Quagga/Zebra Mussel News

The purpose of this notice is to provide prospective grant applicants with information about California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) resources available to meet the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways’ (DBW) new Quagga/Zebra Mussel Infestation Mussel Prevention grant application requirements. The grant application window is quickly approaching in February 2019 – to ensure eligibility take action NOW.

Beginning with the 2018/2019 grant cycle, DBW has implemented the following changes in their grant program: 

• There will be two categories of grants:
  • prevention planning and assessment
  • prevention plan implementation
• No vulnerability assessment grants
  • However, vulnerability assessment funding may be included as a component of prevention program planning grant proposals
• Prevention Plan implementation grant applicants must submit a copy of the letter from the CDFW stating that the Prevention Plan was reviewed and that it has been accepted.
• Grant applicants must submit recent (March 2018 or later) mussel early-detection monitoring to demonstrate that the reservoir is not infested with dreissenid mussels.

Fish and Game Code Section 2302 and Title 14, Section 672.1 require that owners or manages of a reservoir assess the vulnerability of the reservoir to the introduction of dreissenid mussels, and develop and implement a program to prevent the introduction of dreissenid mussels. The program must include public education, monitoring, and management of recreational activities including boating and fishing, and be documented in the form of a written plan. Each plan must be submitted to CDFW, where it will be evaluated for compliance with the code and regulations. CDFW will provide a letter of acceptance once the plan is deemed compliant.

Tools available to help develop a Prevention Plan include:

• “Guidance for Developing a Dreissenid Mussel Prevention Program” (March 2017) (PDF)
• CDFW Regional staff consultation on plan development, waterbody risk evaluation,  and assistance on the development of dreissenid mussel monitoring
• CDFW staff are available to conduct monitoring, train lake staff, and assist with the implementation of an accepted Prevention Plan. View the QZ Regional staff directory (PDF).

Webinar: CDFW staff will host an interactive online webinar. The goal of the webinar is to discuss changes in the DBW grant requirements and CDFW resources available to assist in meeting the grant application requirements. The meeting will be conducted via Skype.

• Skype Link
• December 12, 2018
• 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Please use the following conference call in number for audio:

• Call in number: (877) 336-1831
• Participant Code: 940704

If you have questions, please contact CDFW at invasives@wildlife.ca.gov or (866) 440-9530.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the US Bureau of Reclamation:

The US Bureau of Reclamation is looking for potential projects to be funded in the fiscal year 2019 (October-September). A variety of projects will be considered as long as they are mussel related in nature. The potential projects list will be consolidated and submitted to the Department of Interior by November 1. Proposals must be submitted no later than October 26. If your agency straddles different Reclamation regions, please ensure that you do not submit a duplicate request. Request can be submitted to multiple regions, by ensure it is for a different project.

Please provide the following criteria and information required to submit the project for consideration:

1. Project title
2. Brief description of the work to be done (2-3 sentences)
3. How long will it take (1 year, 2 years, 3 years)
4. QZAP (PDF) / DOI Mussel Initiative Commitments Category (PDF)
5. DOI Mussel Initiative Commitment Subcategory (PDF) (Safeguarding the West)
6. Funding amount requested
7. POC (Name, Email, Telephone)

If you are in the US Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region, please contact Stuart Angerer at (916) 978-5046. If you are in the US Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado River Region, please contact Heidi McMaster at (702) 293-8560. The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, October 26, 2018.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the Western Governors' Association:

On July 12, The Western Governors’ Association launched the WGA Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, the signature initiative of WGA Chair, Hawaii Governor David Ige. The Initiative will focus on the impacts that nuisance species, pests, and pathogens have on ecosystems, forests, rangelands, watersheds, and infrastructure in the west, and examine the role that biosecurity plays in addressing these risks.  The goal is to examine emerging issues in biosecurity and invasive species management in the West, and develop a set of policy recommendations, best practices, and technical tools to address those issues.

The Initiative will accomplish this goal, in part, through webinars and a series of workshops across the West. The dates, locations, topics, agendas, and registration links for the workshops are below: 

• Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Sept. 17-18, 2018. Topic: Prevention, Control, and Management of Established Species (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Cheyenne, Wyoming, Oct. 11-12, 2018. Topic: WGA Working Lands Roundtable: Invasive Species and Restoration (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Helena, Montana, Nov. 14, 2018. Topic: Early Detection and Rapid Response (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Kona Coast, Hawaii, Dec. 9-10, 2018.  Topic: Biosecurity and Agriculture (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.

If you would like to attend any of the initiative workshops, or if you have any questions about the initiative more generally, please contact Bill Whitacre with WGA. Please feel free to share this information with your contacts.