GLMRIS News

January 18, 2013

ANS Control Screening Comment Period and Updated List of ANS of Concern – CAWS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the following:

ANS Controls Screening

As part of our continuing study, USACE has screened the ANS Controls identified in the Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System (ANS Control Paper) and removed certain controls from further consideration by GLMRIS. USACE is requesting comments regarding the ANS Controls Screening by February 21, 2013. Detailed information about the screening and information for providing comments can be found on the ANS Control Screening page.

Species of Concern

Forty (40) aquatic nuisance species were originally identified in the ANS White Paper as ANS of Concern for GLMRIS Focus Area I (CAWS). As announced in a September 23, 2011 GLMRIS Web cast, the New Zealand Mudsnail is found in both basins and therefore, was removed from the list of ANS of Concern. While researching species in support of the detailed baseline risk assessment activities for GLMRIS, USACE removed five additional ANS of Concern – CAWS that are established in both the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins: alewife, European amphipod, cylindrical algae, tubificid worm, and spiny waterflea. Species removed from the list of ANS of Concern – CAWS will not be subject to further study in GLMRIS. Information about the list of species of concern is available on the Aquatic Nuisance Species page.

If you have any questions about these revisions or any other element of GLMRIS, please contact the GLMRIS team at glmris@usace.army.mil.

December 19, 2012

The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 4

The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 4 (1.1 MB)

Volume 2, Issue 4 of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter is now available. In this issue of the GLMRIS newsletter, meet Program Manager Jack Drolet, read about the path forward for GLMRIS, get an update on interagency Asian carp efforts, and more!

December 3, 2012

Reminder: Focus Area 2 Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report Public Meeting

USACE will hold a public meeting and question and answer panel on the report on Dec. 4, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. (EST) at the Allen County Main Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

USACE Louisville District Commander Col. Luke Leonard will provide Army oversight during the meeting. White House Council on Environmental Quality Mr. John Goss will moderate the events.

A webinar will occur during the event. The public may connect to a webinar of the meeting on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. (EST) at:

https://www.webmeeting.att.com
Meeting Number(s):	888-684-8852 or 215-446-0155
Access Code:	3027302

Audio Conference

USA Toll-Free:	888-684-8852
USA Caller Paid/ International Toll:	215-446-0155
Access Code:	3027302

For first-time users to the Web Meeting Service, download the client software. Web Meeting HELP and Software Downloads can be found at: https://www.webmeeting.att.com

The Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report is available for download on the Focus Area 2 Documents page.

November 27, 2012

Focus Area 2 Wisconsin Assessment Reports Released

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released for public comment eight draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for the State of Wisconsin. The purpose of each report is to evaluate key evidence to estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) using it to reach the adjacent basin, as part of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS).

The Wisconsin reports are available for download on the Focus Area 2 Documents page.

The reports, which were developed in coordination with federal, state and local partners, show that Portage Upstream (Columbia County), Portage and Canal Downstream (Columbia County), Rosendale-Brandon (Fond du Lac County) and Brule Headwaters (Douglas County) have a medium probability for the potential transfer of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv) from the Great Lakes Basin into the Mississippi River Basin.

Jerome Creek (Kenosha County), South Aniwa Wetlands (Marathon-Shawano County), Hatley-Plover River (Marathon County) and West Menomonee Falls (Waukesha County) have a low probability for the inter-basin movement of ANS.

Comments for the eight draft Wisconsin reports will be accepted from Nov. 27, 2012 through Dec. 27, 2012. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Focus Area 2 Documents page or mailed to:

USACE will host a stakeholder conference call Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 at 10 a.m. (Central) to answer questions regarding the Wisconsin reports. Call-in information is:

The overall objective of the Focus Area 2 portion of GLMRIS is to produce an interim report for each of the 18 potential aquatic pathways found between the two basins (outside of the Chicago Area Waterway System or Focus Area 1). These reports are the next step in a tiered approach to assess the probability associated with the spread of ANS between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

Additional reports focusing on potential pathways in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania will be released over the next few months, as they are completed.

Reports include: study methodology; aquatic pathway characterization; aquatic pathway viability for ANS of Concern; overall aquatic pathway viability and some potential opportunities that, if implemented, could prevent or reduce the probability of ANS transferring between the basins.

USACE will review and incorporate public input before finalizing and re-issuing the reports early 2013.

If you have any questions about this document, please contact the GLMRIS Focus Area 2 Team at 716-879-4260 or glmris@usace.army.mil.

November 16, 2012

Focus Area 2 Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report Released

The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the Eagle Marsh Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Controls Report for public review and comment. Eagle Marsh, which is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been identified as a potential pathway where ANS may spread between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. This potential pathway was identified in the report titled Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Other Pathways Preliminary Risk Characterization released in 2010.

The Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report is available for download on the Focus Area 2 Documents page.

The purpose of the Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report is to identify a permanent means to prevent the spread of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species across Eagle Marsh as efficiently and effectively as possible. In the report, nine structural alternatives are compared and at least three were determined to have a "high" likelihood of preventing interbasin spread of ANS across Eagle Marsh. A range of non-structural alternatives are also described that could complement any structural solution.

USACE actively coordinated with the Indiana DNR, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. EPA, Council on Environmental Quality, Little River Wetlands Project, Maumee River Basin Commission, Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District and Allen County Surveyor's Office throughout development of the report. Their contributions significantly improved the quality of the report and reflect significant interest and capabilities that may be applied toward long-term prevention of the spread of ANS across Eagle Marsh.

A 60-day public comment period begins on Nov. 16, 2012 and ends Jan. 14, 2013. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Focus Area 2 Documents page or mailed to:

USACE will hold a public meeting and question and answer panel on the report on Dec. 4, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. at the Allen County Main Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. USACE Louisville District Commander Col. Luke Leonard will provide Army oversight during the meeting. White House Council on Environmental Quality Mr. John Goss will moderate the events. A webinar will occur during the event.

November 9, 2012

Focus Area 2 Indiana Assessment Reports Released

	Focus Area 2 Aquatic Pathway Assessment Report: Eagle Marsh, Indiana – Wabash-Maumee Basin Connection (4.9 MB)
	Focus Area 2 Aquatic Pathway Assessment Report: Loomis Lake, Indiana (3.3 MB)
	Focus Area 2 Aquatic Pathway Assessment Report: Parker-Cobb Ditch, Indiana (4.1 MB)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released for public comment three draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for the State of Indiana: Eagle Marsh, Loomis Lake and Parker-Cobb Ditch. The purpose of each report is to evaluate key evidence to estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) using it to reach the adjacent basin, as part of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS).

The draft reports show that Eagle Marsh, (Allen County) Parker-Cobb Ditch and Loomis Lake (both Porter county) have a high, medium and low probability for movement of ANS, respectively.

In 2010, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources built a temporary barrier to prevent adult Asian carp transfer at Eagle Marsh. However, the Eagle Marsh assessment report found that Eagle Marsh remains a high risk potential pathway due to the probability that Viral Hemoragic Scepticemia (VHS) could spread across the basin divide.

A viable aquatic pathway exists at Parker-Cobb Ditch for the potential transfer of northern snakehead into the Great Lakes Basin and for the potential transfer of threespine stickleback, parasitic copepod and VHS into the Mississippi River Basin. The overall aquatic pathway viability rating for Parker-Cobb Ditch was determined to be medium, however, as there was limited opportunity for the ANS of Concern to reach the pathway location and then transfer into the adjacent basin within the next 20-50 years.

The overall viability of the Loomis Lake aquatic pathway was determined to be low, as no species were found capable of reaching the site solely through the aquatic pathway.

Comments for the three draft Indiana reports will be accepted through Dec. 7, 2012. Comments may be submitted electronically on the FA2 Documents page or mailed to GLMRIS Focus Area 2, Summary Report Comments, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207-3199.

USACE will host a stakeholder conference call Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 at 10 a.m. (Central) to answer questions regarding the Indiana reports. Call-in information is:

An ANS Controls Report identifying the range of options and technologies that may be available to prevent the inter-basin transfer of ANS during flooding events at the Wabash – Maumee basins connection at Eagle Marsh near Fort Wayne, Indiana will be released and open for a 60-day comment period on November 16.

Additional reports focusing on potential pathways in Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania will be released over the next few months, as they are completed. Reports include: study methodology; aquatic pathway characterization; aquatic pathway viability for ANS of Concern; overall aquatic pathway viability and some potential opportunities that, if implemented, could prevent or reduce the probability of ANS transferring between the basins.

USACE will review and incorporate public input before finalizing and re-issuing the reports in winter 2012.

If you have any questions about this document, please contact the GLMRIS Focus Area 2 Team at 716-879-4260 or glmris@usace.army.mil.

October 5, 2012

GLMRIS MAP-21 90-Day Interim Report Released to Congress

Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Report Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Section 1538(b)(5) Interim Report to Congress (329 KB)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) 90-Day Interim Report, transmitted by the Secretary of the Army, Civil Works, to Congress, Oct. 4.

The 90 Day Interim Report outlines anticipated milestones, required resources and a plan for the completion of the GLMRIS Report, which will evaluate a range of options and technologies to prevent the transfer of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins by aquatic pathways, by December 2013, as required by Section 1538 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

"The GLMRIS Report will provide Congress and other stakeholders with an analysis of potential ANS control alternatives, as well as additional pertinent information for decision makers. The information we are providing to our stakeholders must be as thorough as possible, as a potential recommendation may affect various groups," said GLMRIS Program Manager Jack Drolet.

Initiation of any action beyond the study is contingent upon a decision by the Secretary of the Army that a project is justified. USACE anticipates that the GLMRIS Report will identify additional requirements that must be completed after its release, including detailed design analyses, completion of the environmental compliance analysis and required internal and agency reviews. If the Secretary of the Army determines that a project is justified and consistent with USACE missions, the additional requirements will be completed as part of the effort leading into preconstruction engineering and design of an ANS control alternative.

"Though the expedited timeframe will be challenging, we will make the GLMRIS Report as comprehensive as possible." said Drolet. During the study, USACE will be actively engaged in numerous activities to deter the transfer of ANS. Drolet emphasized that "Active prevention projects are ongoing and effective, such as operation of the electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and partnering with other members of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee to aggressively monitor the canal to determine location and abundance of fish."