Category: Other
Identifying the Great Lakes top ten most impactful aquatic invaders
Identifying the Great Lakes top ten most impactful aquatic invaders
iavilez
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am
Invasive silver carp are not reproducing and overwintering in the Great Lakes – yet. Photo credit: Dan O’Keefe, Michigan Sea Grant.
A team of experts from NOAA, Michigan Sea Grant and the University of Michigan have identified the top 10 most impactful invaders based on analysis of almost 200 different nonnative aquatic species currently listed in the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). This information system provides a “one-stop shop” for comprehensive information about each aquatic invader, which helps limit the introduction, spread, and impact of these harmful species.
GLANSIS is based out of NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and is the Great Lakes hub for a national database of nonindigenous aquatic species. According to Acting GLERL Director Dr. Jesse Feyen, “GLERL experts have long studied the impacts of current and potential invaders in the Great Lakes. As the long-standing home for GLANSIS, our goal is to get the best available information out about the significant risks they pose to limit the introduction, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.”
With support from Congress through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, GLANSIS provides a comprehensive set of tools including species profiles, a custom-generated list of invaders, a mapping tool, risk assessments, and more. While GLANSIS was originally designed for use by scientists and environmental managers, this publicly accessible tool is used by local governments, property owners, anglers, teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about stopping invasive species in the Great Lakes. Citizens and stakeholders can help protect their local waterways by learning how to recognize, report, and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. GLANSIS also hosts data on “watchlist” species – plants, animals, and pathogens that have not yet established lasting populations in the Great Lakes but have been identified by experts as emerging threats. These include invasive silver and bighead carp, which have caused devastating ecological impacts to native fish and plants as they have expanded through other US waterways, as well as aquarium plants and pets like the self-cloning marbled crayfish, where even a single individual can launch a new invasive population.
The GLANSIS team recently brought together more than a dozen invasive species experts for a real-time virtual review to provide new data on more than 50 non-native species that are either already present in the Great Lakes basin or have been identified as one of these “watchlist species” that could be an emerging threat. These efforts ensure that the information in the database remains accurate, timely and relevant to environmental managers, educators, and other user groups who rely on GLANSIS for decision-making about aquatic invasive species.
Learn more about GLANSIS and explore the database yourself, or contact GLANSIS Program Manager Rochelle Sturtevant at: rochelle.sturtevant@noaa.gov.
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Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am
Keywords
Invasive silver carp are not reproducing and overwintering in the Great Lakes – yet. Photo credit: Dan O’Keefe, Michigan Sea Grant.
A team of experts from NOAA, Michigan Sea Grant and the University of Michigan have identified the top 10 most impactful invaders based on analysis of almost 200 different nonnative aquatic species currently listed in the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). This information system provides a “one-stop shop” for comprehensive information about each aquatic invader, which helps limit the introduction, spread, and impact of these harmful species.
GLANSIS is based out of NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and is the Great Lakes hub for a national database of nonindigenous aquatic species. According to Acting GLERL Director Dr. Jesse Feyen, “GLERL experts have long studied the impacts of current and potential invaders in the Great Lakes. As the long-standing home for GLANSIS, our goal is to get the best available information out about the significant risks they pose to limit the introduction, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.”
With support from Congress through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, GLANSIS provides a comprehensive set of tools including species profiles, a custom-generated list of invaders, a mapping tool, risk assessments, and more. While GLANSIS was originally designed for use by scientists and environmental managers, this publicly accessible tool is used by local governments, property owners, anglers, teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about stopping invasive species in the Great Lakes. Citizens and stakeholders can help protect their local waterways by learning how to recognize, report, and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. GLANSIS also hosts data on “watchlist” species – plants, animals, and pathogens that have not yet established lasting populations in the Great Lakes but have been identified by experts as emerging threats. These include invasive silver and bighead carp, which have caused devastating ecological impacts to native fish and plants as they have expanded through other US waterways, as well as aquarium plants and pets like the self-cloning marbled crayfish, where even a single individual can launch a new invasive population.
The GLANSIS team recently brought together more than a dozen invasive species experts for a real-time virtual review to provide new data on more than 50 non-native species that are either already present in the Great Lakes basin or have been identified as one of these “watchlist species” that could be an emerging threat. These efforts ensure that the information in the database remains accurate, timely and relevant to environmental managers, educators, and other user groups who rely on GLANSIS for decision-making about aquatic invasive species.
Learn more about GLANSIS and explore the database yourself, or contact GLANSIS Program Manager Rochelle Sturtevant at: rochelle.sturtevant@noaa.gov.
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Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am
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New Dashboard for Collaborative Great Lakes Benthic Habitat Mapping Project
New Dashboard for Collaborative Great Lakes Benthic Habitat Mapping Project
iavilez
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am
The new U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard (screenshot) includes the latest information related to bathymetric data collection and validation and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes.
Announcing the release of the U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard. This new tool shows the current status of high-resolution bathymetry data, validation data collection, and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the Great Lakes Basin. Bathymetry data is the measurement of water depths and provides essential information for protecting the region’s vital freshwater resources and aquatic habitat, identifying critical underwater infrastructure, and improving navigational safety.
The dashboard was developed to support the Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Nearshore Waters of the Great Lakes Basin Project, a multiyear, multiagency project funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under Focus Area IV. The project addresses critical bathymetry and benthic habitat data gaps for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes through the collection of new measurements using light detection and ranging (lidar) collected on board of aircraft, sound navigation and ranging (sonar) collected on board of vessels, and high-density benthic habitat classification mapping products to inform habitat restoration and natural resources management in the region. This effort also contributes to Lakebed 2030, a regional campaign seeking to make high-resolution bathymetry data available for the entirety of the Great Lakes by 2030.
Contacts: Lara O’Brien (lara.obrien@noaa.gov) and Brandon Krumwiede (brandon.krumwiede@noaa.gov)
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am
Keywords
The new U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard (screenshot) includes the latest information related to bathymetric data collection and validation and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes.
Announcing the release of the U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard. This new tool shows the current status of high-resolution bathymetry data, validation data collection, and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the Great Lakes Basin. Bathymetry data is the measurement of water depths and provides essential information for protecting the region’s vital freshwater resources and aquatic habitat, identifying critical underwater infrastructure, and improving navigational safety.
The dashboard was developed to support the Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Nearshore Waters of the Great Lakes Basin Project, a multiyear, multiagency project funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under Focus Area IV. The project addresses critical bathymetry and benthic habitat data gaps for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes through the collection of new measurements using light detection and ranging (lidar) collected on board of aircraft, sound navigation and ranging (sonar) collected on board of vessels, and high-density benthic habitat classification mapping products to inform habitat restoration and natural resources management in the region. This effort also contributes to Lakebed 2030, a regional campaign seeking to make high-resolution bathymetry data available for the entirety of the Great Lakes by 2030.
Contacts: Lara O’Brien (lara.obrien@noaa.gov) and Brandon Krumwiede (brandon.krumwiede@noaa.gov)
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am
Keywords
Environmental DNA helps detect new Great Lakes invasive species
Environmental DNA helps detect new Great Lakes invasive species
iavilez
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 8:43 am
Scientists process the environmental DNA using PCR machines.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds prevention of newly introduced invasive fish in the Great Lakes. Like a barcode on a cereal box, every species has a unique DNA sequence. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect these invaders. Testing the water, scientists can identify fish species present in an area by looking at the DNA they leave behind — a vital clue to combat invasive species early. This important work addresses the threat of invasive species before they cause wide-spread, expensive damage.
Link to full story: You can swim, but you can’t hide | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Wed, 04/02/2025 – 9:57 am
Keywords
Scientists process the environmental DNA using PCR machines.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds prevention of newly introduced invasive fish in the Great Lakes. Like a barcode on a cereal box, every species has a unique DNA sequence. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect these invaders. Testing the water, scientists can identify fish species present in an area by looking at the DNA they leave behind — a vital clue to combat invasive species early. This important work addresses the threat of invasive species before they cause wide-spread, expensive damage.
Link to full story: You can swim, but you can’t hide | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Wed, 04/02/2025 – 9:57 am
Keywords
Invasive Species Control and Wetland Restoration at Four Mile Creek State Park, New York
Invasive Species Control and Wetland Restoration at Four Mile Creek State Park, New York
iavilez
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am
Image 1: After the invasive European black alder is cut down, the top of the cut stump is painted with a green dye herbicide treatment.
New York State’s Four Mile Creek State Park, on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario includes a 20.2-acre high quality coastal wetland at the mouth of Four Mile Creek. The New York State Department of State designated the wetland as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat site due to its lack of disturbance, deep aquatic beds, emergent marsh, and open water.
The habitat creates thriving warm fisheries and excellent wildlife habitat for many species including the least bittern, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Bird of Conservation Concern” and a threatened species in New York State. The wetland is dominated by native aquatic vegetation with only a recent presence of non-native invasive plant species in small areas. With the help of an Environmental Protection Agency grant through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is leading a project focused on controlling those invasive species while including wetland restoration and habitat enhancements.
In 2023, an area of a little more than 1.87 acres was treated with an aquatic approved herbicide to treat the invasive species common reed, Phragmites australis. In 2024, approximately 10,000 sq. feet of the same area was retreated. Also in 2023 and 2024, approximately 3.32 acres of the state park was treated to address six other invasive species. Those invasive species include hand pulling of European frog-bit, which is a floating aquatic plant, herbicide application for flowering rush, and cutting followed by cut-stump herbicide treatment of woody invasive species at the edge of the wetland (European black alder, Japanese barberry, common and glossy buckhorn). In total, approximately 5.19 acres were treated to address all seven species in the past two years and follow-up treatments over the same areas are expected to occur in 2025 and 2026. Restoration plantings of native wetland vegetation will also be completed in 2025 and 2026. Habitat enhancements such as woody debris additions and installation of nesting structure are also planned.
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The 2023 aerial photo from Google Earth shows the Four Mile Creek wetland. The two areas circled show the tracks from cutting and removing the invasive species phragmites.
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am
Keywords
Image 1: After the invasive European black alder is cut down, the top of the cut stump is painted with a green dye herbicide treatment.
New York State’s Four Mile Creek State Park, on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario includes a 20.2-acre high quality coastal wetland at the mouth of Four Mile Creek. The New York State Department of State designated the wetland as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat site due to its lack of disturbance, deep aquatic beds, emergent marsh, and open water.
The habitat creates thriving warm fisheries and excellent wildlife habitat for many species including the least bittern, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Bird of Conservation Concern” and a threatened species in New York State. The wetland is dominated by native aquatic vegetation with only a recent presence of non-native invasive plant species in small areas. With the help of an Environmental Protection Agency grant through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is leading a project focused on controlling those invasive species while including wetland restoration and habitat enhancements.
In 2023, an area of a little more than 1.87 acres was treated with an aquatic approved herbicide to treat the invasive species common reed, Phragmites australis. In 2024, approximately 10,000 sq. feet of the same area was retreated. Also in 2023 and 2024, approximately 3.32 acres of the state park was treated to address six other invasive species. Those invasive species include hand pulling of European frog-bit, which is a floating aquatic plant, herbicide application for flowering rush, and cutting followed by cut-stump herbicide treatment of woody invasive species at the edge of the wetland (European black alder, Japanese barberry, common and glossy buckhorn). In total, approximately 5.19 acres were treated to address all seven species in the past two years and follow-up treatments over the same areas are expected to occur in 2025 and 2026. Restoration plantings of native wetland vegetation will also be completed in 2025 and 2026. Habitat enhancements such as woody debris additions and installation of nesting structure are also planned.
Image
The 2023 aerial photo from Google Earth shows the Four Mile Creek wetland. The two areas circled show the tracks from cutting and removing the invasive species phragmites.
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am
Keywords
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Achieves its Action Plan III Target with Monumental Remediation Efforts
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Achieves its Action Plan III Target with Monumental Remediation Efforts
iavilez
Mon, 03/31/2025 – 10:28 am
Image 1. Anglers gather at Fisherman’s Park in Newfane, New York for the annual fall salmon run through the Eighteenmile Creek AOC. Photo Credit: Scott Collins, Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The recent removal of the 128th BUI marks the completion of a GLRI Action Plan III target to remove half of all 255 BUIs across U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs).
The 128th Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations, in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern (AOC), was removed in September, fulfilling the ambitious target set in its Action Plan III. It also marks the removal of half of all 255 BUIs. BUIs are designations listed in the 1987 amendment to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) that represent different types of significant environmental degradation (see Beneficial Use Impairments for the Great Lakes AOCs to learn more). A BUI removal represents the culmination of years of significant work, coordination, and reporting by federal, state, and local partners. Generally, removing a BUI requires the identification and completion of necessary management actions, or on-the-ground work, that can include contaminated sediment remediation, habitat restoration, or both. After these management actions are completed, the Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, and the local advisory group evaluate the AOC against established criteria to determine if the BUI has been addressed sufficiently to remove it and consider that specific beneficial use restored.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III covered Fiscal Years 2019-2024. The plan established an aspirational goal to remove 128 cumulative Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) by the end of FY 2024. Each BUI removal is an important step toward the ultimate delisting of an AOC, since all BUIs must be removed before an AOC is eligible for delisting.
Action plans guide five years of GLRI work toward achieving long-term restoration goals. Each plan sets specific measures of progress and measurable annual targets to document progress.
Image
Figure 1. Chart depicting the cumulative number of Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) since 2006 under each GLRI action plan.
Under the recently released Action Plan IV, the important work to remove BUIs and delist AOCs will continue as GLRI federal agencies build on past successes and productive relationships with state and local partners.
Mon, 03/31/2025 – 10:28 am
Keywords
Image 1. Anglers gather at Fisherman’s Park in Newfane, New York for the annual fall salmon run through the Eighteenmile Creek AOC. Photo Credit: Scott Collins, Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The recent removal of the 128th BUI marks the completion of a GLRI Action Plan III target to remove half of all 255 BUIs across U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs).
The 128th Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations, in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern (AOC), was removed in September, fulfilling the ambitious target set in its Action Plan III. It also marks the removal of half of all 255 BUIs. BUIs are designations listed in the 1987 amendment to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) that represent different types of significant environmental degradation (see Beneficial Use Impairments for the Great Lakes AOCs to learn more). A BUI removal represents the culmination of years of significant work, coordination, and reporting by federal, state, and local partners. Generally, removing a BUI requires the identification and completion of necessary management actions, or on-the-ground work, that can include contaminated sediment remediation, habitat restoration, or both. After these management actions are completed, the Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, and the local advisory group evaluate the AOC against established criteria to determine if the BUI has been addressed sufficiently to remove it and consider that specific beneficial use restored.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III covered Fiscal Years 2019-2024. The plan established an aspirational goal to remove 128 cumulative Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) by the end of FY 2024. Each BUI removal is an important step toward the ultimate delisting of an AOC, since all BUIs must be removed before an AOC is eligible for delisting.
Action plans guide five years of GLRI work toward achieving long-term restoration goals. Each plan sets specific measures of progress and measurable annual targets to document progress.
Image
Figure 1. Chart depicting the cumulative number of Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) since 2006 under each GLRI action plan.
Under the recently released Action Plan IV, the important work to remove BUIs and delist AOCs will continue as GLRI federal agencies build on past successes and productive relationships with state and local partners.
Mon, 03/31/2025 – 10:28 am
Keywords