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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296316
Title: Biological assessment: water hyacinth control program for the Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta of California

Author
item PRATT, W - State Of California
item GIBSON, J - State Of California
item ELY, T - State Of California
item NEWMAN, G - State Of California
item RYAN, P - State Of California
item YELLE, K - State Of California
item ANDERSON, LARS - Retired ARS Employee
item Carruthers, Raymond

Submitted to: Department of State Internal Government Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2012
Publication Date: 10/25/2012
Citation: Pratt, W.B., Gibson, J.A., Ely, T., Newman, G., Ryan, P., Yelle, K., Anderson, L.W., Carruthers, R.I. 2012. Biological assessment: water hyacinth control program for the Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta of California. Department of State Internal Government Report. p.1-202.

Interpretive Summary: USDA-ARS served the State of California and the Federal Nexus in developing and leading discussions with two Federal Regulatory Agencies, the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and the DOI US Fish and Wildlife Service. These discussions were part of a Section 7 consultation required for the approval of Area wide management of the invasive aquatic weed, water hyacinth, Echorinia crassipes, that is infesting the Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta in California. This document provided all the proposed project details discussing the efficacy, environmental safety and expected no-impact result of these projects on endangered species that are known to inhabit this area. Based on these Biological Assessments the Federal Regulatory authorities approved new aquatic weed management plans for the next five calendar years, which the California Department of Boating and Waterways will implement in cooperation with USDA that will provide further guiding research and aid in project assessment and monitoring.

Technical Abstract: A detailed Biological Assessment was developed for the proposed Areawide Water Hyacinth Control Program to outline the procedures that will be used to control this invasive aquatic plant in the Sacramento/ San Joaquin River Delta, and to help determine if this action is expected to threaten endangered species within the control areas of concern. A comprehensive set of operational plans were outlined and methods used to help avoid unnecessary exposure to critical threatened and endangered species such as salmon and other fishes, frogs, salamanders, various invertebrates and numerous plants of special concern. This document was used as the basis for assessment by two different Federal Agencies. Comprehensive reviews were conducted by NOAA (National Marine Fisheries Service), and by DOI (US Fish and Wildlife Service). After months of review the project was approved by both Agencies with permits granted for control efforts to proceed for the next 5 calendar years.