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L? 1 APPENDIX B The spiny water flea, a likely ballast water introduction, is a tiny crustacean with a sharply barbed tail spine. The northern Europe native was first found in Lake Huron in 1984. The spiny water flea is now found throughout the Great Lakes and in some inland lakes. Although researchers do not know what effect the invader will have on the ecosystem, resource managers suspect that the water flea competes directly for food with small fish such as perch. The zebra mussel, another ballast water introduction, is one of the best known invaders of the Great Lakes region and other areas of the country where it has spread. This aquatic nuisance species has caused serious economic and ecosystem impacts. The zebra mussel, a highly opportunistic mollusk, reproduces rapidly and consumes microscopic aquatic plants and animals from the water column in large quantities. The potential impact on the fishery can be profound due to changes in food availability and spawning areas, to name a few. Economic impacts are as pervasive as the ecosystem impacts. Great Lakes municipalities, utilities and industries due to the infestation of zebra mussel in their intake/discharge pipes B have significant costs associated with monitoring, cleaning and controlling infestations. According to a recent economic impact study, each of 84 Great Lakes water users reported average total expenditures of $513,600 over the five-year period from 1989 to 1994 (Hushak et al., 1995). By the end of this century, water users across the country are expected to spend between $2 billion and $3 billion cleaning clogged water intakes (Ruiz et al., 1995). Commercial and recreational vessels and beach areas also are vulnerable to the negative impacts of the zebra mussel. Nonindigenous aquatic plants also have been introduced to the Great Lakes region and inland waters. Purple loosestrife is a wetland plant from Europe and Asia that was introduced to the east coast of North America in the 1800s. Purple loosestrife invades marshes and lakeshores, replacing cattails and other wetland plants. This nonindigenous plant is unsuitable to meet ' habitat needs S such as cover, food or nesting sites S for a wide range of native wetland animals including ducks, geese, rails, bitterns, muskrats, frogs, toads and turtles. 11 t Eurasian water milfoil, unintentionally introduced to North America from Europe, has spread into inland lakes primarily by boats. Milfoil can proliferate in high densities in lakes, producing habitat conditions that cause serious impairments to commercial fishing and water recreation such as boating, fishing and swimming. The plant's surface canopy also can out-compete and eliminate native aquatic vegetation, as well as threaten native fish and wildlife populations. Numerous aquatic nuisance species have been introduced and dispersed in the Great Lakes and inland waters of each state by various pathways. The environmental and socio-economic costs resulting from ANS infestations will only continue to rise with further ANS introductions. Although an awareness of the problems caused by aquatic nuisance species is emerging, the solutions are not readily apparent. This comprehensive state management plan for nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species provides guidance for management actions to address the prevention, control and impacts of aquatic nuisance species that have invaded or may invade the Great Lakes region and inland state waters. I DRAFT ANS Plan for CRFWC (April 23-24, 1998) Page 5