The Mississippi River Basin Panel (MRBP) of the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) is set to meet on Ohio State’s campus next week (July 23-24). The panel will meet at the Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) where they will discuss significant aquatic invasive species activities, review accomplishments, and identify issues of concern. The MRBP project area includes the entire Mississippi River Basin, the largest watershed in the nation.
Coordinating the meeting is Greg Conover, US Fish & Wildlife Service and MRBP coordinator; Lynn McCready, OSU Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) interim director; John Navarro, ODNR Division of Wildlife and Ohio’s representative to the MRBP; and Eugene Braig, program director, Aquatic Ecosystems, Ohio State University Extension, School of Environment and Natural Resources and Ohio’s alternate representative to the MRBP.
According to Braig, “Ohio is actually represented on two regional panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force: the Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes Panel. Professionals and stakeholders with an interest in aquatic invasive species issues and management should consider membership with Ohio’s Aquatic Invasive Species Committee that serves as an advisory group to the Department of Natural Resources and Ohio’s ANSTF representatives.”
The MRBP represents one of six regional panels established to coordinate governmental efforts to prevent and manage introductions of aquatic invasive species in the United States. Braig notes, “Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous damage to Ohio’s economies and ecology each year. Management to minimize those impacts is important, and the ANSTF along with its regional panels constitute one mechanism to assist with those management issues.”
Learn more about aquatic invasive species, what the Mississippi River Basin Panel is doing and what you can do to help here.
Find out more about becoming a member of the Ohio’s Aquatic Invasive Species Committee by contacting Eugene Braig.
Photo: Round goby, courtesy of Eugene Braig, Ohio State University Extension.