B.9. PLAN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES IN IOWA 
B.9.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF IOWA’S PLAN 
Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources Eurasian Watermilfoil Program and the Iowa 
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Special Task Force led the development of the Plan for the 
Management of ANS in Iowa (available at http://www.anstaskforce.gov/Iowa-ANS-Mangement- 
Plan.pdf ). The Management Plan was written to guide development of management actions for 
invasive species, as well as funding mechanisms for prevention, control, and abatement activities 
for state agencies, local governments, and resource users. Iowa’s Management Plan outlines 
three goals to (1) minimize aquatic invasive species (AIS) introductions, (2) limit the spread of 
established AIS, and (3) eradicate or control existing AIS to minimize impacts. The 
Management Plan outlines specific objectives with Strategic Actions to accomplish these goals. 
The Management Plan also focuses on three priority AIS, but notes that, as the state AIS 
program evolves, it will incorporate more species. The Plan also includes an implementation 
table and a program monitoring and evaluation table. 
B.9.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN IOWA 
Temperatures are projected to increase by 5 to 14°F (3 to 8°C) in the winter and 9 to 22°F 
(5 to 12°C) in the summer. These warmer temperatures will lead to earlier spring snowmelt, 
which, in combination with increased evaporation in the summer months, could lead to a 
decrease in surface and ground water availability. Although winter and spring precipitation is 
expected to increase by 30%, summer precipitation is expected to decrease by 10 to 35%— 
further impacting water supply. Less water could lead to drier soils and droughts in the summer 
months. Flood control capacity of wetlands and floodplains may also be degraded, which could 
result in increased flooding in winter and spring months. Additional flooding in these seasons 
could cause increased sedimentation and pollution into Iowa’s waters (Moser et al., 2004). 
As water temperatures warm, species currently limited by Iowa’s winter temperatures, 
such as mosquito fish, may begin to invade the state. Other species established further south, 
such as the spotted gar, may begin to move northward in the Mississippi River (Moser et ah, 
2004). Eurasian watermilfoil, already a major problem in Iowa, could worsen under climate 
change conditions as this species is tolerant of a wide range of conditions (Moser et ah, 2004). 
B.9.3. THE IOWA PLAN’S CURRENT INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE 
Table B-8 summarizes how the Plan for the Management of ANS in Iowa addresses and 
incorporates the projected effects of climate change. Although the Plan includes no specific 
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