Other impacts from spartina s invasion results from the meadows being a good filter of sediment washing off the land. While this might be considered beneficial at reducing pollution, it has negative effects on intertidal estuarine habitat. For example, in Willapa Bay, Washington, Spartina has drastically changed the topography. Efforts to control spartina may cause additional affects to salmon and their habitat. Long term impacts have not been studied of either the use of mechanical mowing measures or of the use of herbicides.
Concern arises due to both acute and sublethal toxicity and the potential for bioaccumulation.
The affects of these changes are not fully known. Support efforts to eradicate invasive species and study eradication methods. Assure that the impacts and risk of the various eradication methods consider avoidance of impacts on salmon EFH to the maximum extent possible. Avoid siting new vessel moorage or launching facilities in areas with invasive species, if vessel transport is a vector for the spread of the species, until the species is eradicated from that water body or enforceable and dependable mechanisms are available to assure the species isn t spread. Restrict new aquaculture and mariculture to native organisms unless raised in closed systems.