Thermal Limits to Range Expansion of

NZMS in A Highly Used Recreational

Drainage in the Intermountain

West

Christine M. Moffitt

Christopher James

USGS, Idaho Coop Research Unit

University of Idaho

New Zealand Mud Snails in Idaho

• Discovery ~1987

• Not much reaction until conflicts/threats

were identified associated with

– Bliss Rapids Snail

– Silver Creek

– USFWS Risk Assessment

Risky Invasive Species

• Inhabit sites of native Idaho snails

• Photophobic, threatened Bliss Rapids

snail (Taylorconcha serpenticola)

• Potential increase in molluscivorous

predators, such as leeches

• Potential to capture primary production

alter trophic dynamics and host fish

parasites

U of Idaho Studies

ÊÚ

#

#Boise Sun Valley

Twin Falls

Silver Cr.

Riley Cr. Snake

River

Salmon River

LWR

BWRÊÚ

#

#Boise Sun Valley

Twin Falls

Silver Cr.

Riley Cr. Snake

River

Salmon River

LWR

BWR

• Hatchery Control Strategies –

Louise Bruce, Jordan Nielson,

Kelly Stockton student

investigators

• Understanding Ecology -

Chris James, student

investigator

NZMS in the Hagerman Valley

• Numerous federal, state and

private hatcheries in

Hagerman Valley

• Hatcheries benefit spring-fed

water (~59 F all year)

• Fall 2002

• NZMS colonies found in

springs that supply

Hagerman National Fish

Hatchery (HNFH)

FWS Risk Assessment

• HNFH releases SHT for mitigation at

remote sites

• Potential transport of snails in truck water

or GI tract of fish

South Fork Clearwater River

Upper Salmon River

Little Salmon River

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control

Point Plan (HACCP)

Department of Interior Policy (Executive Order #13112, Invasive Species)

• Requires programs not carry out actions that cause introduction or spread of invasive species

• Only support such actions if benefits outweigh potential harm caused by invasive species

Identify Risks

Procedures to minimize risks

• Examine fish stomach contents

• Use clean water source for distribution

truck

• Take fish off feed 48 hours before

transport

• Sweep raceway walls/floors 24-48 h before

transport

• Utilize mesh screens on dewatering tower

of fish pump

Outcome of HACCP Process

• Conclude no guarantee NZMS not

transported off hatchery

• Risk Management - 2004

• Release into upper Salmon River

• Release into Little Salmon River

• No release into South Fork Clearwater

River

Studies in Hatchery Setting

• Fate of ingested snails in GI tract of fish - published

• Volitional feeding - published

• Hydrocyclone filtration - submitted

• Control strategies with CO2

• Hatchery Manual and Disinfections studies

• in progress (Stockton)

Stomach Small intestineLarge intestine

Likely movement from

Thousand Springs, Hagerman

Valley

to Silver Creek on Angler Boots

Hemingway Country

Historical Background of

Silver Creek Infestation

• Original Identification by USGS in 2001

• Small scale survey performed by Eco-

Analysts (Summer 2003)

Worry Re Possible Outcome of

Infestation on Fisheries• Loss of Productive

Fisheries?

• Stream closures?

• Idaho Fish and

Game Blue Ribbon

Fishing

• TNC $$$ associated

with fishing

• Sun Valley Effect

Considered a Spring Fed System –

High Risk

• Fish hatchery in drainage

• Fishing access site run by F&G

• TNC Preserve with thousands of

visitors

• Highest visitation rates and fishing

effort in state

Silver Creek

Butte

Creek

Silver Creek Drainage

Objectives:• Distribution Survey in Drainage

• Water Temperatures and Water Quality

• Winter and Summer Distribution

• Determine if Expanding

• Relate to Hagerman Populations

Presence/Absence Survey

Methods

• Every kilometer, locate the nearest downstream

“gravel” substrate

• Collect 3 separate 10 second kick-net samples

spanning the longest axis of the substrate and

classifying the substrate using the Wentworth

scale

• Individual samples sieved after collection and

sorted through in the field to determine

presence, or absence, of NZMS

Distribution During Summer Season

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

14-Jun 15-Jun 16-Jun 17-Jun 18-Jun 19-Jun

Tem

peratu

re (

°C

)

Loving Cr SC Foot Bridge Air Temperature

Summer Temperature Fluctuations

Seasonal Distribution, Temperature

and Water Quality Monitoring

Minimum Daily Temperatures

-3.0

2.0

7.0

12.0

17.0

22.0

Jun-

04

Aug

-04

Oct

-04

Dec

-04

Feb-0

5

Apr

-05

Jun-

05

Date

Te

mp

Point of Rocks Silver&Loving

Wooden Bridge Silver&Grove

Density Studies Winter and Summer

Positive

S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9

Log D

ensity (

snails

/m2)

0

2

4

6

8

10

Summer 2005

Winter 2005-2006

Site Number

Seasonal Fluctuation in Abundance

S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9

Co

nd

uctivity (

mS

/cm

)

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

Winter 2005 - 06

Summer 2005

Reach 1 Reach 2

Co

nd

uctivity (

mS

/cm

)

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

Winter 2005 - 06

Summer 2005

Winter 2005-06

Is Conductivity a Limiting Factor?

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Avera

ge T

em

pera

ture

°C

0

5

10

15

20

25

S-1

S-2

S-3

S-4

S-5

S-6

S-7

S-8

S-9

Average Temperature Varies and Lowest Temps are

Correlated with Uninfested Sites

-2.0

2.0

6.0

10.0

14.0

18.0

22.0

26.0

May

-04

Jul-0

4

Sep-0

4

Oct-0

4

Dec

-04

Feb-05

Mar

-05

Date

Te

mp

°C

Kilpatrick Bridge, Silver Creek Max and

Minimum and Average

-1.0

3.0

7.0

11.0

15.0

19.0

23.0

27.0

Jun-

04

Jul-0

4

Aug-0

4

Aug-0

4

Sep-0

4

Sep-0

4

Oct-0

4

Nov

-04

Nov

-04

Dec

-04

Jan-

05

Jan-

05

Feb-05

Mar

-05

Mar

-05

Date

Te

mp

°C

Fish and Game Access Water Temperatures

Differences Between Hagerman

and Silver Creek

• Sample in winter and summer

• Temperature, densities, reproductive

capacity, water quality

Riley Creek Region in Hagerman

Abiotic Parameters Riley & Loving Creek

Conductivity DO (mg/L) TDS (g/L) pH

Loving Cr.

(n=27)

.281

(.265-.288)

N/A .273

(.265-.285)

7.22

(6.31-8.14)

Riley Cr.

(n=27)

.259

(.234-.263)

N/A .211

(.191-.214)

7.78

(6.72-8.80)

Conductivity DO (mg/L) TDS (g/L) pH

Loving

(n=27)

.321

(.313-.330)

9.75

(5.31-12.73)

.269

(.264-.271)

7.97

(7.38-8.29)

Riley

(n=27)

.275

(.269-.282)

9.78

(7.34-10.54)

.212

(.209-.214)

8.31

(7.49-8.49)

Summer „05

Winter „04

Stream TempsPicabo Rd. Bridge

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Apr-04 Aug-

04

Nov-

04

Feb-

05

May-

05

Sep-

05

Dec-

05

Mar-

06

Riley Creek

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Nov-04 Feb-05 May-05 Sep-05 Dec-05

Loving Cr.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

17-Feb 8-Apr 28-May 17-Jul 5-Sep 25-Oct 14-Dec

Daily Avgerage Temperatures

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Jan-0

5

Mar

-05

May

-05

Jun-

05

Aug

-05

Oct

-05

Date

Da

ily

Av

era

ge

Te

mp

(°C

)

Loving Cr. Riley Cr.

N=8 N=5

N=4 N=3

Loving and Riley Cr. Temperature

Conclusions

• NZMS thrive in constant temperature

waters e.g. close to hatchery effluents and

in springs

• Nutrient enrichment from hatchery

raceways may enhance the densities below

hatcheries

• Temperatures in winter limit spread of

small populations below Hayspur Fish

Hatchery

Conclusions

• Silver Cr. Population is kept at low density by

cold winter temperatures

• Restoration projects could cause hydrological

changes

• Stream channel modifications

• Dredging activities

• Pond development

Acknowledgements

and Funding Sources

• Hagerman National Fish Hatchery Staff

• Hagerman State Fish Hatchery Staff

• Hayspur State Fish Hatchery Staff

• Brian Dennis, Mark Dybdahl, Ron Hardy, Fred Partridge

• Paul Heimowitz

• FUNDING SOURCES:

• Silver Creek TNC; Idaho Department of Fish and Game;USFWS and USGS, SSP program;CRISSP Program, University of Idaho