Oregon Aquatic Weed Control: Discussion on permits, consultations, & regulations

1. Oregon Aquatic Weed Control: Discussion on permits, consultations, & regulations Vanessa Morgan Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Aquatic Weed Workshop Salem, Oregon April 24, 2014

2. Overview • Rationale for regulations, permits, reviews, etc. • Waterbodies (ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries) • Weeds in water and/or wetlands • Potential impacts of control methods • Potential impacts of choosing to not control • Agencies & various control methods • Gray areas – opportunities for clarification, streamlining, coordination

3. Why regulate? • Multiple beneficial uses • Agriculture • Domestic • Industry • Flood protection • Filtering pollutants • Habitat for aquatic life • Pressure/stressors: • Periodic droughts, climate change, invasive species

4. Waters of the State (Dept. of State Lands) • State ownership of submerged and submersible land underlying navigable waterways (streams, rivers, lakes), tidally influenced waterways and the Territorial Sea • Navigable: Used or susceptible to use at time of statehood (1859) in its natural and ordinary condition for commerce/trade/travel by a customary mode of trade and travel (canoes, fishing, recreation, log drives, etc.) • All meandered lakes are declared to be navigable and public waters (~75 to 90) • Sections of 12 rivers determined to be navigable

5. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Regulatory Jurisdiction

6. Potential impacts of control efforts MN Dept. of Natural Resources • Turbidity • Non-target animals/plants • Increased germination • Algae issues • New invasives

7. Impacts of no-control efforts Recreation  Flooding  Irrigation  Diversity  Fire  Property values

8. Oregon Dept. of State Lands • Wetland Program • Wetland determination, to determine potential need for wetland delineation • Wetlands/Waterways Removal-Fill Program • Oregon’s removal-fill law (ORS 196.795-990) • Land Management Division • Written approval of uses of, and structures occupying, state-owned land (e.g. remediation, restoration, or “special uses”)

9. Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality • NPDES 2300-A Pesticide General Permit • pesticide applications in, over, or near water to control: • Aquatic weeds and algae, nuisance animals, mosquito control, forest canopy pests, area-wide pests • Vegetation, algae, pathogens, fungi in water or at water’s edge (within 3 horizontal feet) • Registration required for • Federal & state agencies, • Districts responsible for pest control, or • Large scale applications (threshold: 20 acres or 20 linear miles) • Permit requirements: pesticide discharge management plan, follow detailed pest management measures, keep additional records, and submit an annual report

10. Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality • NPDES 2300-A Pesticide General Permit • Registration not required for small scale applications (below thresholds) by individuals, businesses, or property owners responsible for applications • However, all operators required to keep a copy of the permit and follow basic requirements • no violations of water quality standards, minimize use, corrective actions, environmentally sensitive approach • Monitoring, notification, reporting adverse incidents, etc. • Records retained for 3 years

11. ODFW • Helps to designate ESH (with DSL) • Oregon Guidelines for Timing of In-water Work to Protect Fish & Wildlife Resources to minimize impacts to fish, wildlife and habitat resources • Grass Carp Permits

12. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Authorities: • Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 • governs work impacting navigable waters; e.g. dredging or excavation • Section 404 of the Clean Water Act • regulates placement or fill material into waters of the state • grading or clearing of wetlands • Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act • ocean discharges of dredged materials Permits: • Individual Permits (standard or letter of permission) • General Permits (Nationwide or Regional) • Potentially under reauthorization of RGP-04 Aquatic Habitat Restoration in Oregon (USFS & BLM land only)

13. Oregon Dept. of Agriculture • Pesticide Program • Product registration • Licensing & recertification • Plant Division – Noxious Weed Program • Coordination & management of noxious weeds • Biocontrol Program • Oregon State Weed Board – state weed priorities, grant program, noxious weed list • Plant Division – Plant Conservation • Public land action permits (or formal consultation) required for any taking (or potential taking) of any state-listed T&E species on non-federal public lands A-listed Noxious weed yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) Threatened State-listed plant Nelson's checkermallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana)

14. NOAA Fisheries & USFWS • ESA Section 7 consultations • NMFS consultations on salmon, marine fish, marine mammals and marine reptiles • USFWS consultations regarding birds, terrestrial animals, plants, amphibians and most freshwater fish

15. Manual Removal (hand removal, raking) In jurisdictional waters: • DSL Removal-fill permit required for where: • > 50 cu yds of either removal and/or fill, or • Any amount of removal or fill in ESH, SSW, or compensatory mitigation sites • Exception: non-motorized removal that disturbs less than 1 cu. yard of sediment(3” disturbance ͌ 108 sq. ft.) • ODFW preferred in-water work periods • Removal • inorganic; • Calculated on annual basis • Fill • organic or inorganic below OHW; • Calculated on a cumulative basis

16. Mechanical Removal (harvesting, rotovation, dredging) In jurisdictional waters: • DSL Removal-fill permit required for where: • > 50 cu yds of either removal and/or fill, or • Any amount of removal or fill in ESH, SSW, or compensatory mitigation sites • ODFW preferred in-water work periods • USACE permit - maybe? • Section 10 (work impacting navigable waters) and/or • Section 404 (placement or fill material; grading or clearing of wetlands)

17. Benthic Barriers • DSL Removal-fill permit required in ESH, SSW, or compensatory mitigation sites for any amount of fill or removal • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • Placement or discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States (Section 404 of the CWA) • Possibly under Regional General Permit-04 (Aquatic Restoration in Oregon)? • Only pertains to USFS and BLM lands • Currently no mention of benthic barriers, but undergoing reauthorization with some changes

18. Chemical Control Surface, subsurface or riparian/emergent treatments in, over or within 3 ft. of water • NPDES general water quality permit (2300-A) • All label requirements; including any necessary • notification of water suppliers near potable water • Residue testing and all other use-restrictions (fishing, swimming, irrigation, etc.) • ODA Pesticide Program • Appropriate license & aquatic category • Use of approved aquatic formulations registered for use in Oregon www.aquatechnex.com

19. Biological Control • Sterile triploid grass carp (Cteneropharyngodon idella) • ODFW permit required • Approved screening (inlets & outlets) • Private land – restricted public access • Ponds or lakes < 10 acres; canals, ditches • 100-yr floodplain • Stocking limit 22 fish/acre; • PIT-tagged • Insects (milfoil weevil, purple loose strife agents)

20. Biological Control • Sterile triploid grass carp • Insects (milfoil weevil, purple loose strife agents) • APHIS - PPQ 526 permit is required for any “importation, interstate movement and environmental release of biological control organisms” 8 wks – 18 mo. • ODA Biocontrol Agent Release Form – recommended, not required

21. Improvements? Where is there room or need for: Clarification Streamlining Improved coordination Outreach

22. Please send questions, suggestions, or comments to either: Thank you Vanessa Morgan 503-725-2937 vhoward@pdx.edu Mark Sytsma 503-725-2213 sytsmam@pdx.edu