Giving zebra mussels the bullet
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 7:24 amFrom BBC News:
“If someone mentions mussels and your first thought is a big bowl of moules mariniere, then you are not alone. However, the popular seafood dish has a much less palatable relative, the freshwater zebra mussel.
An invasive species, the zebra mussel clogs up water works and systems across the UK, costing millions of pounds each year to remove.
The removal is more often done by having to send down divers to hack them off by hand. … “
Continue reading from the BBC News by clicking here.
Lake County assessing invasive mussel issues
Posted by: Maven on January 13, 2012 at 6:38 amFrom the Lake County Record-Bee:
“Discussion on matters related to invasive mussels took center stage at the afternoon session of the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting Tuesday.
State Department of Fish and Game (DFG) officials updated the supervisors about their plans to prevent the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels, followed by discussion of the county’s quagga/zebra mussel education program from the Water Resources Department.
Susan Ellis, environmental program manager for DFG’s invasive species program, delivered a report on the state’s efforts to combat invasive mussels. … “
Continue reading from the Lake County Record-Bee by clicking here.
2011 Marine Invasive Species Report identifies new threats to California’s ecology
Posted by: Maven on December 31, 2011 at 2:50 pmFrom California Department of Fish & Game:
“Four new non-native aquatic species have taken up residence in San Francisco Bay, according to a new report published by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG). The 2011 Invasive Species Report includes the first records of the appearance in the San Francisco Bay of four species previously found only in other parts of the coast. These organisms include:
- Caprella simia, a Caprellid, or “skeleton” shrimp, which was first discovered in California’s Long Beach Harbor in 2000. C. simia is a Japanese species, probably introduced by fouling or ballast water and considered likely to spread north. It is now widespread in San Francisco Bay.
- Nicolea sp. A Harris, an undescribed polychaete worm, was first found in California in 2000 in San Diego Bay and Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor. Possible vectors include ballast water and fouling on ships or recreational boats.
- Grateloupia lanceolata, a red alga native to Japan and Korea, has been found for the first time in the Port of Oakland and in Richardson Bay. This species was previously found at Santa Catalina Island, Port Hueneme and Moss Landing. It has been working its way up the coast.
- The collection of Amphibalanus eburneus (ivory barnacle) from Richmond and San Francisco marinas confirmed new distribution records for the San Francisco Bay. Although one specimen had been collected from a ship’s hull around 1938, no other occurrences were documented in the Bay during the intervening time. More recent California observations of this North Atlantic native had been limited to Colorado Lagoon (Long Beach) and Huntington Harbor. … “
Continue reading from the California Department of Fish & Game by clicking here.
Emergency over mussels urged; None have been found locally, but San Luis Obispo County officials want Brown to set statewide action
Posted by: Maven on November 21, 2011 at 6:29 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“Because many counties are plagued by quagga mussels, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District wants Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a statewide emergency.
None of the mussels have been found here.
Nacimiento staff engineer Carolyn Berg is asking the Board of Supervisors to make the request of Brown. Supervisors will discuss it at their Tuesday meeting. … “
Continue reading from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.
Marrone Bio gets approval for mussel biopesticide
Posted by: Maven on October 17, 2011 at 5:51 amThis item is a month old, but well worth noting:
“Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. has gotten approval for its biopesticide against invasive freshwater mussels, after testing in Canada and the Colorado River. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Business Journal by clicking here.
Inyo County looking for more muscle in mussel fight
Posted by: Maven on October 7, 2011 at 7:10 amFrom the Inyo County Register:
“Inyo County is looking to the state government to help stop the spread of invasive quagga mussels, which can cause millions of dollars worth of damage to water infrastructure.
Currently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Inyo County have quagga mussel checkpoints established at Diaz, Klondike and Crowley lakes to ensure boats and other vessels that enter the water are not infested with the hearty pests. However, state and private entities such as the Department of Fish and Game and Southern California Edison are doing little more than warning residents that quagga mussels are a threat. … “
Continue reading from the Inyo Register by clicking here.
Nevada County Supervisors take stand against aquatic invasives
Posted by: Maven on September 28, 2011 at 8:18 amFrom The Union:
“Nevada County’s Supervisors Tuesday adopted a resolution petitioning the state for stricter measures to protect against invasive mussels in the California’s waterways.
Essentially, the resolution asks the state to implement and fund an inspection program for quagga and zebra mussels and other invasive aquatic species, which have been detected in regional waterways. The invasives contribute to declining water clarity, devastate fisheries, clog boat intake valves, threatens water used in California’s $36 billion annual agriculture industry and fill beaches with sharp shells, according to research. … “
Continue reading from The Union by clicking here.
State uses more muscle against mussels
Posted by: Maven on September 27, 2011 at 9:31 amFrom the Central Valley Business Times:
“A new law is letting the California Department of Fish and Game to continue an aggressive strategy to combat the spread of quagga and zebra mussels in state waterways.
“If we didn’t allow the DFG to continue with this aggressive control strategy, dreissenid mussels will colonize with alarming speed and cause major harm to our state waterways,” says state Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, the author of the measure. … “
Continue reading from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Governor Signs ACWA-Sponsored Bill on Quagga Mussels
Fast-spreading plant blanketing waterways; Permit delays for spraying allow hyacinth to flourish
Posted by: Maven on September 15, 2011 at 8:49 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“A glossy alien plant that colonizes Delta sloughs and channels each summer is especially thick this year, apparently because of a delay in the state’s annual eradication program.
If you’ve been near the downtown Stockton waterfront lately, you’ve probably seen the water hyacinth.
Considered one of the world’s worst weeds, the hyacinth right now is a solid floating blanket across the head of the Deep Water Channel near Weber Point. It also has infiltrated most of the berths at the new Stockton Marina. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
San Benito County might call for statewide emergency over mussels
Posted by: Maven on September 13, 2011 at 7:50 amFrom the Hollister Free Lance:
“It has been almost four years since the discovery of invasive zebra mussels at the San Justo Reservoir, and it appears San Benito County officials are losing patience with the federal government.
The board at Tuesday’s meeting is expected to approve a resolution, put forward by Supervisor Anthony Botelho, that calls for the Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a statewide emergency over the zebra mussel infestation near Hollister and the presence of other non-native mussels in other areas of California. … “
Continue reading from the Hollister Free Lance by clicking here.
ACWA’s quagga mussel bill heads to Governor
Posted by: Maven on September 6, 2011 at 8:07 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“ACWA-sponsored legislation designed to combat the spread of invasive quagga mussels cleared the Assembly this week and is now on the governor’s desk.
SB 215, authored by Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), would extend the sunset of the successful mussel inspection program led by the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Food and Agriculture. Set to expire at the end of this year, the mussel inspection program was first created in 2007 to allow the state to conduct inspections of vehicles and water bodies and order quarantines of any infected water bodies. The law also authorizes the state to implement measures to prevent and eradicate infestations, including education. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Tahoe’s clam colonies may not be booming
Posted by: Maven on September 6, 2011 at 7:39 amFrom the Reno Gazette-Journal:
“When it comes to invading clams, Lake Tahoe might not be a very good place to make babies.
That’s the encouraging conclusion of new research by scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno who found that cold temperatures and lack of food combine to discourage reproduction of Asian clams in the lake.
“This could be good news. It really could be,” said Sudeep Chandra, a UNR researcher specializing in freshwater science. … “
Continue reading from the Reno Gazette-Journal by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Clear Lake crackdown on mussel inspections
Posted by: Maven on August 21, 2011 at 8:56 amThis morning’s sweep finds only regional stories, starting with this from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“A San Jose man has become the 18th boater on Clear Lake this year to be hit with a misdemeanor citation and fine for failing to have a sticker proving his vessel had been checked for invasive quagga and zebra mussels.
“It’s a big issue,” said Sgt. Dennis Ostini of the Lake County Sheriff’s boat patrol who also sits on the county’s invasive species committee.
By the time court fines and fees are added to the $1,000 misdemeanor, Robert Berrett is looking at close to $2,700 for failing to have a current inspection sticker, Ostini said. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Lake County asks Governor to declare state of emergency regarding quagga and zebra mussel infestations
Posted by: Maven on August 11, 2011 at 8:51 amFrom the Lake County Bee:
“The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Tuesday asked the governor to declare a state of emergency regarding quagga and zebra mussel infestations in California water bodies.
The BOS also asked the state to take specific actions to prevent and control the spread of the invasive mussels in water bodies statewide. The requested declaration and actions were stated in a resolution passed unanimously during Tuesday’s regular BOS meeting.
“Without increased and immediate action, these mussels will cause irreparable ecological and economic damage to California water bodies and long-term costs could be in the billions,” the resolution stated. … “
Continue reading from the Lake County Bee by clicking here.
Meanwhile, Tahoe’s boat inspections praised for catching mussel-infested boat headed towards the lake, from YubaNet.com:
“”It could be a sign of more things to come,” Sudeep Chandra, quagga mussel researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno said about the boat found Sunday infested with dozens of quagga mussels. “It’s fortunate that this boat was caught, and shows the importance of the boat inspections to protect Lake Tahoe. It also shows the ease with which this invasive species could enter any Nevada or California lake or waterway.” … “
Continue reading at YubaNet.com by clicking here.
Quagga mussels found on Tahoe-bound boat
Posted by: Maven on August 10, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“A boat headed for Lake Tahoe was found to be encrusted with quagga mussels, an invasive species that wildlife experts say could pose a major environmental threat to the scenic mountain lake on the Nevada-California line.
The Reno Gazette-Journal ( http://bit.ly/n19EJ9) on Tuesday reported that inspectors discovered the mussels attached to a powerboat during a routine inspection over the weekend. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Tiny ‘outlaw’ mollusks aren’t as bad as feared
Posted by: Maven on August 7, 2011 at 4:47 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“A feared “outlaw” shellfish showed up in San Diego County four years ago this month, creating a high-profile threat to water-delivery systems that sustain human life in the arid Southwest.
Water managers feared the prolific pest would spread rapidly because the region’s warm temperatures encourage reproduction, and they worried about potentially huge expenses, such as the billions of dollars shelled out to control invasive mollusks in the Great Lakes. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Warming climate could give exotic grasses edge over natives
Posted by: Susan Lauer on July 29, 2011 at 8:16 amFrom Webwire
California’s native grasses, already under pressure from invasive exotic grasses, are likely to be pushed aside even more as the climate warms, according to a new analysis from the University of California, Berkeley.
In the study, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Global Change Biology and is now available online, UC Berkeley biologists catalogued the ranges of all 258 native grasses and 177 exotic grasses in the state and estimated how climate change – in particular, increased temperature and decreased rainfall – would change them.
Continue reading from Webwire by clicking here.
New online newsletter by Department of Fish and Game spotlights invasive species issues
Posted by: Maven on July 22, 2011 at 8:11 amThe California Department of Fish and Game has launched a newsletter on invasive species issues. Here is the first issue: EOV_V1N1_Summer2011
RELATED: Find out more about DFG’s invasive species program by clicking here.
Commentary: Lake County’s invasive mussel protection program needs more funding
Posted by: Maven on July 21, 2011 at 8:19 amFrom the Lake County News, this commentary by Jim Steele:
“One of the greatest threats to the safety of water supply in many years is approaching closer to our waters.
The Dreissenid mussels’ quagga and zebra now contaminate Southern California waters and bordering states.
These invasive species multiply at tremendous rates, clog water supply lines, change lake ecology and increase occurrence of blue-green algae affecting taste and health. So far, there is no known eradication method so treatment costs are ongoing. … “
Continue reading from the Lake County News by clicking here.
Boat inspections help thwart quagga mussels
Posted by: Maven on June 30, 2011 at 8:06 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“Since quagga mussels first appeared in California waters in 2007, the destructive mollusks have left a connect-the-dot trail across the southern part of the state.
They first appeared in Lake Havasu on the Arizona border, then traveled west in the Colorado River Aqueduct. Over the next three years they established indestructible colonies in dams and local drinking water reservoirs, and even appeared in a golf course pond in Orange County that receives Colorado River water. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Boating alert: Beware mussel invasion
Posted by: Maven on June 28, 2011 at 7:19 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“With the boating season ramping up, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino are being closely monitored for invasive species of mussels infesting lakes and rivers in Southern California and Nevada.
Neither lake is yet subject to the tough measures imposed by Lake County officials in their effort to protect Clear Lake. Boaters there are required to have inspection stickers and violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
The Zebra and Quagga mussels so far have not been found in the two reservoirs or Clear Lake. For Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, boat owners and fishermen are being advised to clean their boats, bilges, wet tanks and fishing tackle before coming to the lake. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Los Angeles County: Vessels entering local lakes could transmit aquatic pest that clogs pipes
Posted by: Maven on June 6, 2011 at 7:52 amFrom the Santa Clarita Signal:
“The county’s mussel-fighting efforts thus far hinge on a single question that boat ramp staff asked visitors at Castaic Lake’s main boat launch Saturday. “They’ve always asked me where I launched last,” Encino resident Ron Hasson said.
Hasson, who said he’s been boating at Castaic Lake for about 30 years, said it would be very easy for a boater to lie about where’s he’s been and then launch his boat at Castaic Lake.
That’s why the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.8 million expansion of its mussel-fighting program last week. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
Waterblogged: Quagga fight waged on the front lines (of boats)
Posted by: Maven on May 21, 2011 at 7:21 amFrom Waterblogged:
“As scientists search for new weapons against the invading quagga mussels in the West’s waterways, the day-to-day battles are in the lines of boats moving from one reservoir to another.
Authorities at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page say they have already intercepted five boats infested with quaggas this year, diverting them from Lake Powell to a cleaning station for decontamination.
So far, Lake Powell remains free of quaggas and officials want to keep it that way, fearful that if the dime-sized mollusks find their way into the huge reservoir, they will infect more of the upper Colorado River. … “
Continue reading from Waterblogged by clicking here.
Foreign species invade San Francisco Bay
Posted by: Maven on May 12, 2011 at 8:04 am
From NPR’s All Things Considered:
“California is cracking down on invasive species, and that could have a big impact on national regulations due out later this year. The state has passed the strictest rules in the country to prevent cargo ships from bringing foreign plants and animals to San Francisco Bay. But the standards are so high, California may not be able to enforce them.
Trucks and cranes spring into action as a 900-foot container ship docks at the Port of Oakland. Every year, thousands of ships pass under the Golden Gate Bridge. They bring cars, sneakers, computers — and exotic organisms.
Biologist Andrew Cohen of the Center for Research on Aquatic Bioinvasions sees four of them. He slogs through a muddy beach in the eastern Bay Area and scoops up a clump of seaweed that’s home to clams and snails. Cohen also spots some yellow dots, and he says they are “the egg mass of a Japanese sea slug which showed up here a few years ago.” … “
Continue reading from NPR by clicking here.
Photo of container ships by flickr photographer Ingrid Taylar.
Voluntary boat inspections under way at Donner Lake, regional reservoirs
Posted by: Maven on May 7, 2011 at 8:14 amFrom the Tahoe Daily Tribune:
“While much regional attention involving aquatic invasive species is directed toward preventing introduction of dangerous invaders such as quagga and zebra mussels into the famed waters of Lake Tahoe, officials are funding inspection operations at other alpine lakes in the Sierra.
For the second consecutive season, boat inspections and education relating to aquatic invasive species will take place at Donner Lake and Boca, Prosser and Stampede reservoirs through September 30, said Peter Brumis, spokesman for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, which operates inspection stations on Tahoe and the aforementioned water bodies.
However, unlike Lake Tahoe, where boaters must undergo inspections and can be fined thousands of dollars for willfully misleading inspectors, the inspections carried out at the other alpine lakes are voluntary, Brumis said. … “
Continue reading from the Tahoe Daily Tribune by clicking here.
Dredging may be only option for exterminating invasive hydrilla plants
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 12:53 pm
From the Lake Scientist:
“Suction-based dredging could help to permanently remove invasive hydrilla plant “tubers” from Clear Lake in Lakeport, Calif. The non-native Hydrilla verticillata, which is considered the most problematic invasive aquatic plant in the U.S. by many aquatic weed scientists, can decimate fish and wildlife habitat. It has infested numerous southern states, along with California, Washington, and Idaho.
The proposed dredging project would take approximately five years, during which time the top 12 inches of sediment would be removed from areas on the lake bottom where the tubers have been discovered. Carolyn Ruttan, invasive species program coordinator for the Lake Country Department of Water Resources, said the hydrilla plants could engulf the entire lake within seven to eight years if left unchecked. She also noted that 365 of the invasive weeds have already been spotted in the lake since 2007. … “
Continue reading from the Lake Scientist by clicking here.
Dog trained to sniff out invasive mussel species
Posted by: Maven on April 24, 2011 at 7:09 amFrom ABC News 10:
“Debi DeShon had been training dogs to sniff out contraband for the last 15 years, but a decline in the economy and a rise of an eco-threatening animal made her swap narcotics for nature.
At her new business she’s using some of the same techniques she used to “Mussel Dogs” is DeShon’s new detective venture, and She’s training dogs to find invasive species of mussels – the quagga and zebra mussels. … “
Continue reading from ABC News 10 by clicking here.
Bureau of Reclamation proposes to use bio-treatment to control Quagga mussels at Davis Dam
Posted by: Maven on April 19, 2011 at 6:17 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation, this press release:
“Reclamation has established an extensive program to address the impacts of quagga mussels on its facilities on the lower Colorado River. A recently proposed project at Davis Dam would add Zequanox™ to the facility’s cooling water system that provides water to cool generator bearings, heat exchangers, air compressor and other equipment throughout the powerplant.
Zequanox™ is the trade name for a commercial quagga and zebra mussel treatment product developed by Marrone Bio Innovations of Davis, Calif. Zequanox™ contains natural compounds including the dead Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria that, when ingested, destroy the invasive mussels’ digestive systems.
Reclamation is hosting a series of open houses to inform interested parties about this action … “
Those workshops, unfortunately, will be in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City - you can find out more in the rest of this press release here.
America’s Cup preparations may unleash invasive seaweed on San Francisco Bay
Posted by: Maven on April 1, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom the Bay Citizen:
“The America’s Cup could spread something far more destructive across San Francisco Bay than tourists and fast-moving catamarans.
While residents on Thursday will discover the extent of traffic and transit havoc that will be wrought by the event, environmentalists have been warning city and port officials that the regatta will provide an aggressive form of invasive algae with a free ride throughout the region. … “
Continue reading from the Bay Citizen by clicking here.
Saturday’s top of the scroll: State ready to help Contra Costa fight Delta aquatic invader
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2011 at 9:02 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“The state finally plans to do something next month about an aquatic weed that has been choking waterways and drawing complaints around Bethel Island and Discovery Bay for a decade.
Egeria densa, a South American plant that is often found in aquariums, covers 12 percent of the Delta, according to a Contra Costa County report. It is crowding out native flora, becoming entangled with boat propellers and swimmers, and threatening to change the ecosystem.
“We’ve been battling this weed for 10 years,” said Jeff Conway, who manages the reclamation district that maintains the area’s levees. “Last year was the worst.” … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Bill seeks to protect Nevada waterways from invasive species
Posted by: Maven on March 5, 2011 at 6:54 amFrom the Las Vegas Sun:
“A bill aimed at protecting Nevada’s waterways from invasive species is being considered in the Nevada Legislature but is encountering opposition because of fees proposed to establish a permanent boat inspection program.
During a hearing Thursday, Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams, D-Las Vegas, said SB167 would establish an inspection program to prohibit launching of boats contaminated with invasive species into state waters. A similar program is already in place at Lake Tahoe to prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels.
It would also make deliberate introduction of invasive species a felony with fines up to $250,000. … “
Continue reading from the Las Vegas Sun by clicking here.
Scientists study control of invasive tamarisk tree
Posted by: Maven on March 3, 2011 at 8:38 amFrom the University of California:
“Simply by eating the leaves of an invasive tree that soaks up river water, an Asian beetle may help to slow down water loss in the southwestern United States.
Two scientists from UC Santa Barbara, working with colleagues from the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have published the first substantive data showing water savings that can result from using Asian beetles for the biological control of tamarisk, an invasive tree of western rivers. The study is now published online and in print in the journal Oecologia. … “
Continue reading from the University of California by clicking here.
Out Musseled: Fighting quagga mussels
Posted by: Maven on March 1, 2011 at 8:05 amFrom Reno’s KOLO-TV:
“Lake Tahoe is sometimes referred to as the Jewel of the Sierra, with good reason. But, there’s an invasive species that threatens the lake including its entire ecosystem called the Quagga Mussel. While it hasn’t been found yet, some say its just a matter of time. In Southern Nevada, Lake Mead is known as ground zero for the west in its battle against the Quagga. “
Read the story or watch the broadcast at KOLO-TV’s website by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Scientists discover invasive mussel killing bacteria; California company preparing commercial product
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2011 at 9:10 am
From the Tahoe Daily Tribune:
“The recent discovery of a bacteria that can kill zebra and quagga mussels has raised hopes for private and public organizations fighting to control the environmentally hazardous species.
New York State Museum researchers Daniel Molloy and Denise Mayer discovered a bacteria strain — Pseudomonas fluorescens — that can kill zebra and quagga mussels without killing other native species in the ecosystem.
“The eureka moment did not come, interestingly enough, when we discovered the bacteria could kill zebra and quagga mussels, but came when we discovered the lack of sensitivity among non-target species,” Mayer said in a phone interview. … “
Continue reading from the Tahoe Daily Tribune by clicking here.
Eat for the environment. Eat invasive!
Posted by: Maven on January 3, 2011 at 4:38 amEscar-quagga, anyone? From the New York Times:
“There’s a new shift in the politics of food, not quite a movement yet, more of an eco-culinary frisson. But it may have staying power; the signs and portents are there. Vegans, freegans, locavores — meet the invasivores.
Some divers in the Florida Keys recently held a lionfish derby, the idea being to kill and eat lionfish, an invasive species. Local chefs cooperated by promoting the lionfish as a tasty entree. The idea drew editorial support from Andrew Revkin in a post on The Times’s Dot Earth blog in which he also mentioned an attempt by some fisheries biologists to rename the invading Asian carp “Kentucky tuna” to make it more appealing to diners. And the Utne Reader recently ran an article about Chicago chefs turning their attention to the same invasive fish. … “
Continue reading from the New York Times by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Invasive species pose threat to human health, scientists warn
Posted by: Maven on December 12, 2010 at 7:33 am
From the Sacramento Bee:
“For years, scientists have called the San Francisco Bay-Delta one of the most “invaded” waterways in the world.
More than 240 animal and plant species have hitchhiked here in the ballast tanks of cargo and tanker ships, thriving in waters from Sacramento to the Farallon Islands.
Now scientists are concerned that the exotic critters could pose a growing threat to human health through the transmission of disease and other pathogens. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Invasive species bolstered by climate change?
Posted by: Maven on December 7, 2010 at 7:11 amFrom the Western Farm Press:
“As temperature and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase, growers may see things pop up on their farms that they haven’t seen before, said Lewis Ziska, a USDA-ARS specialist in crop systems and global change in Beltsville, Md. Unfortunately, they won’t all be good.
In a session on climate, carbon dioxide and invasive weed species at the 2010 University of Illinois AGMasters Conference, Ziska discussed how rising carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures may cause invasiveweed populations to change. … “
Continue reading from the Western Farm Press by clicking here.
Climate change a Trojan Horse for alien species invasion?
Posted by: Maven on October 22, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom National Geographic’s News Watch blog:
“Changing climate conditions and the massive invasions of exotic species introduced by human migration and the global economy are two of the biggest factors driving native species and habitats toward extinction. Now a new study finds that the combination of climate change and invasive species is compounding the devastation of ecosystems.
Two of the greatest threats to the natural world–invasive species and climate change–when combined, not only have devastating impacts on the environment but can also cost countries ten per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP), scientists from the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) said today. … “
Continue reading from National Geographic’s News Watch blog by clicking here.
Monday’s top of the scroll: The birds and the bee(tle)s: The end of a controversial tamarisk biocontrol program may be good news for habitat
Posted by: Maven on October 11, 2010 at 8:54 amFrom the High Country News:
“The beetles are dead and gone, shriveled in the heat or eaten by ants, but otherwise the Owens Valley, Calif., research site looks the same as the last time scientist Tom Dudley saw it. Tinemaha Reservoir glimmers beyond a wall of brush. The sharp peaks of the Sierra Nevada decorate the skyline. Invasive Eurasian tamarisk, or saltcedar, trees still freckle the valley floor, their feathery branches casting long shadows across the native sagebrush in the early morning light. And Dudley’s beige beetle cage, the last of a set, still envelops a single tamarisk, as if the five-foot cube of fabric could contain the plant and everything it stands for. Unzipping the mesh, Dudley steps inside with his screwdriver.
It’s time to let go.
Dudley, a wild-haired, gray-bearded riparian ecologist from the University of California at Santa Barbara, is dismantling part of a more-than-decade-long research project on whether an Asian leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata, can help rid the West of tamarisk. … “
Continue reading from the High Country News by clicking here.
Staving off invasion of troublesome weeds; Natural plants forced to compete for resources
Posted by: Maven on October 8, 2010 at 8:06 am
From the Merced Sun Star:
“All Cathi Boze asks for is one weed a day.
Boze, the agriculture commissioner for Mariposa County, knows how destructive invasive weeds can be, and she works hard to get rid of them.
In Mariposa County, one of the thorniest weed problems is yellow star thistle. The grayish-green plant with yellow flowers and sharp spines originally came from the Mediterranean and is mighty competitive with native plants.
“The worst thing about star thistle is it competes for water, which is our most critical resource,” Boze said. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun Star by clicking here.
Photo of star thistle by flickr photographer Rich Dahlgren.
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- ACWA – Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
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- Westlands Water District
Water Agencies - State & Federal
Water Blogs
- ACWA's Voices in Water blog
- Aguanomics
- Alex Breitler's Blog
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Bay Delta Blog
- California Water Blog
- California Water Wars blog
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- Delta National Park Blog
- EDF's On The Waterfront
- Greed, Green & Grains
- Green Roots Blog (PCL)
- GrokSurf's San Diego blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- Klam Blog
- L. A. Creek Freak
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Restore the Delta's blog
- Southern California Water Committee Blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- State of the Planet Blog
- The California Spigot
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Tom Philp's Blog
- Valley Economy Blog
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- Water SISWEB
- Waterblogged (Shawn McKinnon)
- Watering the Desert
- WaterWired
Water Information
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