Water and WeedsWater and Weeds

Streamkeepers Noxious Weed Training 2006

Cathy Lucero-Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Program

Who are we?Who are we?“The Weed Police”

Federal Noxious Weed Law• Aimed at preventing invasive exotic

introductions• Meet or match local programsState Noxious Weed Law

• Kill ‘em when they’re young!

• Prioritized weed list-revised annually

County Weed Boards

• Local control

• Broad enforcement powers

What’s wrong with weeds?What’s wrong with weeds?WEED

Compete for light,

= Plant out of Place water , nutrients,

Noxious Weeds are Masters of Competition• Non-native• Aggressive • Difficult to Control Once Established• Cause Economic or Environmental Damage• Problem that won’t go away

space

What’s wrong What’s wrong with noxious weeds?with noxious weeds?

Numerous Impacts• Destroy wildlife habitat • Pose hazard to humans and animals • Lower land values• Reduce crop value or production• Cause flooding • Reduce recreational uses • Diminish aesthetics

They’re MONSTERS!

What’s the big deal?What’s the big deal?• US Forest Service calls noxious weeds second

leading cause of species endangerment • The BLM estimates 4,600 acres of wildlife habitat

taken over every day by non-native plants• Creates the perfect environment for additional non-

native speciesPlain EconomicsPlain Economics•Controlling Eurasian Watermilfoil cost Washington state about $1million annually.•Knapweed infestations in Montana rangeland and wildland cost about $42 million annually. •Leafy spurge in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota & Wyoming costs $129.5 million annually and represents a loss of 1,433 jobs

Goal of Streamkeeper Training:Goal of Streamkeeper Training:

• To train volunteers to help detect and monitor infestations, thus preventing or slowing the establishment of noxious weeds in sensitive areas such as riparian and aquatic environments.

Plants and StreamsPlants and Streams

• Shade water

• Add nutrients

• Filter pollutants

• Influence structure

• Deflect energy

• Bank stabilization

• Habitat diversity

Water WeedsWater Weeds

• Typically submergent vegetation, except during reproduction

• Live in shallow streams, slow moving water, ponds and lakes,

• Some tolerate salinity• Most aquarium escapees

Impacts • Rapid growth,

monocultures• Alter water quality• Degrade habitat• Clog waterways and pipe

intakes• Siltation and flooding• Affect water storage

capacity• Recreation-boating,

fishing, swimming• $$$$$$$

Brazilian ElodeaBrazilian Elodea(Egeria densa)(Egeria densa)

Eurasian WatermilfoilEurasian Watermilfoil ((Myriophyllum spicatumMyriophyllum spicatum))

Native-Northern milfoil (Myriophyllum sibericum) on Rt.

Parrot FeatherParrot Feather(Myriophyllum aquaticum)(Myriophyllum aquaticum)

WatercressWatercress(Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum)(Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum)

Fragrant Waterlily(Nymphaea odorata)

Land WeedsLand Weeds

• Land weeds• 1/2 ornamental

introductions, others contaminants

• Aggressive and competitive

• Most thrive in moist environment

• Some are poisonous• Most unpalatable

• Impacts • Rapid growth,

monocultures• Prevent establishment of

beneficial plants• Degrade or threaten

habitat• Clog waterways and pipe

intakes• Siltation and flooding• Decrease pasture or

meadow productivity• $$$$$$$

Butterfly BushButterfly Bush((Buddleia davidii)Buddleia davidii)

Giant HogweedGiant Hogweed

• Large, umbrella-shaped flower head

• 10-15 ft. tall.• Deeply lobed leaves, smooth• Purple splotched or purple stem

TOXIC! Causes severe burns and blistering

((Heracleum Heracleum mantegazzianum)mantegazzianum)

Look-a-Likes

Colt’s foot Cow parsnip

Herb Robert aka Herb Robert aka “Stinky Bob”“Stinky Bob”

(Geranium (Geranium robertianum)robertianum)

•5 petaled pink flower

•Hairy stem

•Leaves smell

Peabody CreekPeabody Creek

English ivyEnglish ivy(Hedera helix, several varieties)(Hedera helix, several varieties)

KnotweedsKnotweeds ( (Polygonum.spp)Polygonum.spp)

• Bamboo-like stems

• Spikes of white flowers

4/9

4/29

5/21

8/5

9/10

10/10

KnotweedKnotweed

Root mass 12 days later

KnapweedsKnapweeds ( (Centaurea spp.)Centaurea spp.)

• Purple, white flowers

• Related to Bachelor’s button

Spotted KnapweedSpotted Knapweed(Centaurea biebersteinii)(Centaurea biebersteinii)

Orange hawkweedOrange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)(Hieracium aurantiacum)

• Bright orange flowers

• Milky sap• Stolons

Purple LoosestrifePurple Loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria)(Lythrum salicaria)

•5-7 petals

•Opposite, entire leaves

•Square stem

Poison hemlockPoison hemlock (Conium maculatum)(Conium maculatum)

• Smooth, purple splotched stem

• VERY VERY POISONOUSPOISONOUS

Hemlock Look-a-LikesHemlock Look-a-Likes

Western Water hemlock

Wild carrot

Water parsley

Bur chervil

Reed CanarygrassReed Canarygrass(Phalaris arundinacea)(Phalaris arundinacea)

Matriotti Creek

AFTERBEFORE

•Large cellophane ligule

Scotch BroomScotch Broom ( (Cytisus scopariusCytisus scoparius))

Smooth CordgrassSmooth Cordgrass(Spartina alternaflora)(Spartina alternaflora)

•No native grass on mudflats

•Fringe of hairs in axil

Smooth CordgrassSmooth Cordgrass(Spartina alternaflora)(Spartina alternaflora)

Hydrology impacts

Tansy RagwortTansy Ragwort ((Senecio jacobaea)Senecio jacobaea)

• 13 yellow petals• Ruffly leaf• TOXIC

Tansy Look-a-LikesTansy Look-a-Likes

St. Johnswort

Groundsels

Common tansy

Dusty Miller

Yellow Flag IrisYellow Flag Iris(Iris pseudocornus)(Iris pseudocornus)

Data SheetsData Sheets

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

• Eliminates estuaries, destroys shell-fish, bird, and invertebrate habitat, increases flooding, encourages other exotic species

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

• Crowds out native vegetation, reduces wildlife habitat, reduces natural inputs to stream structure

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

Destroys fish and invertebrate habitat, impacts water quality, impedes restoration efforts

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

• Reduces land values and recreational use

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

• Reduces forage, threat to human or animal health

Impact SummaryImpact Summary

Wipes out valuable forest understory habitat, reduces biodiversity

Ultimate Goal:Ultimate Goal:Protect Natural ResourcesProtect Natural Resources