Walla Walla District > Missions > Environmental Compliance > Pacific Northwest Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop

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Pacific Northwest Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Workshop

Endorsed by USACE Northwest Division

Hosted by Walla Walla District

Description: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwest Division is hosting an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) workshop to share and discuss AIS management with Tribes and Federal agencies within the Pacific Northwest Region.

AIS is a growing concern across the nation and requires a consensus of management, understanding, and knowledge to battle this growing issue. The purpose of this first workshop is to bring federal and tribal entities together to start sharing information regarding the management of AIS in the Pacific Northwest Region.

The workshop’s intention is to have an open forum with all parties to discuss AIS management, concerns on management, and to start collaboration for the future. Along with tribal and government agencies, technical experts on AIS management will be invited from across the nation to share best management practices, their research, and knowledge.

Event Date: November 5 though 7

Location:

Day 1: Walla Walla Community College Water Resources Center, 640 Water Center Dr. Walla Walla, WA 99362

Day 2: USACE Walla Walla District Office, 201 N. 3^rd Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362

Day 3: Walla Walla Community College Water Resources Center, 640 Water Center Dr. Walla Walla, WA 99362

Registration form

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Are you registering for more than one person?

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Are you attending in person or virtually?

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What Aquatic Invasive Species discussion should we include in this event?

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Workshop Agenda

*Presentation Time Slots half of the time is presentation and other half of the time is for discussion and questions.

Webex Link for Meeting: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/damian.j.walter | 1995605785

Download a copy of the agenda

Day 1 of AIS Workshop – Tuesday November 5, 2024

Walla Walla Community College Water Resources Center

640 Water Center Dr. Walla Walla, WA 99362

Theme: What is the Issue

Time (pacific)	Topic	Intent
0745	Start Time
0745-0815	Welcome & Introductions from hosts Damian Walter (ERDC), & Chris Alford (USACE Walla Walla District)	Introductions
0815-0845	Opening Remarks from the Walla Walla District Commander LTC Kathryn Werback, Commander USACE Walla Walla District
0845-0915	Intent of the Meeting- The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) problem USACE Engineering, Research, Design Center (ERDC) USACE Walla Walla District Staff	- Sharing and working towards building consensus for AIS management in the Pacific Northwest among the federal and tribal family.
0915-0945	Horizon planning, HSAP, Biosecurity Dr. Theresa Thom-USFWS-Regional AIS Coordinator	How do we plan and model AIS, predict future issues
0945-1000	Break
1000-1100	AIS Risk Analysis and Risk Mitigation Dr. Theresa Thom-USFWS-Regional AIS Coordinator	What is lost by the effects of AIS
1100-1200	FORUM: Open Discussion on AIS risks, concerns, action for AIS already hear and what might or can get here?	Forum : What is the NW Issue-perceptions on AIS, taking action, economics, impacts to Environmentally and Culturally Sensitive and Critical Habitat.
1200-1300	Lunch WWCC Cafeteria or other local food services nearby.
	Intro to afternoon sessions.
1300-1400	Application Planning and Monitoring Dr. Ben Sperry, ERDC and Univ. of Florida, Research Biologist	How can we monitor or plan for future to reduce infestations?
1400-1500	Conventional AIS management methods ERDC Dr. Ben Sperry-ERDC Dr. Nathan Harms (biocontrol)-ERDC, Senior Research Biologist Dr. Jay Ferrell- Univ. Of Florida, Professor and Chair	Discuss Pros and Cons of Mechanical, Chemical, Biological control methods
1500-1510	Break
1510-1605	The Science behind it-ERDC and APM research Dr. Kurt Getsinger, ERDC, Research Biologist	Steps of Research and then into the field (Registration, Label, etc. etc.)
1605-1655	Parking lot topics and Open discussion on AIS	Ideas: Aquatic Invasive Plants vs. Aquatic Native Plants AIS plants are critical habitat or provide some level of habitat.
1700	Review Agenda for tomorrow

Day 2 of AIS workshop – Wednesday November 6, 2024

USACE Walla Walla District Office – Harvest Room

201 N 3^rd Ave, Walla Walla, WA

Theme: How do we manage AIS?

Time	Topic	Intent
0745	Start Time
0745-0800	Welcome message by US Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division Beth Coffey, Director of Programs USACE Northwest Division
0800-0900	Environmental Fate of Herbicides Dr. Jay Ferrell-Univ. of Florida	Herbicide degradation and movement. EPA risk assessment process for pesticide registration & specifically aquatics.
0900-1000	Maintenance Control, Size of Treatments and timing of Treatments Dr. Jay Ferrell- Univ. Of Florida, Dr. Bradley Sartain, ERDC, Research Biologist Dr. Kurt Getsinger	Using less herbicides and performing less actions early, versus more later. Ecologically and Economically Not seeking a routine O&M herbicide and mechanical AIS treatment program. Strategy is to bring native species back. Support native species establishment. Reduce long-term suppression needs for AIS.
1000-1100	Aquatic Plant Management: Myths Dr. Sperry	Fish Kills, Fish Sores, Sediment, Plant Ecology, other myths
1100-1200	Dissolve Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) impacts after treatment(s). 1 hour Discussion/panel topic DO and BOD work in PNW. Dr. Getsinger & Dr. Sartain. DO and BOD work across the nation (warm water systems)-Dr. Sperry and Dr. Ferrell.	Short presentation on various work performed on DO and BOD researchers. Open forum discussion
1200-1300	Lunch: Nearby in downtown Walla Walla, WA
1300-1400	Discussion on Quagga Mussel Response in Twin Falls. Damian Walter and Jonas Grundman	Issues, Concerns, Comments, by attendees
1415-1630	Breakout Session: NEPA, ESA, NHPA (Section 106) Representatives Grande Rhonde Room Facilitators: Karl Anderson, Karen Kelly, USACE	Challenges with ESA Consultations Discuss recent challenges on federal coordination on NEPA
1415-1630	Breakout Session: Indigenous Knowledge contributions to invasive species management Harvest Room Pei-Lin Yu, Tribal Liaison USACE	Share and learn about traditional knowledge and principles for controlling invasive species from a tribal perspective, including recent successes, challenges, and recommends.
1630-1700	All back in Harvest Room Wrap Up and review tomorrow’s agenda

Day 3 of AIS Workshop – Thursday November 7, 2024

Walla Walla Community College Water Resources Center

640 Water Center Dr. Walla Walla, WA 99362


0800-0900	AIS treatment and juvenile salmonid exposure modeling & ZQ Mussel establishment modeling for McNary Adult Fish Ladder Dr. David Smith, ERDC, EcoHydraulics	Progressive modeling to assess AIS impacts and exposure within a run of the river reservoir.
0900-1000	Recap from Breakout Sessions	Summarize what was discussed in breakouts. Did we capture everything? Due-outs and tasks. Who is assigned or POC lead. Open discussion on additional topics, subjects, research for future presentations, data gaps (known or perceived), etc.
1000-1015
1015-1045	USGS monitoring results from the 2023 Snake River quagga response. Austin Baldwin, USGS, Research Hydrologist	Water, sediment, and benthic macroinvertebrate sample analysis for copper from 2023 response.
1045-1145	Data and Discussion for future meeting(s). Topics/Subjects for if future meeting	1) Next steps, what, when, where? 2)What to Share, for staff, to present to their leadership.
1145-1200	Closing Remarks Damian Walter
1200	Adjourn