Detections and removal of invasive nutria have been increasing within the Delta and Suisun Marsh. State agencies continue to proceed with eradication efforts.

The Measure

Prevention and reduction of key invasive non-native terrestrial and aquatic species in the Delta and Suisun Marsh. 

  • Expectations

    Establishment of new invasive populations is prevented, and already established populations of key non-native invasive species, including fish, plants, and invertebrates are reduced.

  • Performance Metrics

    • Number of key new non-native invasive species of fish, plants, and invertebrates
    • Non-native fish:
      • Percentage of native fish biomass
      • Percentage of native fish total relative abundance
    • Non-native invasive vegetation:
      • Number of acres treated for invasive plants 
      • Peak coverage of invasive non-native plant species

Non-Native Invasive Species Introductions in the Delta and Suisun Marsh since 2013

Below is a table of non-native invasive species that have been established or confirmed verified sightings in the Delta and Suisun Marsh region.

  Common Name Year Found Additional Information
Channel Apple Snail
Photo by Katasha Cornwell Florida Department of Transportation
Channeled Applesnail 2017
Alligator weed
Photo Source: Robert H. Mohlenbrock - USDA
Alligator Weed 2017
Adult Nutria
Photo Source: California Fish and Wildlife
Nutria 2018
Ribbonweed
Photo Source: California Fish and Wildlife

 

Ribbon Weed 2021

Nutria eradication efforts:

Date

Nutria taken within the Central Valley watershed (as of February 2024) Nutria taken from within the Delta (as of February 2024)
Since March 2017 4,123 317
Since January 2023 678 184

This list is not meant to showcase all non-native invasive establishments in the Delta but to show specific species that are well-documented and are assessed to have possible major impacts to the Delta ecosystem, waterways, recreation, and / or agriculture.

There are several other non-native invasive species established in the Delta and Suisun Marsh. If you are looking for a more comprehensive list of non-native invasive species, they are available at:

  1. CAL-IPC - provides tools and information regarding California invasive vegetation
  2. USGS-NAS - a site that is a data repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. It provides several resources such as maps, general information, scientific studies, and etc.

Next Data Update: This will be updated at the start of the new year.

Native Fish Biomass in the Delta

The chart shows the percentage of native fish biomass relative to non-native fish in the Delta based on USFWS Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program beach seine surveys. Percent increases in relative native fish biomass correlates to relative decreases in non-native fish biomass. Target is 42% (20% increase from baseline).

Next Data Update: This visualization was updated in fall 2023 and will be updated soon after the data source is updated in fall 2024.

Native Fish Relative Abundance in the Delta

The chart shows the percentage of native fish abundance relative to non-native fish in the Delta based on USFWS Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program beach seine surveys. Percent increases in relative native fish abundance correlates to relative decreases in non-native fish abundance. Target is 41% (20% increase from baseline).

Next Data Update: This visualization was updated in fall 2023 and will be updated soon after the data source is updated in fall 2024.

Next Data Update: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service beach seine survey data are updated about twice a year. The visualization above will be updated in the beginning of each water year in October. 

Remote Sensing for Invasive Aquatic Vegetation in the Delta

The chart below shows the total of area of floating aquatic vegetation (FAV) and submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) in acres for the Legal Delta for each year that imagery was acquired. The acres recorded do not include SAV and FAV cover within restoration sites to provide fair comparison with previous years (2004-2007).

The data used for the graphs below are from "Remote sensing of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to enhance mapping for invasive and native aquatic plant species" by Susan Ustin et al. 2021. Additional information regarding the species composition and other information can be found in the paper.

Remote Sensing Continued: Central Delta and Cache Slough Complex

The chart on the left shows the total area of FAV and SAV in acres for the Central Delta and Cache Slough Complex for each year that imagery was acquired. The chart on the right shows the percentage of waterway coverage of FAV and SAV in the same areas.

Invasive Vegetation - Acres Treated

The chart below shows invasive vegetation annual treatment acreages by main vegetation types: FAV and SAV. The baseline of this metric is set at zero acres as of 2013. Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is the authorized lead agency responsible for treatments of aquatic invasive vegetation. DBW is permitted to treat a set number of acres for specific invasive species FAV, SAV, and emergent aquatic vegetation (EAV) each year (E.g. 2018-2022 permitted to treat up to 15,000 acres each year for all FAV, SAV, and EAV). Also, the number of acres treated can vary based on available resources, timing, climate and weather, or the amount of aquatic vegetation present. Information regarding DBW's aquatic invasive species treatments for each season can be found on their public notice page.

Next Data Update: The data for treated acres is released in DBW's annual reports, which becomes available early the following year of their treatment season.

Non-native invasive species are a major stressor to the Delta ecosystem because they affect the survival, health, and distribution of native Delta wildlife and plants. Non-native invasive species can take over habitat space, compete for food, alter food webs, modify the physical habitat structure, and prey upon native species. This may result in non-native plants, invertebrates, and fishes replacing native species, negatively impacting the ecosystem. For example, quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) clog water intake structures (e.g., pipes), which can increase maintenance costs. Quagga mussels can also outcompete native mussels and other filter feeding invertebrates for food. Recreational activities on lakes and rivers are also affected as mussels collect on docks, buoys, or boats (may increase drag or clog engines).

Invasive aquatic plants recently have increased in the Delta to an unprecedented level resulting in large-scale accumulation, causing boat navigation obstruction, and impairment of recreation uses of waterways. Invasive aquatic plants also have the potential to damage facilities and threaten the health and stability of fisheries. Five non-native aquatic plants: Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa), spongeplant (Limnobium laevigatum), curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), water primrose (Ludwigia spp.), and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), have become particularly problematic in the Delta. To support a healthier and more resilient Delta ecosystem, actions need to be taken to reduce non-native invasive aquatic plants.

Riparian and emergent vegetation types include species such as Arundo donax (giant cane), Phragmites australis (nonnative common reed), Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry), Lepidium latifolium (perennial pepperweed). Riparian and emergent vegetation type is not included in data visualization yet.

Each chapter of the Delta plan includes strategies to achieve the goals of the plan. These strategies are general guidance on achieving the objective laid out in the plan and in the Delta Reform Act of 2009. Associated with these strategies are recommendations. The recommendations describe more specific and implementable actions to support the achievement of Delta Plan strategies. Strategies and recommendations may also have associated performance measures. Delta Plan performance measures track progress in achieving desired outcomes for the Delta Plan. Below are the strategies and recommendations associated with this performance measure. 

Strategy:
  • Prevention and reduction of key nonnative terrestrial and aquatic invasive species in the Delta and Suisun Marsh

Recommendations:
  • Regulate angling for non-native sport fish to protect native fish
  • Prioritize and implement actions to control non-native invasive species

Metric to be evaluated annually:

  • Number of key new non-native invasive species of fish, plants, and invertebrates establishing populations in the Delta (e.g., Quagga and Zebra mussels, Hydrilla verticillata, and others as they are identified).
Managing non-native fish:
  • Percentage of the biomass of fish that are native fish species based on USFWS beach seine surveys (and other relevant surveys).
  • Percentage of total relative abundance that are native species in the Delta and Suisun Marsh based on USFWS beach seine surveys (and other relevant surveys).
Managing invasive non-native vegetation:
  • Number of acres treated for invasive plants as defined by individual plans and projects (e.g., Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Conservation Strategy, Arundo control project, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) aquatic invasive plant control program, etc.).
  • Peak coverage, in acres, of invasive non-native plant species (e.g., Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia spp., Egeria densa, Arundo donax and Phragmites australis) in the Delta and Suisun Marsh.

Baseline:

  • Species reported as established in the Delta prior to 2013 Delta Plan adoption will be used for baseline identification of new invasive species establishing post-2013.
Fish:
  • Average percent of total fish biomass that are native fish species based on USFWS beach seine surveys from 1995-2015.
Vegetation:
  • Number of acres treated set at zero as of 2013.
  • Peak coverage estimates, in acres, for nuisance nonnative aquatic plant species based on available hyperspectral and Landsat remote sensing surveys conducted in the Delta from 2003-2016. Arundo donax surveys conducted for the Delta Conservancy in 2015. Suisun Marsh vegetation surveys conducted from 1999–2013.

Target to be achieved by 2030:

  • Zero new nonnative invasive species of fish, plants, and invertebrates established in the Delta.
Fish:
  • 20 percent increase in the biomass of the native inshore fish community, relative to total fish biomass.
  • 20 percent increase in the relative abundance of the native inshore fish community, compared to total relative abundance.
Vegetation:
  • Acreage targets for treatment of invasive plants as defined by individual plans and projects:
    •          680 acres within lower Sacramento
    •          800 acres within lower San Joaquin
    •          15 acres in the Cache Slough Complex (Arundo control project)
    •          5,000 acres, annually, for herbicide floating aquatic vegetation treatment in the Delta
    •          2,500 acres during treatment seasons for herbicide submersed aquatic vegetation treatment in the Delta.
  • A 50 percent reduction in peak non-native invasive plant species coverage (acres), including, but not limited to: Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia spp., Egeria densa, Arundo donax, Rubus armeniacus, Lepidium latifolium, and Phragmites australis.

Data are collected and compiled from the following sources:

New Non-Native Invasive Introduction:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

USGS Non-Indigenous Aquatic Species

California Invasive Plant Council

Fish Biomass and Abundance:

Methods from Mahardja et al. (2017)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service beach seine data from the Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program

Data and code used for analysis can be found on the Environmental Data Initiative portal

Relative native biomass and abundance values were calculated as: natives / (natives + non-natives)

Invasive Vegetation Acres Treated:

Department of Boating and Waterways Annual Reports

Delta Conservancy Arundo Control and Restoration Project

California Invasive Plant Council

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