Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication Grant Program

New! Grant recipients for 2007 were announced in a DEC press release on November 23, 2007. Thirty one proposals from a total of 45 applications were selected through a highly competitive review process for funding, with a cumulative grant total of $1.42 million. The grant recipients are listed in a press release issued November 23, 2007.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provides State assistance funding through reimbursement for projects to eradicate aquatic species identified as being invasive within water bodies and wetlands of New York State.

Acceptable projects are proposals to kill and/or permanently remove plants or animals that meet the definition of aquatic invasive species or aquatic nuisance species from waterbodies or wetlands in New York State. The most important aquatic invasive species are listed below.

Grants can only be awarded to municipalities and Not-For-Profit Corporations (NFPs).

2008 Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication Grant (ISEG) Program

Check this web page for information regarding future opportunities to apply for grants through the Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication Grant Program.

If you have any questions about this program contact the staff members listed below. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive program announcements directly through the mail or e-mail, send your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to:

Timothy Sinnott

NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-4756
(518) 402-8970
txsinnot@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Timothy Preddice

NYSDEC
Hale Creek Field Station
182 Steele Avenue Extension
Gloversville, NY 12078
(518) 773-7318 ext 3006
tlpreddi@gw.dec.state.ny.us

What Are Aquatic Invasive Species?

An aquatic invasive species (AIS), also known as aquatic nuisance species (ANS), is defined in the National Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA 1990) as: A nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities dependent upon such waters.

For the purposes of this plan, the term "aquatic" is intended to include freshwater, marine, estuarine, and wetland species.

Nonindigenous means any species that enters an ecosystem beyond its historic range. Thus, an aquatic invasive species is a species that does not historically appear in New York waters, and upon being introduced, whether intentionally or unintentionally, causes either ecological, economic, or societal harm.

A species such as kudzo is perceived as harmful but is not considered an AIS because it is not aquatic. Other species, such as rainbow trout, are not indigenous to New York State but are not considered as AIS because they are not causing harm. Sometimes, native aquatic species are considered harmful. For example, some species of blue-green algae can produce toxins that impair the taste and odor of water. However, management of these species and their adverse impacts would not be eligible for funding under this program because these species are native to New York waters.

Following is a list of the most important AIS in New York State waters:

1) Aquatic Plant Species

Brazilian waterweed - Egeria densa
Curly-leaf pondweed - Potamogeton crispus
Eurasian watermilfoil - Myriophyllum spicatum
European frog's bit - Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana
Starry stonewort - Nitellopsis obtusa
Water chestnut - Trapa natans
Water primrose - Ludwigia peploides

2) Algae

Rock Snot - Didymosphenia geminata

3) Riprarian Plant Species

Japanese Knotweed - Polygonum cuspidatum (only in riprarian or wetland habitats)
Giant hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzium (only in riprarian or wetland habitats)

4) Wetland Plant Species

Common reed (invasive strain) - Phragmites australis
Flowering rush - Butomus umbellatus
Purple loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria

5) Aquatic Animal Species

Asiatic clam - Corbicula fluminea
Fishhook water flea - Cercopagis pengoi
Northern snakehead - Channa argus
Quagga mussel - Dreissena bugensis
Round goby - Neogobis melanostomus
Rusty crayfish - Orconectes rusticus
Spiny waterflea - Bythotrephes cederstroemi
Tench - Tinca tinca
Zebra /Quagga mussel - Dreissena polymorpha / Dreissena bugensis

6) Other Species not known to be present:

The following species are not known to be present in New York State at this time. However, they are species known to have serious adverse impacts, and their eradication or control would be of high priority if their presence in New York waters were confirmed

Hydrilla - Hydrilla verticillata
Bighead carp - Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
Silver carp - Hypophthalmichthys molotrix