Invasive Species

New Zealand Mud Snail

Quaaga Mussels

Zebra Mussels

Invasive species are alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species represent the second leading cause (habitat loss) of species extinction and loss of biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial environments worldwide. Alien invasive species occur in all groups of plants and animals. They include competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites. They have invaded almost every type of native ecosystem and have caused hundreds of extinctions.

Introduced exotic plants and animals may harm native species by changing the structure of the existing ecosystem. For example, non-native species may compete with native species for resources such as water, food, space, or light. However, an exotic species is not necessarily an invasive species. A non-native species may become invasive if it does not have natural enemies, such as predators or disease, in its new environment to help keep its population under control. Without these controls, invasive species also often spread rapidly to areas other than where they were initially introduced.

Examples of problematic species in Solano County include: Yellow Star Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), New Zealand Mud Snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) , Medusa-head (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) , Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), Russian Thistle (Salsola kali), and Cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum and X. strumarium).

Some ways to help reduce the spread and introduction of invasive species include: verify that the plants you are buying for your yard or garden are not invasive; when boating, clean your boat thoroughly before transporting it to a different body of water; clean your boots before you hike in a new area to get rid of hitchhiking weed seeds and pathogens; clean your boots and waders before fishing in a new area; and don't release aquarium fish and plants, live bait or other exotic animals into the wild.

SCWA is currently monitoring for invasive species in it's water conveyance facilities.

When the Solano Habitat Conservation Plan is adopted, SCWA will develop and implement management programs on reserves and preserves established for the HCP to reduce or control problematic invasive exotic plant and animal species that degrade natural communities and compete with Covered Species. Management programs that will effectively control invasive species will likely entail the use of a variety of management measures including the use of herbicides, livestock grazing, fire, and other best management practices to control/eradicate target weeds and to minimize land use activities that promote weed establishment and spread.