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| 4/28/2009 8:22:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Natural Resources Board approves new rule on invasive species
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank announced last week the state Natural Resources Board approved a new framework for classifying invasive species and providing preventive measures to control their spread in the state at its meeting in West Bend. Invasives are able to out-compete native plants and wildlife and can significantly affect the economy and outdoor traditions.
"Today's action will help prioritize our efforts to efficiently and effectively address the threats posed by invasive species," Secretary Frank said. "Under Governor Doyle's leadership Wisconsin has already taken significant action to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Today's action furthers Wisconsin's efforts to control costly, damaging invasive species."
Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to develop a comprehensive rule of this kind. Drafted over a period of four years with extensive input from stakeholders, the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species and the public, the new rule establishes a science-based classification system for legally listing invasive species.
"Invasive species are a threat to Wisconsin and this new rule sets up a smart system to help prevent new introductions and further spread," Secretary Frank said. "We will continue working with outdoor recreationists, roadside managers, the forestry and landscape industry as well as the public to develop voluntary guidelines to help avoid unknowingly spreading invasive species through normal outdoor activities."
The classification system groups known invasive species into two formal categories: prohibited and restricted, and two informal categories, caution listed and non-restricted. The classifications are based on potential impacts, present distribution and abundance, potential for establishment and spread, control potential and both positive and negative socio-economic impacts. Preventive measures, primarily aimed at aquatic invasive species, include the removal of aquatic plants and animals from all equipment after exiting a waterbody.
The rule does not seek new authority but gives the department the ability, under existing authority, to prevent the importation, sale and release of known invasive species. The rule prohibits or restricts the transportation, importation, possession, transfer or introduction of invasive species classified as either prohibited or restricted and gives the department authority to order or implement control measures if necessary for prohibited species. Inspection and enforcement authority in the rule is intended to deal mainly with knowledgeable and willful introduction of listed invasive species. There are also provisions allowing transport, transfer, possession and introduction of prohibited and restricted invasive species under certain circumstances.
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), chronic wasting disease (CWD) and certain other fish and wildlife pathogens that are already the subject of specific control programs are not addressed in the new rule.
Invasive species cause significant environmental damage and threaten human health. Examples include the loss of the American elm to Dutch elm disease, burns caused by wild parsnip and impairment of wetland flood water retention and filtering due to reed canary grass and purple loosestrife. Emerald ash borer, a recent invasive confirmed to be present in Wisconsin, threatens to severely impact our estimated 727,000,000 forest ash trees and the ash trees that line our city streets.
Costs associated with invasive species include cooling water intakes clogged with zebra mussels, spraying to control Gypsy moth, depletion of Great Lakes fish populations by the sea lamprey, decreased ability of forests to regenerate naturally, loss of biodiversity, and impacts of cyanobacteria in our waterways.
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