Stop Aquatic Invaders! in the Greater Yellowstone Area

1. Stop Aquatic Invaders!in the Greater Yellowstone Area Yellowstone Park Foundation Proposal May 16, 2008 Dan Reinhart, Yellowstone National Park Virginia Kelly, Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee

2. Discussion • Aquatic Invaders: the Threat • Past, Current, and Future Work • Education • Inspection • Equipment Washing • Greater Yellowstone Area Coordination • GYCC • Other Partners • Yellowstone Park Foundation – 2009 and beyond

3. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)Existing and Potential GYA Threats Eurasion Watermilfoil Didymo (rock snot) Zebra and Quagga Mussels New Zealand Mud Snail

4. New Zealand Mud Snails Competes with native invertebrates such as mayflies and stone flies. Impacts the food chain of native cutthroat trout. New Zealand mud snail distribution in western USA, 1995 and 2006

5. Didymo (Rock Snot) • North American algae expanding • its ecological range. • Blooms may cover up to 100% of a • stream’s substrate greater than 10” thick. • Alters stream ecosystem function, hydraulics, • foodweb structures, and potentially fisheries. Didymo distribution in North America.

6. Zebra & Quagga Mussels • Filter nutrients out of water • Break down food chain • Compete with native mussels • Take in pollutants, • harming native predators Zebra and Quagga Mussel distribution in USA.

7. Eurasion Watermilfoil USGS GLSC • Forms dense vegetation • mats on water surfaces • Robs oxygen from water • Traps sediments • Interferes with swimming, • fishing, boating • Clogs water intakes Eurasian Watermilfoil distribution in USA. Only Wyoming without documented infestation.

8. Stop Aquatic Invaders!Tools • Prevention, Prevention, Prevention • Education • Inspection • Equipment Washing Once established, the invaders are costly and often impossible to remove.

9. Current ANS Prevention in GYA Washing Public Education Inspection Power Washing Yellowstone National Park Signs at Marinas and Trailheads Public Contact and Inspection Dip Station Bridger-Teton National Forest Brochure

10. Greater Yellowstone Area Coordination Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee Three federal agencies, of ten management units. State and County Agencies Non-profits, Local Groups

11. Hebgen Lake Madison River Henry’s Lake Island Park Yellowstone Lake Buffalo Bill Reservoir Snake River Jackson Lake 2008 Greater Yellowstone Area Coordination Education/Inspection/ Washing Crews • GYCC: $30,000 supports three crews • USFWS: ???? for Yellowstone NP • Fremont Co, ID: $165,000 Henry’s Lake Surveys • Fremont Co, ID: Henry;s Lake, Island • Park, Ashton Reservoirs, area Rivers • Teton Co. WY/Snake River Fund: • County lakes and streams Coordination GYA ANS Group Forming Federal, State, County Agencies Local Groups and non-Profits

12. Yellowstone Park Foundation Funds sought for Yellowstone Lake based crew for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Yellowstone Park Foundation2009 and Beyond • Aquatic invaders are a regional threat. • Yellowstone's waters are relatively pristine; invaders are spreading in the West. • Yellowstone resources best protected by prevention both within and outside of Park boundaries. • Prevention a high priority to GYCC, states, counties and NGO partners. • ANS Group forming for GYA, coordination and leveraging will get better and better.

13. Stop Aquatic Invaders! It will take all of our efforts to protect Greater Yellowstone waters.

14. Thanks to Jeanette Langston, Bridger Teton NF for some Images