B.3. ARIZONA AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN 
B.3.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ARIZONA’S PLAN 
Arizona’s Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan was written by the 
University of Arizona’s Agriculture Department and released in May 2002; however, as of 
December 2006, it has not been finalized or approved (available at 
http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/extensionyANS/ArizonaPlan.htm ). The Arizona Invasive Species 
Council has recommended development of an Invasive Species Management Plan, which will 
include a chapter on ANS based on the draft ANS Plan described here. The Draft Plan aims to 
improve coordination between ANS management programs and activities. The Draft Plan has 
three main goals to: (1) prevent new ANS introductions; (2) limit the spread of established ANS 
populations; and (3) abate harmful impacts resulting from ANS infestations, and lists specific 
actions related to these goals. The Draft Plan identifies seven priority ANS (zebra mussel, 
hydrilla, Brazilian elodea, parrotfeather, purple loosestrife, giant salvinia, and water hyacinth) 
and proposes management actions specific to these species. 
B.3.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN ARIZONA 
Temperatures are expected to rise as much as 5°F (3°C) in Southwestern United States 
over the next 30 years, and precipitation is projected to decrease significantly by 2100 (Seager et 
al., 2007). Water resources are projected to become scarcer as the climate changes and the 
demand on water supplies will increase as the population grows (Seager et al., 2007). This 
decrease in water availability could favor more drought-tolerant invasive species such as 
tamarisk. A change in temperature and precipitation may also change the structure and 
composition of Arizona’s sensitive ecosystems and native species (SRAG, 2000). This change 
could potentially benefit fast-growing, more tropical species such as water hyacinth. 
B.3.3. THE ARIZONA PLAN’S CURRENT INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE 
Table B-2 summarizes how the Arizona ANS Management Plan addresses and 
incorporates the projected effects of climate change. Arizona’s Draft Plan does not specifically 
address climate change, but does mention climatic boundaries of species and a few elements in 
the Plan allow for changing conditions to be considered in the implementation of the Plan. 
B.3.4. INCORPORATING CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION 
Incorporating the projected effects of climate change, such as increased water 
temperatures and decreased water levels in the summer, on both native species ability to survive 
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