Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species and their...

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species and their Impacts on

Milwaukee, WI

Prepared for:

City of Milwaukee, Department of Administration,Budget and Management Division

May 7, 2010

By:Adam Felts, Evan Johnson,

Margaret Lalor, Scott Williams, Noah Winn-Ritzenberg

Objectives

Define the context in which AIS affect Milwaukee

Develop policy-relevant goals and priorities

Identify potential policies that Milwaukee should support

Consider connections to the Port of Milwaukee

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

Motivation

Great Lakes are important for Milwaukee economy, recreation, resources, heritage

Harmed by last two centuries of human activity

Role of Port of Milwaukee

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Roadmap

Context Ecological impact of AIS Economic Impact of AIS Economic benefits of Great Lakes shipping Regulatory environment

Goals for AIS policy Policy recommendations

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

Aquatic Invasive Species

Non-native species

Cause economic or environmental harm

Potential for more invasions

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

How AIS Enter the Great Lakes

AIS enter Great Lakes in many different ways-Canal systems-Dumping-Fish farming-Boats & trailers moving between water bodies-Ballast water release

Ballast water is key 55 to 70 percent of AIS introductions since

1959

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Lessons from Current Ecological Damage Numerous impacts

Many different species

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Economic Impact of AIS AIS threaten a number of industries

Great Lakes fisheries – $7 billion annually Great Lakes recreation Industrial raw water users

Sources of uncertainty Difficult to measure ecological damage Difficult to monetize

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Estimated Costs of AIS

Estimated costs of AIS in the Great Lakes range from $200 million to $5.7 billion annually

Impacts on Milwaukee Raw water users and lakefront recreation

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AIS Prevention Options Ballast water treatment

Onboard Offboard

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway infrastructure changes (GL-SLS) Close the GL-SLS to oceangoing ship Close the Chicago locks Build a longer term electrical barrier

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Economic Impacts of Ports Wisconsin ports generate 11,338

jobs Transport 78 percent of state

commodities

Port of Milwaukee generates 2,028 direct and indirect jobs $80 million industry revenues $35 million tax revenues

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Regulations International Maritime Organization

2004 Treaty

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal permit system

U.S. Coast Guard Proposed ballast water regulation

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State Level Regulations

Great Lakes states such as Minnesota, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin

Wisconsin regulations are designed to incentivize innovation

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Inferences from Research

Milwaukee cannot tackle AIS on its own

AIS policy should be guided by the precautionary principle

Prevention is more cost-effective than managing an established AIS

AIS management options are cheaper than doing nothing at all

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

Policy Goals

Ecological responsibility

Prevent economic damage by AIS

Preserve economic vitality of Milwaukee

Political feasibility

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Policy Recommendations Support strong but flexible national

regulation on ballast water

Do not support closing the Chicago Locks as a sole means of controlling Asian carp

Collaborate to secure funding for AIS management

Use media attention to educate publicRobert M. La Follette School

of Public Affairs

Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs

For copies of report, email:publications@lafollette.wisc.edu

Additional Information