2018 Accomplishments Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 2 2018 HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS 4 Kudzu Removal 4 Pike Knob Preserve 5 Formation of RGCWPMA 6 Discover Nature Day 2018 6 PHCWPMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 2018 7 Invasive Plant Treatments 7 Resistance & Bio-Control 8 Monitoring & Research 9 Education & Outreach 10

PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018

Introduction

The Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (PHCWPMA) is a partnership of diverse interests with federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and private land owners working together to address the threat of non-native . The PHCWPMA encompasses twelve counties in West and Virginia and strives to decrease the impacts of invasive species on native plant and animal communities, public and private forests, aquatic resources, agricultural lands and local economics using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This February, the PHCWPMA was joined in its efforts by the newly formed Rivers and Gorges CWPMA (RGCWPMA). The RGCWPMA covers ten counties in and 2.4 million acres focused around New River Gorge. Both CWPMAs will be partnering on education and outreach as well as research. This report features highlighted projects from the past year as well as a complete list of reported accomplishments from PHCWPMA partners.

Compiled by Hannah Wroton, AFHA AmeriCorps USFS Ecosystems Partnerships.

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PHCWPMA is proud to include the following partners:

 Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFHA)  U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS)  AmeriCorps  U.S. Forest Service—Northeastern Area State  American Forests and Private Forestry (USFS NA S&PF)  Blue Ridge PRISM  U.S. Forest Service—Northern Research  Station (USFS– NRS) (CVN WR)  WesMonTy Resource Conservation and  Experience Learning Development Project, Inc. (WesMonTy  Fairmont State University—College of RC&D) Science and Technology  West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA)  George Washington and Jefferson National  West Virginia Forestry Association Forests (USFS– GWJ)  West Virginia Department of Agriculture  Monongahela National Forest (USFS– MOF) (WVDA)  Native Plant Society  West Virginia Division of Highways  Natural Resources Conservation Service (WVDOH) (NRCS)  West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF)  Pendleton Farmland Protection  West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Board (WVDNR)  Potomac Valley Conservation District  West Virginia Native Plant Society (WVNPS)  Private landowners  West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WVRC)  National Forest Foundation  Extension Service  The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (WVU-ES)  Trout Unlimited  Virginia Cooperative Extension

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2018 Highlighted Projects The West Virginia Division of Forestry is Kicking Kudzu Out of Pendleton County BEFORE AFTER

Kudzu infestation before and after treatment by the WVDOF and WVDOH

The West Virginia Division of Forestry (DOF) is fighting the first-known invasion of kudzu in Pendleton County, with the help of the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia University (WVU) Extension Service. WVU Extension Agent and County Program Coordinator David Seymour spotted the aggressive vine growing on private land near a county highway. The kudzu was growing in the highway right-of- way and climbing up a residence. Seymour contacted West Virginia DOF’s service forester Rosey Santerre to discuss teaming up to get the invasive vine under control. They worked with the landowner and the Division of Highways to perform the first of several treatments using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to eradicate the only known infestation of kudzu in Pendleton County. IPM achieves long-term pest control through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation and monitoring. Pesticides, if needed, are used judiciously. The DOH employee who worked with the WVDOF to get this treatment done had attended a presentation done by PHCWPMA AmeriCorps in 2012 titled “Why you should care about invasive species”. This presentation was designed to interest DOH employees by talking about the adverse effects of NNIS on sportsmen and landowners. He remembered the Kudzu pictures from this presentation and it motivated him to collaborate.

Excerpt from WV Division of Forestry Press Release, Rosey Santerre

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Pike Knob Preserve

The Nature Conservancy’s Pike Knob Preserve is one of the most unique locations in West Virginia. The grassy bald supports a wide variety of rare plants, the nearby forest is home to the southernmost native red pine stand in the country, and the 360- degree panorama offers views of Spruce Knob, , and Allegheny . It is also home to seven different invasive plants, all of which threaten the unique grassy bald community. Along with other ecologically unique sites in the geography, Pike Knob has been a focal area for the 2013 crew member Jenna Stalnaker spreads native warm-season grass seeds in a patch PHCWPMA field crew since the early days of the CWPMA. of dead cheat grass (light brown). NNIS treatments at Pike Knob have posed some interesting challenges for the crews. When treatments began in 2011, several acres of the bald were dominated by dense monocultures of invasive plants. Herbicide treatments of those areas were very effective, but they left large patches of exposed soil, which were then re-colonized by the same invasive species. In order to combat this, the field crews began spreading a mix of native grass seeds post-treatment in 2013, with the intention that those native species would establish themselves in the patches of exposed soil and prevent invasive plants from re- 2018: the cheat grass infestation is dramatically colonizing. Starting the following year, the crews also began smaller, and native warm-season grasses (tall clumps to use a highly specialized suite of herbicides – combined of grass) planted by TNC have taken its place. with manual treatments – to maximize destruction of invasive plants while minimizing effects on native plants.

These methods, combined with a successful biocontrol program for yellow toadflax, have been extremely successful. Cheat grass and other invasive plants only occupy a small portion of their former area, and native warm-season grasses dominate much of the treatment site. This integrated approach is both easier and more effective than traditional herbicide-only treatments. Although we aren’t eliminating 100% of every invasive species every year, we are drastically reducing their seed production while also exposing a lot of bare soil, which native grasses have clearly been colonizing even in years when we don’t spread seed ourselves. Utilizing natural processes to supplement our traditional treatments has greatly decreased the crew’s annual workload at Pike Knob, and it has set this unique site on the path to recovery. 2018: The area is now overwhelmingly dominated by a mix of native grasses. By Ben Rhodes, TNC Ecological Restoration Coordinator

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Formation of the Rivers & Gorges CWPMA

On February 28th, 2018 the inaugural meeting of the Rivers & Gorges CWPMA was held in Beckley, West Virginia. The RGCWPMA is a newly formed sister CWPMA and encompasses 9 counties in West Virginia: Pocahontas, Webster, Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Mercer, Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier. Centered around the New River Gorge, the RGCWPMA includes 2.4 million acres of land and several DNR focal areas.

The Education & Outreach committees and the Research & Monitoring committees of the RGCWPMA and the PHCWPMA will be partnering together to expand their capabilities and resources as well as some shared Steering Committee members.

By Amy Coleman, USFS-MOF South Zone Ecologist

Discover Nature Day 2018 Discover Nature Day was held for the 7th year in 2018 at the Discovery Center. Put on by the U.S. Forest Service and partners, about 800 visitors attended the educational event. 46 partner booths provided visitors with a wide array of educational topics and activities. The activity fair included fly-tying, a bat cave, animal tracking, and a morning garlic mustard pull. Nine groups participated in providing nature education Learning about animal tracks at Discover Nature Day featuring everything from pollinators to native fish to 2018 agricultural pests.

By Hannah Wroton, AFHA AmeriCorps with USFS

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PHCWPMA Accomplishments 2018 Following is a complete list of the reported projects completed by the CWPMA partners with-in the PHCWPMA and RGCWPMA boundaries with in the last year. Invasive Plant Treatments

 THE NATURE CONSERVANCY (TNC): The PHCWPMA field crew treated a total of 1635 acres on non-native invasive plant species. 17 Monongahela National Forest Sites totaling 1162 acres and 9 private and TNC sites totaling 473 acres both exceeded treatment goal. The crew treated 19 species on 26 different sites.

 RIVERS & GORGES CWPMA: Partnered with private landowner Traci Hickson and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park to remove Japanese stiltgrass along a ten-mile road along The crew treated 6 different invasive species on the grassy Leatherbark Run in Pocahontas County, WV. bald at TNC’s Pike Knob Preserve  GARLIC MUSTARD CHALLENGE: During the spring of 2018, 132 volunteers pulled approximately 493 pounds of garlic mustard at different locations in the Monongahela National Forest over the course of a month. See Education & Outreach section.

Resistance & Biocontrol

 USFS NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION (USFS-NRS) & THE NATURE CONCERVANCY (TNC): Sampled the understory vegetation both within a forested area and in a more open area at for pre-biocontrol (Ceutorhynchus spp. -- beetles) release monitoring on garlic mustard populations. The release may occur next year (if APHIS approves) or in the next few years.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): A total of 1,500 R. latipes weevils were released at three Running buffalo clover that was found locations in Hardy and Grant Counties in May, 2018. while sampling for pre-biocontrol release at Bickle Knob. Photo Ellen Baker, WVU.  WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): A total of 600 M. janthinus biocontrol beetles were released at one location in Pendleton County in June of 2018.

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Monitoring & Research

 THE NATURE CONSERVANCY (TNC): The PHCWPMA field crew monitored 824 acres of treated areas for treatment efficacy and unintended environmental damage. The average efficacy was 88% and no significant non-target damage was noted at any site.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Conducted 15 pest surveys at nurseries in Grant, Hardy, Pendleton, Randolph, Pocahontas, and Tucker Counties.

The PHCWPMA Field Crew celebrates after finishing a woody NNIS removal project near Judy Gap

Education & Outreach

 PHCWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Reprinted brochures for pests and pathogens, plants, and aquatic NNIS. Eight agencies contributed $8,798 to print 4,190 brochures.

 PHCWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Received grant funding through the USFS Citizen Science Grant to expand the current NNIS citizen science program to grades K-12 and into five counties around the Monongahela National Forest (MOF). The grant will support the creation of two sets of four educational trunks for varying grade level for each zone of the MOF. The grant program will be implemented in local schools in the spring of 2019.

 CWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: In partnership with Play Clean Go, The Pests that Girdle the Home of Tucker the Turtle and Fighting Invasive Pests: Tucker the Turtle’s Field Guide were updated.

 PETERSBURG CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM: A 4-week program for the 5th graders at Petersburg Elementary educates the students about NNIS, the problems, and their treatments. 104 students participated in the 4 class series.

 RCWPMA CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM: The Rivers & Gorges CWPMA expanded the four week non-native invasive species education program to Green Bank Elementary Middle School and Marlinton Middle School. The program concluded with a field trip to the Monongahela National Forest where students removed garlic mustard from the Blue Bend Campground along Anthony Creek in Greenbrier County.

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Education & Outreach

 MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF): Selected as a pilot Forest for the Wild Spotter app, a program that aims to build citizen science volunteer capacity to protect America’s wild places from harmful invasive species (https://wildspotter.org)

 MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF) & WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Provided educational materials and information about NNIS at the 2018 Forest Festival in Elkins to 540 community members.

 DISCOVER NATURE DAY: Approximately 800 people attended Discover Nature Day at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. 46 partners volunteered to provide NNIS and other information to the public. 42 of the attendees volunteered to pull Garlic Mustard during the event, see Garlic Mustard Challenge. Volunteers pull Garlic Mustard at Discover Nature Day 2018

 GARLIC MUSTARD CHALLENGE: Last spring, USFS in conjunction with partners and volunteers coordinated the Garlic Mustard Challenge. Over the course of about a month, approximately 492.5 pounds of Garlic Mustard were removed by 132 volunteers. See table below.

Date Location # of Volunteers Pounds of Garlic Mustard Removed (lbs) 5/31/2018 Blue Bend 46 140 N/A 8 52.5 4/28/2018 Discover Nature Day 68 100 5/5/2018 10 200 TOTAL 4 Locations 132 Volunteers 492.5 lbs. of Garlic Mustard

 MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF): 100 kids participated in river snorkeling events at White’s Run where they learned about aquatic NNIS.

 NNIS EDUCATION IN VISITORS CENTERS: Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, Cass Railroad State Park, , Blackwater State Park all have NNIS educational displays and distribute educational materials.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Held five presentations on invasive insects with over 300 attendees.

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Education & Outreach

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA) & WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY (WVDOF): Taught NNIS classes to Potomac State College Integrated Pest Management (IPM) class.

 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICES (WVU-ES): Programs such as A Walk in the Woods and Four Season Forests now include invasive species coverage.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Provided outreach and presentations on various NNIS at the West Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association Summer Farm meeting and at the Logging BMP workshop.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (WVDEP): Held educational programs for 15 youth groups where NNIS was discussed.

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (WVDNR): Held presentations on NNIS for the West Virginia Conservation Agency, WVDNR trainings, and the West Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOH).

 WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (WVDNR): Held presentation on NNIS and their native look-alikes at Innovations in Invasive Species Conference.

Media

 FACEBOOK: the PHCWPMA page has 336 likes and has reached 1,234 people through posts this year.

 PHCWPMA WEBSITE: The PHCWPMA website remains updated and active.

 RGCWPMA GARLIC MUSTARD PULL: Coverage of the Blue Bend Garlic Mustard Pull in the Pocahontas Times.

 NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER GOATS: Three news outlets covered New River Gorge’s herd of NNIS eating goats.

 DISCOVER NATURE DAY: Discover Nature Day was publicized on WBOY and on the Alleghany Mountain Radio.

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