The project purpose is to protect marylands fish and wildlife resources by conducting new invasive species management work that achieves actions within marylands aquatic nuisance species plan…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) a $121,510 Project Grant under the Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (CFDA 15.608) program. The grant aims to protect Maryland's fish and wildlife resources by conducting new invasive species management work that aligns with the state's Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan. Key activities include reducing the biomass of invasive blue catfish in the upper Chesapeake Bay, using herbicides to remove aquatic invasive plants from state lakes, and developing monitoring programs and standard operating procedures for managing these species. The project also involves examining the diet and potential predation of native mussels by the invasive blue catfish through a subrecipient activity. The grant period runs from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027 and is expected to deliver significant reductions in invasive catfish and aquatic plant populations, as well as establish new protocols to support long-term management of these threats to Maryland's aquatic ecosystems.

The project purpose is to protect marylands fish and wildlife resources by conducting new invasive species management work that achieves actions within marylands aquatic nuisance species plan specificallyaction 3.1.1 action 3.3.1 and action 3.3.3. Activities to be performed INCLUDE1 reduce biomass and measure impacts of invasive catfish in upper chesapeake BAY 2 use of herbicide to remove aquatic invasive species in state lakes. Expected novel outcomes INCLUDE1 significant removal of blue catfish and trapa SPP. Water chestnut from maryland public waters 2 developing details to support a monitoring program for blue catfish and a standard operating procedure and 3 a determination on whether blue catfish depredate native mussel in the upper chesapeake BAY. Intended beneficiaries are the general public and the state that seeks to reduce effects of aquatic invasive species on public welfare. Subrecipient activities include examining diet habits of blue catfish from the upper chesapeake BAY using macroscopic inspection of guts stable isotopes and DNA analysis when necessary.