SBCWMA
Newsletter
September 2006
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 12:20 PM
***************************************************
News
***************************************************
Insect Found Feeding on Arundo in Santa Clara River (8/11/06)
Tom
Dudley, UCSB researcher, reports that Adam Lambert, a post-doctorate researcher
working on Arundo biocontrol studies with collaborators in France, has
confirmed that a stem-boring wasp that they found in Arundo stems along the
Santa Clara River is Tetramesa romana - the same European species that
USDA is working with in quarantine for future potential Arundo
biocontrol. The wasp is undergoing host selectivity testing, which after
successful results will be proposed for potential re-distribution to other
infestations in the state.
Adam
and Tom are now trying to determine the wasp’s distribution in the US,
and the impact that wasp (larval) feeding has on Arundo biomass. They
would appreciate any assistance in determining the distribution of this wasp in
the southwestern US, especially California. Please visit their website rivrlab.msi.ucsb.edu/wasp_sampling.htm
to find more information on identifying insect damage, a sampling protocol, and
a sampling data sheet.
There
is also more information on our current research and other insect information
on their website: rivrlab.msi.ucsb.edu
CDFA Awarded $300,000 from GLCI (8/17/06)
The
California Department of Food and Agriculture was recently awarded a $300,000
grant from the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative administered by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service. The CDFA plans to use the money
to prevent the spread of noxious weeds using a Statewide Strike-Team on private
grazing lands. The SBCWMA also applied for this grant but was
denied. For more information about the award visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/.
EPA Finds Organic Arsenical Herbicides Ineligible for
Reregistration (8/14/06)
EPA has announced its decision that all uses of the organic arsenic herbicides
-- MSMA, DSMA, CAMA, and cacodylic acid -- are not eligible for
reregistration. The Agency’s primary concern is the potential for
applied organic arsenical products to transform to a more toxic inorganic form
of arsenic in soil and subsequently be transported to drinking water.
The
Agency’s risk assessment, supported by field monitoring data in both
surface and ground water, estimates levels of inorganic arsenic in drinking
water from the pesticide use that raise a concern for cancer risk. Given
this risk, EPA has determined that the tolerances for the organic arsenic
herbicides do not meet the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). In addition, because there are readily available
alternatives, EPA believes continued registration of the organic arsenic herbicides
will pose an unreasonable risk under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
The
element arsenic is found naturally in the environment. Through erosion
and industrial activities, arsenic is transported into water, air, food, and
soil. As a result, people are exposed to small amounts of arsenic every
day. EPA and other federal and state agencies have regulations in place
that aim to reduce or limit arsenic exposure to individuals. In light of
these facts, and given that alternative herbicides are readily available, EPA
believes additional exposure to arsenic from the organic arsenic herbicides is
unnecessary.
The organic arsenic herbicides are used primarily on cotton and turf, including golf courses, home lawns, recreational areas such as school yards and athletic fields, and rights-of-way. Overall, use in the U.S. appears to be declining, and alternative weed controls are available for each of these uses. EPA’s reregistration eligibility decision, revised risk assessments, and related documents are available in the organic arsenical herbicides docket #EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0201 at www.regulations.gov. The Agency’s August 2006 Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the decision document and the start of a 60-day public comment period is available at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/August/Day-09/p12905.htm. For additional information, see the Agency’s cacodylic acid and MSMA, DSMA and CAMA reregistration Web pages at www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm.
Permanent Ratings Assigned to Weeds
Permanent
ratings were assigned to recent additions to the California noxious weed list.
The ratings are:
·
Ailanthus
altissima – C
·
Arundo donax – B
·
Brachypodium
sylvaticum – A
·
Cirsium
vulgare – C
·
Cortaderia
jubata – B
·
Spartium
junceum – no rating
·
Tamarisk
chinensis, T. gallica, T. parviflora, T. rammosissima – B
·
Non-native Cuscuta
species – A
Spineless Russian Thistle Found in Seed for Planting in
Colusa County (8/3/06)
Spineless
Russian thistle (Salsola collina), a “Q”-rated weed also known
as tumble thistle, was detected in a regulatory seed sample collected from an
incoming lot of “Double Curled Parsley” seed (Petroselinum
crispum) by inspectors in Colusa County. The parsley seed was shipped from
Wellington, Colorado. The seed from this lot had not been planted in
California, and the infested lot will be destroyed. After contacting
agricultural officials in Colorado, California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) biologists will notify the county agricultural commissioners
if additional lots of this type of seed were shipped to California. Spineless
Russian thistle is not known to occur in California, although it is widespread
in the Midwest and appears to be expanding its range. Spineless Russian thistle
is similar to “C”-rated Russian thistle (Salsola tragus),
also known as tumbleweed, which is widespread in California. More
information on spineless Russian thistle and other related plants can be found
on the CDFA Integrated Pest Management Branch website at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/salsola.htm.
Dates for NIWAW 8 Announced (8/14/06)
The Eighth Annual National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week (NIWAW 8) will be held
in Washington, D.C. the week of February 25 to March 2, 2007 to bring people
and groups from across the country together to focus national attention on the
severe impacts caused by invasive weeds. Individuals and organizations
interested in this issue are invited to participate in this event and help
build on the success of NIWAW activities in previous years. NIWAW 8
events are designed to focus on the important roles the Federal government must
play to help the U.S. deal with invasive weed problems. We have also
designed the schedule to provide ample time for attendees to meet with their
Congressional delegations, individual federal agencies and each other.
For more information visit www.nawma.org/niwaw/NIWAW%20VIII/NIWAW%208%20Announcement_FINAL.pdf
Aquatic Invasive Species Mgmt Plan Comment Period Closes
September 22nd (8/15/06)
Written comments will be due by Noon on Friday, SEPT 22, 2006. All
written comments should emailed or mailed to Dr. Karen McDowell, San Francisco
Estuary Project, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1413,
kmcdowell@waterboards.ca.gov, 510-622-2398. (Three public meetings were
held in California. …my apologies – this newsletter is after
the meetings). The Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan can be found
at sfep.abag.ca.gov/projects/invasive_species.html.
(I had problems viewing the PDF of the plan.)
High Level Policy Wonks Available at Listening Sessions. (8/15/06)
Interior
Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is joining with the Secretaries of Commerce and
Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality to host listening
sessions on cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships. The
listening sessions will give citizens an opportunity to exchange ideas on
incentives, partnership programs, and regulations that can improve results and
promote cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships. The
meetings will focus on issues, programs, and policies mentioned frequently at
the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation. Discussion topics will
include:
·
How can the federal
government enhance wildlife habitat, species protection, and other conservation
outcomes through regulatory and voluntary conservation programs?
·
How can the
federal government enhance cooperation among federal agencies and with states,
tribes, and local communities in the application of environmental protection
and conservation laws?
·
How can the
federal government work with states, tribes, and other public- and
private-sector partners to improve science used in environmental protection and
conservation?
·
How can the
federal government work cooperatively with businesses and landowners to protect
the environment and promote conservation?
·
How can the
federal government better respect the interests of people with ownership in
land, water, and other natural resources?
The
following cities will be hosting listening sessions (for additional information
visit cooperativeconservation.gov/sessions/index.html
)
Redding,
California, 1 p.m., September 13
Colorado
Springs, Colorado, 9 a.m., September 15
Brewer,
Maine, 4 p.m., September 20
Brunswick,
Georgia, 1 p.m., September 21
Colton,
California, 10 a.m., September 28
Update on $1.5 million budget for WMAs (8/16/06)
Steve
Schoenig, CDFA, provided an update on the recent $1.5 million addition to
California’s budget for weed management areas. Keep in mind that
this information is subject to change.
CDFA
is in active discussion with both the Agricultural Commissioners and CALIWAC
(California Invasive Weed Awareness Committee - the sponsor of the original
funding legislation) as to the exact funding mechanisms and nature of the
upcoming Request for Proposals. They will have all formal input by early September
and will then finalize our program.
The
Request for Proposals (work plans) will likely be issued around September 7th.
The proposals will most likely be due in the first week of October.
They will be for work to cover January 1 - December 31, 2007.
The
scheme for distribution of money is not set. Probably, WMAs will be able
to request $10,000 - $40,000 per county in the WMA. Many (possibly all )
WMAs will get a smaller amount and some set of WMAs will get amounts closer to
the upper limit. Newer WMAs will not be at a disadvantage to receive
funding if they have a good WMA and high-priority projects.
On
the ground weed control is of primary importance; however mapping and target
education are valid activities to weave in. Weed control projects should
be strategic and "high priority" - The RFP will define this clearly.
Some examples of establishing priority are:
·
projects that
will lead to eventual eradication or regional containment of outlier
infestations of uncommon weeds that are noxious rated weeds (usually A higher
than B higher than C in priority) or Cal-IPC weeds that are rated high impact
(generally a very clear map is needed to demonstrate the outlier or
"leading edge" status of the populations - either within the county
or often a map of the state or multi-county region), or;
·
projects that
protect a resource of disproportionately high value with in the county –
i.e. rare species, spectacular wildflower bloom, unique recreational area, or;
·
general projects
that leverage much higher than the 50:50 cost share or fill in the critical
gaps in a larger regional control program, or;
·
projects where
the main purpose is demonstrating the success of various control techniques -
usually in conjunction with workshops or field tours.
There
will likely be a special funding track for requesting funds for multi-WMA
projects done at a regional level. This could be for a regional WMA
coordinator that assisted a number of WMAs or a region-wide early detection and
rapid response program. Funding for a region-wide program would likely limit
the funding each county could get for its own programs by the fractional amount
of the regional program.
Steve
will discuss the Request for Proposals and answer questions at the Annual Weed
Management Area Conference on September 19th. He invites any
comments or ideas you have about the program.
***************************************************
Educational
Opportunities
***************************************************
Reminder for Cal-IPC’s 2006 Symposium
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. For more information, visit www.cal-ipc.org.
***************************************************
Volunteering
***************************************************
Arundo Removal in Santa Clara River (8/30/06)
Volunteers
are needed to help Channel Islands Restoration remove giant reed (Arundo
donax) from the Santa Clara River near Ventura in early September. Last year they worked in the same area
just upstream from the 101 bridge on property owned by The Nature
Conservancy. This is a scenic section of the river, and your help is
needed to keep the Arundo from taking over the many species of native vegetation
growing in the river and along the banks.
They will be working at the site on Sunday September 10, and Monday
September 11. This is a great opportunity to volunteer on a mainland
restoration project while visiting an area of the river that is not open to the
public. Please contact Ken Owen, Channel Islands Restoration, islands@rain.org, (805) 448-5726, www.ChannelIslandsRestoration.com
for more information.
***************************************************
Acknowledgement
***************************************************
This
newsletter is compiled from various sources, including emails I receive from
people who are involved in the invasive weed field, and from listserves.
I modify the emails, but sometimes they are 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
(805) 681-5600
*****************************************