Boat, 14.5 ft tiller	$4,500	$0	$0
Supplies	Boat trailer	$1,500	$0	$0
Overhead	18.07% Overhead	$7,919	$6,653	$6,653
Totals		$51,739	$43,473	$43,473

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$138,685
Total work element budget:	$138,685

Cost sharing

Funding source/org	Item or service provided	FY 07 est value ($)	FY 08 est value ($)	FY 09 est value ($)	Cash or in-kind?	Status
ANS Task Force	ANS Coordinator Salary	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000	Cash	Confirmed
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks	Office and lab space	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500	In-Kind	Confirmed
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, ANS Program	Boat engine	$4,500	$0	$0	Cash	Confirmed
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, ANS Program	Supplies	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	Cash	Confirmed
Totals		$23,000	$18,500	$18,500

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $37,000
FY 2011 estimated budget: $37,000

Comments: The Aquatic Nuisance Species Program within the region will continue on an annual basis. These are the estimated annual costs of the program within the Mountain Columbia region.

Future O&M costs:

Termination date:
Comments: It is hoped that this project will continue on an annual basis.

Final deliverables: Annual reports will be completed including detailed descriptions and maps of monitoring work, and summaries of all other completed tasks.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget	FY08 budget	FY09 budget	Total budget	Type	Category	Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$51,739	$43,473	$43,473	$138,685	Expense	ProvinceExpense	Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$51,739	$43,473	$43,473	$0		ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This proposal has a focused and practical approach and is at a good location for early detection and prevention of invasive species, i.e., those arriving from the eastern US. This is a good operation with the concept "find them early and get rid of them before they proliferate." This type of work requires high priority, and Montana seems to have done their homework and is out in front on this issue. The Columbia River basin would benefit from enhanced surveillance on invasives possibly moving west. More details are required on the sampling program in lakes and reservoirs to make sure the investment in this aspect of the work is scientifically defensible. An approach other than trawls may be more useful for Zebra Mussels. In Tennessee, the use of plastic plates was an effective way to sample. This and other methods might be explored by the project sponsors as alternatives to the trawls. Technical and scientific background: The problem is adequately identified and is described with appropriate references. For example, the proposal contains a better than adequate review of invasives in Montana subbasins. The current work seems to be being done on somewhat of a shoestring and there is a need to bolster the surveillance, given that invasives such as zebra mussels could move into the Columbia River from the east. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The logic for this action is detailed and is appropriate in all subbasin plans with specifics mentioned. Relationships to other projects: Montana seems to be out in front on this issue and realizes that they need to stop the nuisance species quickly or there will be nothing meaningful that they can do. They have received some funding in the past, which was reduced resulting in this request for funds. The context of the project is described, but linkages/collaboration with USGS and Portland State University projects are not identified. Objectives: Use of trawls to determine presence of zebra mussels in lakes is their highest priority (details are presented). They also propose to sample for aquatic invasive weeds (cited methods), monitor for mudsnails near major fishing access sites, work on illegally stocked private fish ponds, and study angler movement patterns to help understand risk of introduction of various species. They intend to prevent spread by inspecting boats, trailers, and other equipment, and to increase public awareness of harmful impacts of nuisance species. They will also evaluate the effectiveness of their outreach efforts. This seems like a grassroots operation that is mostly common sense and logical. Tasks (work elements) and methods: The methods to evaluate the situation are fairly basic and do not need much elaboration. Perhaps more details could be presented and additional information made available about the findings in a database or annual reports. The proposal would be improved if the methods for choosing sample sites were better explained. The proposal states that all major lakes and reservoirs will be surveyed but locations within the water bodies may be critical. In addition, small lakes and reservoirs may be as important as major ones. The surveillance level intended for hatcheries, boat trailers, etc should be quantified. Detection of zebra mussel larvae in the water column of lakes may be a hit and miss operation. Monitoring and evaluation: The proposal is to set up a monitoring and surveillance program. Success will be measured by the number of invasives that are detected and prevented from spreading into the Columbia River basin. However prevention will require intervention and the proposal could expand on that aspect. The proposal would benefit by including more detail in descriptions of methods and procedures for collecting and analyzing the data. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Some additional equipment is needed including a boat and trailer (less than $10,000). Information transfer: A public education program was mentioned as one of their objectives. A plan is in place to secure information in the USGS invasives database.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable