Aquatic Nuisance Species Initiatives of the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed

1. Aquatic Nuisance Species Initiatives of the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed Jim Lester Lisa Gonzalez Houston Advanced Research Center Jeff DallaRosa Galveston Bay Estuary Program, TCEQ Gulf & South Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species Charleston, South Carolina, October 4-5, 2006

2. Approx 15000 vessels per year through three ports $15 billion petrochemical complex, the largest in the nation and second largest worldwideApprox 15000 vessels per year through three ports $15 billion petrochemical complex, the largest in the nation and second largest worldwide

3. Invasives and The Galveston Bay Plan Number 2 priority problem for Species Population Protection Goal #1: Eradicate or reduce populations of invasives that threaten native species, habitats, and ecological relationships. Goal #2: Prevent the introduction of additional exotic, invasive species. #2 priority problem for species population protection; second only to habitat loss#2 priority problem for species population protection; second only to habitat loss

4. Regional Network GBEP Invasive Species Working Group Facilitates communication and coordination among stakeholders: Federal and state agencies Local government Port authority Universities NGO�s EPA�s National Estuary Program was established by Congress in 1987 to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. There are 28 NEPs of which Galveston Bay is one. Federal and state agencies: NOAA, USFWS, TPWD, TCEQ, TDA Local government: HGAC, Pasadena, League City Port authority: Houston Universities: UHCL, SFA NGO�s: TPL, GBF, ABNCEPA�s National Estuary Program was established by Congress in 1987 to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. There are 28 NEPs of which Galveston Bay is one. Federal and state agencies: NOAA, USFWS, TPWD, TCEQ, TDA Local government: HGAC, Pasadena, League City Port authority: Houston Universities: UHCL, SFA NGO�s: TPL, GBF, ABNC

5. Comparative Risk Assessment Prioritize funding Literature and database review 296 species - current or potential invaders 4 expert workshops to rank species 84 species ranked according to risk criteria Likelihood of impact at ecosystem level Severity of impact, loss of biodiversity Location of invasive relative to region Immediacy of invasion Irreversibility of damage Impacts to human uses Likelihood: Likelihood of invasive species to impact Galveston Bay watershed at ecosystem level Severity: Potential site specific and ecosystem-wide impacts; expected percent loss of ecosystem biodiversity to impacts Location: Occurrence of invasive species relative to the Galveston Bay 5-county region Immediacy: Expected time until occurrence of invasive in the Galveston Bay 5-county region Irreversibility: Ability of natural and modified ecosystems to recover from damage after control/eradication of the invasive Impacts to human uses: Potential impact of invasive on human uses of Galveston Bay watershed Likelihood: Likelihood of invasive species to impact Galveston Bay watershed at ecosystem level Severity: Potential site specific and ecosystem-wide impacts; expected percent loss of ecosystem biodiversity to impacts Location: Occurrence of invasive species relative to the Galveston Bay 5-county region Immediacy: Expected time until occurrence of invasive in the Galveston Bay 5-county region Irreversibility: Ability of natural and modified ecosystems to recover from damage after control/eradication of the invasive Impacts to human uses: Potential impact of invasive on human uses of Galveston Bay watershed

6. High Risk Aquatic Animal Species Carcinus aestuarii Mediterranean green crab Carcinus maenas European green crab Channa argus Northern snakehead Ctenopharyngodon idella Grass carp * Dreissena polymorpha Zebra mussel Eriocheir sinensis Chinese mitten crab Limnoperna fortunei Golden mussel Monopterus albus Asian swamp eel Myocastor coypus Nutria * Oreochromis sp. Hybrid tilapia * Perna viridis Asian green mussel Phyllorhiza punctata Australian spotted jellyfish** Pomacea insularum Apple snail *** Zoobotryon verticillatum Sauerkraut grass*

7. High Risk Aquatic Plant Species Eichhornia crassipes Common water hyacinth* Gymnodinium sp. Exotic red tide** Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla* Ipomoea aquatica Water spinach* Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian watermilfoil Pistia stratiotes Water lettuce* Salvinia minima Common Salvinia* Salvinia molesta Giant Salvinia* Gymnodinium co-occurs with K. brevis and is often identified as K. brevis POTENTIAL SPREAD AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS OF LIMNOPERNA FORTUNEI IN TEXAS Alexander Y. Karatayev*, Lyubov E. Burlakova, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX�Abstract: Although the zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have the potential to colonize Texas, their spread will be limited because of high summer temperatures, and low pH and calcium concentrations found in many waterbodies. However, Texas freshwaters may be a perfect environment for another invasive bivalve, the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei). Limnoperna fortunei has a very similar life history and ecosystem impacts as D. polymorpha, and environmental limits similar to Corbicula fluminea. Therefore, to predict the potential spread and ecosystem impacts of the golden mussel we can use data on two other exotic bivalves for which we have more extensive data. The spread of Corbicula in Texas was very fast. Within 20 years of its initial discovery in 1958 C. fluminea spread to all major drainage basins in Texas, and by 2004 was documented in 180 counties. In the near future Corbicula may colonize most second order or greater streams and all but the smallest impoundments in Texas. We predict that the spread of Limnoperna across Texas may be even more impressive. Both D. polymorpha and L. fortunei attain extremely high densities, physically changing the substrate, and because they are such effective suspension feeders they greatly enhance benthic-pelagic coupling and act as powerful ecosystem engineers. We predict that the introduction of Limnoperna may have large effects on the species composition, density, and biomass of native benthic invertebrates�Gymnodinium co-occurs with K. brevis and is often identified as K. brevis POTENTIAL SPREAD AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS OF LIMNOPERNA FORTUNEI IN TEXAS Alexander Y. Karatayev*, Lyubov E. Burlakova, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX�Abstract: Although the zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have the potential to colonize Texas, their spread will be limited because of high summer temperatures, and low pH and calcium concentrations found in many waterbodies. However, Texas freshwaters may be a perfect environment for another invasive bivalve, the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei). Limnoperna fortunei has a very similar life history and ecosystem impacts as D. polymorpha, and environmental limits similar to Corbicula fluminea. Therefore, to predict the potential spread and ecosystem impacts of the golden mussel we can use data on two other exotic bivalves for which we have more extensive data. The spread of Corbicula in Texas was very fast. Within 20 years of its initial discovery in 1958 C. fluminea spread to all major drainage basins in Texas, and by 2004 was documented in 180 counties. In the near future Corbicula may colonize most second order or greater streams and all but the smallest impoundments in Texas. We predict that the spread of Limnoperna across Texas may be even more impressive. Both D. polymorpha and L. fortunei attain extremely high densities, physically changing the substrate, and because they are such effective suspension feeders they greatly enhance benthic-pelagic coupling and act as powerful ecosystem engineers. We predict that the introduction of Limnoperna may have large effects on the species composition, density, and biomass of native benthic invertebrates�

8. Research Activities Poorly understood, emerging species Deep-rooted sedge Applesnail Various Habitats Bayous / riparian Wetlands Coastal prairie Introduction pathways (planned) Analyze ballast discharge practices and locations Risk assessment of vessel origins and trade routes Partners Local universities Federal and state agencies Deep-rooted sedge = David Rosen, USFWS Applesnail = Drs. Alexander Karatyev & Lyubov Burlakova, Stephen F. Austin University Ballast water projects have been on wishlist of ISWG for about 2 years. Deep-rooted sedge = David Rosen, USFWS Applesnail = Drs. Alexander Karatyev & Lyubov Burlakova, Stephen F. Austin University Ballast water projects have been on wishlist of ISWG for about 2 years.

9. Management: Eradication & Restoration Conservation lands and adjacent waters Wetlands Coastal prairie Barrier island Target species Giant Salvinia Hydrilla Water hyacinth Chinese tallow Brazilian pepper Partners Local governments Local Council of Government State and federal agencies Nonprofits and conservation organizations Several localized efforts, primarily focusing on lands and waters�already under conservation, to address high priority aquatic, terrestrial, and transitional species, including giant salvinia, tallow, hydrilla, etc. Giant salvinia control (herbicide spraying) underway at Sheldon Lake State Park (TPWD, Tom Olson; USFWS, Ron Jones) Hydrilla control at Lake Conroe w/ intro of grass carp (TPWD, Earl Chilton) Chinese tallow eradication (phys removal, basal bark application & foliar spraying) at Virginia Point (Scenic Galveston) Chinese tallow removal in area parks (HGAC & local municipalities, Chuck Wemple) Brazilian pepper removal on W. Galveston Island & Hwy3 near Dickinson (GBF & TPWD, Courtney Miller & Jamie Schubert) Several localized efforts, primarily focusing on lands and waters�already under conservation, to address high priority aquatic, terrestrial, and transitional species, including giant salvinia, tallow, hydrilla, etc. Giant salvinia control (herbicide spraying) underway at Sheldon Lake State Park (TPWD, Tom Olson; USFWS, Ron Jones) Hydrilla control at Lake Conroe w/ intro of grass carp (TPWD, Earl Chilton) Chinese tallow eradication (phys removal, basal bark application & foliar spraying) at Virginia Point (Scenic Galveston) Chinese tallow removal in area parks (HGAC & local municipalities, Chuck Wemple) Brazilian pepper removal on W. Galveston Island & Hwy3 near Dickinson (GBF & TPWD, Courtney Miller & Jamie Schubert)

10. Invasives Monitoring TPWD Houston Urban Bayous Study Snow pleco, tilapia, grass carp, Rio Grande cichlid 3 local bayous (Greens, Brays, Buffalo) TPWD Fisheries Independent Monitoring Grass carp Sauerkraut grass Invaders of Texas: Citizen Scientist Invasive Species Monitoring Program Phase 1-Aquatic and terrestrial plants; Phase 2-Animals Citizen volunteers: Master naturalists, Master Gardeners, nature centers Online data entry and mapping application www.texasinvasives.org

11. Education and Outreach TPWD and GBEP working with citizen groups and anglers to prevent additional introductions of aquatic plant species (hyacinth, hydrilla, salvinia) TPWD Dirty Dozen poster and brochure Prohibited species in the seafood market The Quiet Invasion: A Guide to Invasive Plants in the Galveston Bay Area 3000 copies printed; 2000 distributed Interactive field guide www.galvbayinvasives.org New guide planned to include animals initiated several outreach and education efforts to bring attention to existing problems (tallow, etc.) prevent spread (effort with Friends of Trinity River on salvinia, hyacinth, etc.) and hopefully to help prevent new introductions through such vectors as live seafood trade, pet trade, nursery trade. initiated several outreach and education efforts to bring attention to existing problems (tallow, etc.) prevent spread (effort with Friends of Trinity River on salvinia, hyacinth, etc.) and hopefully to help prevent new introductions through such vectors as live seafood trade, pet trade, nursery trade.

12. Conclusions Challenges Population and development increasing Shipping traffic increasing Regional land use planning lacking Additional needs Additional monitoring - EDRR Research emerging species � bay waters Identify new ways to engage the public $$ Accomplishments Multifaceted approach Strong stakeholder coordination Species prioritization Control and restoration projects established Public outreach and education started

13. For More Information� Houston Advanced Research Center Jim Lester Director, Environment Group Phone (281) 364-6041 Email: jlester@harc.edu Lisa Gonzalez Research Scientist Phone (281) 364-6044 Email: lgonzalez@harc.edu TCEQ Galveston Bay Estuary Program Jeff DallaRosa Natural Resource Uses Coordinator Phone (281) 486-1242 Email: jdallaro@tceq.state.tx.us