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Program to focus on invasive fish and plant species (Feb. 22, 2008) – Fish and plant species that threaten the Missouri River’s health will be the subject of an illustrated program and panel discussion at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2 at the Betty Strong Encounter Center on the Missouri Riverfront. Admission will be free. Speakers will focus on various species, including Asian carp which competes with native fish, and Salt Cedar, an invasive water-thirsty tree that grows along some portions of the Missouri River. The panel will discuss how the spread of invasives can be prevented. The event is part of a series designed to stir interest in the river as a unique setting for a rich diversity of life.
Bogenschutz will talk about identification and effects of several aquatic invasive species in Iowa. Pegg will present information on Asian carp, how they compete with native fish in the system and potential techniques to prevent their spread. Stenson will cover the history and problems associated with Salt Cedar. The program is presented by the Betty Strong Encounter Center in cooperation with the the the Izaak Walton League of America, one of the nation's oldest conservation organizations. Izaak Walton has almost 300 chapters dedicated to caring for the country’s natural heritage and improving outdoor recreational opportunities. The Betty Strong Encounter Center is a private, non-profit institution built and sustained by Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. (MRHD) connected to the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center on the Missouri Riverfront, exit 149 off I-29. Admission, all programs, exhibits and activities are free. For more information, visit www.siouxcitylcic.com.
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The speakers will be Kim Bogenschutz,
the Aquatic Nuisance Program Coordinator for
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources;
Mark Pegg, a fisheries ecologist from
University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Mark
Stenson a weed management technician for the
South Dakota Department of Agriculture.