GLIN==> GLMRIS Ohio and New York Assessment Reports Conference Call Reminder (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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REMINDER: Ohio and New York Assessment Reports Conference Call Tomorrow
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host a conference call Thursday, March 7, at 10 a.m. (Central) for interested members of the public to ask questions about the four draft Ohio and one draft New York Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports that estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) using it to reach the adjacent basin.

Call-in information is: 

USA Toll-Free: (877) 336-1839 
USA Caller Paid/International Toll: (636) 651-0008 
Access Code: 8506361 
Security Code: 0000

Comments for the four draft Ohio and one draft New York reports will be accepted through March 22, 2013. Comments may be submitted electronically at http://glmris.anl.gov/documents/interim/fa2/index.cfm or mailed to: 

GLMRIS Focus Area 2 
Summary Report Comments 
1776 Niagara Street 
Buffalo, NY 14207-3199

The reports are available for download on the GLMRIS Web site at http://glmris.anl.gov/documents/interim/fa2/index.cfm

The draft reports, which were developed in coordination with federal, state and local partners, show that Ohio-Erie Canal at Long Lake (Summit County) has a medium probability for the inter-basin movement of silver, bighead and black Asian carp and the northern snakehead; and Little Killbuck Creek (Medina County) has a medium probability for the inter-basin movement of the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv), threespine stickleback, ruffe and tubenose goby and parasitic copepod. 

The medium rating indicates that while ANS transfer could occur at these locations, it is estimated that none of the ANS would likely be able to reach the aquatic pathway within the next 20 years.

Grand Lake-St. Mary's (Mercer County), Mosquito Creek Lake-Grand River (Trumbull County) and the one potential pathway location for New York at East Mud Lake (Chautauqua County) have a low probability for the inter-basin movement of ANS, meaning it is unlikely for ANS of Concern to reach the pathway location on their own and to establish a population in the vicinity within the next 50 years. 

The overall objective of the Focus Area 2 portion of GLMRIS is to produce an interim report by state for each of the 18 potential aquatic pathways found between the two basins (outside of the Chicago Area Waterway System or Focus Area 1). These reports are the next step in a tiered approach to assess the probability associated with the spread of ANS between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. These reports conclude the FA2 draft interim assessment pathway report releases. 

USACE will review and incorporate public input before finalizing and re-issuing the reports in spring 2013.





Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE