NYS Invasive Species Program Five Years of Progress and Partnership NYS Invasive Species Program Five Years of Progress and Partnership 22 May 2012 ANS Panel Leslie Surprenant Director Dave Adams Coordinator

Invasive species  Non-native species that can cause significant harm to environment or human health (from Federal Exec Order and NYS ECL Title 17)  Biological pollution  ~ 15% non-native = invasive

InvasionPathways

In the Beginning… Invasive Species Task Force  Established in statute 2003  Investigated invasive species issue  Delivered report and 12 recommendations to Gov and Leg to help NY meet challenge of invasive species ( final report 2005)  Informed framework and efforts in progress now

Office of Invasive Species Coordination Est MISSION …to prevent or minimize the harm caused by invasive species to New York’s environment by collaborating and coordinating efforts with all stakeholders across the State. (2 DEC staff)

NYS IS Leadership Structure Council (9 NYS agencies) ECL Article 17 Advisory Committee (25 NGO stakeholder) Coordination (5 2 agency staff DEC + DAM)

Building a Strategic System Coordination and Communication

Build and Support Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) Coordination and administration under NYS Contract To be contracted under RFP

Invasive Species Database  Where are NY’s Invasive Species ?  Online info and GIS mapping  Assist early detection  Supports rapid response  Can track control activities and results

NYS Invasive Species Research Institute  Scientific advisory committee  Experts database  White paper on Eurasian watermilfoil management in NY  Invasive species component of NY Climate Change report (NYSERDA, 2011)  Developed science brief and survey reports for Hydrilla infestation in Cayuga Lk inlet  Support for partners

Online Invasive Species Clearinghouse  Species fact sheets  PRISM information  News and events  Link to PRISM call recordings

Education and Outreach Cornell / CCE partner  Supports invasive species programs of CCE County Associations and PRISMs  Helps to educate partners in outreach education techniques  Help develop outreach efforts or long-term invasive species outreach plans  Assist and educate partners on E-O program evaluation  Develop invasive species E-O materials and trainings to support program partners’ outreach  Many agency and partner E-O efforts

Comprehensive Plan  NYS Invasive Species Strategy (2011; not “comprehensive”)  Recommendations: Use NISC model Use NISC model Prevent invasions through pathways management Prevent invasions through pathways management Identify and prioritize pathways; develop appropriate response Identify and prioritize pathways; develop appropriate response Increase awareness Increase awareness Restore habitat Restore habitat Provide adequate staffing and funding Provide adequate staffing and funding Streamline contractual and funding process Streamline contractual and funding process Coordinate within and beyond State Coordinate within and beyond State Use adaptive management Use adaptive management  Consistent with ISTF recommendations and framework efforts underway

Assess Impacts of IS in NYS  Quantify harm to economy, agriculture, and environment for priority species  Engage stakeholders in transparent assessment process  “Four Tier Regulatory System’ Steering Team + 4 work groups Diverse stakeholders (gov, NGO, industry, academia) & scientific experts Diverse stakeholders (gov, NGO, industry, academia) & scientific experts Volunteer effort Volunteer effort Assessed and ranked 180 plants Assessed and ranked 180 plants It

Prevent Invasive Species Introductions  Best inve$tment  Fund launch stewards (fed $)  White paper on aquatic invasive transport law recommendations (NYISAC)  BMPs – DOT,Utility ROW, HVHF (proposed in SGEIS)  Require native tree and shrubs (DOT)  “Regulatory System” report and recommendations (ISC)

Recommend Statutory Actions Invasive Species Council drafted bills  Aquatic Transport Bill – prohibits transport of visible plants and animals on boats and trailers  List Bill – authorizes DEC to develop regulatory lists for non-native species Submitted to gov. and leg. in late 2010 Passed Assembly….Senate vote pending….

Monitor Invasive Species Populations  Systematic monitoring  Expert ID  8000 EAB traps in NY  Surveyed invasive craneflies  Feral swine reports  Lk George Asian clam and Eurasian watermilfoil  Roadside inventories of priority plants  NYS watershed lands inventory

Detect Early  Northern snakehead fish in Orange Co  Detected early  Eradicated using rotenone 2008 and 2009 (no detects in 2010 or 2011)

Respond Rapidly  Framework for rapid response (OISC) Based on Incident Command System Based on Incident Command System Assists resource managers and others responsible for responding Assists resource managers and others responsible for responding Informed by DEC’s experience with chronic wasting disease, Hydrilla, oak wilt, ALB and EAB Informed by DEC’s experience with chronic wasting disease, Hydrilla, oak wilt, ALB and EAB  Hydrilla in Cayuga Lake Inlet  Asian clams in Lk George  Oak Wilt (Scotia, NY)

Control Invasive Species  DOT – 70 sites in Adks  NYS “eradication” grants – 2 rounds aquatic; 1 terrestrial funded ~ $3M 61 aquatic (most EWM); 10 terrestrial (typ. Phrag, barberry, knotweed) 61 aquatic (most EWM); 10 terrestrial (typ. Phrag, barberry, knotweed)  Private forestry and riparian grants (NYC DEP)  EWM in Lk George (since 1986); Asian clam (since 2010)  Giant Hogweed (2009 – 2011) – PRISMs assisting

Success Stories  ALB in Islip  Oak wilt in Scotia (Schen. Co)  Populations of giant hogweed  More?

Restore Native Species and Habitat  ~ 42% species listed as endangered or threatened primarily due to invasive species (Pimentel, et al, 1999)  Restoring bog turtle habitat – control purple loosestrife using Gallarucells spp beetles and Phragmites (herbicide wicked on reed)  Restored native plants and trees along State Rte 73 in Adks  Interagency partnership to increase use of native plants and trees grown at NYS Saratoga nursery  Wetland mitigation sites along highways – control purple loosestrife (bio control)

Research  Supports science-based invasive species management  ISC agencies and partners supported research on: Developing a Phragmites biological control agent Developing a Phragmites biological control agent Intensive rotational grazing to control invasive species Intensive rotational grazing to control invasive species Feral swine Feral swine Clean stock pilot to test, certify and import regulated European grape vines Clean stock pilot to test, certify and import regulated European grape vines Invasive cranefly genetics and control Invasive cranefly genetics and control Efficacy of controlling Asian bittersweet using glyphosate on cut stumps Efficacy of controlling Asian bittersweet using glyphosate on cut stumps

Learn from Each Other Through Conferences and Symposia Conferences & large meetings supported by ISC and partners  Odum Conference  Annual CCE in-service  Biennial Invasive Species Symposium  Northeast Natural History Conference  Champlain Canal IS Stakeholder Summit  NYS Wetlands Forum  NYS Federation of Lakeowners Assoc.  National IS Awareness Week  Utility ROW conferences and training  Waste Management Conference  NYS Association of Clerks annual meeting  NYS Association of Towns annual meeting  NYS Becoming an Outdoors Woman  NYS Outdoor Guides Association

Implementation Progress (IS Task Force Recommendations) Leadership Structure (Legislative authority in 2007) Leadership Structure (Legislative authority in 2007) Comprehensive IS management plan (Phase 1 “Strategy” completed 2011) Comprehensive IS management plan (Phase 1 “Strategy” completed 2011) Appropriate resources – $ EPF, federal $ Appropriate resources – $ EPF, federal $ Education – Outreach (Cornell U) Education – Outreach (Cornell U) Online IS Clearinghouse Online IS Clearinghouse Regular IS conference Regular IS conference IS Research Institute (Cornell U) IS Research Institute (Cornell U) Demonstration projects ( 8 PRISMs; control projects) Demonstration projects ( 8 PRISMs; control projects)

Dwindling State Staff and Funding Increases Need for Partners NYS – funded implementation contracts 12+ full time NGO employees 12+ full time NGO employees Many more PT, seasonal, and sub- contract Many more PT, seasonal, and sub- contract Federal grant “pass through” to partners seasonal staff for boat steward programs seasonal staff for boat steward programs IS monitoring and control IS monitoring and control

Resources  IS Clearinghouse - nyis.info/ nyis.info/ Invasive species information, PRISM websites and information and more  IS Database - imapinvasives.org/ imapinvasives.org/ GIS-based, all-taxa invasive species mapping tool; training available for groups, PRISMs etc. DEC Website Contact information: Leslie Surprenant NYS DEC OISC IS Director