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

Vanessa MorganCenter for Lakes and Reservoirs

Aquatic Weed WorkshopSalem, Oregon April 24, 2014

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

Why regulate?

• Multiple beneficial uses – Agriculture – Domestic – Industry– Flood protection– Filtering pollutants– Habitat for aquatic life

• Pressure/stressors: – Periodic droughts, climate

change, invasive species

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

Type Jurisdictional Limit

Pacific Ocean Extreme low tide to 3 mi out

Tidal bays & estuaries HMT or upper edge of wetland

Perennial streams, lakes, ponds

OHW

Intermittent streams OHW

Wetlands Wetland boundary

Artificial ponds, ditches OHW

Artificial wetlands Wetland boundary

Reservoirs Normal operating pool level or upper edge of adjacent wetland

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Regulatory Jurisdiction

Potential impacts of control efforts

• Turbidity• Non-target animals/plants• Increased germination

• Algae issues• New invasives

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Impacts of no-control efforts

Recreation Flooding Irrigation Diversity

Fire Property values

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”)

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

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

ODFW

• Helps to designate ESH (with DSL)• Oregon Guidelines for Timing of In-water Wor

k to Protect Fish & Wildlife Resources to minimize impacts to fish, wildlife and habitat resources

• Grass Carp Permits

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)

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

Threatened State-listed plant Nelson's checkermallow

(Sidalcea nelsoniana)

A-listed Noxious weedyellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata)

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

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 L 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

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)

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

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

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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)

• 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

Biological Control

Improvements?

Where is there room or need for:

Clarification

Streamlining

Improved coordination

Outreach

Thank you

Vanessa Morgan503-725-2937

vhoward@pdx.edu

Mark Sytsma503-725-2213

sytsmam@pdx.edu

Please send questions, suggestions, or comments to either: