Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The actor that I chose to write about is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The GLRI has been around since 2010 and its focus is to address long-standing problems and emerging challenges in order to revitalize the Great Lakes. This actor is important because while it deals with the subject that I’m interested in which is invasive species in Wisconsin it also deals with several other important issues to the Great Lakes, such as, toxic substances and areas of concerns, nearshore health and point source pollution, habitat and wildlife protection and restoration, and also accountability, education, monitoring, evaluation, communication and partnerships. 

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative involves many different agencies that all collect data on the several different focus areas that they address and with that data they present a report to the EPA which contains their recommendations on issues that should be addressed. Some the agencies that are involved are the; Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of Agriculture which includes animal and plant health and the inspection service, the Department of Commerce which includes the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, and the Department of Interior which includes the fish and wildlife service and the EPA. The GLRI is involved with several other agencies but these are the agencies that take part in the prevention and control of invasive species. The scope of the GLRI is all around the Great Lake areas that have high level of concerns and that should be addressed.

Some of the things that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiation does to address the issue of invasive species is they develop plans that consist of some goals and the implementations that they believe will help achieve those goals for the prevention of new aquatic invasive species and the management of the current aquatic invasive species. In the management plans put together in 2010 the long term goals that were developed  were as follows. The first was that the introduction of new invasive species to the Great Lakes basin ecosystem is eliminated, reflecting a “zero tolerance policy” toward invasive. Second, the risk of introduction of species that are imported from various ways into the Great Lakes be minimized. Third, the spread of invasive species by means of recreational activities connecting waster ways and other vectors beyond their current range is prevented. Forth, the comprehensive program for detection and tracking newly identified invasive species in the Great Lakes is developed and provides up to date critical information needed by decision makes for evaluating potential rapid response actions. Lastly, the effective, efficient and environmentally sound program of integrated pest management for invasive species is developed and implemented, including program functions of containment eradication, control and mitigation. 

The projects that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative implemented to fight invasive species are as follows. The first step was to develop ballast water treatment that protects freshwater ecosystems which would help to reduce the introduction of invasive species by the hull or the anchors of ships. The second was to implement early actions to address water pathway vectors which would help identify the main waterways that introduce the invasive species to the Great Lakes and from there take action in order to lower that risk of introduction. Third was to have prevention through broad stakeholder outreach and education which would promote actions to prevent the introduction of species but also the spread of them through things such as hunting, fishing and boating. Fourth was to develop and demonstrate innovative control technology which would make the cost of the control methods go down but also increase how effective they are. Lastly, establish early detection and rapid response capability which would work with government agencies in order to detect when new species are introduced to the Great Lakes and eliminate them before they have to opportunity to establish themselves in the ecosystem which would make them easier to eliminate. A few organizations have already begun to implement this management plan starting in 2010 including the Wisconsin DNR and the Menominee and Red Cliff Tribes. 

                                                         Bibliography

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Home. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://greatlakesrestoration.us  

The NOAA and Aquatic Invasive Species in Great Lakes Region

The NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), headquartered in Washington D.C., strives to keep citizens informed on the environment around them, through scientific research and education. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring, to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. The NOAA’s scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.
NOAA's roots date back to 1807, when the Nation’s first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters. 
NOAA’s mission (to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources) touches the lives of every American and they take pride in their role in protecting life and property and conserving/protecting natural resources.
Among the multitude of issues the NOAA addresses, they focus on Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great Lakes region. There has been extensive damage to the Great Lakes due to over 180 non-native species.  Species such as the zebra mussel, quagga mussel, round goby, sea lampry, and alewife reproduce and spread, ultimately degrading habitat, out-competing native species, and short-circuiting food webs.  Non-native plants such as purple loosestrife and Eurasian milfoil have also harmed the Great Lakes ecosystem.  Unfortunately, the damage caused by invasive species often goes beyond the ecological.  They can threaten human health and hurt the Great Lakes economy by damaging critical industries such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism.

Zebra Mussels in Lake Michigan

Round Goby

The NOAA is focused on preventing the spread of invasive species because once they have established in an area it is quite expensive and difficult to fix the damage. Prevention is a more cost-effective manner to dealing with aquatic invasive species, especially with the knowledge and research tools available. 
One way in which the NOAA addresses invasive species in the Great Lakes region is with The Great Lakes Aquatic Non-Indigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). (GLANSIS) provides extensive invasive species collection records for the Great Lakes Region.  NOAA created GLANSIS to provide a “one stop shop” for technical information on non-indigenous species that have become established in the Great Lakes. If natural resource managers are familiar with these species, they can more effectively prevent their spread.

The NOAA also specifically focuses on Asian Carp Assessment and Asian Carp education in the Great Lakes region. Asian Carp (bighead, silver, grass, and black) were imported to the Southern U.S. in the 1970’s to help support aquaculture. Today, bighead and silver carp are the dominant fish species in the Illinois River, which connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan.  There is concern that if bighead and silver carp enter the Great Lakes, they may cause significant ecosystem damage. The NOAA is currently contributing to vital research on Asian carps’ prospects for survival in Great Lakes water.

Asian Carp in Illinois River

Sources

http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/great_lakes-restoration-initiative/invasive-species/

http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/great_lakes-restoration-initiative/invasive-species/risk-assessment-asian-carp/

http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/great_lakes-restoration-initiative/invasive-species/asian-carp-education-and-outreach/

http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/great_lakes-restoration-initiative/invasive-species/forecasting-the-bioeconomic-impacts-of-aquatic-invasive-species-ais/

http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/great_lakes-restoration-initiative/invasive-species/glansis-improving-information-access/

http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html

http://gulfseafoodnews.com/2014/05/04/louisiana-chefs-solution-asian-carp-invasion-eat/
http://bridgemi.com/2014/06/the-fish-that-got-away/
http://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/07/angler_round_gobies_are_finally_turning_up_oneida_lake_in_great_numbers.html
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/2000/edynalepa09-3.html