ESA Consultation

A detection of dreissenids in a CRB water body in the United States would likely result in a rapid response action, with a Federal nexus (e.g., Federal funding), in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and/or Montana via implementation of the CRB plan, and therefore likely trigger the emergency consultation process.

 

Any water body in the CRB could be a potential location for the proposed action, from free-flowing rivers and streams, to hydropower reservoirs, to isolated water bodies. Access to any water body is dependent on the road network to each water body, and the amount of development and access sites available. Areas close to public use access sites, such as boat launches and marinas, are the most likely locations where both dreissenid detections and response actions would occur as a result of dreissenid introduction through watercraft, or water-based, recreation activities.

 

Specific tasks associated with each response action may include detection area isolation, sample collection, site monitoring, site preparation, fish and wildlife salvage, mussel treatment, equipment decontamination, site restoration activities associated with the control action (if necessary), and implementation of conservation and minimization measures and best management practices to avoid and minimize adverse environmental effects.

 

This portion of the toolkit describes the types of most likely treatments and activities that would occur in response to a detection of dreissenids in an open water system. The CRB plan outlines many different control options, including treatments that may not be appropriate, or feasible, for response in open-water systems.

 

Defining the Affected  Area

The potentially affected area (or action area as described in the ESA section 7 regulations) for any hypothetical rapid response action would include all areas affected directly or indirectly by the response, and not merely the immediate area involved in the response (e.g., upstream, downstream, hatcheries, infrastructure, etc.). Therefore, for the broad purposes of this manual, it could include any water body in the CRB, including all access sites into and out of the water body, staging areas, and other infrastructure adjacent to the water body, areas downstream of the site (if applicable), and any other areas affected by implementation of the response action.

 

Description of Possible Response Actions

Appendix D of the CRB Plan (Heimowitz and Phillips 2008) describes, in detail, the numerous methods available to control invasive dreissenids in a variety of situations, including hydropower facilities, closed water systems, and open water bodies. Any rapid response action could include detection, isolation of the treatment area, fish and wildlife salvage, eradication tactics, and riparian restoration.