Printer-friendlyEnvironment DEC
From the February 2008 issue
Special DEC Unit to Tackle Dramatic Rise in Invasive Species
With invasive species proliferating throughout New York's waterways, forests and farmlands, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced recently the formation of a new office within DEC to focus on one of the state's fastest growing environmental threats. The new Office of Invasive Species will bring together biologists and foresters to develop ways to combat the problem and work with universities, other state agencies and non-profit organizations to support research and raise public awareness. From zebra mussels, to Eurasian water milfoil, to sirex wood wasps, hundreds of non-native plants and animals have invaded New York, posing threats to ecosystems. Experts think that the increasing rate of these invasions is linked to the rise in global shipping.
Zebra mussels grow so densely that they block pipelines and clog water intakes
A Dedicated Office Brings New Focus
Commenting on the need for this office, Governor Spitzer said, "Invasive species have a devastating impact, not only on the environment but also the economy. They have wiped out certain tree species, hurt recreational and commercial fishing, and tainted water supplies. This new office will bring a much needed focus to a problem we cannot ignore." Commissioner Grannis remarked, "Invasive species compete with, prey upon, and substantially alter the environment of our native species of plants, fish and wildlife. Even though many invasive species have been around for years, we have never had a coordinated system in place to attack the problem, a system that threads together the issues of public outreach, funding and legislation needs, and research."
Earlier this year, Governor Spitzer signed a law to create the New York State Invasive Species Council, comprised of representatives of nine state agencies and an advisory committee of business, academia and conservation interest groups. In addition, the 2007-08 state budget included $5 million for invasive species programs, including grants for municipalities to eradicate problem species, public outreach efforts through Cornell Cooperative Extension, and a plan to develop virus-free planting stock, or "clean stock," for fruit growers at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Plans also call for creating an Institute of Invasive Species Research at Cornell University. DEC's Office of Invasive Species will bring together all these efforts.
An Urgent Need to Address the Issue
"The establishment of this office speaks to urgency of the issue," said Steve Sanford, a DEC biologist who will lead the new office. "I'm very excited that we're taking this step." Sanford's new office will also aid efforts to craft an integrated map that pinpoints invasive species in and near New York, create a clearinghouse for information on invasive species within New York Sea Grant (a research organization), and work closely with the federal government on the problem.
Some of the more well-known invasive species in New York are zebra mussels, milfoil, chestnut blight, and Asian long-horned beetle, and biologists are finding new invaders at a rapid rate. Last summer, DEC confirmed the presence of didymo (or "rock snot") in a section of the Batten Kill, a fabled trout stream in Washington County. The smothering algae can wreck trout habitat by harming bottom-dwelling organisms on which fish feed.
Pale swallow-wort chokes out desirable species and interferes with forest regeneration
A Pervasive and Accelerating Problem
In recent years, thousands of migratory birds that stop at Lake Ontario and Lake Erie have died after consuming two particular invasive species--quagga mussels and a fish called round goby--that spread type-E botulism in the Great Lakes. Ballast-water discharge from ocean-going vessels is a likely suspect in the spread of round goby, quagga mussels and viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a fatal fish disease that has been found in the Great Lakes and, just last summer, in several smaller New York lakes and ponds. As part of a multi-state lawsuit, DEC Commissioner Grannis recently called on federal officials to force ocean-going ships to clean out their ballasts before entering the nation's waterways.
Invasive species have also spread to forests. DEC has been combating the sirex wood wasp, which spreads a fungus that can devastate trees, especially red and white pines. Foresters are also preparing for the possible emergence of the emerald ash borer, a tree-eating beetle that has been spreading east from the Midwest and has recently appeared in Pennsylvania.
More Information
See the Invasive Species page on DEC's website for more information.
