The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Legislative History Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 Interagency Task Force (Sec. 1201) Ballast Water (Sec. 1101 1104) State ANS Management Plans (Sec. 1204) Emphasis on the Great Lakes National Invasive Species Act of 1996 Increased ballast water and shipping responsibilities Expanded role and scope of Regional Panels
ANS Task Force History Task Force established in 1991 Engages and involves governmental and non-governmental entities 13 federal members and 13 non-federal members Allows for coordination of aquatic invasive species activities across jurisdictional boundaries
Federal ANS Task Force Members U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Co-chair) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Co-chair) U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Geological Survey Department of State Maritime Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation National Park Service Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Land Management U.S. Forest Service
Non-Federal ANSTF Members Great Lakes Commission American Water Works Association American Public Power Association Native American Wildlife Society Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies National Assoc. of State Aquaculture Coordinators Lake Champlain Basin Program Chesapeake Bay Program San Francisco Estuary Project Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resources Assoc. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Unique Value of the ANSTF Only Federally mandated intergovernmental organization solely dedicated to preventing and controlling ANS. National infrastructure. Regional panels.
ANS Task Force Mission To develop and implement a program for waters of the United States, to: Prevent introduction and dispersal of ANS; Monitor, control and study ANS; and Educate and inform the general public and program stakeholders about the prevention and control of ANS.
ANSTF Regional Panels Advises and provides recommendations to the ANS Task Force Establish Regional Priorities Develop Action Plans Coordinate Regional Activities
ANSTF Operations Committees & Working Groups Prevention Working Groups: Pathways, Screening, Risk Assessment Research Communication, Education, and Outreach Ad-Hoc Committees: Recreational Guidelines and QZAP Coordination
ANSTF Activities State/Interstate ANS Management Plans Provide technical assistance for development of plans Offer cost-share grants for approved ANS Management Plans 39 Plans completed and approved 36 State Plans 3 Interstate Plans
ANSTF Activities Public Awareness Campaigns www.habitattitude.net
ANSTF Activities Control and Management Plans Completed Plans: Green crab Chinese mitten crab Eurasian ruffe Brown tree snake Caulerpa sp. Asian carp New Zealand mudsnail
QZAP Priorities Expand early detection monitoring programs to Western water jurisdictions. Continue the development of effective watercraft inspection and decontamination protocols and standards. Develop standard and effective equipment (non-watercraft) inspection and decontamination protocols.
Types of Projects Funded Developing protocol for killing and removing mussels from watercraft Investigating the effectiveness of quaternary ammonium compounds on killing mussels Updating uniform protocols and standards for watercraft inspection programs in the Western U.S.
Support for State/Interstate AIS Management Plans For FY2010, provided funding for quagga/zebra mussel efforts identified in these plans. Annual funding for plan implementation
Current ANSTF Efforts Working with USGS and FWS to formalize the ANSTF hotline Developing a list of ANS responders Updating ANSTF strategic plan and development of database to track accomplishments Developing a position description for a QZAP coordinator Updating the Recreational Guidelines