AIS in Michigan:An Update on New Detections

William KeiperMI DEQ Water Resources Division

• Leaders in Environmental Stewardship• Full Partners in Economic Development• Excellent Customer Service

Water Resources Division• Protect and Monitor…

– 4 Great Lakes– 11,000 Inland Lakes– 36,000 river miles– 5 million acres of wetlands– 70,000 acres of coastal dunes…for swimming, fishing, drinking water and

healthy aquatic ecosystems.

Waterquality

Invasive species

Wateruse

Todays talk

• New invasive species in Michigan– New Zealand Mudsnail– Didymo (aka Rock snot) 

• What we are doing• What can you do to help

Didymo

NZ Mudsnails

What is an invasive species?

An invasive species is defined as a species that is not native and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental 

harm or harm to human health.”

Non‐native Causes harm

+ =

Invasive

Not all invasives are equal

What’s a NZ Mudsnail?

• Harmful invasive aquatic snail• Small in size • Mass produce• Asexual reproduction• Compete with native inverts• Alter food webs• Hard to kill

Native snail

New Zealand Mud Snail

Distribution

* At least 2 clones in US

Found in Michigan

• August 2015• Suspect snails• Pere Marquette River near Baldwin• Confirmed to be NZMS

Immediate Actions

• Press Release• Direct outreach• Wader wash stations

After Press Release

• Nature and extent surveys• Increase awareness• Outreach• Determine origin

Survey Results

Next Steps

• Other Rivers – 2016• Outreach • Working with volunteers• MSU project

Didymoaka “Rock Snot”

• Algae ‐ Diatom• From northern hemisphere• Massive blooms can blanket streams• Easily transported on gear• Invasive in some regions since 1980’s

What is Didymo

US Distribution: 2008

Didymo in MI• St. Marys River report in 2015• Confirmed to be didymo• Treated as an AIS• Native to Great Lakes?

Immediate response

• Press Release• Site Investigation

Results

• St. Marys Rapids = source area• Sloughing off/down stream drift

Site map

Next Steps

• LSSU Grant to study Didymo in St. Marys• Outreach and education• Understanding bloom triggers‐ Low P?

Please Report Invasive Species

http://www.michigan.gov/invasives

http://www.misin.msu.edu/

Questions?