IPM Issues in the West Kevin Fitzsimmons University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science

Integrated Pest Management and Aquatic Nuisance Species How did we get here?

Introduction of Exotics Domesticated animals. Domesticated plants. Introduced “wild” animals

Introduction of “wild” plants

Aquatic Nuisance Species and Integrated Pest Management Federal Plan State Plan Aquatic Weed Management Area IPM Management Activities

A. N. S. Federal Plans Nonindigenous ANS Act 1990 Executive Order Feb th Meridian Initiative Federal ANS Task Force Western Regional Panel on ANS State Plans USFWS support of state plans

A. N. S. Arizona Arizona State Plan (Draft) A.N.S. Task Force AZG&F, AZ Dept. of Ag, USFWS, BoR, US Park Service, US Forest Service, BLM, University of Arizona, AZ Aquaculture Association Public Meetings

Aquatic Weed Control in the Southwest Aquatic Weed Control in the Southwest Proposal National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Bureau of Reclamation Central Arizona Project Salt River Project Arizona Game and Fish Dept. University of Arizona

Aquatic Weed Control in the Southwest Objectives 1. Prepare AZ ANS State Plan for Governor’s signature. 2. Establish an Aquatic Weed Management Area 3. Quantify aquatic plant control trials in CAP and SRP 4. Develop ANS Web site 5. Instructional materials 6. Serve as model for AWMA’s in other areas.

Objective 1. Prepare AZ ANS State Plan for Governor’s signature 1. Expand AZ ANS Task Force 2. Public meetings 3. Approval from other agencies 4. Compare to other state plans 5. Coordinate with Federal plans 6. Submit draft to Governors staff

Objective 4. Develop ANS Website 1. extension/ANS/ANS.htm

Aquatic Weed Control in the Southwest: Delta of the Colorado River 1. Establish an Aquatic Weed Management Area 2. Develop IPM plan 3. Use existing data for ANS 4. Identify locations of exotics 5. Implement controls 6. Monitoring

Background: Delta of the Colorado River Dry during filling of Glen Canyon Invaded by exotics Irregular flows have assisted re- vegetation by natives provided partial control of ANS

Annual Flows Glen Canyon Dam Completed Lake Powell fills

Potential Delta AWMA

Colorado River Delta Project Area Ciénega Altar Desert Water & Mud Flats S E A W i F S (1 km resolution)1998 Image

Transects May 24, 1999

Thematic Mapper (30m Resolution)1998 Image

Percent Cover determined using TM NDVI

4 8 9 Digital Photos

10:47 10:53 10:55 10:56 Area = 67m x 100m Alt. = 150m Res. = 1.7m Length = 1.5 km with 10 km spacing Swath = 600m Alt. = 1000m Res. = 17.5m

DyCAM (fov: 100m) overlayed with Video Still (fov: 30m)

Vegetation Indices (VI) / Image Using vegetation indices to identify ANS in the Delta

Percent Cover Comparison Computer Visual

Using LAI to Identify ANS

Transects with natives and ANS Can identify zones with ANS Areas with flooding favor natives Vegetation differences can be traced back to individual flood events

Percent Cover by Species in Understory, Midstory, Overstory, % of Total Land Cover & Area (ha)

Conclusions Aquatic Weed Management Area could be established in Lower Delta based on political, management and agro-ecosystem boundaries IPM plan could be developed based on flooding and ag run-off schedules Satellite images can be used to assess habitat extent, water availability, and land use change. Lower Colorado River Accounting System and LC Species Management Plan

Conclusions IPM of Delta AWMA will depend more on flooding, remote monitoring, control of ag effluents IPM of CAP-SRP AWMA will depend more on education, monitoring, biological controls and active management by staff All AWMA’s would need linkages and coordination

From the Colorado to …..