Hello
WMA Newsletter Subscribers:
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NEWS
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National Invasive Weed Awareness
Week
10/27/05
The 7th Annual
National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week (NIWAW 7) will be held in Washington D.C.
the week of February 26th to March 3rd, 2006 to bring
people and groups from across the country together to focus national attention
on the severe problems created by invasive weeds. Individuals and
organizations interested in this issue are invited to participate in the event
and help build on the success of NIWAW activities in previous years. NIWAW
7 events are designed to focus on the important roles the Federal government
must play to help the U.S. deal with invasive weed problems. Time for
attendees to meet with their Congressional delegations, federal agencies, and
each other has been scheduled. For more information and to register
online, visit the NIWAW 7 website at: www.nawma.org/niwaw/niwaw_index.htm
California Invasive Weed Awareness
Coalition
11/7/05
The Annual CALIWAC Member Meeting is scheduled
for Friday, December 9 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Regional Council
of Rural Counties, 801 12th Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room in Sacramento.
(I know this is late, but thought you might like to know about the effort
on re-fund WMAs – dc.)
All organizations interested in work on invasive plants
in California are encouraged to send a representative. The coalition will be
discussing legislative strategy for 2006, including efforts to re-fund Weed
Management Areas. It will be a big year for wildland weed work, and the
coalition needs everybody's support.
New Regulatory Rating for Plants Sold
as Nursery Stock
11/4/05
A CDFA/CACASA* Pest Rating Working Group has
been formed to review the current pest rating policies and make recommendations
for process improvement. The group has met twice and developed a rating
policy for previously unrated plants that are being sold as nursery stock.
This policy was approved by CACASA at the Winter Conference. The policy is
stated in Pest Rating Advisory Number 1-2005 and can be viewed at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/countyag/postings/files/PEST_RATING_ADVI.pdf
The policy creates the “H” designation when an unrated
plant found in a nursery is submitted to CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostic Center and
the identifying taxonomist has reason to believe that the species exhibits weedy
characteristics. The “H” represents a temporary hold action. Plants
so rated will undergo evaluation to a more permanent rating of A, B, C, or D
within 30 days. This “H” rating is an additional rating to allow holding a
plant without requiring treatment, as is required when a “Q” rating is
given. Previously, the Q rating was the only temporary rating
available.
*CDFA =
California Department of Food and Agriculture. CACASA = California
Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association.
Comment Period Open for Draft EIS on
Vegetation Management on BLM lands. 11/14/05
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing vegetation treatment on BLM
lands. The public comment period for the EIS is currently under way and
closes on January 9, 2006. The draft EIS can be viewed at: http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/VegEIS/
Management alternatives described in the DEIS are:
o
Alternative A: No change from current EIS
o
Alternative B: Expand herbicide use and
allow for use of new herbicides in 17 western states
o
Alternative C: No use of herbicides
o
Alternative D: Alternative B without
aerial application of herbicides
o
Alternative E: No use of present or future
AHAS inhibitor herbicide
Comments will be accepted until January 9, 2006 and can
be mailed, faxed or emailed to: Brian Amme; Vegetation EIS Project Manager, BLM;
P.O. Box 12000;
Reno,
Nevada 89520-0006; Fax: (775) 861-6712; vegeis@nv.blm.gov.
Comments can also be made in person at 10 public meetings. To view the public
meetings schedule visit http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/VegEIS/Meeting_Schedule-Final-11-03-05R.pdf.
NAISA Status 11/29/05
Congress passed the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act in 1990 and reauthorized it as the National Invasive
Species Act of 1996. While these pieces of legislation ensured progress against
aquatic invaders – especially for species hitchhiking in ships’ ballast water
and in the Great Lakes – they did not address all means by which aquatic pests
reach the country nor all vulnerable areas. The National Aquatic Invasive
Species Act (NAISA) would correct this problem while reauthorizing and amending
the earlier law. Also, NAISA aims to better prevent introductions of new
potential invaders; to provide more support for states’ efforts; to educate
those who use water for recreation; and to support research on safe, effective
aquatic controls and other topics.
Several congressional committees have either held
hearings or passed earlier versions of NAISA in the 108th Congress. There has
been no action in the 109th since introduction. In the Senate, the Commerce
Committee passed S. 363, the Ballast Water Management Act of 2005. This is a
narrower and weaker alternative to Title I of NAISA, S.770, which would preempt
stricter state regulation and eliminate applicability of the Clean Water Act. As
of fall 2005, the Environment and Public Works Committee was planning to draft a
new bill, which would combine at least some of the ballast water provisions of
S.363 with Title II of NAISA, which are the provisions most applicable to
freshwater, wetland, and marine weeds.
(This is a bit out of context, but thought you might
like to know the bill numbers for further research. This came from a
position paper from the NIWAW group. – dc)
Commercial Harvesting of Arundo
Available
11/30/05
Rico International, a company that manufactures
reeds for musical instruments, is seeking additional sources of Arundo canes
(from which it makes the reeds). The company can either arrange to remove
cut canes from eradication sites, or can cut them down for you. This
company has a good track record, and has been helpful in removing cane material
at a Ventura County Arundo control site. They do not intend to
promote Arundo production in our ecosystems, desiring solely to collect
good quality canes in currently infested sites. For more information,
contact Luis Hurtado directly. Luis Hurtado, Logistics Manager;
Rico International; 8484 San Fernando Road; Sun Valley, CA 91722;
818-394-2734; Luis.Hurtado@DADDARIO.COM;
www.ricoreeds.com
Before working with any commercial user of Arundo,
consider adopting Team Arundo del Norte’s Commercial-Use Policy. That
policy is available at: http://teamarundo.org/control_manage/commercial_use.html
.
Arundo Seed Viability Study
Update
12/6/05
(This is an informal summary of the updates
provided by Tom Dudley and Casey Burns on the Arundo Seed Viability Study. –
dc)
After dissecting many thousands of Arundo flowers (at
100 – 200 florets per plume), the study has now found 2 seeds! These are
from a stand in Los Angeles County. They do not appear to be viable, but
the study is currently testing that to be sure. Those of you participating
in the study are encouraged to keep on looking, now that flower stalks are
maturing and before being stripped by the winds. Previously, many of the
plumes that were submitted were fairly immature. Flowering in many parts
of California seems both later and sparser than
usual.
This study is looking at the viability of Arundo donax
seed, primarily from California, although there is interest in seed from other
states and countries as well. Cooperators are welcome to participate in
the study. Contact me (David Chang) and I will pass on your contact info
to Tom and Casey.
Japanese Dodder Eradicated from
Shasta County
12/1/05
The CDFA has announced that a highly invasive parasitic
plant, and also federal and state noxious weed, was recently eradicated from
residential landscaping in Shasta and Yuba Counties. Local infestations
may have originated from non-devitalized seed sold as an herbal remedy.
Dodder seed imported for medicinal uses must be accompanied by a
declaration of devitalization. Shasta County inspectors were able to
germinate 100% of “devitalized” seed confiscated from an herbal store. The
USDA is initiating a statewide market survey of dodder seed. If you ever
spot dodder seed in a store, please contact me (David Chang) so that I can pass
on the store location for a survey. For more information see the CDFA Pest
Exclusion Advisory at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/countyag/postings/files/PEA_30-2005_Cusc.pdf
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Educational
Events
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2006 Wetlands
Symposium
8-10 March 2006, Santa
Barbara
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project will
hold its fourth biennial Wetlands Symposium on Thursday and Friday, March 9 and
10, 2006, at the University Center on the campus of the University of
California, Santa Barbara. The two-day conference will feature
a number of nationally and regionally prominent speakers and cover a variety of
important issues relating to the protection, conservation and restoration of
coastal wetlands and watersheds in Southern California.
The Symposium will be preceded by optional field workshops on
Wednesday, March 8 at two coastal wetlands in the Santa Barbara area. The
Wetlands Recovery Project’s Board Governors and Public Advisory Committee will
also meet in Santa Barbara on March 8th.
Information about registration, hotel accommodations,
program topics, field workshops, and other aspects of the Symposium is now
available on the Wetlands Recovery Project’s website at www.scwrp.org under “What’s New.”
The registration fee for the two-day Symposium is only $75 if
paid before February 10.
Please circulate
this announcement within your own organizations.
You
are urged you to register early for the Symposium. Because of space constraints,
registration is limited to 160 people for the entire conference. In
addition, each of the optional field workshops will be limited to the first 25
people who register for that site tour. The discounted room rates being
offered by three hotels near the beach in Santa Barbara are available only for
room registrations made prior to February 1. So please make your
plans now to attend the Symposium.
Continuing Education Email
List
The Agricultural Commissioner's Office also receives
announcements of educational opportunities on pest management, plant pathology,
entomology, habitat restoration, natural resources, geographic information
systems, and other topics. Often, continuing education credit for pest
control licensees is available from these educational opportunities. Pest
control advisors, qualified applicators, pesticide applicator licensees, and
certified private applicators can use these credits when renewing their licenses
or certificates. While you may be receiving some of these notices, the
agricultural commissioner may be receiving some that you are
not.
I have created an email notification list – the CE List
– for these announcements for agricultural commissioner staff. Now, the
public may also be included on the list. Would you like to be on the CE list?
Is so, click
here to reply to this email and put “ADD CE LIST” in the subject.
Emails to this list will contain “[CE]” in the subject
line, so recipients can manage their in-box. Recipients are blind copied
for their privacy. Any emails that bounce that are not vacation replies
will be taken off the list. You can opt-out of receiving the CE List
emails at any time. Delivery of an announcement through this service is
not intended as an endorsement of any class.
58th Annual Conference of
the California Weed Science Society
The 58th Annual Conference of the California Weed Science Society
will be held at the Ventura Beach Marriott in Ventura, California on January 16
– 18, 2006. The theme of the conference is “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome
in California Weed Management.” The schedule of topics is extensive.
The topics that may be of specific interest to noxious and invasive weed
managers include: the History of and Invasion by Sahara Mustard – Matt Brooks;
Fennel Research – Carl Bell; Integrated Management of Perennial Pepperweed –
Debra Boelk; Intraspecific Variation of Diorhabda elongate: Implications for
Classical Biological Control of Invasive Tamarix – Hilary Thomas; Evaluation of
Imazapyr and Aminopyralid for Invasive Plant Management – Joe DiTomaso; Pre
& Post Emergence Herbicide Options for Oxalis Control in Bermudagrass –
Michelle LeStrange & Pam Geisel; Working Together for Noxious Weed Control
in Santa Barbara County – Linda Hamel; Fire & Invasive Plants – Carl Bell;
California State Weed Management Plan – Steve Schoenig; Invasive Weeds from the
Nursery – Joe DiTomaso; Spartina Program – Peggy Olofson. For a complete
agenda, lodging information and the registration form, visit www.cwss.org.
The registration fee postmarked by 12/14/05 is $129; after it is
$159.
24th Annual Salmonid
Restoration Conference and Steelhead Festival
The 24th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference will be held at the
Santa Barbara Veterans Center in Santa Barbara, California on February 22 – 25,
2006. Workshops and field tours will be held on February 22nd
and 23rd and are individually priced at $50 by advance registration.
The conference begins on February 24th and is priced at $80 for
Salmon Restoration Federation members or $130 for non-members. While there
doesn’t appear to be any conference topics that deal specifically with noxious
or invasive weeds, those of us in the weed field are often involved in riparian
habitat quality and would otherwise be interested in the seminar. For a
complete agenda, lodging information and the registration form, visit www.calsalmon.org.
The conference will coincide with the Community Environmental Council’s
Steelhead Festival. Join the CEC in celebrating and honoring the
endangered Southern Steelhead Trout by participating in the 1st
Annual Santa Barbara Steelhead Festival! The festival will involve a
multi-dimensional set of events including: a public art display of steelhead
sculptures; a 5K fun run and an all day festival after the run. All events
will focus on educating the public and bringing attention to the steelhead and
how efforts are underway to restore habitat in our local watersheds. To
learn more about the festival, fun run, or become a sponsor, visit www.sbsteelheadfest.org or contact
Katie DeLeuw at (805) 963-0583 x116.
Save the date! 15th
Annual Cal-IPC Symposium
Save the date! The 2006 Cal-IPC Symposium will be held at the Doubletree
Hotel Sonoma Wine Country in Rohnert Park, California on October 5 –
7, 2006.
Online Guide to Wetland
Flora
11/8/05
The USGS has now posted on its website a field
publication prepared about 10 years ago for agency staff: Western Wetland Flora: Field
Office Guide to Plant Species. The guide contains information on
300 species of vascular plants, arranged by groups and including colored
photographs of the plant, maps depicting its distribution, and descriptions and
other notes about such characteristics as growth form, stems, leaves, flowers,
fruits, and seeds. The guide can be downloaded from the USGS’s website at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/florawe.htm.
New book on Southern
California Plants 11/8/05
The University of California
Press has recently published Introduction to the Plant Life of
Southern California: Coast to Foothills, by Philip W. Rundel and Robert
Gustafson, as an addition to its series of California Natural History
Guides. The book ($50 in hardback, $18.95 in paper) is intended to offer
the general reader an ecological framework for the plants and their environments
in the coast and foothill regions of Southern California. Coastal beach and dune
habitats, coastal and interior sage scrub, chaparral, woodlands, grasslands,
riparian woodlands, and wetlands all contribute unique plant assemblages to
Southern California. In addition to discussing each of these areas, this book
emphasizes ecological factors such as drought, seasonal temperatures, and fire
that determine which plants can thrive in each community. It covers such topics
as non-native invasive plants and other issues involved with preserving
biodiversity in the ecologically rich yet heavily populated and increasingly
threatened area.
Weeds Across Borders
Conference
Save
the date! Plan to attend the Weeds Across Borders Conference sponsored by
the Federal Highway Administration and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Early registration (save $30) is before December 15, 2005. Plans for the May
25-28, 2006 meeting in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico are developing very well with
over 30 invited speakers. Leading scientists will give overviews of the status
of invasive species in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as well as updates
on current research, prevention, management, and control of weeds, and
restoration of habitats. Dr. Heike Vibrans of the Laboratorio de Etnobótanica in
the Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas in Mexico City will give the
keynote address at the banquet. For current information and to register on line
visit the conference website at http://www.desertmuseum.org/borderweeds>www.desertmuseum.org/borderweeds.
Monthly Hikes and
Nature Workshops at the Sedgwick Reserve
11/30/05
The beautiful and rugged
Santa Ynez Valley is the setting for a series of monthly hikes and nature
activities open to the public each fall and spring on the 6,000-acre UCSB
Sedgwick Reserve. On the second Saturday morning each month, three
interpretive hikes – ranging from easy to strenuous – will be led by trained
docents who will introduce you to the plant life, wildlife, and geology of this
former private ranch. After the hikes, a “bring-your-own-lunch” picnic
under the oaks will be available, as well as a different docent-led nature
workshop each month for those who are interested.
The next hike for the
2005/2006 season is set for Saturday, December 10. Hikers should wear long pants
and sturdy shoes (sandals cannot be permitted), bring a hat, water, sunscreen,
and hike snacks. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; the hikes start promptly at
9:00 and finish about noon. Following lunch, Sedgwick docents will present
a one-hour workshop this month on Creating Wrapping Paper from
Nature.
Due to hike group size
limitations, reservations are required for the hike only.
Reservations can be made by e-mailing sedgwick@lifesci.ucsb.edu. For
all other questions, please contact Barbara Huebel at 805-686-1941. There is no
charge for the hike or the workshop; however, donations will be gratefully
accepted and go to the operation of the Reserve.
Horticulturists to Lecture, Sign New
Book on Native Plants 12/1/05
The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society is hosting
a lecture and book-signing with local horticulturists Carol Bornstein and David
Fross, co-authors of "California Native Plants for the Garden" on Thursday,
December 15, 2005, 7:30 pm, at the Solvang Branch Library on Mission
Drive. The authors will discuss some of the best California natives for
Central Coast gardens. Part of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to
the Society and the Solvang Library. Ms. Bornstein is Director of Living
Collections and Nursery at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Mr. Fross is the
founder of Native Sons Wholesale Nursery in Arroyo Grande and teaches
horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. For more information contact
Carey McKinnon at the Solvang Library, 688-4214.
A Book Signing & Party will also be conducted at the Blaksley Library of the
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden on Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 3:00 – 5:00 PM.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to meet all three authors (Bart O’Brien is
the third author)
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Grants
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State Water
Board
11/17/05
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water
Board) has announced the release of the DRAFT 2005-06 Consolidated Grants
Program Guidelines. The draft Guidelines can be found on-line at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/funding/consolidgrants0506.html
Grant Listing
Website
12/5/05
Here is a website of interest for those of us who have
to chase money: www.partnershipresourcecenter.org/resources/funding/index.php
WAPMS Scholarship for Work on Aquatic
Plants
12/5/05
The Western Aquatic Plant Management Society (WAPMS)
announces a $1000 scholarship to support students in their pursuit of a degree
in aquatic sciences.
Scholarship funds may be used by the recipient to cover
costs associated with education and/or research expenses. Eligible applicants
must be enrolled as a
full-time undergraduate or graduate student in an
accredited college or university in the western United States. Course work or
research in an area related to the
biology, ecology, or management of aquatic
plants in the West is also required. Preference is for work conducted in the
western USA. All scholarship applicants
will receive a one-year membership in
WAPMS and a waiver of registration fees for the 2006 meeting in San Diego,
California. Applications will be judged by a
committee consisting of
academic, industry, and agency representatives. Judging will not be done by
individuals with a personal or institutional affiliation with
the
applicant.
Application Procedure:
1. Applicants must provide a short resume; transcripts
of college/university course work; and a statement of their interests, career
goals, and intended
use of scholarship funds. The statement should be limited
to four pages.
2. Two letters of support must also be submitted. One
must be from a college or university faculty member familiar with the student’s
abilities, interests,
and career goals. Letters may be emailed.
3. All application materials should be sent to the WAPMS
Scholarship Program Chair by February 15, 2006 at 5 PM (Pacific
Time).
Announcement of the scholarship winner will be made at the WAPMS
annual meeting on March 10-12, 2006.
4. All application materials should be submitted
electronically (pdf format preferred) to dfspencer@ucdavis.edu
Contact David Spencer, WAPMS Scholarship Committee Chair
at the e-mail address above for further information and
questions.
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Jobs
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National Program Leader for
Rangelands/Grasslands Ecosystems 11/1/05
A National Program Leader for Rangelands/Grasslands Ecosystems is sought by the
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service for a position
in the Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) unit of CSREES and is a joint
position with the Plant and Animal Systems unit of CSREES in the Washington, DC
area - CSREES notes that " ... As the National Program Leader
(Rangelands/Grasslands Ecosystems), you will serve as a recognized authority in
addressing rangelands and grasslands ecosystems issues. You will conceive,
formulate, and execute programs and activities, administer and manage programs,
and evaluate and assess the quality and outcome of programs under your
authority. Additionally, you will establish goals and objectives for new
programs, allocate resources, and enhance program capabilities. You will
establish and maintain contacts and relationships with the highest-level
officials in other Federal and USDA agencies, universities, professional
societies, and industry to promote a shared agenda and provide effective
cooperation and coordination of research and education efforts ..." - Details
are posted at https://jobs1.quickhire.com/scripts/usda.exe
by highlighting the just browsing button, hitting enter and then scrolling down
to the position announcement - Questions may be directed to Brandy Jones at 202
720 5038; e-mail: BNJones@ARS.USDA.gov
Water Resources
Specialist 11/21/05
The City of Santa Barbara is seeking
to fill two Water Resources Specialist positions in its Creeks Restoration and
Water Quality Division. Applicants with three years of
increasingly responsible experience with the implementation of storm water and
urban runoff programs, and knowledge and experience with water quality
monitoring and research, water treatment technologies, project management, and
storm water regulations are invited to apply. Strong writing and editing
skills are required as well as the ability to communicate effectively with a
variety of community members and stakeholders, including business owners and
contractors, residents, and neighborhood groups, among others. Bachelor’s
degree with major course work in environmental studies, environmental sciences,
engineering or a related field, is desirable.
The duties of this position include
providing project management for storm water/urban runoff water quality capital
infrastructure projects; investigating complaints about illegal discharges,
dumping, and other contamination of creeks and storm drains; serving as an
Enforcement officer for City municipal codes related to the prohibition on the
discharge of polluted runoff to the storm drain system; coordinating and
implementing elements of the City’s Storm Water Management Program; and
coordinating and implementing Creeks Division water quality monitoring and
research projects, among others.
These are full-time positions with
benefits and a starting salary of $56,077. The close date for submitting
an application, supplemental questionnaire and resume is Friday December 16,
2005. The complete job announcement and application requirements for the
position can be viewed at: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Employment/Openings/.
For more information, contact Jill
Zachary, Creeks Division Manager, 805-897-2508,
jzachary@santabarbaraca.gov.
Field Biologists
No closure date. Announcement was
11/8/05
A local multi-disciplinary
consulting firm is looking for field biologists for long-term monitoring.
Variable hours, Central Coast location. Familiarity with coastal and dune
vegetative habitats, experience with construction projects a big plus. For more
information about the position and the application process, contact Virginia
Gardner, Senior Scientist, URS Corporation, 130 Robin Hill Road, Suite 100,
Santa Barbara, CA 93117. Phone 805.964.6010, ext. 328; email:
Virginia_Gardner@URSCorp.com
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Acknowledgement
(sorta)
********************************************
This news is compiled from many people who email me
items of interest in the area of noxious weed management and natural resource
management. I try to relay news items that may interest to us in the field
of noxious and invasive weed management. I often take the text straight
from their emails, with some modification. I thank those of you who give
me information.
Happy Holidays!
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Sincerely,
David
Chang
Agricultural Commissioner's Office
County
of Santa Barbara
(805)
681-5600
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