The Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA) has hosted the Mississippi River Basin Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species (MRBP) since 2003 under the oversight of the National ANS Task Force headquartered in Washington, D.C. The MRBP project area includes the entire Mississippi River Basin, the largest watershed in the United States (see map below). Details on formation of the MRBP can be found on our Panel Formation page. The MRBP adopted a formal Operational Guidance Document on July 15, 2006.
MRBP Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of the MRBP include the following:
Develop and submit recommendations to the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) (established via Public Law 101-646),
Coordinate aquatic nuisance species program activities in the Basin,
Advise public and private interests on control efforts, and
Submit an annual report to the ANSTF describing prevention, research and control activities in the Basin.
MRBP Membership
The Panel currently includes members representing 5 federal agencies, 24
states, 1 Canadian province, 5 regional entities, 2 environmental/user groups, 5
private/commercial groups, 2 university/research institutions and 2 at-large
stakeholders, for a total of 46 members. Additional members are expected to
join, including at least two Tribal and two local community members. Panel
membership is also expected to expand and contract with each major issue
addressed. A complete listing of current MRBP Panel members can be found
on our Panel Membership page or our membership
Coordination Directory can be downloaded
here.
MRBP Organizational Structure
The MRBP maintains the following four standing committees:
Committee activity is expected to begin shortly.
MRBP Administration
MICRA appointed a Chairperson (Jay Rendall, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and Vice Chairperson (Michael Hoff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to serve during the first year of Panel activity. After its initial year of operation the Panel is expected to elect its own Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The MICRA Coordinator is also providing support and coordination services for the MRBP. Contact information is displayed below:
Second Term Co-Chairperson: Doug Keller, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, IN
(317) 234-3883, FAX (317) 232-8150, dkeller@dnr.in.gov
First Term Co-Chairperson: Jason Goeckler, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia, KS
(620) 342-0658, FAX (620) 342-6248, jasong@wp.state.ks.us
Immediate Past Co-Chairperson: Kim Bogenschutz, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Boone, IA
(515) 432-2823, FAX (515) 432-2835, kim.bogenschutz@dnr.iowa.gov
Coordinator: Greg Conover, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marion, IL
(618) 997-6869, FAX (618) 997-9185, greg_conover@fws.gov
Upcoming Panel Meetings
September 29-30, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA
Upcoming Panel Supported Activities
Past Meeting Minutes
Organizational
Meeting, July 10-22, 2003, Bloomington, MN
Meeting No. 2, January 7-9, 2004, New Orleans, LA
Meeting
No. 3, May 25-26, 2004, Columbia, MO
Meeting
No. 4, September 8, 2005, Wichita, KS
Western Regional Panel/MRBP Joint Meeting, September 7-9, 2005, Wichita, KS
Meeting
No. 5, August 24, 2006, Peoria, IL
Meeting No.
6, June 5-7, 2007, Pray, MT
Meeting No. 7, January 2008, Nashville, TN
Great Lakes Regional Panel / MRBP Joint Meeting, June 17-19, 2008, Milwaukee, WI
Meeting No. 8, February 18-19, 2009, San Antonio, TX
Accomplishment Reports
2004 Accomplishment Report
2005 Accomplishment Report
2006
Accomplishment Report
MRBP Recommendations
ANS
Dispersal Barriers
Most Troublesome ANS in the MRB
The states have identified 46 plants,
microorganisms, mollusks, fish and mammals that fit under
that category. The MRBP is in the process of developing an interactive
page which provides background information on these aquatic invasive species and
methods of control. These can be found on the following page:
Background
Information for Aquatic Invasive Species in the Mississippi
River Basin
Control Measures for Aquatic Invasive Species in the Mississippi
River Basin
MRB ANS Issues and Downloadable Files
Links to ANS Web Sites
ANS Task Force
Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance
Species
Western Regional Panel
Gulf and South Atlantic Panel
Mid-Atlantic
Regional Panel
Northeast Regional Panel
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
Protect Our Waters - Stop
Aquatic Hitchhikers
National Invasive Species
Information Center
National
Invasive Species Council
Invasive Species Information Node
Invasive Species Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union
Sea Grant National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse
Louisiana Sea
Grant
Minnesota Sea Grant
The Nature Conservancy Wildland Invasive Species Team
Lifemapper
Mississippi
Interstate Cooperative Resource Association
Last modified 06/01/2009
Site Designed and Created for the MRBP by Jerry L. Rasmussen