Oklahoma Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan is Open For Public Comment. The comment period runs until August 15, 2008. Comments can be emailed to Ashley Foster at afoster@odwc.state.ok.us.
OKLAHOMA
AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Zebra Mussels White Perch
Golden Alga Hydrilla
OKLAHOMA
AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Produced by:
Ashley Foster, Jeff Boxrucker, Gene Gilliland, Bill Wentroth
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
June 13, 2008
___________________________________
Honorable Brad Henry, Governor
State of Oklahoma
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents……..................................................................................................... 3
Executive Summary......................................................................................................... 4
Introduction.......................................................................................................................6
Problem Definition..........................................................................................................10
Goals..............................................................................................................................23
Existing Authorities and Programs.................................................................................24
Objectives, Strategies, Actions & Cost Estimates..........................................................32
Objective 1: Coordinate and implement a comprehensive management plan..........32
Objective 2: Prevent the introduction of new ANS into Oklahoma............................35
Objective 3: Detect, monitor, and eradicate ANS......................................................38
Objective 4: Control & eradicate established ANS that have significant impacts…..40
Objective 5: Educate resource user groups..............................................................43
Objective 6: Conduct/support research.....................................................................45
Priorities for Action..........................................................................................................48
Implementation Table.....................................................................................................50
Program Monitoring........................................................................................................55
Glossary.........................................................................................................................56
Literature Cited...............................................................................................................58
Appendices.....................................................................................................................61
Appendix A: List of non-indigenous and transplanted species in Oklahoma.......61
Appendix B: ANS Steering Committee and Technical Advisors..........................63
Appendix C: Harmful Algal Bloom Response Plan…….…………………………..67
Appendix D: Acronyms Defined...........................................................................79
Appendix E: Public Comments……………………………………………………….80
A. Executive Summary
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) pose significant ecological and socio-economic threats to aquatic ecosystems in Oklahoma. Zebra mussels, golden alga, white perch, hydrilla, among others, have already become established in Oklahoma aquatic systems. While their initial impacts have been limited and localized, there is little doubt that these and other ANS pose a serious threat to the aquatic resources, and potentially the economy, of the State of Oklahoma.
The importance of the State’s aquatic resources requires a coherent and integrated response to the threat posed by ANS. Using guidance from the National ANS Task Force and other accepted state agency plans such as Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Oregon, this management plan was developed to establish management actions to address the prevention, control, and effects of non-indigenous aquatic nuisance species that have invaded or may invade Oklahoma waters. The Oklahoma Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan serves as the initial step in establishing a program to specifically address ANS issues in Oklahoma.
The development of a state ANS management plan, as called for in Section 1204 of the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (NANPCA) of 1990, provides an opportunity for federal cost-share support for implementation of the plan. NANPCA, reauthorized in 1996 as the National Invasive Species Act (NISA), specifies that state plans identify feasible, cost-effective management practices and measures that can be implemented by the state to prevent and control ANS infestations in an environmentally sound manner. The goal of the Oklahoma ANS Management Plan is to: Minimize the harmful ecological, economic, and social impact of ANS through prevention and management of introduction, population growth, and dispersal of ANS into, within, and from Oklahoma.
The goal will be met by implementing a set of objectives as follows:
- Coordinate and implement a comprehensive management plan;
- Prevent the introduction of new ANS into Oklahoma;
- Detect, monitor, and eradicate ANS;
- Control and eradicate established ANS that have significant impacts;
- Educate resource user groups about the risks and impacts of ANS and how to reduce the harmful impacts;
- Conduct/support research to determine risks associated with pathways of introduction/spread; environmental conditions favorable for establishment of ANS; interactions with native species; and cost-effective and environmentally safe control/eradication measures.
Included in this plan are discussions of existing problems; a summary of federal, regional, and state policy; a list of non-indigenous species known to exist in Oklahoma; identification of existing priority ANS; and a discussion of regional ANS that pose a threat to Oklahoma’s aquatic ecosystems.
To ensure that the goals of this plan are being effectively addressed a procedure for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of strategies and tasks will be initiated. This evaluation will focus on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of management activities. The plan is a working document and will be periodically updated and expanded based upon the experience gained from implementation, scientific research, and new tools as they become available.
The effort to develop a state ANS management plan was led by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in conjunction with personnel from other government agencies and private organizations (Appendix B). Public comments were solicited from local governments, regional entities, public and private organizations, and resource user groups that have expertise and interest in the control of ANS. Comments were considered, and revisions have been made to the plan.
B. Introduction
Non-native invasive species, or for the purpose of this document, aquatic nuisance species (ANS), threaten the ecological integrity of aquatic systems worldwide. These invaders displace native species, disrupt ecological processes, upset the stability of ecosystems, and can irreversibly change natural landscapes. In addition to the ecological damage caused by ANS, the burden to local, state, and federal economies can be staggering. State and local governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually to control ANS. It is estimated that ANS cost the U.S. economy $137 billion annually (Pimentel et al. 2000).
Recognizing the ecological and economic threats posed by ANS, the federal government passed the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (NANPCA) in 1990. This legislation provided a funding mechanism for states to address ANS issues. This legislation was expanded with passage of the National Invasive Species Act (NISA) in 1996. NISA specifies that state plans identify feasible, cost-effective management strategies to prevent introductions of and control the spread of ANS in an environmentally sound manner. For Oklahoma to be eligible for federal cost-share funds to combat ANS, a state-wide ANS management plan must be approved by the Federal ANS Task Force established under NISA.
Oklahoma’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP; State Wildlife Grant T-2-P-1) identifies exotic and invasive species as one of five priority issues that threaten the conservation of Oklahoma’s wildlife resources. Specific issues within SWAP that identify ANS as threats include:
§ water diversion projects, particularly inter-basin transfers, that can serve as pathways for the spread of ANS;
§ nutrient runoff from fertilizers and confined animal feeding operations degrade water quality and destabilize aquatic systems which increases the potential for establishment of non-native species;
§ establishment of ANS destabilizes aquatic systems often resulting in decreased biodiversity and threatens populations of “species of greatest conservation need”;
§ movement of species outside their native range by the public, i.e., bait bucket releases, were likely the cause of establishment of the Red river shiner Notropis bairdi becoming established in the Cimarron River and the Red river pupfish Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis becoming established in the Canadian River;
§ zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha and Asian carp are potential threats to native mussel populations.
Action plans identified in SWAP to deal with these threats include:
§ develop an invasive species management plan;
§ survey aquatic systems to determine distribution of ANS;
§ remove non-native plants from wetlands and restore native plant communities;
§ develop cost-share or incentive programs for private landowners to encourage control of ANS on private property;
§ educate the public on ANS issues and roles that the public plays in preventing introductions and controlling the spread of ANS.
Development of this plan is partially funded through a SWAP grant (T-44-P-1) to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC).
The
northeast quadrant of Oklahoma is the region of the state currently most
impacted by ANS (Figure 1). Zebra mussels have moved up the McClellen-Kerr
Arkansas River Navigation system, most likely via barge traffic from the
Mississippi River and are progressing down the Arkansas River via natural
movement from El Dorado Reservoir in Kansas. Bighead carp
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
have been found in Grand Lake and in the Neosho River above Grand
Lake. Bighead carp have also been verified from the Red River below Lake
Texoma and from the Kiamichi River below Hugo Lake. White perch Morone
americana have moved downstream from Cheney Reservoir in Kansas and are
currently found in Kaw and Keystone Reservoirs. They will likely continue
to move downstream throughout the Arkansas River system. Golden alga
Prymnesium parvum has caused fish kills in Lake Texoma and Altus City
Lake. Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata has recently been found in
Arbuckle, Murray, and Sooner Reservoirs, likely as a result of movements via
recreational boaters. The exotic zooplankton Daphnia lumholzi has
been found in 18 Oklahoma reservoirs. Strategies to contain these and other
ANS species infesting Oklahoma waters, as well as strategies to prevent the
introduction of ANS not currently found in Oklahoma will be addressed in
this plan.
Figure 1. Current known distribution of selected ANS in Oklahoma, July 2007.
To prevent the spread of ANS into, or out of Oklahoma, strategies that are cohesive with those of neighboring states are vital. The Arkansas River runs through both Kansas and Oklahoma and has served as a pathway for the introduction of ANS. Lake Texoma is shared by Oklahoma and Texas and has experienced fish kills due to golden alga. Grand Lake in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma is a popular fishing destination connected to Missouri via the Elk River. Kansas has an approved state ANS management plan and Missouri and Texas both have plans drafted. Texas has also produced a state plan for the management of golden alga in public waters. The strategies in these documents were considered and incorporated where relevant in this management plan. A common goal of Oklahoma and its bordering states is to establish working partnerships with ANS management programs in regional states to facilitate the sharing of data and coordination of management activities. Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas all support the 100th Meridian Initiative, and participate in the Western and Mississippi River Basin Panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Participation in these forums will help to facilitate development of a coordinated network among state agencies to document, evaluate, and monitor effects of invasive species on the economy, the environment, and human health.
As per Rendall (1997), ANS management plans need to consider the following points when developing strategies to control invasive species:
§ many pathways exist for the introduction and spread of ANS, most of which are related to human activity; new species are continually introduced via these pathways;
§ introductions have many associated costs, i.e., control and management costs, long-term ecosystem changes, loss of recreational opportunities;
§ once ANS become established, few, if any, acceptable control measures are available; control measures are very expensive and eradication unlikely;
§ prevention is the best course of action with comprehensive management plans, education programs, and regulations offering the best chances of containment.
These points have provided guidance in drafting the strategies aimed at prevention and control of ANS in Oklahoma’s aquatic ecosystems.
The intended outcomes of this plan include:
§ identifying species of greatest concern, whether currently present in Oklahoma waters or likely to invade in the future;
§ create sufficient funding and personnel to support the plan;
§ identify gaps in distribution data to focus survey efforts to best determine current distribution patterns;
§ identify pathways for spread of invasives outward from current locations;
§ identify shortcomings in current statutes aimed at preventing introductions of ANS not currently in Oklahoma and movement of ANS to uninfested systems;
§ recommend language to lawmakers on how to strengthen said regulations;
§ develop public outreach strategies to raise public awareness of ANS issues and the role of aquatic resource users in preventing their introduction and spread;
§ create a framework for coordination of ANS activities among federal, state and local government, private industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public.
The ODWC was the lead agency in drafting this plan. Members of the Zebra Mussel Task Force (ZMTF), an interagency coordination group established shortly after zebra mussels were found in Oklahoma (1993) and the ANS Plant Task Force (PTF) reviewed drafts of the plan. Staffs from the office of the State Secretary of the Interior, representatives from state agencies with regulatory authority over ANS issues and academics from state universities with expertise in ANS were involved in the review process. A complete list of individuals and their respective agencies are included in Appendix B. Public comments were solicited from local governments, private industry, public and private organizations, and resource user groups. All comments were considered and incorporated where appropriate. A summary of these comments is included in Appendix E.
To effectively manage ANS, a definition must first be established to help focus resources aimed at control and management of individual species. Oklahoma will use the definition for invasive species, or for the purpose of this report, ANS, outlined in Executive Order 13112 on Invasive Species, signed by President Clinton on February 3, 1999. The Order states that an “invasive species” is one that is non-native to the affected ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. As per this definition, not all non-native species are considered ANS. ODWC uses non-native species, such as striped bass Morone saxatilis and walleye Sander vitreum and their hybrids in its management programs. These species have created economically valuable fisheries with no measurable negative affects on reservoir ecosystems.
C. Problem Definition
Non-indigenous Aquatic Animals
A draft list of non-indigenous aquatic animals in Oklahoma is included in Appendix A and is based on existing data. As such, the list is likely incomplete as information on such animals in Oklahoma is limited. A discussion of ANS species considered of special concern in Oklahoma follows.
Asian Carp: The life history traits of Asian carps (e.g., reproductive capability, population densities, feeding habits, broad climate tolerance, mobility, and longevity) indicate that they have a high probability of causing ecological and economic effects where populations become established (Mandrak and Cudmore 2004; Kolar et al. 2005; Nico et al. 2005). In some locations of the Mississippi River Basin, such effects have occurred. Natural resources managers are concerned that the four species of Asian carp have the potential to cause extensive and irreversible changes to the aquatic environment, thereby jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of native aquatic species, particularly to imperiled, threatened, and endangered species. Confounding this situation is the fact that the bighead carp has been cultured and sold as a live food fish product since the early 1980s, grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been stocked nationally by public and private entities since the late 1960s as a biological control for aquatic weeds (grass carp are also cultured and sold as a live food fish product), and the black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus has been used since the early 1980s as a biological control for pest snails in commercial aquaculture production ponds.
Small silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and bighead carp resemble gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum. Cast-netting for bait in tailwaters below some major reservoirs in Oklahoma has the potential to introduce Asian carp into some of the premier sport fishing lakes in the state. Anglers routinely cast net for bait below the Dennison Dam at Lake Texoma and use the bait to fish for striped bass or catfish in Lake Texoma. Asian carp can be accidentally introduced into the lake through this practice. Bighead and silver carp have reproductive requirements similar to those of striped bass. There is a real potential to establish a reproducing population of Asian carp in Lake Texoma which could be devastating to the striped bass fishery and paddlefish Polyodon spathula recovery efforts.
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Grass carp are native to large rivers in Asia, ranging from the Amur River in China and Siberia south to the West River in China and Thailand. As a food fish, the species has been cultured nearly worldwide. The diploid grass carp has been used for biological control of aquatic plants. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate its potential for reproduction, feeding preferences, stocking rates, and impacts on other aquatic resources (Smith and Shireman 1983). However, the potential of the diploid grass carp to naturally reproduce caused considerable controversy over its use as a biological control agent. This eventually led to the production of sterile, triploid grass carp which most states allow to be used for the control of aquatic plants, at least for experimental purposes. Through the use of grass carp to control excessive aquatic vegetation, they have been legally introduced into at least 35 states, including Oklahoma. Diploid grass carp stocking for control of aquatic vegetation in private waters was legalized in Oklahoma in the early 1980's. Currently grass carp are available for purchase for private use through a number of commercial fish producers in the state. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation currently uses grass carp on its four fish hatcheries for control of aquatic vegetation in culture ponds. Grass carp orient to flow and will quickly leave ponds when water is flowing over the spillway. Today grass carp can be found in most reservoirs in Oklahoma and reproduction of grass carp has been verified in Lake Texoma by ODWC biologists and the University of Oklahoma (Hargrave and Gido 2004). The ability of grass carp to consume vegetation and reproduce in state waters gives them the potential to significantly impact, if not totally eradicate, beneficial aquatic plants. Without protective and escape cover, small species of fish and young game fish abundances would decline. Their distribution throughout the state makes grass carp a significant threat that warrants attention.
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis): The bighead carp is a large-bodied planktivore endemic to eastern China. In 1973, an aquaculturist introduced bighead carp into Arkansas in an attempt to improve water quality in production ponds (Freeze and Henderson 1982). In 1974, regulations were mandated to restrict bighead carp stocking into public waters of Arkansas to reduce the probability of accidental introductions. Despite these regulations, bighead carp escaped from aquaculture facilities and subsequently dispersed into nineteen states. The bighead carp has been observed in Oklahoma below Hugo dam in the Kiamichi River, below Denison Dam on the Red River, and in the Neosho River in and above Grand Lake (Pigg et al. 1993; Pigg et al. 1997). This species is currently not in sufficient numbers to cause harm, but this situation could change as bighead carp become more widespread in Oklahoma.
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix): Silver carp were imported and stocked for phytoplankton control in eutrophic water bodies and also as a food fish. They were first brought into the United States in 1973 when a private fish farmer imported them into Arkansas. By 1980 the species was discovered in natural waters, probably a result of escapes from fish hatcheries and other types of aquaculture facilities (Freeze and Henderson 1982). In numbers, the silver carp has the potential to cause enormous damage to native species because it feeds on plankton required by larval fish and native mussels. Population densities in the Mississippi River have exploded and native fish species have been displaced. Presently, silver carp have been recorded in 12 states including Oklahoma (Benson et al. 2001). Although they have been found in Oklahoma, silver carp do not appear to be causing any severe problems at this point. This situation could change as silver carp become more widespread. Monitoring of this species will be needed.
Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus): The black carp is a large river fish native to Pacific drainages in eastern Asia. Black carp entered the United States in the early 1970s as a contaminant in imported grass carp and are currently being maintained in research and fish production facilities in seven states including two that border Oklahoma (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002). Approximately 30 black carp escaped from a fish farm in Missouri into the Osage River, Missouri River basin, in April 1994. The first specimen reported from the wild was captured in March 2003 from Horseshoe Lake, Illinois. A second specimen was captured from the wild in the lower Red River, Louisiana in April 2004 (Nico and Fuller 2004). In 2007, the black carp was listed as an injurious species under the Lacey Act. Black carp are likely to survive in the wild and spread throughout the Mississippi drainage. Black carp are molluscivores but also feed on freshwater shrimp, crayfish, and insects thus competing for food with native fish and wildlife species (Nico and Williams 1996). If black carp become established in North American ecosystems, their feeding habits could drastically modify the ecological balance and forever change the aesthetic, recreational, and economical values of native aquatic systems. This species would also be especially harmful to native unionid mussels, a taxonomic group that is already imperiled throughout its native range. It is highly probable that black carp would feed on and reduce populations of native mussels and snails (Nico and Williams 1996). Even at relatively small sizes (age 4), black carp will eat 3-4 lbs. of mollusks daily, posing a direct threat to one of the most diverse mollusk faunas in the world.
The risks that black carp pose to ecosystem integrity do not stop at its direct effect via mollusk predation. Mollusks serve a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health through their role as filter feeders. Mollusks also serve as “early warning systems” in identifying degrading water quality. Black carp also pose a threat to other aquatic organisms through competition for food with native molluscivores and serve as hosts to a wide array of parasites that could have negative impacts on native species and potentially humans. Black carp have not been reported in Oklahoma, but the potential ecological harm posed by black carp and their current proximity to Oklahoma make it a significant threat that warrants attention.
White perch (Morone americana): A native to the Atlantic coast region of North America, the white perch invaded the Great Lakes in the 1950s through the Welland and Erie canals (Boileau 1985). Through competition with native species, predation on fish eggs, preying on young fish, and hybridization with white bass Morone chrysops, white perch can quickly become the dominant species in freshwater lakes. White perch tend to stunt and become undesirable when over-population occurs in freshwater lakes (Scott and Crossman 1990). Since its arrival, it has been associated with declines in both walleye and white bass populations in those areas where it has become well-established. White perch were introduced in Kansas from a contaminated stocking of striped bass in Cheney Reservoir. A reproducing population subsequently became established followed by downstream migration in the Arkansas River. The species is now established in Kaw Lake, Oklahoma. White perch populations have spread into Kaw, Sooner and Keystone Lakes in Oklahoma with continued migration downstream throughout the Arkansas Rivers system appearing likely. This is a priority species, and demands immediate attention and management.
Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans): Brook sticklebacks occur in Canada and the northern United States, but have become established to the south, including Oklahoma, through bait bucket transfers. Pigg et al. (1993) discovered brook stickleback in a bait shipment of fathead minnows from Minnesota and suggested a possible link between its introduction into Oklahoma and the bait fish industry. A much earlier report in Oklahoma is apparently based on observations of this species in bait tanks near Ft. Gibson Reservoir in Wagoner County (Heard 1959; Moore and Riggs 1963). Although, there are no verified records from open waters, at least some individuals were likely introduced through discarded or escaped bait. The impact of their introduction is largely unknown at this time. Woodling (1985) stated that the species is pugnacious and preys on eggs. As such, its use as a bait fish is discouraged so as to prevent accidental range expansion.
Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus): Introduced into the United States in the early 1900s as baitfish, this Eurasian native is found in 20 states, including Oklahoma (Nico and Fuller 2003). Similar in appearance to the golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, the rudd is capable of growing to 20 inches in length. Currently, the rudd is one of the most rapidly spreading non-indigenous fishes in the United States. The greatest threat posed by the rudd is its ability to hybridize with the golden shiner which may endanger that species’ genetic integrity (Burkhead and Williams 1991). While little is known about the threat posed by rudd, its occurrence in several Oklahoma rivers suggest the need to monitor this ANS.
Northern snakehead (Channa argus): Most likely brought into the United States as a food fish, the northern snakehead is a predatory fish native to Asia. It became a concern in the Mid-Atlantic after being discovered in Maryland ponds and the Potomac River (Courtenay and Williams 2004). A voracious predator with sharp teeth and mature body length from three to four feet, snakeheads have the potential to drastically alter freshwater ecosystems by out competing native fish species, including many sport fish. Snakeheads prey on fish, frogs, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. Many species of snakehead fish, including northern snakehead, have the ability to breath air and crawl short distances between waterbodies. Its native range suggests it could become established throughout the contiguous United States (Courtenay and Williams 2004). It is currently illegal to possess or import any species of snakehead (Channa spp.) or their eggs in Oklahoma. A reproducing population was confirmed in the Pine Creek drainage in eastern Arkansas in April, 2008. Northern snakeheads have not been reported in Oklahoma, but the potential ecological harm posed by northern snakeheads and their current proximity to Oklahoma make it a significant threat that warrants attention.
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): The zebra mussel is one of the best known invaders of the Great Lakes region and other areas of the country where it has spread. Zebra mussels were introduced from Eastern Europe via ballast water discharge from European freighters. In the late-1980s, the zebra mussel was discovered in Lake St. Clair, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. This species spread rapidly to 20 states in the Mississippi River drainage. Zebra mussels can easily survive overland transport while attached to boat hulls or in live wells, engine cooling systems, or bait buckets. Live zebra mussels have been found at California agricultural stations on boats from the Midwest, and in Washington on boats destined for British Columbia.
The zebra mussel is a prolific fouling organism with great potential to disrupt fish passage facilities and cause ecological and economic damage. It is a highly opportunistic mollusk, reproduces rapidly, and consumes large quantities of plankton from the water column (Trometer et al. 1999). The potential and profound impacts to fisheries include changes in food availability and spawning areas. Reductions in density and biomass of the zooplankton community may result in reduced growth or abundance of age-0 fish. The first year of a fishes' life is a time when it is most vulnerable to predation; reduced growth rates at this age may extend this period of vulnerability (Wu and Culver 1991).
Economic impacts of zebra mussels are primarily caused by their fouling characteristics. Mussel build-up on water intake/discharge structures cause utilities, and industries to incur significant costs associated with monitoring, cleaning, and controlling infestations. According to a recent economic impact study, each of 84 Great Lakes water users reported average total zebra mussel control expenditures of $513,600 over the five-year period from 1989 to 1994 (Hushak et al. 1995). Nationwide expenditures to control zebra mussels in water control infrastructures are estimated at $3.1 billion over 10 years (U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment 1993).
In Oklahoma, Zebra mussels were first found in the McClellen-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System 1993, most likely moving up the river with barge traffic. From there zebra mussels have moved up the navigation system and have attached to locks in the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa. Populations remained relatively low, rarely exceeding 5000/m2. However, a population explosion occurred in 2004, coincident with a mild summer, when densities in excess of 100,000/m2 were recorded. Zebra mussels were found in Oologah Reservoir in 2003, likely as hitchhikers on recreational boat traffic. Zebra mussels were found in Kaw Reservoir in 2004, likely moving downstream from a population established in El Dorado Lake, Kansas. Zebra mussels continued to move downstream, infesting Sooner and Keystone Reservoirs and can currently be found throughout the Arkansas River in Tulsa. Two zebra mussel adults were found in Grand Lake in 2006 but no veligers have been found there to date. Zebra mussels have been discovered on several boats by marina personnel who prevented the infested boats from being launched in the lakes. Considered a high priority species, zebra mussels represent a serious threat to Oklahoma's aquatic resources and deserve immediate management action.
Quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis): Quagga mussels are native to Caspian Sea drainage in Eurasia. They most likely arrived as stowaways in the ballast water of ocean going ships. They were discovered in the Great Lakes region in September 1989. The quagga mussel is related to the zebra mussel but was not identified as a distinct species until 1991. Quagga mussels like silty or sandy lake bottoms. They can live in waters ranging from warm and shallow to deep and cold. They are also able to tolerate somewhat salty water. A quagga mussel feeds all year, even in winter when zebra mussels are dormant. In addition, it may have the same potential as the zebra mussel to clog water intakes. Quagga mussels can easily survive overland transport while attached to boat hulls or in live wells, engine cooling systems, or bait buckets. Quagga mussels were recently found attached to a boat preparing to but prevented from launching at Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma. To date, no other reports of quagga mussels have been made in Oklahoma, but it is considered a priority species because of the potential for infestation and environmental damage.
Exotic waterflea (Daphnia lumholtzi): Native to Africa, Australia, and India, this Cladoceran species was first discovered in 1990 in Texas. It has since been found in several Midwestern states including Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Havel and Shurin (2004) reported D. lumholtzi from Atoka, Broken Bow, Coalgate, Copan, Fort Gibson, Grand, Greenleaf, Hugo, Humphreys, Keystone, Murray, Pine Creek, Raymond Gary, Robert S. Kerr, Sardis, Texoma, Tenkiller, and Waurika reservoirs in Oklahoma. The continuing discovery of the organism in new locations could be due to contaminated stockings of fish through commercial trade. At the same time, the close proximity of affected reservoirs might lead to the conclusion that it may have spread by recreational boating from infested reservoirs (Benson et al. 2005). Analyses of pre-invasion zooplankton communities indicate that D. lumholtzi may be invading reservoirs in which native Daphnia species are rare. While the long-term effects of the invasion of D. lumholtzi are unknown, it has the potential to dominate late summer zooplankton communities in reservoirs (Dzialowski et al. 2000).
New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum): Native to New Zealand, this species was discovered in North America in 1987 and has rapidly spread throughout the western United States. It is a parthenogenetic livebearer with a high reproductive potential. Mature New Zealand mudsnails (NZMS) average 5 mm in length; juveniles are much smaller, making them difficult to notice on gear. Snail populations can reach densities greater than 100,000/m2 in suitable habitat. The highest recorded densities reported are 800,000/m2 in Lake Zurich, Switzerland, where this species colonized the entire lake in less than seven years (Richards 2002). To date, few data have been reported or research conducted on the impacts of the animal on native macroinvertebrate populations or aquatic ecosystems.
Concern about the potential impacts of the NZMS on native species, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems in the western United States has been generated by the rapid spread of this species. NZMS degrade habitat with their high reproductive capacity and the subsequent impacts on invertebrate food sources. Its spread into new systems is considered to be primarily human-caused and unintentional transport by people is probably the primary vector for the spread of NZMS. The snail clings to the boots of anglers wading in infested streams. The NZMS has not been reported in Oklahoma, but is considered a priority species because of the late 2004 introduction into Colorado and the highly mobile nature of trout anglers.
Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus): The native range of the rusty crayfish is Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. However, in recent years its distribution has expanded because of the use of live crayfish as bait by anglers. They are more aggressive than other native crayfish, better able to avoid fish predation, and can harm native fish populations by eating their eggs and young. They can displace native crayfish, hybridize with them, and graze on and eliminate beneficial aquatic plants. Large populations can adversely impact native plant populations (Lodge et al. 2000). As a result of its voracious appetite, it competes with other aquatic organisms for food. Eradicating established infestations is currently impossible. The rusty crayfish has not been found in Oklahoma, but it has been transplanted to new waters in neighboring states where self-sustaining populations have become established. The species warrants attention.
Nutria (Myocastor coypus): The nutria is a large semi-aquatic rodent smaller than a beaver but larger than a muskrat. Nutria are strict vegetarians consuming approximately 25 percent of their weight daily. Nutria predominately feed on the base of plant stems and dig for roots and rhizomes in the winter. Native to South America, nutria were imported into the United States in the 1930’s for fur farms. They were released, either intentionally or accidentally, in the Louisiana marshes and soon after, feral populations were established near the Gulf Coast. Nutria continued to expand their range from there as they were trapped and transplanted into marshes from Port Arthur, Texas to the Mississippi River. Rapid population growth followed for several years thereafter and reports of agricultural damage increased. In 1958, nutria were taken off the list of protected wildlife. They have been found in far southeast Oklahoma where their impact on aquatic environments is primarily by reduction of native vegetation in marsh and riverine areas.
Golden Alga (Prymnesium parvum): Harmful algal blooms are ubiquitous world wide in marine and freshwater systems. Texas has documented fish kills from golden alga in inland waters since 1985. The spread of golden alga in Texas and resulting fish kills have had major ecological and economic ramifications. A fish kill in the upper Red River arm of Lake Texoma attributed to golden alga occurred in January 2004. A golden alga-related fish kill in Altus City Lake was documented in August 2004. Fish kills in the upper Red River arm of Lake Texoma occurred in February 2006 and again in March 2007. Given the history of reoccurrence of golden alga-related fish kills in Texas, it is anticipated that such kills will reoccur in infested waters and likely spread to waters not currently experiencing kills related to golden alga.
ODWC developed the Oklahoma Harmful Algal Bloom Response Plan to coordinate a timely interagency response to harmful algal blooms (Appendix C). In addition, ODWC is currently funding research conducted by the University of Oklahoma on the toxicology of the prymnesin toxin to various sport fishes and zooplankton and the ecological interactions of golden alga with phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in Lake Texoma. The University of Oklahoma is also currently monitoring golden alga abundance on Lake Texoma and investigating physical, chemical, and ecological triggers to blooms and toxin production. A proposed expansion of these efforts on a statewide basis would identify lakes at risk and focus on efforts to control the spread to currently uninfested water bodies.
Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata): Didymo is a diatom which is native to the northern hemisphere. Until recent years, it occurred at low levels in pristine lakes and streams but has become invasive, forming dense mats in many streams in North America. In close proximity to Oklahoma, Didymo has been found in Colorado and the White River in Arkansas. This invasive species attaches to rocks and plants in streambeds and may impact freshwater fish, aquatic plants, and important aquatic insects. Didymo can completely smother rocks and plants and reduce the area of clean substrate and interstitial spaces on which fish and their prey depend for spawning and feeding. It also tends to outcompete native algal species, many of which are food for aquatic insects, which are the main diet source of native stream fishes. Didymo mats have become so thick in some areas it became impossible for anglers to fish. Didymo is particularly fond of cold tailwaters and, as such, poses a particular threat to the trout fisheries in the lower Illinois and lower Mountain Fork rivers. Anglers have been the principle means of spread. Trout anglers who fish streams in the western United States and Arkansas, and return to fish the lower Illinois and/or the lower Mountain Fork rivers must take precautions to avoid spreading Didymo to state waters.
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia: Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) has historically been considered as the most serious viral disease of salmonids reared in European freshwater environments. VHS has been associated with marine finfish species, and most recently has become an emerging disease of freshwater fish in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. VHS is an aquatic rhabidovirus and is shed in the urine, feces, and sexual fluids. Infested waters include clinically ill fish and asymptomatic carriers. Transmission can occur through the water or by contact.
Prior to 2003, isolates of the VHS virus were limited in North America to saltwater finfish from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including Chinook and Coho salmon, Pacific herring, Atlantic herring and cod. VHS was first detected in the Great Lakes region in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, in 2005, and was subsequently detected in an archived 2003 sample from Lake St. Clair. VHS virus also was detected in Lake St. Clair in 2005 and in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River in 2006 in a variety of fish species. Since 2005, the list of species known to be affected by VHS has risen to more than 40, including a number of ecologically and recreationally important fish.
Retail sales and live release of baitfish into the wild represent an area of concern for the potential introduction and/or spread of VHS. Fish belonging to the cyprinid family and other species are collected from the Great Lakes and used as bait for sport fisheries around the U.S. Baitfish from Canada are also routinely exported to the U.S. Additionally, some aquaculture producers collect baitfish brood stock from the Great Lakes to produce commercial baitfish in their facilities. The destinations and numbers of baitfish moved are not well documented, and regulation of this sector is inconsistent among States, or lacking entirely. Live sale of fish by commercial fishers is also a concern. Fish from Lake Erie are sold live in Ontario, Canada for transport to pond aquaculture facilities in the Midwest U.S. The species, volume and destinations of these fish are not well documented.
Recent federal restrictions on interstate movement of fish from the Great Lakes region are aimed at slowing the spread of VHS. The virus has not been detected in Oklahoma but monitoring and disease-free certification of imported fish should be a priority.
Largemouth Bass Virus: Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) is one of more than 100 naturally occurring viruses that affect fish but not warm-blooded animals. The origin is unknown, but it is of the Iridovirus family, genus Ranavirus. LMBV is related to a virus found in frogs and other amphibians and nearly identical to a virus isolated in some fish imported to the U.S. for the aquarium trade. Although other species of fish can serve as carriers, symptoms of disease have been evident in largemouth bass only. The mode of transmission and disease triggers are unknown. The disease appears to differentially affect the larger individuals in a population and kills have resulted in negative impacts to sport fisheries. However, long-term impacts to largemouth bass fisheries have been negligible.
LMBV fish kills have been reported throughout the southeast and Midwest United States. Although LMBV-related fish kills have been suspected on a number of Oklahoma reservoirs, LMBV has been verified as the causative agent of kills only on Tenkiller in 2000 and Wes Watkins reservoirs in 2005. Since 2000, 26 lakes have been tested for LMBV with positive results found at Arbuckle, Eucha, Eufaula, Ft. Gibson, Grand, Hudson, Keystone, Konawa, Lawtonka, McGee Creek, Murray, Okemah, Oologah, Sardis, Skiatook, Sooner, Tenkiller, Texoma, Thunderbird, Webbers Falls and Wes Watkins. Lakes Arcadia, Bixhoma, Broken Bow, Crowder and Holdenville have so far tested negative for LMBV. Because of the short-term impact to economically valuable largemouth bass fisheries, and the vast amount of negative publicity generated by such kills, LMBV warrants attention in this plan.
Spring Viremia of Carp: Spring viremia of carp (SVC) is a contagious and potentially fatal viral disease affecting fish. As its name implies, SVC may be seen in carp in the spring season. However, SVC may also be seen in other seasons (especially in the fall) and in other fish species including goldfish and the European wells catfish. Until recently, SVC had only been reported in Europe and the Middle East. The first cases of SVC reported in the United States were in Spring 2002 in cultivated ornamental common carp (Koi) and wild common carp. The number of North American fish species susceptible to SVC is not yet known. The first signs of SVC disease in fish may be a change in behavior. The diseased fish may breathe and move more slowly, form groups in slow–flowing water near the pond bank, and lie on their side at the pond bottom. On the outside of a fish with SVC, the skin and gills may appear dark red, the eyes may bulge outward, the belly may be swollen, and bloody mucus may hang from the vent. On the inside of a fish with SVC, a lot of fluid may be in the belly cavity and internal organs, blood in the swim bladder, and reddening and swelling of the gut. However, not all fish showing these signs necessarily have SVC, as these same signs may also be seen in many other diseases. Those fish that don't die from SVC may recover and appear healthy, but these fish actually may remain infected with the virus and continue to shed and spread the virus to other fish. Because the SVC virus may remain hidden in infected fish, the disease is difficult to eliminate from a site. Diagnosis of the SVC virus in fish can be confirmed through virus isolation and other sophisticated diagnostic tests done by an approved laboratory.
The spread of SVC may occur through contact with water contaminated with the infected fish's feces, urine, or mucus. The virus may be spread through contaminated equipment, fish parasites, predatory birds, and on the outside of an infected fish's eggs. Once SVC is established at a site, it may be difficult to eradicate because of virus–infected carrier fish. It may be necessary to destroy all aquatic life in a pond to eliminate the disease from the site. Although complete eradication is difficult, SVC can likely be controlled and contained within high–risk zones through surveillance and better management practices, including strict biosecurity procedures. People may transmit the virus from place to place on their clothing, footwear, equipment, etc, but the virus does not cause disease in humans.
SVC has not been confirmed in Oklahoma; however. in 2006 a Koi retailer received a shipment of fish that exhibited many of the classic SVC symptoms. The merchant destroyed the dead and dying fish but released those that were still alive into Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. The popularity of Koi and the regular importation of these fish from other parts of the U.S. and abroad, warrant careful attention and inclusion of SVC in this plan.
Whirling Disease (Myxobolus cerebralis): Whirling disease is a metazoan parasite that penetrates the head and spinal cartilage of fingerling trout where it multiplies very rapidly, putting pressure on the organ of equilibrium. This causes the fish to swim erratically (whirl), and have difficulty feeding and avoiding predators. In severe infections, the disease can cause high rates of mortality in young-of-the-year fish. Those that survive until the cartilage hardens to bone can live a normal life span, but are marred by skeletal deformities. Fish can, however reproduce without passing on the parasite to their offspring.
The minute whirling disease organism, native to the Eurasian continent, was introduced into North American waters in the late 1950s. So far its severe damage has been primarily to wild rainbow populations, although many other salmonid species can become infected, with or without clinical disease. Brown trout salmo trutta, also a European import, become infected but rarely suffer clinical disease. Under some circumstances infected brown trout suffer some mortality, but they always insure the survival of the parasite. Regardless of species, when each infected fish dies, many thousands to millions of the parasite spores are released to the water. The organism is virtually indestructible. Spores can withstand freezing and desiccation, and can survive in a stream for 20 to 30 years. Eventually, it must be ingested by its alternate host, the tubifex worm Tubifex tubifex, where the spore takes on the form that once again will infect trout fry.
The parasite that causes whirling disease will continue to spread to drainages now clean, since it is so easily and unknowingly transported by animals, birds and humans. The ODWC purchases trout for stocking in public waters from a variety of out-of-state commercial producers. Winter trout fisheries in various private waters, also supported by purchasing trout from out-of-state suppliers, have become popular. Although whirling disease has not been reported from Oklahoma, this disease is listed in this plan to help ensure that trout continue to be purchased from certified disease-free suppliers.
Non-indigenous Aquatic Plants
A draft list of non-indigenous aquatic plants in Oklahoma is included in Appendix A. This list is incomplete as information on non-indigenous aquatic plants in Oklahoma is somewhat limited. The following ANS species are considered of special concern in Oklahoma: Alligatorweed, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Hydrilla, Purple Loosestrife, Salvinia, and Water Hyacinth. Currently, Hydrilla is considered a high priority species. A discussion of each species follows.
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata): Hydrilla is the most damaging aquatic weed in the United States. It was imported into the United States from Asia in the early 1950s for use in aquariums, and was likely introduced into the wild near Tampa and Miami, Florida. It was popular in the aquarium trade until Federal regulations banned its interstate sale and movement. Distribution in the United States now ranges from Connecticut southward along the coast to Texas. The plant is also present in California and Washington. Several inland states (Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Arizona) also have populations.
Hydrilla plants produce long stems with whorled leaves and are profusely branched at the water surface. It thrives in low light conditions and can be found in streams, ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Reproduction is by fragmentation, seeds, tubers, and turions. Hydrilla is most likely to spread when plant fragments are carried on boat trailers into new habitat.
Hydrilla causes major problems with water use. In drainage and irrigation canals, it greatly reduces flow and causes clogging, which can result in flooding and damage to canal banks, structures, and pumps. In utility cooling reservoirs, hydrilla can disrupt flows necessary for adequate water-cooling. Hydrilla can interfere with recreational and commercial vessel navigation. In addition to interfering with boating by fisherman and water skiers, hydrilla hampers swimming, displaces native vegetation communities, and can damage sportfish populations. The economic consequences of aquatic weed infestations can be staggering. Annual expenditures to control aquatic weeds in the United States (most of them non-natives, such as hydrilla) are reported to be $100 million (OTA, 1993). Three hydrilla infestations are known to occur in Oklahoma (Arbuckle, Murray and Sooner reservoirs), although surveillance efforts have been limited.
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta): The number one noxious aquatic plant in the world, Giant Salvinia is a perennial, aquatic fern, from South America which is very common in the water garden and aquarium industries. In favorable environments, plants may be expected to double in volume within a week. Giant salvinia is a small, floating plant with round to oblong, light green leaves that have hair-like projections on their surface. Submerged leaves function as modified roots. The plant prefers shallow, fertile waters to moist soil areas. It can be found in ponds, lakes and slow moving streams. Reproduction is by fragmentation and spores. It forms extensive mats that can completely cover water surfaces resulting in the degradation of natural habitats by shading native plants, reducing available dissolved oxygen, and creating large amounts of decaying plant material. The mats are reported to be up to three feet thick, which hinders management by chemical control, and the weed reproduces so rapidly that infestations quickly become impossible to eradicate. It is known to over-winter easily by blanketing sister plants. Giant Salvinia can clog water intakes, which interferes with irrigation, drainage, and electrical generation. In the United States it has been observed in Arizona, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. Its expected range includes portions of southern and western Oklahoma (USGS, 2000). Within a year of its 1998 discovery in the United States, Giant Salvinia was found in six states and over a dozen watersheds. Human transport will spread Giant Salvinia locally, with plants adhering to and carried overland on anything entering infested waters, including boats, trailers, vehicular wheels, intakes and gear and other plants. It has been found for sale in a number of nurseries in Oklahoma, mostly for use in water gardens. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) has issued stop-sell orders to all vendors and confiscated and destroyed plants. However, shipments of plants from other states where Salvinia infestations are unchecked still occur and local nurseries report receiving “hitchhiking” Salvinia regularly. Internet sale and shipments of the plant continue unchecked.
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides): Alligatorweed is a member of the pigweed family that has spread quickly throughout the southern United States. Several members in this genus are readily available in the ornamental trade. It produces white, clover-like flowers on hollow stems supporting oppositely arranged leaves. The plant can grow in most aquatic environments from fully submerged to moist soil. It reproduces by fragmentation and seed. This plant is difficult to control once established. Alligatorweed easily displaces native species by producing thick monocultures. It is established in Oklahoma in the Chouteau and Newt Graham pools of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system and in several homeowners’ association ponds on Spring Creek in Oklahoma City. Alligatorweed flea beetles Agasicles hygrophila were imported into Oklahoma in 2005 as a bio-control experiment on the Spring Creek chain of lakes. Results were marginal in 2005, but 2006 releases reduced infestations by as much as 50% on some of the ponds while in others, the plants were reduced by over 75%. Oklahoma winters are likely severe enough to prevent over-wintering of the beetles so annual releases will be necessary to maintain control.
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria): A showy wetland plant, purple loosestrife is popular in the ornamental trade because of the brilliant purple spike of flowers. It is still sold in some states, although 24 states, including Oklahoma, have listed it as a noxious weed and prohibit its sale. It grows up to 8 feet tall in thick stands. It has leaves that are arranged opposite along the stem and are lance shaped. It was originally imported from Eurasia in the early 1800s for its medicinal value and beautiful flowers. It inhabits damp terrestrial sites often bordering bodies of water. Reproduction is primarily by seed with each plant producing up to 2 million seeds. It can crowd out native wetland plants and has been spreading across the United States for decades. Estimated losses are $45 million per year in control costs and forage loss (ATTRA, 1997). It is found in 42 of the contiguous states, and could invade the remaining six. It is present in Oklahoma with a persistent stand at Guthrie City Lake.
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum): The most problematic non-indigenous plant in northern and central United States. It is a submersed, rooted perennial with branching stems that fill the water column. It has leaves divided into feathery, threadlike leaflets. It inhabits reservoirs, lakes, ponds and back water areas. Reproduction is primarily by fragmentation and it is capable of establishing new colonies when disturbed by recreational activity, and it is easily transported to new waterbodies through fouling of boat props and trailers. The species has also been introduced through the aquarium trade and water gardens. Once established in a waterbody, it can quickly grow into dense mats that shade out native plants, reduce fish habitat and recreational use. It is present in Oklahoma in several reservoirs (Fuqua, Longmire), many smaller city water supply lakes and numerous farm ponds.
Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes): Water hyacinth is present in all Gulf Coast states as well as California. Its presence has caused massive problems with navigation, water based recreation, canal systems, and pumping stations as it can completely cover lakes with floating mats that become dislodged and stuck in water intakes. Although the risk of water hyacinth overwintering in Oklahoma is considered small due to cold winter air temperatures, its continued use in water gardens poses a threat that it will adapt to colder temperatures, or become established in thermal refugia. Water hyacinth has been found in Lake Eufaula, Soldier Creek in Midwest City and Landsbrook Lake in Oklahoma City, all probable releases from water gardens.
D. Goal
The goal of the Oklahoma ANS Management Plan is to:
Minimize the harmful ecological, economic, and social impact of ANS through preventing the introduction and managing the population growth and dispersal of ANS into, within, and from Oklahoma.
The goal will be achieved through implementation of a plan that:
§ emphasizes prevention of introductions;
§ requires a risk assessment and review for all aquatic non-indigenous species prior to their importation, transport, or use in Oklahoma;
§ allows for early detection;
§ includes development of contingency plans;
§ permits appropriate and timely response to new and existing populations;
§ protects and restores native plant and animal communities;
§ provides for access to accurate up-to-date distribution and management information;
§ incorporates education and research elements;
§ recommends funding levels adequate for effective implementation;
§ produces agency collaboration through an invasive species council;
§ facilitates inter-jurisdictional coordination with state, federal and tribal agencies;
§ seeks cooperative solutions with the private sector and user groups.
It is not possible to address all potential invaders, their impacts, and the constraints and contingencies that may develop. Consequently, this plan is intended to be adaptable to changing circumstances. As a result, continual review of the plan is imperative to use the most up-to-date information and procedures to limit the spread of ANS both into and within Oklahoma.
E. Existing Authorities and Programs
The State of Oklahoma currently has a limited number of statutory and regulatory authorities aimed at prevention and control of ANS. Existing statutes and regulations were drafted and passed with the intent of dealing with specific concerns as they arose and were not intended to be proactive in dealing with the threats of invasive species. State statutory authority pertaining to ANS is spread across several agencies and coordinated efforts to date have been lacking. One objective of Oklahoma’s ANS management plan is to identify gaps in existing statutes and regulations and to recommend development of new legislation to address shortcomings in existing authorities and programs.
STATE
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
The mission of the ODWC is the management, protection and enhancement of wildlife resources and habitat for the scientific, educational, recreational, aesthetic and economic benefits to present and future generation of citizens and visitors to Oklahoma. Existing statutory authorities are inadequate to protect Oklahoma’s aquatic resources from invasive species and to help the agency meet its mission. Existing authorities include:
The Wildlife Conservation Commission will constitute a policymaking board for the restoration, conservation, and management of wildlife in Oklahoma (Oklahoma Statute Title 29, §§3-103A, 7-801A). A license is needed to engage in the private commercial production of catfish, minnows, fingerlings, fish, frogs, or other water species (Oklahoma Statute Title 29, §4-102A). A license is also needed to harvest, sell, buy, ship, or transport minnows into or out of Oklahoma (Oklahoma Statute Title 29, §4-115A, B). No person may transport or sell non-game fish outside Oklahoma without a commercial fishing license and a special permit for transporting or selling the fish (Oklahoma Statute Title 29, §4-105A). Violations are punishable by a fine of between $25 and $200, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or by both (Oklahoma Statute Title 29, §§4-102E, 4-105B, 4-115C).
The importation into the State and/or the possession of the following exotic fish or their eggs is prohibited (Oklahoma Administrative Code §800:20-1-2):
(1) Walking Catfish: The Walking Catfish, (Clarius batrachus) and other members of the exotic catfish family Claridae, including but not limited to species of the genera Clarias, Heteropneustes, Gymnallables, Channallabes, and Heterobranchus are prohibited. Any live specimens of Walking Catfish or other Claridae species within the boundaries of the State of Oklahoma are contraband and subject to seizure by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
(2) Grass carp: Release of grass carp, also known as white amur or Chinese carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) or their hybrids into public waters is prohibited in accordance with 29 O.S., Section 6-504. Importation, possession and introduction of grass carp or their hybrids for the purpose of stocking private waters is permitted.
(3) Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).
(4) Silver carp (Aristichthys nobilis).
(5) Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus).
(6) Boney-tongue group: Osteoglossum spp., and Arapaima spp.
(7) Piranha group: Serrasalmus spp., Pygocentrus spp., Rooseveltiella spp., Catoprion spp., Hydrocynus spp., and Salminus spp.
(8) Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus).
(9) Electric catfish (Malapterus electricus).
(10) Gar-pike topminnow (Belonesox belizanus).
(11) Snakehead groups: Opicephalus spp., and Channa spp.
(12) Pavon or Peacock Bass (Chichla temensis and Chichia ocellaris).
(13) Parasitic South American Catfish group (Candiru), genera & species of the Trichomycteridae family. Vandellia spp., Tridens spp., and Pyqidium spp.
(14) Freshwater Stingray group: Paratrygon spp., Potomotrygon spp., and Disceus spp.
(15) Houri (from South America): Macrodon spp., and Hoplias spp.
(16) Rudd and rudd hybrids (Scardinius spp.).
(17) Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis).
The following species shall be permitted by application and written letter of authorization from the Department of Wildlife Conservation for research purpose only (Oklahoma Administrative Code §800:20-1-2):
(1) Alewives (Aloso pseudoharengus).
(2) Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax).
Currently, no permits are active.
The use of Tilapia is restricted as follows (Oklahoma Administrative Code §800:20-1-2):
(1) The sale and use of all Tilapia species as bait is prohibited.
(2) The stocking of all Tilapia species in any heated-water reservoir including Sooner, Konawa and Boomer Reservoirs is prohibited.
(3) This shall not interfere with the sale of dead and/or processed Tilapia for human food or the sale or transport of Tilapia species for the purpose of aquatic vegetation control in privately owned ponds.
A noxious aquatic plant is any aquatic plant that may cause injury to the environment of
Oklahoma and is declared noxious by regulation of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservat