From: Chang, David
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 12:50 PM
Subject: [SBCWMA News] May 2006
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News
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Slender False Brome Being Evaluated for Permanent Noxious
Weed Rating April 5, 2006
Slender
false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) is an aggressive grass that is
rapidly taking over central Oregon. Currently, in California, this grass
is only known to occur in and near Woodside, San Mateo County. The
California Dept of Food and Agriculture is requesting that anybody who has seen
this plant anywhere else in the state to contact Steve Schoenig (916)-654-0768, or David Chang, locally,
((805) 681-5600), and arrange to send a specimen to Dr. Fred Hrusa - Botany Lab
- California Department of Food and Agriculture. The plant is being
evaluated for a permanent pest rating and its state-wide eradication priority
will be based on whether further populations are discovered and how big they
are.
Slender
false brome is a perennial bunchgrass that typically grows 1.5 to 2.3 feet
tall. It remains bright green through fall and into winter – longer than
many other grasses. Leaves are broad (~0.5 inches wide) and droopy.
The base of the leaves are covered with many short, regularly spaced, hairs
along the edges. Seedheads (spikelets)
have very short or no stems (sessile). For pictures, biology and impacts
visit http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/bracsylv.html
and also http://www.cal-ipc.org/brachypodium_sylvaticum_alert/
SBCWMA Wins Grant Award from the Center for Invasive
Plant Management April 17, 2006
The Santa Barbara County Weed Management Area won a $5,000 grant from the
Center for Invasive Plant Management for the control of yellowspine thistle, Cirsium
ochrocentrum, and white horsenettle, Solanum elaeagnifolium, on
Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island as part of its Santa Cruz Island Native Plant
Restoration Project. Yellowspine thistle is an “A”
rated noxious weed that is occurs on Santa Rosa Island and rarely in other
parts of mainland California. White horsenettle is a “B” rated noxious
weed that occurs on Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island and rarely in other
parts of mainland California, including Santa Barbara County.
The first trip of this project is scheduled for June 30 – July 3, 2006.
We are looking for volunteers to assist in the survey for these weeds.
Contact Ken Owen, (805) 448-5726, or David Chang, (805) 681-5600, for more
information.
NRCS Releases 5 Year Strategic Plan April 14, 2006
The
NRCS recently announced the publication of their 5 year Strategic Plan. I
thought it was significant and encouraging that I found the word “invasive”
mentioned 14 times in a supportive way and “invasive plants” was mentioned
twice. The word “noxious” was mentioned once. (I didn’t read the whole thing, just searched for the words.)
Their strategic plan is online at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/strategicplan/
The announcement states that
the plan is "Bold, forward-looking, and far-reaching, [and] challenges us
to reformulate some past approaches and develop and adopt new approaches."
Following are a few quotes from the plan.
An
Overarching Strategy: “Pursue
partnerships with varied interests, to strengthen and collaborate in research
efforts and to encourage pilot efforts in areas of resource concern, new to
NRCS such as air quality, invasive species, and energy conservation.”
A
Foundation Goal & Strategic Emphasis: “Enhance effectiveness of efforts to protect ecosystems by:
Expanding partnerships with State and local governments, Federal agencies,
Tribes, and private sector organizations to develop collaborative strategies to
address grazing land health, including efforts to control invasive species.”
A
Future Direction: “The focus
groups saw the need for NRCS to provide technical and financial assistance in
the areas of water quality, farm and ranch land protection, wildlife habitat,
invasive and noxious plant species control, carbon sequestration, and renewable
energy.”
California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week is July 17-23,
2006!
Local
weed management groups are encouraged to get the word out during California
Invasive Weeds Awareness Week (CIWAW) that great invasive weed work is happening
locally and around the state! Begin formulating a plan to educate the
general public, policy makers and state legislators regarding the incredible,
successful projects and activities that YOUR group is spearheading to stop the
introduction and spread of invasive weeds.
The
California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition (CALIWAC) has produced an
11"X17", full color "They're relentless... Invasive Weeds"
poster (see link below) that has been mailed to Weed Management Areas. (I
have 3 copies.) In addition, a packet of ideas to increase outreach and
educational efforts was included with the posters. All of the information
will also be posted on the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) website
at www.cal-ipc.org.
Contact
Katie Filippini, kfilippini@cdfa.ca.gov, to request posters and packets. See a
copy online at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/pdf/ciwaw_2006.pdf.
Let Elizabeth Brusati, edbrusati@cal-ipc.org, at Cal-IPC, know what your weed
group is planning for CIWAW 2006 and your events will be posted on the Cal-IPC
website!
SB 1608 to Require Non-invasive or Native Landscaping on
Roadsides April 24, 2006
A
bill to require the use of natives where feasible in state and local roadside
landscaping, and non-invasive plants, regardless, circulated in the Senate
during April and is currently in committee. This bill by Senator Simitian would require Caltrans and local and regional
transportation agencies, using state funds for landscaping projects, to first
use "indigenous" (native) plants and 2nd low-water using and
non-invasive plants. The benefits of using natives, as you know, are
legendary and yet custom and longstanding practice means that most often exotic
(and even sometimes invasive) plants are used.
The California Native Plant Society is seeking support for this bill.
Contact Vern Goehring, 916-444-8194 for more
information. Status of the bill can be obtained at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. Click
here for a copy of the bill.
Weed Blaster April 25,
2006
I received this solicitation for a portable wash system for trucks and heavy
equipment. Those of you are looking for a way to wash your trucks
remotely might be interested in this system.
Greenfield
Industries distributes the Weed Blaster, an equipment wash system specifically
designed (originally by the US Forest Service) for the removal and containment
of noxious and hazardous materials such as noxious weed seeds, nuisance aquatic
species, hazardous dust, etc. These are industrial units built to last
and provide many years of trouble free service. These systems are
manufactured in Montana by Spika Welding and Mfg.
Spika provides a 15 year warranty on the tanks,
5 years on the overall unit and the components are warranted by the individual
manufacturers. Two primary unit options are available, a 31 HP fuel
injected gas unit which provides 20 GPM and approx1500 PSI or a 34 HP diesel
unit which provides 20 GPM and approx 1800 PSI. Other options including a
water heating system, a lighting package and tread protection runners are also
available.
Visit
Greenfield Industries’ website at www.greenfield-industries.com
for additional information.
SBCWMA, in Association with UCSB, Wins $2,500 Grant from
CIPM
The Santa Barbara County Weed Management Area, in association with Tom Dudley,
research scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have won a
$2,500 grant award to study Cape ivy, Delairea odorata, in Santa Barbara
County. The original application requested $5,000, the limit of the
award.
The
study intends to document the status and nature of current weed infestations to
justify the introduction of Cape ivy biocontrol agents, and to develop baseline
information in order to assess whether introductions are ultimately successful
in achieving goals of reducing pest plant abundance and promoting recovery of
associated, native vegetation. We intend to develop baseline information on the
distribution of Cape ivy in coastal southern California, the ecosystems and
native plants that are affected by its infestation, and will conduct
experiments to quantify these impacts. We will also prepare sites for
research introductions of two biocontrol agents into field cages, and assess
population dynamics of the insects and effects on host plants once agents are
approved for release by APHIS.
Thank You for Your Support of AB2479 May
1, 2006
I thank those of you who specifically wrote to your local assembly in support
of AB 2479 – the WMA funding bill that proposes to annually fund the Noxious
Weed Management Account at $2,500,000. The bill
was discussed at two hearings in late April, and was well supported. Legislators
were impressed by the list of supporting organizations. The bill is
expected to be heard, in early May, by the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
with their decision about recommending funding happening at the end of
May. A copy of the bill can be viewed at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov or at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2451-2500/ab_2479_bill_20060406_amended_asm.pdf
With the addition of the
Farm Bureau of San Diego County and the Orange County Chapter of the California
Native Plant Society, the list of supporting organizations reached 100!
The list is by far our strongest tool in competing for attention at the
capitol. Keep the letters coming – If your group
hasn't sent one yet, please do! A list of supporters (and sample letter and instructions) is
available at http://www.cal-ipc.org/day_at_the_capitol/State_legislation.html
Watershed Awareness Month May 5, 2006
The month of May is Watershed Awareness
Month. All Californians are encouraged to learn more about their local
watersheds, rivers, creeks, lakes, and coastline. You are also encouraged
to participate in activities to explore, enhance and restore their own
watersheds' and neighborhoods' natural resources. The theme for this
year's Watershed Awareness Month is 'Get to Know Your Watershed!' For
more information on what you can do with others for your watershed, you can
visit the State Water Board's web site at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov
Puccinia jaceae Successfully Overwintering. May 12, 2006
The Agricultural Commissioner's Office has been participating with the
California Department of Food and Agriculture in the distribution of Puccinia
jaceae, a fungal rust disease of yellow starthistle, with the intent of
establishment a new biocontrol agent. We recently inoculated 2 – 1 square
meter patches in the Los Padres National Forest. Our recently inoculated plot of yellow star-thistle at East
Camino Cielo is showing a very high rate of rust – probably close to 100% with
the leaves showing dozens of pustules on average.
Last year's plots are also showing infection, indicating that the
rust is successfully overwintering. Incidence was very low, probably less
than 1%, but might increase with the possibility to inspect more plants.
Whether the rust is spreading beyond the inoculation sites is
another question. While other sites in California have shown substantial
spread, ours are not yet as spectacular. We will be investigating this
further.
Russian Thistle Project Looking for Sites. May 12, 2006
Lincoln Smith, entomologist at USDA ARS, is looking for sites that have persistent populations of Russian thistle (tumbleweed, Salsola tragus) that are not likely to be disturbed for 5 years. He is conducting research on new biological control agents of Russian thistle. Although tumbleweeds are an icon of the Wild West, they are alien to North America and were accidentally introduced beginning in the 1870s. During the past 5 years he has evaluated a new biological control agent (Aceria salsolae) for Russian thistle. It is a microscopic mite from Turkey that damages the growing tips of the plant, stunting it and reducing seed production.
Host specificity of the mite has been thoroughly evaluated, and it only attacks Russian thistle (S. tragus types A and B, and S. collina) and barbwire thistle (S. paulsenii). He anticipates receiving permission (from USDA-APHIS and the state of California) in about a year to release this mite.
His immediate goal for field sites is to develop methods to measure population size and plant fitness (plant size and reproduction) of Russian thistle that can be used for multi-year, multi-site studies. The ultimate purpose is to collect population data at many sites for 5 years to evaluate the impact of the mite on the weed. If the land manager is interested, their site could eventually be used for releasing the mite, once state and federal permits are issued.
He is looking for sites that are not subject to herbicide or mechanical control and that will be available for 5 years. He would like to establish 30 permanent plots (marked with nails) at each site. These will be removed at the end of the study, if desired. I will only count plants, measure plant size and vegetation cover - primarily once in the late spring and once in the fall.
If the land manager is interested, he can also conduct "removal" experiments: hand removing Russian thistle from small plots at different times of the year to see how the plant community responds. This will help us predict what changes in the plant community would occur after successful biological control.
The only immediate benefit to the land manager would be if their site is chosen as a release site and the mite successfully controls the weed. However, if the mite is successful, it will disperse throughout the state and provide self-perpetuating control of the weed.
Anyone who has suitable sites can contact him at: Lincoln Smith, Research Entomologist; USDA-ARS Western Regional Research Center; 800 Buchanan Street; Albany, CA 94710; Tel. 510-559-6185; Fax 559-5737; email: lsmith@pw.usda.gov;
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Educational
Events
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Invasive Plant School in Camarillo
The University of California Cooperative Extension –
Ventura and San Diego Counties; Ventura Weed Management Area; and the
California Weed Science Society are sponsoring a 2 day Invasive Plant School to
be held on June 6 and 7, 2006 at California State University Channel Islands;
1878 South Lewis Road, Unit 60; Camarillo, CA 93010.
The agenda follows:
Tuesday June 6, 2006
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Introductions and course outline – Carl E. Bell, Regional Advisor – Invasive
Plants and Dr. Nelroy Jackson, Chair, Invasive Weed Awareness Coalition.
10:15 – 11:00
AM Pesticide laws and regulations:
who’s in charge, what are the basics of pesticide
registration, safety, use, and reporting, what are the
licenses you should have – Carl Bell and David Chang
11:00 AM -
Noon Weed Biology
and Ecology – Carl Bell
Noon
– 1:00 PM
Lunch (provided)
1:00
– 2:00
PM
Weed Biology and Ecology, continued
2:00 – 3:00
PM
Basics of Weed Management: weed control without herbicides – Carl Bell
3:00
– 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Basics
of Weed Management: weed control with herbicides – Nelroy Jackson and Carl Bell
4.00 – 5.00
PM
Herbicide Labeling, Toxicology, Classification – Nelroy Jackson
Wednesday,
June 7
8:00 – 10:00
AM Specific
herbicide information; glyphosate, triclopyr, clopyralid, imazapyr, chlorsulfuron,
fluazifop – Bell and Jackson
10:00
– 10:15 AM Break
10:15 AM –
Noon Biology and
Management of specific weeds - Bell and Jackson
Noon
– 1:00
PM
Lunch (provided)
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Field Experimentation, Herbicide application, Organizations, and Information Resources
– Jackson and Bell
2:00 – 3:00
PM
Laws and Regulations specific to invasive plant control – David Chang, Santa
Barbara County Weed Management Area
The registration fee is $100, which includes all
course materials, lunch both days, continental breakfast on June 7, and
refreshments during breaks. Enrollment is limited to 50 persons on a
first come/first served basis; the deadline for enrollment is May 26, 2006.
Payment of registration fee is the only guarantee of enrollment.
For more information, contact Carl E. Bell, (858) 694-3386, cebell@ucdavis.edu.
Cal-IPC’s 2006 Symposiums Scheduled for October 5 – 7, 2006 at Rohnert Park.
This is a reminder that
the California Invasive Plant Council will be holding their 15th
annual symposium this October 5 through 7 at the Sonoma Doubletree Hotel in
Rohnert Park, California. This year’s theme is “Research
and Management. Bridging the Gap.” A pre-Symposium field course on
Tools for Early Detection, on October 4, will also be available.
Registration opens June 1, 2006. For more information, visit www.cal-ipc.org.
Call for Papers!
Cal-IPC invites
members of the invasive plant community to submit abstracts for oral and poster
presentations at the 2006 Symposium. We encourage talks and posters that focus
on treatment methods, restoration goals, collaborative projects, and ecological
research. Addressing the Symposium theme is not required, but makes a
presentation especially relevant. Oral presentations are 12 minutes, with
3 minutes for questions, and will be presented during concurrent sessions.
Presenters receive a reduced registration fee. (Student or
volunteer presenters may also apply for scholarships for a significant reduction
in registration fees.) Due to limited space, we are not able to
accommodate all abstracts. Please submit your abstract by the deadline of
Thursday, June 1.
New Website on Invasive Plant Management May
10, 2006
The
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has recently made
available a new tool for land managers dealing with invasive plant
problems. The "Invasive Exotic Plant (IEP) Management Tutorial for
Natural Lands Managers: A Comprehensive Tool for Addressing Your IEP Needs"
is designed as a "one-stop-shop" for users and includes information
available on the world-wide web and other forms of media. The information
has been organized in a standard format for easy access. Users are
provided with sufficient background information on the specific IEP problem
that they face along with guidance in the form of a standard management
approach so that they can more effectively apply the information to their
specific problem. The tutorial was developed with support from the Mid-Atlantic
Exotic Pest Plant Council and the DCNR-Wild Resource Conservation Fund and can
be found on-line at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/index.htm.
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Acknowledgement
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This
newsletter is compiled from various sources, including emails I receive from
various people I know, who are involved in the invasive weed field, and from listservs. I modify the emails, but they are often
inserted here nearly verbatim. I thank those people for this information
and for their devotion to protecting and conserving habitat.
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Sincerely,
David Chang
Agricultural Commissioner's
Office
County of Santa Barbara
(805) 681-5600
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