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tats. The NBS LaCrosse Center has conducted research on environmentally safe 

 strategies for controlling zebra mussels and evaluating the effects of zebra mussels 

 on riverine biota and aquatic food chains. The NBS Northern Prairie and Patuxent 

 Centers have cooperated on biological control of zebra mussel by waterfowl. 



The Control element of the ANS Program outlines a risk assessment and manage- 

 ment process to ensure prompt and systematic evaluation of proposed control meas- 

 ures. In response to a control proposal submitted by the Great Lakes Fishery Com- 

 mission, the ANS Task Force developed a control program to slow or stop the spread 

 of the ruflFe (a small fish) from Lake Superior. Proposed ruffe control measures in- 

 clude range reduction by physical and chemical means, ballast water management 

 through volimtary guideUnes, population investigation, surveillance, predator eval- 

 uation, and education. In addition to serving as chair of the ANS Task Force Ruffe 

 Control Committee, the Service is conducting population investigation studies, sur- 

 veillance programs and information/education programs. In support of the ruffe con- 

 trol program, the NBS Great Lakes Center is conducting studies on the biology and 

 life history of the ruffe and the Lacrosse Center is conducting research on strategies 

 for chemical control of ruffe. The ruffe control program has been developed coopera- 

 tively by member agencies of the ANS Task Force and affected State, Tribal and 

 local resource agencies. 



The Act also directed the ANS Task Force to develop a Research Protocol to en- 

 sure that "research activities carried out under the Act do not result in the introduc- 

 tion of aquatic nuisance species to waters of the U.S." The Research Protocol Com- 

 mittee, chaired by NBS, developed a protocol that consists of a risk assessment and 

 a set of guidelines outlining preventative containment and confinement procedures 

 that must be followed if reseeu-ch is conducted under the Act. As the Nation's bio- 

 logical research agency, the NBS is providing leadership for inter-agency efforts to 

 identify research priorities, develop collaborative and complementary research and 

 monitoring programs, and provide information transfer. Largely in response to the 

 zebra mussel invasion, about three-quarters of NBS's fiscal year 1994 budget on 

 non-indigenous species ($3.5 million) is directed at aquatic nuisance species, espe- 

 cially the zebra mussel. NBS is currently preparing a Five-Year Plan (fiscal year 

 1995-fiscal year 1999) for Congress on the prevention, containment and control of 

 non-indigenous aquatic nuisance species. 



Monitoring of non-indigenous species is necessary to detect new introductions, 

 track their dispersal, and document their effects on aquatic ecosystems. The ANS 

 Task Force has established a Detection and Monitoring Committee to coordinate 

 monitoring activities and develop an information system to collect and distribute 

 this information. This committee, chaired by the NBS, has proposed to use a Geo- 

 graphic Information System (GIS) developed by the NBS for documenting the occur- 

 rence and distribution of non-indigenous aquatic species and their rate of spread. 

 Service regional biologists track the dispersal of the zebra mussel to provide an 

 early warning to affected industries. Federal, State and local officials. This informa- 

 tion is incorporated into the GIS and maps displaying zebra mussel dispersal are 

 developed and distributed on a periodic basis. The GIS currently contains more than 

 10,000 reports of non-indigenous aquatic species. The NBS Environmental Manage- 

 ment Technical Center is also conducting monitoring and public education in the 

 Upper Mississippi River Basin. 



Section 1102 of the Act requires the completion of three studies on the introduc- 

 tion of aquatic nuisance species. One of these studies, the Biological Study was to 

 determine whether aquatic nuisance species threaten the ecological characteristics 

 and economic uses oi U.S. waters (otner than the Great Lakes). The ANS Task 

 Force will address this study on a case study basis, examining specific geographic 

 areas where aquatic nuisance species have historically been or may potentially be 

 a problem. In Hscal year 93, the Service initiated two case studies to examine the 

 ecological and economic effects of biological invasions in the San Francisco Bay and 

 Delta Region and the State of Florida. The case study in Florida is being conducted 

 by the NBS Gainesville Center. A case study of the Chesapeake Bay area will also 

 be funded by the Service and is anticipated to begin later this year. 



Section 1209 of the Act required the ANS Task Force to develop and undertake 

 a program to control the Brown Tree Snake in Guam and other areas where the 

 species has become established outside of its native range. The ANS Task Force es- 

 tablished a Brown Tree Snake Control Committee comprised of representatives of 

 appropriate Federal, State, and Territorial agencies. The objectives of this commit- 

 tee are to ensure coordination of activities and develop a Brown Tree Snake Control 

 Program. A draft Brown Tree Snake Control Program has been developed. NBS's 

 Patuxent Center is currently conducting research on brown tree snake populations 

 on the Pacific islands, evaluating the design and feasibility of snake barriers and 



