B.15. MISSOURI AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN 
B.15.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF MISSOURI’S PLAN 
Missouri’s Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan was created by the 
Missouri Department of Conservation in 2005 (available at 
http://mdc.mo.gov/documents/nathis/exotic/ANSplan05.pdf) . The Management Plan addresses 
three phases of invasion: introduction, spread, and abatement of impacts. The Plan outlines five 
goals with associated objectives and tasks to (1) inform the community about ANS and enlist 
their participation in halting introductions and spread; (2) collaborate on legislation development 
to prevent ANS; (3) monitor ANS distributions and conduct research to restrict spread; (4) 
develop and implement management to abate ANS impacts; and (5) abate ANS impacts. The 
Management Plan also includes an implementation table that identifies responsible agencies for 
each task and funding needs. 
B.15.2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES IN MISSOURI 
Temperatures in the Great Plains region are projected to rise as much as 3°F (1.5°C) in 
the summer and 4°F (2°C) in the winter by 2030. However, even these relatively small changes 
in temperature or precipitation (5 to 10% decline) could have significant effects on water quality, 
particularly salinity, and the availability of groundwater resources in the region (Covich et al., 
1997). With higher temperatures and evaporation rates, stream and lake water levels may be 
lower in the summer. A large decrease in water levels could lead to shift in salinity and 
productivity in prairie pothole lakes and wetlands. In streams any increases in water 
temperatures, lowering of water levels, or increases in salinity will impact native fish species, 
such as the Plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus ) (Covich et al., 1997). 
Warming water temperatures not only impact native fish, but also may enable certain 
ANS to survive and spread into areas where they currently cannot overwinter. For example, the 
Management Plan notes that water hyacinth cannot withstand the cold winters of Missouri. 
However, with warmer temperatures and the species’ relatively wide temperature tolerance, 
water hyacinth could become a problem in Missouri. Dotted duckweed is already found in some 
parts of Missouri, but it could also expand its range if temperatures warm throughout the state. 
B.15.3. THE MISSOURI PLAN’S CURRENT INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE 
CHANGE 
Table B-14 summarizes how the Missouri ANS Management Plan addresses and 
incorporates the predicted effects of climate change. Although Missouri’s Plan does not 
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