Barrier Task Force

Mission

Terms of Reference – Revised Fall 2022


Purpose:  Coordinate efforts of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct, operate, and maintain sea lamprey barriers.

 
Supporting Great Lakes Fishery Commission Goals and Strategies as Numbered from the Vision Document:

 
Goal 1:  Suppress sea lamprey populations to target levels.

Strategy 5:  Construct and maintain a network of barriers to limit sea lamprey access to spawning habitats.

 
Goal 2:  Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of sea lamprey control to further reduce sea lamprey populations in each Great Lake.

Strategy 4: Implement integrated sea lamprey control strategies for each lake and evaluate their effectiveness.

 
Task Force Objectives:

  • Coordinate construction, operation, and maintenance of sea lamprey barriers.
  • Ensure that structures important to sea lamprey control block adult sea lampreys.
  • Develop and annually update standard operating protocols (SOP).
  • Develop and annually update a GIS database of structures that block adult sea lamprey.
  • Rank streams for selection for sea lamprey barriers.
  • Develop annual border-blind schedules and budgets.
  • Assist in the development of research and technical assistance project (TAP) pre-proposals and participate in research studies consistent with the research theme papers.
  • Review research and TAP proposals and prioritize task force research needs that are consistent with the research theme papers.

Membership:

  • Matt Symbal (USFWS – MBS), task force chair (Appointed – October 2019)
  • Sea lamprey control program barrier experts:
    • Bruce Morrison (DFO – SLCC)
    • Sam Matheson (DFO – SLCC)
    • Pete Hrodey (USFWS – MBS)
    • Kevin Mann (USFWS – MBS)
  • Sea lamprey control program environmental support experts:
    • Cheryl Kaye (USFWS – MBS)
    • Gale Bravener (DFO – SLCC)
  • Partner representatives:
    • Amanda Meyer (USACE)
    • Carl Platz (USACE)
    •  Jessica Collier (USFWS – NFWCO)
    • Gary Whelan (MI DNR)
    • Dave Gonder (OMNRF)
  • Internal researchers:
    • Rob McLaughlin (UGuelph)
    • Nick Johnson (USGS – HBBS)
    • Dan Zielinski (GLFC)
  • Lake technical committee member:
    • Vacant
  • Outside expert:
    • Tom Pratt (DFO – GLLFAS)
    • Ted Castro-Santos (USGS Conte Fish Laboratory)
  • Additional invitees as needed according to meeting agenda
  • Secretariat:
    • Mike Siefkes
    • Chris Freiburger
    • Vacant

 

 

Meeting Schedule: At least 2 meetings annually – February and September.

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