Stop Wasting Your Time on Invasives

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Stop Wasting Your Time on Invasives
Plan Your Way to Success!
Ellen Jacquart The Nature Conservancy ejacquart_at_tn
c.org
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I have a confession..

• I really, really hate planning.

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Theyre everywhere!!
They are not everywhere. Really. It is crucial
to know how much there is planning will help you
select winnable battles.
1 Misconception
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Its all ok its just more diversity!
Diversity is more than a species count. Invasive
plants can have many negative impacts to natural
areas. Planning helps decide which invasive
plants are causing the worst impacts and so
should be higher priority.
2 Misconception
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(No Transcript)
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Considerations in controlling invasive species

• Prevention is the ALWAYS the best strategy!
• Early detection is the second best strategy

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By the time you are in the control and management
strategy, the cost is huge and the failure rate
is high.
When I was young, I observed that nine out of
every ten things I did were failures, so I did
ten times the work. George Bernard Shaw
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• Why do so many invasive control efforts fail?
• unrealistic goals
• lack of follow-through
• no size-up before starting
• ineffective method used
• How do we succeed?

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You can do it!

• Some successful invasive plant management
  projects
• Lanphere Dunes in Humboldt Bay NWR
• Sandy River knotweed project
• Weed it Now! Berkshire-Taconic landscape project

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Lanphere Dunes, Humboldt Bay NWR
Plants were manually cleared over three years

• Before - 10 acres of European dune grass
  infestation by 1990

After native plant cover increased dramatically
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Sandy River project, northern Oregon
TNC, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the
Bureau of Land Management and the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service
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Sandy River project, northern Oregon

• What has been accomplished?
• Surveyed 10 miles of river (600 acres)
  representing 200 different landowners
• 150 gross acres of knotweed found made up of 2,
  840 different patches
• All acres have been treated at least once most
  treated 3 times
• Stems have been reduced 80 control expected in
  2005

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Weed It Now!Berkshire-Taconic Landscape Project
Japanese barberry
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From a 120,000 acre landscape they chose a 9,000
core area to inventory and control barberry.
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Weed It Now!
What has been accomplished? -goal is to reduce
Japanese barberry to 5 of the area. -started
treating in 2002, now treating approximately
2,000 acres per year in a three state area
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Why are these projects successful?

• Working with partners across boundaries
  (Cooperative Weed Management Areas)

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• Cooperative Weed Management Areas

The term CWMA, or Cooperative Weed Management
Area, refers to a local organization that
integrates invasive plant management resources
across jurisdictional boundaries in order to
benefit entire communities.
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CWMA Cookbook A Recipe for Success
A Step-by step Guide on How to Develop a
Cooperative Weed Management Area in the Eastern
United States
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Why are these projects successful?

• Working with partners across boundaries
  (Cooperative Weed Management Areas)
• Consistent strategy over multiple years
• PLANNING

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Plan before you act!
TNCs Weed Management Template
The template, tables, and more can be found
at tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/products
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Weed Management Template
1. Establish conservation targets and goals
2. Identify and prioritize species/infestations
that threaten targets and goals
6. Review and modify
5. Monitor and assess impact of management actions
3. Assess control techniques
4. Develop and implement weed management plan

• Figure 1. Flow chart for Adaptive Management of
  Weeds describing management actions and decisions
  confronting natural area managers (from Randall
  (1997), based on a diagram by Oren Pollak,
  personal communication).

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1. Establish conservation targets and goals

• Remember you are NOT managing invasive plants
• You ARE managing land for particular goals and
  objectives
• Rare species
• High quality natural communities
• Productive forest land

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2. Identify and prioritize species/infestations
that threaten targets and goals

• The most over-looked step, and the hardest step,
  in the process
• In short - stop pulling the dandelions

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Prioritization

• Site-based Prioritization Where do I go first?
• Species-based Prioritization Which do I go
  after first?

A combination of both are necessary for success.
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Site-Based Invasive PrioritizationWHERE do I go
first?

• 1. Identify and map invaded and un-invaded areas
  (NO MAP NO CONTROL!!)
• 2. Focus on large blocks of un-invaded areas
  keep them un-invaded
• 3. Control small outlier populations first
• 4.Unfragment boundaries of invaded areas
• 5. Reverse the invasion expand the un-invaded
  area outward.

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Site-Based Invasive PrioritizationWHERE do I go
first?

• 6. For long distance dispersers
• -in aquatic settings, control upstream to
  downstream
• -for bird-dispersed species, control large seed
  source populations first

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Site-Based Invasive PrioritizationWHERE do I go
first?

• 7. All roads, trails, and watercourses are
  invasive corridors survey them regularly to
  detect new invaders quickly
• 8. Keep your focus on targets restoration may
  be necessary.

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Setting Species PrioritiesWHAT do I go after
first?

1. Current extent of the species on or near the
   site
2. Current and potential impacts of the species
3. Value of the habitats/areas that the species
   infests or may infest and
4. Difficulty of control.

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I. Current extent of the species.

1. Species not yet on site but present nearby.
2. Species present as new populations or outliers of
   larger infestations, esp. if expanding rapidly.
3. Species present in large infestations that
   continue to expand
4. Species present in large infestations that are
   not expanding.

Where do I get this information?
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Inventory!

• Spend the first dollars you get on inventory.
• The NAWMA standard

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NAWMA standard- (North American Weed Management
Association) Just three things to address -
What is it? - Where is it? - How much is
there? -gross vs. infested acres
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100-acre wetland site
45 acres gross area
9 5 5 19 acres infested area
30 cover
100 cover
30 acres
5
10
50 cover
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• Mapping Standards
• North American Weed Managers Association
• http//www.nawma.org/

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Setting Priorities

1. Current extent of the species on or near the
   site
2. Current and potential impacts of the species
3. Value of the habitats/areas that the species
   infests or may infest and
4. Difficulty of control.

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II. Current and potential impacts of the species.

• Species that alter ecosystem processes such as
  fire frequency, sedimentation, nutrient cycling,
  or other ecosystem processes.
• Species that outcompete natives and dominate
  otherwise undisturbed communities.
• Species that do not outcompete dominant natives,
  BUT-
• Prevent or depress recruitment or regeneration of
  native species, OR
• Reduce or eliminate resources used by animals.
• Species that overtake and exclude natives
  following natural disturbances such as fires,
  floods, or hurricanes.

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III. Value of the habitats/areas the species
infests or could infest

1. Infestations that occur in the most highly valued
   habitats or areas of the site especially areas
   that contain rare or highly valued species or
   communities and areas that provide vital
   resources.
2. Infestations that occur in less highly valued
   portions of the site. Areas already badly
   infested by other weeds may be given lower
   priority unless the species in question will make
   the situation significantly worse.

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IV. Difficulty of control and establishing
replacement species.

1. Species likely to be controlled or eliminated
   with available technology and resources and which
   desirable native species will replace with little
   further input.
2. Species likely to be controlled but will not be
   replaced by desirable natives without an active
   restoration program requiring substantial
   resources.
3. Species difficult to control with available
   technology and resources and/or whose control
   will likely result in substantial damage to
   other, desirable species.
4. Species unlikely to be controlled with available
   technology and resources.

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Weed Management Template
1. Establish conservation targets and goals
2. Identify and prioritize species/infestations
that threaten targets and goals
6. Review and modify
5. Monitor and assess impact of management actions
3. Assess control techniques
4. Develop and implement weed management plan
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Prairie Acres Preserve 100 acres of mixed wet,
mesic and dry prairie
Congratulations! You are the new steward for
this site.
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• Prairie Acres Preserve targets
• Wet prairie
• Prairie White Fringed Orchid
• Massasauga Rattlesnake

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Prairie Acres Preserve Targets
Massasauga habitat wetland and open upland
Wet prairie, orchid habitat
Road
Powerline ROW
House
Dry prairie habitat
Wet/Mesic prairie habitat
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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Inventory of invasives,
summer 2003
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Targets and Invasives
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
Which invasives are threats to your targets?
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control
Tree of Heaven
Reed Canary Grass
Asian Bush Honeysuckle
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I. Current extent of the species.

1. Species not yet on site but present nearby.
2. Species present as new populations or outliers of
   larger infestations, esp. if expanding rapidly.
3. Species present in large infestations that
   continue to expand
4. Species present in large infestations that are
   not expanding.

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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Inventory of invasives,
summer 2003
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control
Tree of Heaven 3
Reed Canary Grass 2
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3
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Setting Priorities

1. Current extent of the species on or near the
   site
2. Current and potential impacts of the species
3. Value of the habitats/areas that the species
   infests or may infest and
4. Difficulty of control.

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II. Current and potential impacts of the species.

1. Species that alter ecosystem processes such as
   fire frequency, sedimentation, nutrient cycling,
   or other ecosystem processes.
2. Species that outcompete natives and dominate
   otherwise undisturbed communities.
3. Species that do not outcompete dominant natives,
   BUT-
4. Prevent or depress recruitment or regeneration of
   native species, OR
5. Reduce or eliminate resources used by animals.
6. Species that overtake and exclude natives
   following natural disturbances such as fires,
   floods, or hurricanes.

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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control
Tree of Heaven 3 2
Reed Canary Grass 2 4
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2
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III. Value of the habitats/areas the species
infests or could infest

1. Infestations that occur in the most highly valued
   habitats or areas of the site especially areas
   that contain rare or highly valued species or
   communities and areas that provide vital
   resources.
2. Infestations that occur in less highly valued
   portions of the site. Areas already badly
   infested by other weeds may be given lower
   priority unless the species in question will make
   the situation significantly worse.

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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Targets and Invasives
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control
Tree of Heaven 3 2 2
Reed Canary Grass 2 4 1
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2 1
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IV. Difficulty of control and establishing
replacement species.

1. Species likely to be controlled or eliminated
   with available technology and resources and which
   desirable native species will replace with little
   further input.
2. Species likely to be controlled but will not be
   replaced by desirable natives without an active
   restoration program requiring substantial
   resources.
3. Species difficult to control with available
   technology and resources and/or whose control
   will likely result in substantial damage to
   other, desirable species.
4. Species unlikely to be controlled with available
   technology and resources.

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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control
Tree of Heaven 3 2 2 3
Reed Canary Grass 2 4 1 2
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2 1 1
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control Sum
Tree of Heaven 3 2 2 3 10
Reed Canary Grass 2 4 1 2 9
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2 1 1 7
1
But what if.
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II. Current and potential impacts of the species.

1. Species that alter ecosystem processes such as
   fire frequency, sedimentation, nutrient cycling,
   or other ecosystem processes.
2. Species that outcompete natives and dominate
   otherwise undisturbed communities.
3. Species that do not outcompete dominant natives,
   BUT-
4. Prevent or depress recruitment or regeneration of
   native species, OR
5. Reduce or eliminate resources used by animals, OR
6. Promote populations of invasive non-native
   animals by providing them with resources
   otherwise unavailable in the area.
7. Species that overtake and exclude natives
   following natural disturbances such as fires,
   floods, or hurricanes.

What if Reed Canary Grass is really a 2, not a 4?
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control Sum
Tree of Heaven 3 2 2 3 10
Reed Canary Grass 2 4 1 2 9
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2 1 1 7
X 2
X 7
Tied for 1
What if you have a tie?
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Table 1. Assign priority 1 to 4 in each cell.
Common Name Current Extent Current/ Potential Impacts Value of Habitat Infested Difficulty of Control Sum
Tree of Heaven 3 2 2 3 10
Reed Canary Grass 2 2 1 2 7
Asian Bush Honeysuckle 3 2 1 1 7
X 13
X 9
X 10
X 6
X 4
X 6
Single most important factor is current extent
double it and add again.
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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Site-based
prioritization
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
For RCG, control upstream to downstream
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Tree of heaven (10 acres)
Prairie Acres Preserve Site-based
prioritization
Reed canary grass (2 ac.)
Asian bush honeysuckle (18 ac.)
Road
Powerline ROW
House
For ABH, control seed source first, then outliers
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Weed Management Template
1. Establish conservation targets and goals
2. Identify and prioritize species/infestations
that threaten targets and goals
6. Review and modify
5. Monitor and assess impact of management actions
3. Assess control techniques
4. Develop and implement weed management plan

• Figure 1. Flow chart for Adaptive Management of
  Weeds describing management actions and decisions
  confronting natural area managers (from Randall
  (1997), based on a diagram by Oren Pollak,
  personal communication).

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3. Assess control techniques

• For only those species that pose a threat
• The right technique may be different for a 1/10
  acre of scattered garlic mustard plants vs. a 5
  acre area dominated by garlic mustard consider
  all the possible tools

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How to Pull Garlic Mustard

1. Pull plants in late March/early April as they
   start to bolt do not need to bag and remove
2. Pull plants again in mid-April as they start to
   flower bag and remove
3. Pull plants again in late April/mid-May as they
   fruit bag and remove
4. Repeat every year for 10 years

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4. Develop and implement weed management plan

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• A. Description of the Site, Conservation
  Targets, and Management Goals
• B. How Weeds Threaten Targets and Interfere with
  Management Goals
• C. Inventory of Weeds on the Site

2. OVERVIEW OF WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN A.
Management Philosophy Setting Priorities (Using
Adaptive Strategies) B. Summary of Specific
Actions Planned C. Tables Table 1
Prioritized List of Weed Species Table 2 Weed
Management Plan Implementation Schedule Table
3 Projected Resource Costs Table 4 Itemized
Actual Annual Cost and Labor Worksheets Table
5 Projected and Actual Resource Uses
3. SPECIFIC WEED CONTROL PLANS Bad Weed 1
(Weedicus vulgare) Nasty Weed 2 (Commonus
horridus) Evil Weed 3 (Diabolicus invasivii)
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Weed Control Plan for Centaurea solstitialis
(Yellow Starthistle) Priority High (trails
Visitor Center), low (grassland areas)High
priority has been assigned to removing unsightly
infestations around the Visitor Center and along
trails, which it can use to invade new areas. It
interferes with primary management goals in
grasslands by diminishing waterfowl nesting
habitat, but the infestation is too large to
eradicate with available technology and
resources. Description Annual taprooted
herbaceous plant in the sunflower/thistle family
(Asteraceae). It can grow up to 1 m tall with
distinctive gray-green leaves and stems and
yellow flowerheads surrounded by spiny bracts. It
produces abundant seed each year. Current
Distribution on the Preserve Extensive
populations throughout the preserves Savanna
areas, along the trails, and near the visitor
center. Other units containing populations of
yellow starthistle are shown in the Appendix
sample maps.
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Measurable Objectives and Goal Goal The yellow
starthistle infestation is extensive in and
around the preserve, and cannot be eradicated
with available technology. Instead, our
objectives are Eradicate the pest along all
roads and trails that lead to uninfested
areas. Reduce infestations along the Willow
Slough trail, especially at the trailhead and
near the visitor center. Determine the extent of
the infestation on the preserve and the value of
controlling it in grasslands and savannas,
especially in areas where waterfowl nest. Control
Options Hand pull plants where infestations are
small. Spot treat infestations with clopyralid
with an added dye early in the growing
period. Clean vehicles before entering uninfested
areas. The yellow starthistle infestation is
extensive. Lesser-priority areas will have to be
neglected. Highest priority will be given to
reducing new outbreaks and to removing the plant
from currently infested roads and trails that
lead to uninfested areas. One or more of the
following methods may be used prior to seed
production early season herbicide application
(clopyralid), repeated mowing/weed whacking, hand
pulling. Cutting effectively reduces seed
production if plants are cut when about 2 of the
flower heads have opened, and then again 4-6
weeks later. Treatment Schedule June Map and
monitor infestations (see Monitoring, below) to
act as an early warning system for new colonies
as they develop, and to determine population
trends. June-July Cut or apply herbicide when 2
of the flower heads have opened. Cost
Estimates The costs and labor needs for
controlling yellow starthistle in grassland areas
have not yet been estimated. Controlling yellow
starthistle by the Willow Slough trailhead and
the Visitor Center will require an estimated 16
hours of staff time, 60 hours of volunteer time,
and 45 annually. This includes estimates for
mapping and pre- and post-treatment, refreshments
for volunteers, some control efforts, and
monitoring.
Measurable Objectives and Goal Goal The yellow
starthistle infestation is extensive in and
around the preserve, and cannot be eradicated
with available technology. Instead, our
objectives are Eradicate the pest along all
roads and trails that lead to uninfested
areas. Reduce infestations along the Willow
Slough trail, especially at the trailhead and
near the visitor center. Determine the extent of
the infestation on the preserve and the value of
controlling it in grasslands and savannas,
especially in areas where waterfowl nest. Control
Options Hand pull plants where infestations are
small. Spot treat infestations with clopyralid
with an added dye early in the growing
period. Clean vehicles before entering
uninfested areas. Note - the yellow starthistle
infestation is extensive. Lesser-priority areas
will have to be neglected. Highest priority will
be given to reducing new outbreaks and to
removing the plant from currently infested roads
and trails that lead to uninfested areas.
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5. Monitor and assess impact of management actions

• Necessary to show whether treatments are
  effective
• Can be done at different levels of intensity
  ocular estimate vs. research plots

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6. Review and modify

• Change what isnt working.
• Change priorities as new species emerge

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Weed Management Template
1. Establish conservation targets and goals
2. Identify and prioritize species/infestations
that threaten targets and goals
6. Review and modify
5. Monitor and assess impact of management actions
3. Assess control techniques
4. Develop and implement weed management plan

• Figure 1. Flow chart for Adaptive Management of
  Weeds describing management actions and decisions
  confronting natural area managers (from Randall
  (1997), based on a diagram by Oren Pollak,
  personal communication).

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Thanks for your attention!