Focus Area 2 Ohio & New York Assessment Reports Released

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released today for public comment 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.

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 reports are available for download on the Focus Area 2 Documents page.

Comments for the four draft Ohio and one draft New York reports will be accepted February 22 through March 22, 2013. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Focus Area 2 Documents page or mailed to:

USACE will host a stakeholder conference call Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. (Central) to answer questions regarding these reports. Call-in information is:

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.

Reports include: study methodology; aquatic pathway characterization; aquatic pathway viability for ANS of Concern; overall aquatic pathway viability and some potential opportunities that, if implemented, could prevent or reduce the probability of ANS transferring between the basins.

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

If you have any questions about this document, please contact the GLMRIS Focus Area 2 Team at (716) 879-4260 or [email protected].