SBCWMA
News
April 2008
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News
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Free Oak Trees
The County of Santa Barbara Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has FREE
native oak seedlings available to local landowners. This year there are
Coast Live, Valley and Blue Oak seedlings available. Seedlings are grown
from locally collected acorns and are raised by area high school students.
This oak tree give-away is part of the County’s Oak Tree Protection
and Regeneration Program to sustain and enhance the native oak resources of
Santa Barbara County. Specifically, the program seeks to ensure that there is
no net loss of native oak trees and that the number and extent of remaining
valley, blue, and live oak trees increase. However, budget cuts threaten the
program in 2008, thus this may be the last year to obtain free oak trees.
To receive free trees, contact Lottie Martin at 805-934-6200, or by email at lmmartin@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.
Weed Awareness Day at the Capitol Report
Doug Johnson, California Invasive Plant Council Executive Director, expressed
thanks to participants and letter writers, and provided the following report on
the recently held Weed Awareness Day (March 12) at the Capitol.
o
Teams of three
were able to visit the offices of all 120 legislators, and found broad
recognition of the weed problem and of the importance of funding for the Weed
Management Area program. So far, funding for WMAs remains in the budget. (If
you haven't done so yet, please send a support letter from your organization --
instructions at www.cal-ipc.org/policy/state/letters.php.)
o
Associations of
County Agricultural Commissioners and of local Resource Conservation Districts
presented their ongoing dedication to collaborative weed management efforts
through WMAs.
o
Wildlife
advocates presented opportunities for conservation organizations to play a
powerful role in the future through climate change measures instigated by AB
32.
o
Departments of
Resources and Food & Agriculture are working with the Governor's office on
a plan to create an invasive species council to strengthen interagency
coordination.
Save the Date and Call for Papers – 2008 National
Association of Exotic Pest Plant Council Conference
The National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils in association with the
Natural Areas Conference will hold the first NAEPPC Conference in Nashville,
Tennessee on October 14 – 17, 2008. The theme is Natural Areas
Revival in Music City: Tuning into a Changing Climate and Biological Invasions.
For more information about the conference, visit http://www.naturalarea.org/08conference/index.htm.
Papers are due April 22, 2008. For more information about the call for
papers, visit http://www.naturalarea.org/08conference/call.html.
Ventura WMA Meeting
The next meeting of the Ventura County Weed Management Area stakeholders will
be held April 30, 9:30 AM to Noon, at the Hansen Agricultural Learning Center
at Faulkner Farms, 14292 W. Telegraph Road, at the Corner of Briggs and
Telegraph Roads in Santa Paula. This is a critical meeting regarding the
future of the Ventura WMA! Sabrina Drill, Natural Resources Advisor, will
talk about fire-safe landscaping, and aquatic invasive species. Charlie
Hohn of Wildscape will be presenting the results of the San Antonio Creek
Watershed Vegetation Mapping Project. Contact Marty Melvin, marty.melvin@vcrcd.org, 805-386-4685,
District Manager, Ventura County Resource Conservation District, Lead Agency
for the VC WMA for more information.
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Grants
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USDA Grants for Invasive Species
The updated USDA Grants 2008 document is available on the internet at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/toolkit/main.shtml.
This document lists the federal grants that fund invasive species work. The
manager’s toolkit lists these and additional resources for grant money: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/toolkit/grants.shtml.
If you are looking for money, you should look
soon, as some of the deadlines for applications for these grants are
approaching quickly. Additionally,
the National Invasive
Species Information Center is an informative website with information on
current news, biology, a conference calendar, RSS feeds, professional
education, and management techniques.
Fisheries Restoration Grant Program
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released the Proposal Solicitation
Notice (PSN) for their Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP). Grant
proposals are due on May 9, 2008. DFG will soon announce upcoming
workshops in the region to go over the PSN and answer questions on
proposals. Visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Administration/Grants/FRGP/Solicitation.asp
for more information.
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State &
National News
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Center for Invasive Species
and Ecosystem Health Formally Established at the University of Georgia
To address issues on invasive species and ecosystem (agricultural, forested and
natural system) health, the Center for
Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has been established at the
University of Georgia. Invasive plants, insects, plant pathogens, aquatic
species and terrestrial wildlife cost the United States economy more than $100
billion each year. Agricultural and forested systems are under increased
stress due to problems caused by both non-native invasive species and native
pest organisms. Solutions to these problems require collaborations that
transcend traditional disciplinary, college, institutional and agency
approaches, as well as state and national borders. The Center, housed at
the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, evolved from the Bugwood Network that
developed through faculty cooperation between the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
at the University of Georgia. Visit http://www.bugwood.org/center/
First Northeastern Weed
Science Society (NEWSS) Noxious & Invasive Vegetation Management Short
Course
With great pleasure, the Northeastern Weed Science Society is announcing the
first Noxious & Invasive Vegetation Management Short Course to be held in
Pennsylvania September 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2008. The Course will target public
and private land managers (parks, conservancies, preserves, forests, private
parcels and farms) from Maine to North Carolina who desire a better
understanding of weed management. The course will stress ecologically-based
plant management and include monitoring and assessment, prevention, cultural,
mechanical and chemical plant management. Classroom, laboratory and field
exercises will be utilized and the program will be designed to encourage
interaction between instructors and students. The Society has posted the
announcement flyer and pre-registration documents on the NEWSS Website www.newss.net.
2008 Aquatic Weed Short
Course
Register today in order to take part in the 2008 Aquatic Weed Short Course held
May 5-8, 2008 at the Coral Springs Marriott Hotel, Golf Club, and Convention
Center in Coral Springs, Florida. The short course is designed to benefit those
new to the industry and experienced professionals seeking a comprehensive
update.
Topics include: proper pesticide use; aquatic plant identification; and aquatic
plant biology, management and environmental topics. For more information,
visit the conference website at: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw.
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Educational
Opportunities
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Environmental Site
Restoration / Mitigation - Creative Planning and Implementation
Oxnard, CA, June 3-5, 2008. This course provides participants with a
broad overview and specific steps used for innovative restoration and
mitigation planning and implementation, applicable to the western U.S.
More info: http://www.nwetc.org/bio-402_06-08_oxnard.htm
Wild About Ojai Series
In collaboration with the California Native Plant Society, the Ojai Museum, the
Matilija Coalition, the Surfrider Foundation, and the Ventura Audubon Society,
the OVLC is excited to offer members and partner organization members an
interactive environmental learning series – Wild About Ojai.
Following are classes from the series that are relevant to WMA interested
persons.
Friday evening presentations held at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy office,
370 Baldwin Rd. (Help of Ojai’s center for nonprofits). Saturday morning
field trips demonstrate Friday evening topics, attend one or both. See field
locations below. Reservations recommended as seating is limited. 805
649-6852 or by email ovlc@ovlc.org.
Free for OLVC members. Donation of $10 per session requested from
non-members.
·
Landscaping with Natives - Part I
Friday,
April 11th, 7pm. Presentation by: Daniel Wilson, Landscape Designer,
Wilson Environmental Landscape Design. Learn to landscape with native
plants and trees. Including care and maintenance of natives.
·
Landscaping with Natives - Part II
Saturday, April 12th from 9am till noon. Field Tour: Arborist, Mike Inaba
and Designer, John Lamar will tour native landscapes. Meet at Cluff Vista
Park. Visit Ojai Valley Museum’s native plant exhibition & sale
featuring an Ojai Meadows. Preserve talk by Derek Poultney and book
signing by Author Jan Timbrook.
·
Healthy River, Healthy Community – Part
I
Friday, April 25th, 7pm. Presentation by: Paul Jenkin of Matilija Coalition,
Nica Katherine Nite, of the Cal Trout Program. Learn about the Matilija
Dam removal; steelhead trout in the Ventura River; and how OVLC is working to
enhance the health of the Ventura River.
·
Healthy River River-Part II
Saturday, April 26th, 9am till noon. Vehicle tour : Paul Jenkin and
Stevie Adams, OVLC project manager. Stops at Matilija Dam, arundo removal
project, & OVLC River restoration projects. Meet at the Riverview
trailhead on Rice Road. Reservations required, (805) 649-6852
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Volunteer
Opportunities
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Carpinteria Salt Marsh
Help the Carpinteria Marsh Volunteers improve the upland habitat of the
Carpinteria Marsh. Meet every second Sunday of every month at 10:00 am
– 12:00 noon at the Carpinteria Marsh Telescope Entrance. Bring
gloves and shovels if you can, or the volunteers can provide them.
Contact Andrea at aadamsmorden@yahoo.com
for more information.
Santa Barbara
Channelkeeper Launches New "Bug Hugger Team" Program
Santa
Barbara Channelkeeper is launching a new effort to monitor the health of local
creeks. Their new "Bug Hugger Team" will conduct bioassessments
(a method of characterizing stream health by measuring physical habitat
conditions and benthic invertebrate (bug) assemblages) at multiple creeks
throughout the South Coast. Training is mandatory for those who wish to
participate in this fun and exciting new program. The first training
event will be held on Saturday, April 19th at the Watershed Resource Center at
Arroyo Burro (Hendry's) Beach from 9am - 4pm. Lunch will be
provided. Training will be conducted by a representative from the Los Angeles
Regional Water Quality Control Board. Volunteers will learn how to
characterize creek health by measuring parameters such as tree canopy cover,
cobble embeddedness, stream bank dimensions, instream habitat, channel
sinuosity, and stream discharge. Additionally, volunteers will learn how
to collect and analyze macroinvertebrates (bugs) in the creek. Once volunteers
are properly trained, they will be able to check out monitoring equipment from
Channelkeeper to conduct their own creek sampling. They will also be able
to participate in Bug Hugger snapshot events, which will take place twice a
year.
Please RSVP and address questions to Ben Pitterle at ben@sbck.org or (805) 563-3377 ext. 3.
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Weed of the
Month
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Artichoke Thistle, Cynara
cardunculus
Artichoke thistle, also known as Cynara cardunculus, is a significant
pest of rangeland and habitat, as its stout, upright, spreading nature, its
formidable spines, and high density growth reduces forage production and
excludes humans, livestock and wildlife. Artichoke thistle grows as tall as
five feet and is crowned by a cluster of showy, bright purple flowerheads that
are two to three inches wide that bloom in April through July from a bushy
rosette up to five feet in diameter. Artichoke thistle has the potential
to infest many acres of rangeland on the Gaviota Coast.
Artichoke thistle occurs sporadically on the Gaviota Coast, in the San Marcos
Foothills, and other areas in Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara
County Weed Management Area is working on the infestation on the Gaviota Coast.
Because of its ability to resprout after chemical spraying and to build
up a seedbank that lasts five years or more, yearly monitoring and repeat
eradication are necessary. Eradication is most effective when mature
plants are bolting, generally in early to mid-April. Artichoke thistle is
a perennial herb that can resprout from a taproot that can reach as far as 8
feet deep.
Artichoke thistle, Cynara cardunculus, is recognized as the wild form of
the cultivated globe artichoke, Cynara scolymus. When grown from
divisions of the perennial crown, globe artichoke will reliably produce the
spineless, edible flowerhead and plant known to agriculture, but grown from
seed it often reverts to a wild form, producing the inch-long spines around the
flowerhead normally found on C. cardunculus.
More information can be found at Cal-IPC
and the Encycloweedia.
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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, 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.
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Sincerely,
David Chang
Agricultural Commissioner's
Office
County of Santa Barbara
(805) 681-5600
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