Reminder: Impact Feasibility Analysis

[IISG ICC]

Invasive Crayfish Collaborators,

This is a friendly reminder to add your impact and feasibility rankings to the Google spreadsheet by tomorrow. Instructions are found on the spreadsheet. Thank you to those who already added their rankings! 

A few questions about the spreadsheet were asked. Our responses to each are found below:

For strategy 1.1.4, how much emphasis is going to be on developing new content and how much for sharing resources?

• The focus of strategy 1.1.4* will be on sharing existing decision-making tools with crayfish managers and supporting efforts to improve them, rather than creating new content. Many tools already exist, so the priority will be to distribute these widely and work with programs interested in refining them.
  
• * "Expand and refine decision-making tools (e.g., AIS Explorer, STAIR, risk, cost-benefit, or multi-criteria analyses) for crayfish managers and incorporate updated research findings. Evaluate existing resources and share these resources with the ICC membership."

Can you clarify how strategy 1.2.3 is different from strategy 4.1.2?

• Strategy 1.2.3: "Organize a training workshop for broad-spectrum monitoring programs to teach and promote standard crayfish sampling techniques and reporting"
• Strategy 4.1.2: "Establish standard crayfish sampling and host training workshops for invasive species management groups and enforcement agencies."

The key difference between the two strategies is their audiences. In short, strategy 1.2.3 aims at training management professionals and strategy 4.1.2 targets non-professionals. Strategy 1.2.3 falls under Objective 1.2, which focuses on environmental professionals already involved in monitoring programs (e.g., scientists, technicians). It focuses on refining their skills in crayfish sampling and reporting, and ensures that the data they collect are consistent and useful for management purposes.This workshop will be designed for an expert management audience. Strategy 4.1.2 falls under Focus Area 4, which targets audiences that may be less familiar with AIS and invasive crayfish management. Strategy 4.1.2 focuses on teaching enforcement agencies and invasive species management groups (i.e., volunteers within these groups), who have less experience with aquatic invasive species in general. This workshop would help provide basic training to help them identify invasive crayfish and aim to enhance the effectiveness of specific groups outside of the regular professionals.

How common is it for states to have information on crayfish retailers and wholesalers?

From our experience at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, information on crayfish retailers and wholesalers is not widely distributed within our states and among our partners, which represents an important gap in our management of this pathway.

Could you be more specific on the actions that strategy 5.3.2 would entail?

• The specific actions for Strategy 5.3.2** have not been finalized yet. The plan is to identify actions that support and promote projects that require more partnerships within the ICC and encourage member participation. Potential actions could include networking events or workshops on effective collaboration. Details will be set during the project planning phases, before the implementation phase.
  
• ** "Encourage the formation of interdisciplinary teams and offer guidance on partnership building to foster effective collaboration and teamwork."

Thank you again for your participation! Please email me at szkl...@illinois.edu if you have any questions, comments, or would like more time to fill out the spreadsheet.

Best,

Natalia Szklaruk