the maryland/district of columbia chapter of the nature conservancy presents…
TRANSCRIPT
The Maryland/District of The Maryland/District of Columbia Chapter of the Columbia Chapter of the
Nature Conservancy Nature Conservancy presents… presents…
The Weed Watcher/Buster The Weed Watcher/Buster ProgramProgram
by by
Donnelle KeechDonnelle Keech
Deborah BarberDeborah Barber
Virginia McDanielVirginia McDaniel
Meredith MaloneMeredith Malone
What are invasive, exotic What are invasive, exotic plants?plants?
Invasive plantInvasive plant - a plant whose - a plant whose growth habit has a detrimental growth habit has a detrimental effect on natural ecosystemseffect on natural ecosystems
Invasive, exotic plantInvasive, exotic plant - - lives lives outside its historic rangeoutside its historic range AND has AND has a detrimental effect on natural a detrimental effect on natural ecosystemsecosystems
Invasive, Invasive, exoticexotic plantplant
Japanese honeysuckleJapanese honeysuckle
(Lonicera japonica)(Lonicera japonica)originally from Asiaoriginally from Asia
Invasive, Invasive, nativenative plantplant
Pokeberry Pokeberry
(Phytolacca americana)(Phytolacca americana)originally from N. Americaoriginally from N. America
Virginia Tech Weed Identification Virginia Tech Weed Identification GuideGuide
Characteristics of invasive, Characteristics of invasive, exoticexotic plantsplants
Rapid growth and maturityRapid growth and maturity Prolific seed productionProlific seed production Highly successful seed dispersal, Highly successful seed dispersal,
germination and colonizationgermination and colonization Rampant vegetative growthRampant vegetative growth» Ability to out-compete native speciesAbility to out-compete native species» High cost and effort to remove or High cost and effort to remove or
controlcontrol
What have we done to What have we done to manage this problem?manage this problem?
The Goal of the Weed The Goal of the Weed Watchers/Busters ProgramWatchers/Busters Program
To locate and manage To locate and manage recentlyrecently emerged infestationsemerged infestations of of invasive, exotic plants on invasive, exotic plants on high high priority sitespriority sites in Maryland and in Maryland and the District of Columbia with the District of Columbia with assistance from an extensive assistance from an extensive network of volunteersnetwork of volunteers
How does it work?How does it work?
Weed WatchersFind the infestations
and report them
TNC staffPrioritize the infestations
and determine management options
Weed BustersImplement the plans
that TNC develops
The Weed WatchersThe Weed Watchers
The goal of the Weed Watchers is The goal of the Weed Watchers is to locate and inform staff of to locate and inform staff of new or new or unknown occurrences of invasive, unknown occurrences of invasive, exotic plantsexotic plants on TNC preserves in on TNC preserves in Maryland.Maryland.
The Hit ListThe Hit List We determined the most threatening We determined the most threatening
invasive, exotic species to invasive, exotic species to Maryland/D.C. TNC sites and Maryland/D.C. TNC sites and developed a short list on which to developed a short list on which to focusfocus
The list helped us:The list helped us: prioritize our management efforts andprioritize our management efforts andprevent volunteers from feeling prevent volunteers from feeling
overwhelmed by a large number of plants overwhelmed by a large number of plants to identifyto identify
The Hit ListThe Hit List
We determined which species to target by:We determined which species to target by: surveying invasive plant management surveying invasive plant management
professionals throughout Maryland andprofessionals throughout Maryland and
researching current literatureresearching current literature
We settled on 13 invasive, exotic species... We settled on 13 invasive, exotic species...
The Hit List species are...The Hit List species are...
Tree-of heaven Garlic Mustard Autumn Olive Japanese
honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Purple loosestrife
Japanese stiltgrass
Canary reedgrass Common reed Japanese
knotweed Mile-a-minute Lesser celandine Multiflora rose
22 volunteers were22 volunteers were:: assigned high priority sites to monitor,assigned high priority sites to monitor, trained to identify the hit list species trained to identify the hit list species
and report occurrences to TNC,and report occurrences to TNC, taught compass and topographical taught compass and topographical
map reading skills, ANDmap reading skills, AND accompanied to their site for an accompanied to their site for an
orientation visit.orientation visit.
Volunteers- an essential Volunteers- an essential resourceresource
The “Lecture”The “Lecture”Slide show/MS Power Point Slide show/MS Power Point
presentationpresentation
Reviewed the Weed Watcher ManualReviewed the Weed Watcher Manual
practiced infestation practiced infestation reporting methodsreporting methods (i.e. visit (i.e. visit and hit reports)and hit reports)
reviewed flagging and mapping techniques reviewed flagging and mapping techniques to to document the exact locationdocument the exact location of infested of infested areaarea
Practiced Practiced plant identificationplant identification using dried using dried specimensspecimens
Practiced Practiced compass and topography readingcompass and topography reading
The “Lab”The “Lab”A trip to Rock Creek ParkA trip to Rock Creek Park
Practiced plant identification and navigational Practiced plant identification and navigational skillsskills
Weed Watchers identify the Tree-of-heavenWeed Watchers identify the Tree-of-heaven
The TestThe Test to ensure that all Weed Watchers were adequately trained
The following spring...The following spring...
The Weed The Weed Watcher reports Watcher reports came rolling in!came rolling in!
Prioritization of Prioritization of InfestationsInfestations
Once we received Weed Watcher Once we received Weed Watcher reports, we needed a method of reports, we needed a method of management prioritizationmanagement prioritization
We consulted The Nature We consulted The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland Invasive Conservancy’s Wildland Invasive Species Team (WIST)Species Team (WIST)
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.eduhttp://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu
Our prioritization guidelinesOur prioritization guidelinesbased on based on
WIST’s Weed Management Plan templateWIST’s Weed Management Plan template
What is the current What is the current extentextent of the of the species on or near the site?species on or near the site?
What are the current and potential What are the current and potential impactsimpacts of the species? of the species?
What is the What is the valuevalue of the habitats/areas of the habitats/areas that the species infests or may infest?that the species infests or may infest?
How How difficultdifficult is the infestation to is the infestation to control?control?
Different GoalsDifferent Goals
Depending on Depending on your organization’s your organization’s goalsgoals, the guidelines you follow , the guidelines you follow when prioritizing the management when prioritizing the management of infestations may differ from of infestations may differ from ours.ours.
The Weed BustersThe Weed Busters
The goal of the Weed Busters is to The goal of the Weed Busters is to implementimplement weed management/control weed management/control plans on Weed Watcher/Buster sites.plans on Weed Watcher/Buster sites.
Once infestations are: Once infestations are:
1) found by the Weed Watchers, and 1) found by the Weed Watchers, and
2) identified as high priority for 2) identified as high priority for management, the Weed Busters management, the Weed Busters attack!attack!
Who are the Weed Who are the Weed Busters?Busters?
Anyone can be a Weed Buster!Anyone can be a Weed Buster!
Volunteers sign up for Weed Buster Volunteers sign up for Weed Buster workdays advertised in our volunteer workdays advertised in our volunteer newsletter, newsletter, The OracleThe Oracle
““On-call” volunteers join an email listserve On-call” volunteers join an email listserve and are notified of weed control workdays and are notified of weed control workdays which are scheduled with little notice.which are scheduled with little notice.
The results...The results...
… on the land we protect!
We began to manage many infestations...
What have we What have we accomplished?accomplished?
During the summer of 2001, Weed During the summer of 2001, Weed Watchers and Weed Busters Watchers and Weed Busters located AND began to control located AND began to control 1919 different invasive, exotic species different invasive, exotic species infestations on infestations on 55 TNC preserves in TNC preserves in Maryland.Maryland.
Interested in developing Interested in developing your own Weed your own Weed
Watcher/Buster Program?Watcher/Buster Program?
Resources to considerResources to consider
Access to volunteers and possibly interns Access to volunteers and possibly interns Time Time
to supervise volunteers and interns, to supervise volunteers and interns, to review and prioritize Weed Watcher reports, to review and prioritize Weed Watcher reports,
&& to research the latest weed control to research the latest weed control
methodologiesmethodologies Herbicides and safety equipment, if Herbicides and safety equipment, if
permitted by your statepermitted by your state FundingFunding
Information Sources: Multi-Information Sources: Multi-regionalregionalWebsitesWebsites
TNC’s Wildland Invasive Species TeamTNC’s Wildland Invasive Species Teamhttp://tncweeds.ucdavis.eduhttp://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu
National Plants DatabaseNational Plants Database http://plants.usda.govhttp://plants.usda.gov
Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture http://invasivespecies.govhttp://invasivespecies.gov
University of Montana’s INVADERS DatabaseUniversity of Montana’s INVADERS Databasehttp://invader.dbs.umt.eduhttp://invader.dbs.umt.edu
Center for Aquatic and Invasive PlantsCenter for Aquatic and Invasive Plantshttp://plants.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://plants.ifas.ufl.edu
Information Sources: Mid-Information Sources: Mid-AtlanticAtlantic
WebsitesWebsites
Virginia Natural Heritage ProgramVirginia Natural Heritage Programhttp://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/invlist.htmhttp://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/invlist.htm
Maryland Native Plants SocietyMaryland Native Plants Societyhttp://www.mdflora.orghttp://www.mdflora.org
Information Sources: Information Sources: OrganizationsOrganizations
Maryland Invasive Species CouncilMaryland Invasive Species Council
email [email protected] to learn moreemail [email protected] to learn more
Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant CouncilMid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
send blank email to ma-eppc-subscribe send blank email to ma-eppc-subscribe @yahoogroups.com to join [email protected] to join listserve
TNC’s Invasive Species Listserve DigestTNC’s Invasive Species Listserve Digestemail Barry Rice with name & state/country at email Barry Rice with name & state/country at [email protected]@ucdavis.edu
HerbicidesHerbicides
State restrictionsState restrictions
Find out what your state’s restrictions are Find out what your state’s restrictions are before preparing to applybefore preparing to apply
If your state’s laws do not prohibit If your state’s laws do not prohibit herbicide use on the land you protect, herbicide use on the land you protect, see TNC’s “Guidelines for Herbicide Use” see TNC’s “Guidelines for Herbicide Use” at:at:
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/handbook.htmlhandbook.html
Remember...Remember...Weed management requires ongoingWeed management requires ongoing
reevaluations and adjustments.reevaluations and adjustments.
Shifting priorities will alter management objectives.Shifting priorities will alter management objectives.
Learn which control methods are most effective through trial and error.Learn which control methods are most effective through trial and error.
New species may be added to your hit list.New species may be added to your hit list.
Share your invasive plant management Share your invasive plant management experiences, so we can learn from one experiences, so we can learn from one
another.another.
Questions anyone?Questions anyone?
Contact usContact us at the Maryland/District of at the Maryland/District of
Columbia Chapter of the Nature Columbia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy:Conservancy:
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 1005410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100
Bethesda, Maryland 20814Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(301) 897-8570(301) 897-8570
or emailor email
Deborah Barber at [email protected] Barber at [email protected]