SBCWMA
Newsletter
August 2006
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 1:27 PM
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News
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$1.5 Million Added to the State Budget for Weed
Management Areas
Governor Schwarzenegger signed the State Budget
that included $1.5 million for the California Department of Food and
Agriculture’s budget for weed management areas. This was reduced
from the original request of $2.5 million.
This success is due to the many letters received from over 100 organizations
statewide, including preserves, conservancies, land trusts, agricultural
commissioners, resource conservation districts, and native plant society
chapters. Legislators commented about the obvious grassroots support for
the program.
Unfortunately,
the program is not guaranteed funding in future years. Though it is clear
that invasive plants need ongoing attention, budget realities will make it an
annual challenge to obtain funding. Unlike past years, it may be
necessary to develop projects that can be completed in one fiscal year.
WMAs to Meet in Woodland
Weed
Management Area coordinators from throughout California will be meeting for the
8th annual Statewide WMA Conference this September 19 – 20 at the Heidrick Agricultural History Center in Woodland,
California. The state’s new budget allocation for WMAs will be a hot topic in addition to various workshops
on increasing the effectiveness of WMAs.
Contact Gina Darin at CDFA for more information: gdarin@cdfa.
Donations for Raffle/Auction Items Sought
The California Invasive Plant Council is seeking your generosity to donate
weedy items to use as raffle prizes and auction items at the 2006 Cal-IPC Symposium.
We are looking for outdoor, garden, weed, and travel related items that
would be popular for our constituency. (But you don’t have to limit
yourself to solely those categories.) Can you contribute a voucher for
dinner for two or offer the use of your cabin for the weekend? Other
items that are popular would be gift certificates to Orchard Supply, Sears,
etc.; two-way radios; garden tools; books; salinity meters; Leatherman
type multi-tools; GPS devices; map software; and vouchers for hotels.
The California Invasive Plant Council is a statewide NON-PROFIT organization
devoted to the protection of native natural habitat from the incursion by
invasive plants. Cal-IPC was very instrumental in obtaining the $1.5
million for the state budget for weed management areas. Let’s
return the favor! Cal-IPC is very dependent on the generosity of its
membership and people concerned with the environment.
Please contact David Chang, dchang@co.santa-barbara.ca.us,
(805) 681-5600, for more ideas and to donate something. Or visit
Cal-IPC’s website to join as a member: http://www.cal-ipc.org/about/membership/join1.php
or to make a direct cash contribution: http://www.cal-ipc.org/about/membership/index.php#donations
Cal-IPC Seeking Nominations
The
California Invasive Plant Council is seeking nominations for its award program
at its banquet at the 2006 Symposium this October. Do you know of a
California weed worker who deserves recognition for their great work?
Please email your nomination to Doug Johnson, dwjohnson@cal-ipc.org.
The
awards are listed below, with past recipients.
Jake Sigg Award for
Service and Vision -- given to a
person who has made exceptional contributions to CA weed work over the years.
2003
Jake Sigg, CNPS, San Francisco
2004
Mike Kelly, Los Penasquitos Preserve, San Diego
2005
Carla Bossard, St. Mary's College of CA, Davis
Golden Weed Wrench Award
for Weed Worker of the Year
2003
Andrea Pickart, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife
Refuge, Arcata
2004
Ken Moore, Wildlands Restoration Team, Santa Cruz
2005
Susan Mason, Friends of Bidwell Park, Chico
Catalyst Award -- given to a person who took initiative to make
something happen
2003 Carolyn Martus, Mission RCD, Fallbrook, for
getting WalMart to stop selling pampas grass
2004 Wendy West, El Dorado County Agricultural
Commissioner's Office, for inventing and organizing CA Invasive Weed Awareness
Day at the Capitol
2005 Frank Wallace, Sacramento Weed Warriors, for
leading volunteer youth crews on the American River Parkway
Invasive Plants Policy
Award -- given to a person who
has advanced weed policy
2003 Kevin O'Neill, Assembly Member Tim Leslie's
Office, for the Adopt-A-Riverway Program
2004 Nicholas Staddon,
Monrovia Nursery, for bringing major nursery partners to the table to discuss
invasives
2005 Assembly Member Lois Wolk,
for legislation to increase interagency coordination on invasive species
response
Japanese Dodder Alert!
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has alerted us to the
presence of Japanese dodder (Cuscuta
japonica), a new invasive noxious weed, in California. Pictures of
this parasitic vine can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/noxweedinfo/pdfs/jdodder_images.pdf.
Since June 2004, there has been a growing number of California detections
Japanese dodder. Four counties have discovered Japanese dodder this year,
bringing the total number of counties with detections to seven (Contra Costa,
Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Shasta, Yolo, and Yuba); however, most
infestations have been discovered within the last six months and more are
expected.
CDFA
is requesting assistance from other agencies and conservation groups in
locating unknown infestations in order to assess the current distribution of
Japanese dodder. So far Japanese dodder has been primarily found in private
residences affiliated with the Hmong culture. CDFA is especially
interested in occurrences of Japanese dodder in agricultural settings and
native ecosystems such as wildlands and riparian zones. Keep in mind that
certain parts of the state may have abundant non-invasive native dodder, which
could be mistaken for Japanese dodder.
Please
take care to read the information below about how to discriminate between
native and non-native dodder. If in doubt, take a sample to your local Agricultural
Commissioner per instructions below.
What
is Japanese dodder?
An exotic, potentially
invasive parasitic vine recently introduced to California. * Broad host plant range, from annual herbaceous
plants to woody trees and shrubs. * Rapid
growth: up to six inches per day! * Reproduces
vegetatively (through stem fragments) and by seed. *
Native to Asia. * Probably
introduced via Asian immigrants or visitors as an herbal remedy.
What
does Japanese dodder look like?
Vibrant
yellow-green to gold leafless vine.
* Robust, round, twining stems that are fleshy
and/or stout (1 – 3 mm in diameter), possibly with small red to purplish
spots. * Mature stems are comparable in
size to cooked spaghetti. * Unlikely to
have flowers (normal flowering season is August – October). * If flowers are found, they will be small (3-7 mm),
sessile, pale yellow to cream colored, in short, dense axillary
spikes. * Infestations often large,
spreading, and web-like. Frequently covers large shrubs and small trees.
Where
is it likely to be found?
Currently, infestations have
been found in Contra Costa County (El Cerrito, San Pablo and Richmond), Shasta
County (Redding), Yuba County (Olivehurst and
Marysville), Sacramento County (Sacramento), and L.A. County (Los Angeles).
* Infestations are highly correlated with
Asian immigrant residential neighborhoods. *
Possibly near roads and freeways. *
Probable hosts include fruit trees and ornamental shrubs, although it
can occur in native plants such as willows and oaks.
How
is it different from native dodder species?
Japanese dodder is vibrant
yellow-green or gold. Native dodders are typically orange. * Japanese dodder has thick, robust stems. Native
dodder stems are usually more thread or string-like. *
Japanese dodder infestations are typically large, entirely covering
shrubs or trees. Native dodder infestations are likely to be smaller,
infecting nonwoody plants or small shrubs. * Japanese dodder has been found in residential areas
and ornamental plantings. Native dodders are found in wildland areas or
crops.
Japanese dodder is unlikely
to be found in hot, dry desert climates or at high altitudes.
If
you find an infestation:
Do not attempt to remove or
control it with herbicides. * Document the
location: GPS coordinates. * If GPS is
unavailable, write down the address and/or nearest cross streets and/or
directions to the site. Be specific! * Identify
the host plant(s), if possible. * Take
pictures of the infestation. * Collect a
Sample: If flowers and/or seed pods are available, include them in the sample.
They may be hard to see and require close observation! * If flowers and/or seed pods are unavailable, collect
1 – 2 ft. of stem material. Collect parts that are typical of the
infestation. Include a sample of the host plant, especially with flowers
and/or fruits. * Place the sample in a
sealed plastic bag without water. * Label
the sample with the collector name, date, and location. * Refrigerate sample if not sending immediately.
* Submit the sample to your local Agricultural
Commissioner's Office.
For
Further Information:
Government Sources:
Sources Regarding Control in
Other States:
Herbal Remedy Websites:
Public Comment Period Extended for Forest Service’s
Native Plant Material Policy (FSM2070)
The
USDA Forest Service is extending the public comment period an additional 30
days for the Proposed Native Plant Material Policy (FSM 2070). The Forest
Service is proposing to establish a new directive to Forest Service Manual
(FSM) 2070 for native plant materials, which will provide direction for the
use, growth, development, and storage of native plant materials. Public
comment is invited and will be considered in development of the final
directive. A copy of the proposed directive is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/whoweare/documents/FSM2070_Final_2_062905.pdf
Comments
must be received in writing, on or before August 24, 2006. Send written
comments via the U.S. Postal Service to; Native Plant Materials Proposed
Directive, Rangeland Management Staff; STOP 1103, Forest Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250, or by facsimile to (202)
205-1096 or by e-mail to nativeplant@fs.fed.us.
If comments are sent via facsimile or email, the public is asked not to
submit duplicate written comments by mail. Please confine comments to
issues pertinent to the proposed directive and explain the reasons for any
recommended changes. All comments, including names and addresses when
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and
copying at 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC, during regular business hours,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons
wishing to inspect the comments are encouraged to call in advance to Brian
Boyd, (202) 205-1496 to facilitate entrance into the building.
For
further information contact Larry Stritch, Rangeland
Management Staff, USDA Forest Service, Mailstop 1103, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 205-1279.
Please Don’t Dump Your Aquarium – New
Invasive Aquatic Plant Outreach
Habitattitude (http://www.Habitattitude.net)
is a new national public education and outreach effort targeting aquarium
product consumers. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness among
aquarium product consumers about how they can help prevent the spread of
aquatic invasive species by encouraging them to choose alternatives to
releasing their unwanted aquatic plants and fish.
Educational
materials are being developed and include tags to stick in the pots or tie
around bags (for the floating plants and fish). They also include small
and large posters for display or distribution, as well as tip cards to place
near the cash register. They are not regulatory in any way, but simply
focus on keeping these plants and animals out of our waters. The campaign
is asking for help to get these materials out to pet shops and aquarium
hobbyists. Become a partner by registering with Habitattitude
at their website: http://www.habitattitude.net/partner/index.php
Note
from dc – I have checked the Habitattitude
website. While you can register to become a partner, there are a lot of
missing links on their website, including to the educational materials.
Apparently, the links have been “under construction” for a long
time. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources went ahead and
developed their own educational materials in partnership with Habitattitude, but I assume that use of their products is
limited to Wisconsin. More information on Wisconsin’s program is
available on their website at http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/.
Input Requested on Research Priorities for FHWA STEP
Want
to see more funding for research on roadside management practices regarding
invasive plants? Here's an opportunity to tell the Federal Highway
Administration that you think this is an important area to fund.
Your FHWA
Water and Ecosystems Team needs your input on their new approach to funding
research! STEP is the only source of funds to conduct all FHWA research
on planning and environmental issues. Stakeholder input will take
priority.
What
is STEP?
STEP
stands Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research
Program and is the new research funding process for FHWA Headquarters-funded
research in 2006-2009. Stakeholder input is required in order to identify
the research topics that should receive priority consideration. We need your
feedback to make certain that Natural Environment issues, such as
wildlife-vehicle interactions, habitat, connectivity issues, water quality,
wetlands, and vegetation management, are properly prioritized for 2006-09
research funding!
What
will STEP fund?
STEP
will fund research, field demonstrations, technical transfer, conferences and
workshops. In fact, it is likely that future FHWA funding for the International
Conference on Ecology and Transportation, as well as Weeds Across
Borders, will come from STEP, so it will be important for us to hear from
stakeholders regarding the scientific benefits of these conferences. Grants and
cooperative agreements are possible with a 50% match. Research contracts will
not require a dollar match.
Take
these four easy steps:
Only
one page and about five minutes of your time should help us all!
Final
deadline: September 15,
2006
APS Publishes Article on Biocontrol of Weeds
The
American Phytopathological Society has published an
interesting and comprehensive article on the biological control of weeds.
The article is at: http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/weed1/
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Grant
Opportunities
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NOAA Fisheries Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grant
CFDA
number 11.463 Habitat Conservation.
The
National Marine Fisheries Service is inviting the public to submit proposals
for available funding to implement grass-roots habitat restoration projects
that will benefit living marine resources, including anadromous fish, under the
NOAA Community-based Restoration Program. Projects funded through the
Community-based Restoration Program will be expected to have strong
on-the-ground habitat restoration components that provide long-term ecological
habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources as well as educational and social
benefits for people and their communities. Proposals selected for funding
through this solicitation will be implemented through a cooperative agreement.
The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's
mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
Eligible
applicants are institutions of higher education, hospitals, other non-profits,
commercial (for profit) organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of
foreign governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian
tribal governments whose projects have the potential to benefit NOAA trust
resources. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal
agencies will not be considered.
The
application period closes September 28, 2006. Visit http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=9889&mode=VIEW
for more information.
BASF Invasive Vegetation Management Matching Grant
Program RFP
BASF
is requesting proposals for a new matching grant program, which will help
provide funding for invasive weed control. Funding provided will be
non-federal matching funds for programs including control of terrestrial and/or
aquatic invasive plants with herbicides. The program provides up to
$200,000 as non-federal matching funds for on-the-ground programs that include
herbicide use for control of terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants.
The
goal of the program is to aid organizations in meeting matching funding
requirements for federal or foundation grants, specifically to support the use
of herbicides in an integrated vegetation management program. BASF
funding is to be utilized as part of the non-federal match for federal or
foundation grants such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Pulling
Together Initiative (PTI) Program.
Proposals
must be submitted to james.bean@basf.com, no later than
Friday, August 25, 2006.
Eligibility
Eligible funding recipients
include:
Requirements
Selection Criteria
Priority will be given to
projects that include:
Proposal Content
Requirements
The proposal should be no
more than 2 pages in length and must include:
1.
Project title
2.
Organization name and primary contact information including:
a.
Mailing address;
b.
Telephone number and email address; and
c.
Tax-exempt status, where applicable.
3.
List of partners involved in the control plan.
4.
Summary of the management plan including:
a.
Project location;
b.
Weed species to be controlled;
c.
Acreage to be treated;
d.
Proposed herbicide product and rate to be used for weed control;
e.
Application method;
f.
Name of applicator company (include contact information for non-QVM
applicators);
5.
Type of federal or foundation grant application to be filed.
6.
Amount of BASF matching grant funds requested.
Notification
BASF will notify those organizations that will receive matching
funds by Friday, September 15, 2006, to allow inclusion in federal and
foundation grant proposal submissions.
Funding Allocation
Funds
up to the total matching allocation will be paid directly to the application
company as herbicide applications are completed and invoices are received by
BASF. All additional application and other costs above the total
allocated funds are the responsibility of the organization.
Proposal Submission
Information
Proposals
must be sent via email to james.bean@basf.com. For more
information, please contact: Jim Bean; BASF Corporation; 904 Lancelot Lane;
Collierville, TN 38017; (901) 496-2443
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Educational
Events
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New Publications Available from Cal-IPC
Melissa
Dozier, the new outreach staff person at the California Invasive Plant Council,
announces the new publications available from Cal-IPC. They are:
The
Use of Fire as a Tool for Controlling Invasive Plants by Joe DiTomaso (UC Davis), Matthew Brook (USGS),
Edith Allen (UC Riverside), and Ralph Minnich (Ca
Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection) This is the most current
collaborative report on the use of prescribed fire as an invasive plant
management technique in wildlands. This 50-page, full-color publication reviews
the challenges and impacts of prescribed burns, the effectiveness of fire in
different wildland systems, and more. The report has generated far-reaching
interest -- Cal-IPC has received orders from all around the country.
The California Invasive Plant Inventory. This 2006 update of Cal-IPC's "weed
list" is based on the detailed criteria system developed with partners in
Arizona and Nevada. The 40-page report includes a cross-reference with
other important plant lists.
and
coming soon...
The Yellow Starthistle Management Guide. This up-to-date summary covers the impacts,
control methods, and integrated management strategies for one of the state's
worst weeds.
You
can order a copy of these professional reports (or see the pdf
copies) at www.cal-ipc.org
Current
printings have been paid for by grants, so the only cost is shipping and
handling (shipping charge per copy is reduced for larger orders).
Vegetation Management Update Meetings
Wilbur-Ellis
Company, DuPont Vegetation Management Products, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, and Alligare LLC
announce a series of vegetation management update meetings throughout
California in August 2006. They invite you to join them at the meeting
closest to you. Dates and locations are shown below. They have
requested 4.5 hours of CDPR Continuing Education credit. Please let them
know you are coming. RSVP to Elizabeth Hardwick at
800-426-3491.
There
is NO charge or registration fee to attend these meetings!
|
Meeting Schedule |
||
|
Date |
City |
Location |
|
August 8 Tuesday |
Redding |
Holiday
Inn
1900 Hilltop Dr; Redding, CA
96002-0282 (530) 674-8824 |
|
August 9 Wednesday |
Yuba City |
Best Western Bonanza
Inn
1001 Clark Avenue; Yuba City, CA
95991 (530) 674-8824 |
|
August 10 Thursday |
Stockton |
Best Western Stockton
Inn
(209) 931-3131 4219 Waterloo Road; Stockton 95215
(Hwy 88 exit off Hwy 99) |
|
August 15 Tuesday |
Santa Maria |
Santa Maria
Inn
801 S. Broadway; Santa Maria, CA
93454 (805) 928-7777 |
|
August 16 Wednesday |
Fresno |
Piccadilly Inn 2505 West Shaw Ave.; Fresno CA
93711 (559) 226-3850 |
|
August 17 Thursday |
San Jose |
Double Tree Inn 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, CA
95110
(408) 453-4000 |
|
August 23 Wednesday |
Ontario |
Double Tree Inn 222 N. Vineyard Ave.; Ontario, CA
91764 (909) 937-0900 |
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Volunteer
Opportunity
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Beach Captains for Coastal Cleanup Day
WHAT: Beach Captains for 22nd Annual California
Coastal Cleanup Day; this is part of an international
event that takes place every year on the third Saturday of September.
WHEN: Saturday, September 16, Approximately 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
WHERE: The Following Beaches: Butterfly Beach, Gaviota, Guadalupe,
Jalama, and Santa Claus Lane.
Beach Captains will be responsible for enlisting
volunteers (the County will also advertise in newspapers and on radio), setting
up at a designated site to hand out supplies and give instructions to
volunteers, collecting data information and waiver sheets from volunteers,
putting trash and recyclables collected in appropriate containers, and calling
in final results to the California Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator. The Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division of
Santa Barbara County will provide all necessary supplies.
To volunteer, please contact Jody Rundle; Program Specialist; Resource Recovery
& Waste Management Division; Santa Barbara County; 130 East Victoria
Street, Suite 100; Santa Barbara, CA 93101; (805) 882-3602 Work; (805)
882-3602 Fax; JRUNDLE@cosbpw.net
Arroyo Hondo Preserve
HABITAT RESTORATION WORK
PARTY Sunday, August 6, 2006; 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Come
on out and help restore habitat at Arroyo Hondo Preserve! Volunteers are
needed to work along the creek south of the barn, clearing Vinca (periwinkle)
from around planted natives and under the established riparian canopy.
Help is needed to continue the work that summer science campers (YEA: Youth
Enrichment Adventures) started a couple of weeks ago. A couple of
volunteers will take a side trip to the west side of the creek by the
rose/hummingbird sage, to water the plants the YEA students planted. That
area will be the site of a project in the fall/winter to control sediment
before it enters the creek. Volunteers will help build brush fascines
(bundles) and plant erosion-control natives. The new project has been
funded by a grant from the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project.
To volunteer, contact Jane Murray, volunteer@sblandtrust.org, (805)
684-4405.
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Acknowledgement
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This
newsletter is compiled from various sources, including emails I receive from
people who are involved in the invasive weed field. I modify the
information, but sometimes it is inserted here nearly verbatim. I thank
those people for this information and for their devotion to protecting and
conserving habitat. If you recognize something that you wrote and object
to its use here or on my website, contact me and I will promptly remove it from
my website.
*****************************************
Sincerely,
David Chang
Agricultural Commissioner's
Office
County of Santa Barbara
263 Camino del
Remedio
Santa Barbara CA 93110
(805) 681-5600
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