2024 Western AIS Short Course

The 2024 AIS Short Course Agenda page is still being updated, please check back as we confirm speakers and topics for each of the sessions.

Please Note: Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided for both days of the event.

Monday, March 4th	Speakers
Welcome Reception (5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Happy hour at Gerry W. Marks Exploration Center
Tuesday, March 5th
Session 1 - Aquatic Ecosystem Health (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
Opening Statement
The Importance of Action for Preventing and Managing Aquatic Invasive Species	John Madsen, PhD Consulting Scientist
The first principle of managing aquatic invasive species (AIS) is to prevent their introduction in the first place. The second principle is early detection and rapid response (EDRR), a systematic program of finding new occurrences of invasive species and eradicating them before they establish and spread. In the long run, this approach is far less expensive than waiting until the problem is noticeable to the public. Despite these clear principles, widely held by natural resource managers and invasive species scientists, localities continue to fall into the trap of either not watching for invasive species, or not being prepared to respond to a new problem. Lost opportunities in prevention and EDRR will be presented, as well as successful programs to respond to AIS introduction.
Water Quality and Harmful Algal Blooms as they Relate to Aquatic Invasive Species	Elena Evans Public Health Manager Missoula Public Health
The Basics of Water Quality presentation will focus on the chemical, physical, and biological composition of aquatic habitats. Elena will begin by first presenting on the general chemical characteristics of water quality and then utilize this information to further explain why the chemical (DO, pH, temperature, conductivity, etc.) components of water quality affect the biological components (plants, fish, macroinvertebrates, etc.). She will also provide instruction on how landowners can monitor/measure their own water quality outside on their own shoreline properties.
BREAK - Snacks Provided (30 Minutes)
Conurrent Session 2A - Invasive Macrophyte Management (11:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m.)
Herbicide Modes of Action, History, and Applications	Andrew Skibo, PhD,CLM President Amaruq Environmental Services
This presentation will cover herbicide and algaecide chemistries currently registered for use in aquatic and riparian environments in the Pacific Northwest. Special consideration will be given to management strategies and application timings commonly employed within the Western US. This presentation will review and discuss aquatic herbicide history, some basics of herbicide mode-of-action at the plant molecular level, and environmental fate of herbicides post-application.
Utilizing Genetic Assays to Mitigate Herbicide Resistance	Ryan Thum, PhD Associate Professor Montana State University
Managers increasingly recognize that Eurasian watermilfoil (including hybrids with native northern watermilfoil) is genetically diverse, and that strains can differ in their growth, spread, impacts, and herbicide response. A practical challenge for Eurasian watermilfoil management is developing methods that assess genetic variation to predict how a specific watermilfoil population will respond to a proposed control tactic (e.g., a specific herbicide) before implementing management. In this presentation, I will illustrate how we are combining genetic survey and monitoring of invasive watermilfoil populations with field and laboratory studies of herbicide response to inform management. The short term goal of the research is to develop a living catalog of watermilfoil strains that can be used to inform management decisions. The long term goal of the research is to identify the specific genes involved in traits (e.g., herbicide response) in order to develop rapid genetic assays to inform management decisions.
Selective Management Strategies for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Flowering Rush	Terry McNabb, CLM Aquatic Biologist Aquatechnex, LLC
Aquatechnex has had the unique experience of working with the US Army Corps of Engineers Aquatic Plant Control Research Program for a number of decades.  The APCRP has been instrumental in developing a number of new herbicide registrations, understanding how to make them work in high water exchange environments and how to selectively target aquatic invasive species and protect native aquatic plant communities. Our role has been to test ideas and technology at an operational scale. This talk will focus on advances in the selective management of Eurasian Milfoil and Flowering Rush in Pacific Northwest Waters.
LUNCH PROVIDED (12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Mapping Floating Aquatic Vegetation with Remote Sensing	Christiana Ade, PhD Post-doctoral Fellow NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Remote sensing supports aquatic invasive species management by enabling early detection, continued monitoring, and providing vital scientific insights into the mechanisms of invasion. All these elements are key to formulating informed, evidence-based management decisions, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of control strategies. Here, we present several studies centered on mapping abundance of invasive floating aquatic vegetation and unveiling potential mechanisms of invasion. This presentation will highlight potential methods and resources for mapping AIS through remote sensing across multiple scales and sensor types.
Drone Technology for Herbicide Application	Susan Bird Project Progam Coordinator Yakima County Noxious Weed Board
A discussion on methods for limiting product use, labor, and minimizing environmental hazards of groundwork in weed control.
BREAK (30 Minutes)
Yellow Floating Heart & Garden Yellow Loosestrife Management	Vanessa Youngblood Restoration Manager Willamette Riverkeeper
A study of how WAIN partners are pooling resources and expertise to protect and restore aquatic and riparian ecosystems in the Willamette Basin. Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart) and Lysimachia vulgaris (garden yellow loosestrife) are two A -listed and yellow flowered aquatic invasive species that threaten our watershed and are being managed for early detection rapid response treatments on the Willamette River. This study will share information on species identification, historic and new populations discovered, treatment methods and timing, and techniques used to conduct 125+ miles of river surveys and treatments.
Management of Hydrilla and other Invasive Hydrocharitaceae	Mark Heilman Director of Aquatic Technology SePRO
Since US introduction in the 1950s, the submersed exotic plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) has lived up to its reputation as the perfect aquatic weed, spreading into two-thirds of US states, and requiring aggressive management to attempt containment and mitigation of its negative ecological and economic impacts. The threat of the plant has stimulated the discovery of new monitoring techniques including genetic screening that has recently re-classified US hydrilla biotypes into three subspecies, eDNA detection, and hydroacoustic as well as novel management strategies. While the integrated toolbox for management remains limited and successful selective biocontrol agents have not been identified, management research has continued to better document outcomes and develop new techniques for hydrilla control, particularly with selective herbicide use patterns. Along with highlighting key technical developments in hydrilla management, this presentation will review real-world outcomes illustrating hydrilla population changes under different management intensities ranging from eradication to maintenance control. Unfortunately, hydrilla is not the only invasive threat from the Hydrocharitaceae family (frog's bit family) of aquatic plants. Submersed Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa) has been a persistent problem in parts of the Western US for decades and elodea (Elodea canadensis), has been targeted for eradication in Alaska where it is considered invasive. The floating species South American spongeplant (Limnobium laevigatum) has invaded the sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, and another floating species in the plant family, water soldier (Stratiotes aloides), is a growing problem in Ontario with the plant spreading into Lake Ontario in the last few years. Exotic forms of tapegrass (Vallisneria spp.) have recently emerged as threats in various US states including California. Along with hydrilla, this presentation will briefly comment on these other problem Hydrocharitaceae plants and their evolving management.
Panel on Invasive Macrophyte Management	Panelists: Craig McLane [MT], Ben Peterson [WA], John Madsen, PhD [TN], Carlton Layne [GA]
Question and answer panel on invasive macrophyte mangagement and prevention with panelists from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Kings County Washington, and the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation
HAPPY HOUR (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Concurrent Session 2B - Invasive Aquatic Fauna Management (11:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m.)
Tackling the Problem of Invasive Bullfrogs in the Mission Valley	Torrey Ritter Nongame Wildlife Biologist Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
During a 2021 project to survey for and control invasive bullfrogs and snapping turtles in west-central Montana, we discovered a relatively new infestation of bullfrogs in the Mission Valley. The geography of the area and the fact that the bullfrogs had not yet spread throughout the vast wetland complexes of the valley suggested eradication and control may be possible. Thus began a multi-year partnership led by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to document where bullfrogs are in the Mission Valley and attempt to remove them and develop a long-term control plan. Each summer, 4-person crews survey throughout the Mission Valley for bullfrogs and then use a wide variety of techniques to lethally remove all life stages. After 3 years, catch-rates of adult frogs are declining, and it appears bullfrogs are not spreading into new areas in the valley. However, there is much work left to do and it is still possible the infestation could get out of control in this area.
New Zealand Mudsnail Impacts and Management	Jeremy Geist, PhD Great lakes Stream Restoration Manager Trout Unlimited
The New Zealand mud-snail (NZMS) (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a world-wide invader that has been introduced into aquatic systems across the United States and is spreading at a steady rate. However, there is limited understanding of the overall extent of the NZMS distribution and the impacts they have on resident communities and ecosystems, particularly in relatively recently invaded regions. Here, case studies from a recently invaded region will be used to exemplify NZMS population dynamics and impacts to native and resident communities. Additionally, preventing the spread of NZMS through effective fishing gear decontamination is a key step to help limit invasive NZMS distributions and their ecological impacts. However, there exists unclarity with the public on which chemical reagent is most effective for NZMS decontamination; and furthermore, the willingness of anglers to implement a particular decontamination strategy is likely to vary. The efficacy of NZMS decontamination chemical reagents and an angler's willingness to adopt a specific decontamination strategy will also be discussed.
Removal efforts of the Chinese Mystery Snails (Cipangopaludina chinensis) from Round Lake at Round Lake State Park in Sagle, Idaho.	Mary McGraw Park Manager Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
This presentation will focus on the observations at Round Lake State Park since first discovering the Chinese Mystery Snails (Cipangopaludina chinensis) in the Lake. I will give an overview of the introduction of the species into the U.S. and the distribution since its introduction. The Chinese Mystery Snail, even though it is a larger snail, is difficult to eradicate or control. I will discuss what actions were taken to start the removal/control of the snails and discussion points based on our observations over the last four years.
LUNCH PROVIDED (12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Idaho Quagga Mussel Management, EDRR Case Study	Nicholas Zurfluh Bureau Chief - Invasive Species Idaho State Department of Agriculture
Invasive dreissenid mussels, specifically zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (D. bugensis) are some of the most harmful invasive species in North America. These mussels can be difficult to detect at low densities and environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising approach for early detection. In 2021, zebra mussels were found as invasive hitchhikers on aquarium moss balls imported into North America, prompting interest in an eDNA protocol for screening moss balls for mussel presence. Isothermal assays, such as Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), have been commonly used in diagnostic applications in the medical field and more recently are being applied to eDNA monitoring. We developed an eDNA protocol to screen for presence of dreissenid mussels on moss balls at ports of entry such as airports. Our LAMP assay development followed guidelines for method validation from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. We will present the development of this point-of-use system and challenges encountered during its development.
Mitigating Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB) in Western United States, Operational Experiences	Ben Casscles M.S., Territory Leader, Aquatic &Fisheries Biologist
Harmful algae blooms are an increasing problem in our nation's waters. These cyanobacteria species produce both acute and chronic toxins that pose a threat to wildlife, pets and humans that live near and utilize these waterbodies. There are two approaches to managing HAB blooms. Reactive strategies are a useful tool to restore the beneficial use of these systems. We have used Peroxygen algaecides effectively when a response is needed. One case study will be presented where a northwest City was hosting its first Ironman Competition, and a toxic algae bloom was detected five days prior to the event. Mobilizing and applying a Peroxygen algaecide removed the threat, and the event was able to utilize the lake. Phosphorus sequestration will probably play a more important role in managing these HAB problems, however. Cyanobacteria can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and have a competitive advantage when phosphorus levels are high. The use of lanthanum technology to sequester and remove phosphorus from water column and mitigate release from the lake sediments provides long term relief from HAB conditions. A second case study will be presented where lanthanum modified clay was used in a prescription over two summers to provide HAB free conditions.
Clean Wake	Garrett Attwood Business Owner Clean Wake, LLC
BREAK (30 Minutes)
The Extent, Motivations and Management of Illegal Fish Introductions in Montana	Jim Vashro Fisheries Biologist/Manager (Retired)
More than 600 illegal fish introductions involving 50 species of fish have been documented in Montana. The introductions have been documented in every drainage and corner of the state. Although not as publicized as some other AIS, illegal fish introductions have impacted sport fish, native fish and water quality. This has raised management costs just to maintain fisheries and in turn increased the cost of fishing licenses while reducing angling opportunity. Combatting illegal fish introductions requires a combination of education, prevention, deterrence and removal/suppression. Understanding the motivations behind illegal fish introductions is necessary to tailor messaging for education, prevention and deterrence.
Invasive Northern Pike Impacts on Native Fish Populations and Control Methods	Jon Firehammer, PhD Fisheries Biologist Coeur d'Alene Tribe
The introduction of non-native fish species into Coeur d'Alene Lake in northern Idaho over the last century has undoubtedly altered the trophic mechanisms that regulate the demographics (e.g., growth, survival) of the native fish assemblage in the lake. One native species of concern is westslope cutthroat trout (WCT), a salmonid important to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe that historically supported a generous harvest but has since substantially declined to low levels of abundance. Because WCT in the Coeur d'Alene Basin may spend much of their lives rearing in the lake (adfluvial life-history), they are subject to both competitive and predatory pressures from the lake's non-native fish community. Northern pike (NP), a top-level predator which has been recently designated as invasive in western waterbodies, was illegally introduced into the Coeur d'Alene Basin around fifty years ago and have spread throughout the lake. A research study conducted ten years ago by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe found NP to have a significant predatory impact on WCT, and suggests that this invasive predator is likely one of the primary reasons for the depressed status of adfluvial WCT populations in the Basin. Consequently, aggressive NP suppression measures were deemed necessary to recover adfluvial WCT, and accordingly a suppression program was initiated by the Tribe in 2015 in localized areas of the lake. This presentation highlights results that illustrate the effectiveness of the localized suppression efforts in depleting populations of NP, and summarizes studies that have been conducted to better understand NP population dynamics that have informed strategies for optimizing conventional removal methods and that have led to the adoption of novel suppression measures.
Panel on Invasive Fauna Management	Panelists: Jeremy Geist, PhD [MI], Nic Zurfluh [ID], Josh Schulze [MT], Jon Firehammer, PhD [ID], Bruce Johnson [UT]
Question and answer panel on invasive aquatic fauna mangagement and prevention with panelists from Trout Unlimited (MI), Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Coeur d'Alene Tribe (ID), USFS - Lolo National Forest (MT), and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
HAPPY HOUR (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
DINNER PROVIDED (6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 6th
BREAKFAST PROVIDED (7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)
Session 3 - Species Identification (9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.)
Aquatic Fauna Identification Workshop	Ben Peterson Noxious Weed Specialist King County Noxious Weed Control Program , Craig McLane AIS Prevention Coordinator MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks & Jayden Duckwortht AIS Specialist MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks
The workshop will begin with a short slideshow introducing aquatic growth habits, plant parts, and noxious weed categories as well as invasive aquatic invertebrate identifcation features. Participants will breakout into smaller groups and rotate between stations for hands-on examinations of mounted herbarium samples and other interactive materials to learn key identifcation features for both native and invasive aquatic species of the West.
BREAK - SNACKS PROVIDED (30 Minutes)
Session 4 - AIS Question and Answer Panels (11:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Panel on Regional AIS Threats and Challenges	Panelists: Tom Woolf/Russ Hartzel [MT], Reed Moore [WY], Bruce Johnson [UT], Nic Zurfluh [ID]
Question and answer panel on AIS threats and challenges for different regions of the West with panelists from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, WY Game and Fish Department, UT Division of Wildlife Resources, ID State Department of Agriculture,
Panel on AIS Prevention	Panelists:Tom Woolf/Russ Hartzel [MT], Reed Moore [WY], Bruce Johnson [UT], Nic Zurfluh [ID]
Question and answer panel on AIS prevention methods and best practicies with panelists from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, WY Game and Fish Department, UT Division of Wildlife Resources, ID State Department of Agriculture.
LUNCH PROVIDED (12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Session 5 -Environmental DNA (1:00 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.)
LAMP Assays for the Detection of Dreissenid Mussels	Jon Amberg, PhD Research Biologist U.S. Geological Survey
Invasive dreissenid mussels, specifically zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (D. bugensis) are some of the most harmful invasive species in North America. These mussels can be difficult to detect at low densities and environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising approach for early detection. In 2021, zebra mussels were found as invasive hitchhikers on aquarium moss balls imported into North America, prompting interest in an eDNA protocol for screening moss balls for mussel presence. Isothermal assays, such as Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), have been commonly used in diagnostic applications in the medical field and more recently are being applied to eDNA monitoring. We developed an eDNA protocol to screen for presence of dreissenid mussels on moss balls at ports of entry such as airports. Our LAMP assay development followed guidelines for method validation from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. We will present the development of this point-of-use system and challenges encountered during its development.
Environmental DNA Collection Methods and LAMP Assay Demonstration	Stephen Spear, PhD Research Biologist U.S. Geological Survey
Recent developments in point-of-use genetic testing have created the opportunity for biologists and managers to detect environmental DNA (eDNA) of target species rapidly in the field or other non-laboratory settings. These point-of-use protocols may be especially useful for early detection and rapid response for invasive species where immediate results are needed. At the early stage of an invasion when a species is at low density, eDNA collection and extraction methods must be highly efficient. As part of the USGS Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) framework, we are testing and optimizing full workflows for rapid field-based detections. In this
Protecting our Waters from Invasive Species Using Multiple Novel eDNA-based Approaches	Gordon Luikart, PhD Professor - Conservation Ecology & Genetics Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana
We show that plankton tow-net samples detect 10x-1000x more Dressenid eDNA from a water sample than the widely-used filter sampling methods. We then show that Dressenid eDNA is detectable more often than Dressenid larvae (via microscopy) in recently invaded lakes (from Minnesota). We show that tow-net sampling and qPCR results are repeatable and reproducible in independent labs, giving confidence to managers using eDNA data. We also show that metabarcoding (next-generation sequencing) has lower sensitivity compared to qPCR for Dressenid detection, but propose PCR-based techniques to prevent lower sensitivity while simultaneously detecting 10-20 other invasive species via metabarcoding. Finally, time permitting, we could discuss our habitat suitability modeling approaches that combine habitat remote-sensing and eDNA testing (for occurrence detection) to identify hotspots for the establishment of AIS.
Panel on Environmental DNA Applications and Communication	Panelists: Tom Woolf [MT], Gordon Luikart, PhD [MT], Taylor Wilxcox, PhD [MT], Jon Amberg, PhD [WI], Kellie Carim, PhD [MT]
Question and answer panel on environmetnal DNA applications for AIS prevention and commmunication of results with panelists from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Flathead Lake Biological Stations/University of Montana, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation (MT), Rocky Mountain Research Station (MT), and the U.S. Geological Survey (WI).
BREAK (30 Minutes)
Session 6 - Public Outreach and Education (3:40 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.)
CWMAs: A Cooperative Approach to Noxious Weed Management	Courtney Gattuso Coordinator of the Western Invasives Network Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation + Development
This presentation will give an overview of the Western Invasives Network (WIN), a collaborative of individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with rural and urban invasive weed issues in western Oregon and southwestern Washington. The mission of WIN is to prevent the introduction and to control the spread of harmful invasive plant species by coordinating information and activities of Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) and willing land managers. These cooperative groups foster local decision-making and on-the-ground partnership efforts while providing opportunities for collaborative management, prevention, and awareness of invasive weeds and other invasive species of concern. Courtney will discuss the importance of CWMAs and provide a few case studies within the network.
AIS Education & Outreach in Western Montana	Emilie Henry Program Coordinator Western Montana Conservation Commission & Clarissa Orton Bigsky Watershed Corps Member Western Montana Conservation Commission / Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension
This presentation will give an overview of the Western Invasives Network (WIN), a collaborative of individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with rural and urban invasive weed issues in western Oregon and southwestern Washington. The mission of WIN is to prevent the introduction and to control the spread of harmful invasive plant species by coordinating information and activities of Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) and willing land managers. These cooperative groups foster local decision-making and on-the-ground partnership efforts while providing opportunities for collaborative management, prevention, and awareness of invasive weeds and other invasive species of concern. Courtney will discuss the importance of CWMAs and provide a few case studies within the network.
Invasive Species Action Network "Don't Let it Loose" Program	Sara Ricklefs Executive Director Invasive Species Action Network
For years, Invasive Species Action Network has played a key role with Don't Let It Loose programming, partnering with independent pet stores, pet industry sales, and manufacturing partners to promote responsible pet ownership behavior. The Don't Let It Loose messaging and branding benefits from its simplicity, clarity, and consistency. The program's reach has steadily grown with additional partnerships in more states each year. Our ultimate objective is to reduce instances of pet release and the introduction of invasive species. Invasive Species Action Network has partnered with agencies to post signage at high-risk waterbodies and utilized social media, targeted advertising, and online educational resources to reach an even greater audience. The program's future has an opportunity for adaptation into greater rehoming capabilities, as well as greater education and resource development for aquarists, pet owners, educators, and managers alike. This presentation will outline the importance of the message, identify challenges that continue to loom, and explore new opportunities and advancements for the program and its dedicated partners.
Concluding Remarks