12-14-2010, 09:10 PM
PHOENIX - The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a public meeting and webcast in Phoenix at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, to discuss draft updated regulations and a draft management plan to help fight the spread of aquatic invasive species in Arizona waters. The meeting will be held at the Game and Fish headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway (1.5 miles west of I-17), Phoenix. It can also be seen live over the Internet at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.
Other public meetings will be held (but not webcast) in Page at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Headquarters Buildling, 691 Scenic View Drive; and in Kingman at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Rd.
The draft regulations, or "Director's Orders," will update the list of species considered aquatic invasives, update the list of the waters that contain them, and revise the mandatory conditions for moving boats from those waters.
"It is critical for anyone who owns or uses watercraft, or has a business reliant on watercraft, to understand the essential nature of this aquatic invasive species containment effort," said Tom McMahon, invasive species program coordinator with Game and Fish. "The spread of aquatic invasive species, such as quagga mussels and crayfish, has far-reaching impacts, both financial and ecological, that can touch virtually every resident of the state."
In particular, the meetings will discuss:
* The addition of several species (rusty crayfish, red claw crayfish, New Zealand mudsnail, giant salvinia, and didymo (rock snot) to Director's Order #1, which currently includes quagga and zebra mussels.
* Updates to Director's Order #2 (list of contaminated waters) and Director's Order #3 (decontamination protocols).<br />
* The draft 2011 Arizona Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan.
The draft Director's Orders and Arizona Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan are available for viewing at www.azgfd.gov/mussels.
Written comment can be submitted at the public meeting or by e-mail to AIScomments@azgfd.gov. The deadline to submit comment is Jan. 10, 2011.
"Anyone using Arizona waters should understand that they can do their part to avoid transporting undesirable plant and animal life to other bodies of water by taking the simple steps of cleaning, draining, and drying your boat after each outing," said McMahon. "Remember, now it's the law."
For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/mussels. For questions, contact Tom McMahon at tmcmahon@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7271.
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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD's programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above.
Media Contact<br />
Tom McMahon (623) 236-7271 or tmcmahon@azgfd.gov<br />
Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Tom Cadden (623) 236-7392 or tcadden@azgfd.gov<br />
Public Information Officer
Other public meetings will be held (but not webcast) in Page at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Headquarters Buildling, 691 Scenic View Drive; and in Kingman at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Rd.
The draft regulations, or "Director's Orders," will update the list of species considered aquatic invasives, update the list of the waters that contain them, and revise the mandatory conditions for moving boats from those waters.
"It is critical for anyone who owns or uses watercraft, or has a business reliant on watercraft, to understand the essential nature of this aquatic invasive species containment effort," said Tom McMahon, invasive species program coordinator with Game and Fish. "The spread of aquatic invasive species, such as quagga mussels and crayfish, has far-reaching impacts, both financial and ecological, that can touch virtually every resident of the state."
In particular, the meetings will discuss:
* The addition of several species (rusty crayfish, red claw crayfish, New Zealand mudsnail, giant salvinia, and didymo (rock snot) to Director's Order #1, which currently includes quagga and zebra mussels.
* Updates to Director's Order #2 (list of contaminated waters) and Director's Order #3 (decontamination protocols).<br />
* The draft 2011 Arizona Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan.
The draft Director's Orders and Arizona Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan are available for viewing at www.azgfd.gov/mussels.
Written comment can be submitted at the public meeting or by e-mail to AIScomments@azgfd.gov. The deadline to submit comment is Jan. 10, 2011.
"Anyone using Arizona waters should understand that they can do their part to avoid transporting undesirable plant and animal life to other bodies of water by taking the simple steps of cleaning, draining, and drying your boat after each outing," said McMahon. "Remember, now it's the law."
For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/mussels. For questions, contact Tom McMahon at tmcmahon@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7271.
-30-
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD's programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above.
Media Contact<br />
Tom McMahon (623) 236-7271 or tmcmahon@azgfd.gov<br />
Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Tom Cadden (623) 236-7392 or tcadden@azgfd.gov<br />
Public Information Officer