Sub-strategy
Prevent the introduction of non-native and invasive species in the Columbia River Basin, and suppress or eradicate non-native and invasive species.
Rationale
Non-native and invasive species imperil native species in the Pacific Northwest’s ecosystems through predation, competition for food, interbreeding, disease transmission, food web disruption, and physical habitat alteration. The Council acknowledges invasive and non-native species pose direct threats to the program’s fish and wildlife restoration efforts through competition, predation and habitat modification. In addition, aquatic non-native species can invade and significantly threaten infrastructure at hydroelectric dams and fish passage facilities in the Columbia River Basin. Currently, the greatest known threat in the Columbia River Basin from aquatic invasive species is introduction into the basin of zebra or quagga mussels. Other aquatic threats include hydrilla, silver carp, flowering rush, and Eurasian milfoil. Terrestrial invasive species that compromise fish habitat and wildlife mitigation projects include such species as rush skeletonweed, yellow starthistle, poison hemlock, and Japanese knotweed, among others. Once established in other locales, management actions have shown little success in removing or controlling these invasive non-native species.
Principles
- Regional prevention and management efforts for non-native and invasive species should aim to: (1) detect the presence of these species early and respond rapidly, (2) educate the public; and (3) prevent, monitor, control, and stop or minimize the spread of non-native and invasive species where these pose both a direct threat to the hydropower system, to native fish, or to wildlife species.
- Incorporate the most up-to-date environmental risk assessment methodology for non-native and invasive species into on-the-ground fish and wildlife projects, particularly in locations where management of non-native fish and invasive fish species overlaps with native fish conservation efforts and management of ESA-listed species.
- When an introduction of a non-native species is necessary for mitigation, the introduction should be done with a clear understanding of the threats to native species in the Pacific Northwest’s ecosystems through predation, competition for food, interbreeding, disease transmission, food web disruption, and physical habitat alteration.
Generalmeasures
- Evaluate potential adverse impacts
- The Council, in coordination with the federal action agencies, other federal, state and tribal entities, and regional organizations such as the 100th Meridian Initiative-Columbia Basin Team (hereafter referred to as the Council and federal and other regional entities) should request regional power producers to evaluate the invasive potential and ecological risks of using non-native bioenergy feedstock species, cultivars, and hybrids.
- Prevent establishment
- The Council encourages federal and other regional entities to prevent non-native and invasive species introductions by:
- Monitoring and managing the various pathways that could introduce additional aquatic nuisance species into the Columbia River Basin
- Developing and implementing strategies to suppress, reduce, or control non-native invasive fish species where they are identified as a limiting factor and are negatively impacting salmonids and native fish populations
- Develop strategies and public outreach tools to educate the public about regional prevention and management of invasive species
- BPA and other federal agencies should assist the Northwest states’ efforts to prevent the establishment of quagga and zebra mussels.
- Monitor and control non-native species introduction and dispersal
- Each of the four Northwest states should continue to implement the preventative strategies in their respective state aquatic nuisance species management plans and coordinate their prevention efforts closely with the other Northwest states and British Columbia
- If non-native fish species are to be used to achieve mitigation for hydropower system impacts, the agencies and tribes shall conduct an environmental risk assessment of potential negative impacts on native fish species prior to introduction. If non-native fish species are introduced, these shall be managed to maximize the use of available existing and improved habitats, consistent with state and local regulations, to provide a subsistence and sport-fishing resource without adversely affecting native fish populations.
- Removal and eradication of non-native species
- Agencies and tribes shall apply existing and new scientific research to identify situations (species, times, sizes, and places) where increased removal of non-native fish would be most effective in increasing native fish populations.
- Agencies and tribes shall minimize non-native fish impacts to native fish species by using appropriate invasive fish-removal methods (e.g., gill net, chemical control, electrofishing, changes in fishing regulations, sport reward programs, etc.) and monitor their effectiveness. Lethal take to control non-native predators or competitors, consistent with state and federal law, is appropriate when non-lethal methods of control are not successful and the adverse impacts to salmonids and native fish species or their habitat are significant.
- The agencies and tribes shall prioritize non-native species control actions to ensure program funds are spent to address the most significant threats, including predation, competition, and hybridization.
- If quagga and zebra mussels become established in the Columbia Basin, BPA and other federal agencies, along with FERC-licensed utilities, shall support regional rapid-response efforts.
- Reduce competition
- The federal action agencies, other federal and state agencies, tribes, and the Council should continue to review, evaluate, develop, and implement strategies to reduce competition from non-native fish species with juvenile and adult salmonids.
- Regional coordination
- The Council will continue to coordinate regional stakeholder groups and partnerships on the issue of non-native invasive species, particularly those species that pose the greatest risk to the Columbia Basin ecosystem and the regional hydropower system. The Council will continue to assist with regional communication, coordination and public outreach efforts in the Columbia Basin, and will facilitate regional science/policy forums on non-native invasive species issues, as appropriate.
- The Council will support the collaborative work of the PSMFC 100th Meridian Initiative-Columbia Basin Team and request regular reports from that group on the following items: current regional efforts for inspection and decontamination; early detection efforts and rapid response protocols; research priorities relative to invasive species control, containment and prevention; and opportunities for regional collaboration and lessons learned.
- The Council will assist regional entities with legislative efforts to prevent the invasion and control the spread of non-native invasive species in the Columbia Basin.
- The Council and federal action agencies should coordinate with other federal, state, and tribal entities, and regional organizations such as the 100th Meridian Initiative-Columbia Basin Team, to track and monitor data on existing non-native invasive species distribution and population trend assessments in the Columbia Basin and encourage regional data sharing on rapid response, prevention, containment, control, eradication, enforcement, and education and outreach efforts.
Link to subbasin plans
See the Council’s subbasin plans for subbasin-level informationpertaining tothe effects of non-native species on native fish, wildlife, and habitat.
