Vol. 23, No. 3 Fall 2015 Cal-IPC News Protecting ’s Natural Areas from Wildland Weeds

Newsletter of the California Invasive Plant Council

Going to great lengths

EDRR in Bay Area National Parks 4 Symposium photos 6 Does glyphosate cause cancer? 8 Do No Harm 9 Puncturevine attacks! 10 Scotch broom mite to the rescue 11 Treating fennel on San Clemente EMAPi in Hawai’i 13 Island. Winner of the 2015 Photo Habitat conservation planning 14 Contest, by Aaron Echols, Channel Islands Restoration From the Director’s Desk It’s the little things… By Executive Director Doug Johnson Cal-IPC 1442-A Walnut Street, #462 Berkeley, CA 94709 ometimes small changes can result in significant progress. A new sentence in a ph (510) 843-3902 fax (510) 217-3500 www.cal-ipc.org [email protected] Splanning document may provide a stronger foundation for programmatic policies. Protecting California’s lands and waters Here are a few small improvements made recently that hold promise for helping our from invasive plants work in the future. STAFF The California Dept. of Water Resources recently updated its model ordinance for Doug Johnson, Executive Director Elizabeth Brusati, Senior Scientist Water Efficient Landscaping. This serves as a template for local jurisdictions to use Agustín Luna, Director of Finance & Administration in setting local policy. Now included under landscape design: “The use of invasive Bertha McKinley, Program Assistant plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly Dana Morawitz, Program Manager for GIS and Regional Conservation discouraged.” We have received calls from municipalities wanting guidance on using

BOARD OF DIRECTORS our list, and we are working with Alameda County StopWaste on developing guidelines Jason Casanova, President for using our list in making appropriate site-specific landscaping decisions. Council for Watershed Health Jennifer Funk, Vice-President Along the same lines, California is updating its General Plan Guidelines for com- Chapman University munities. Cal-IPC Member Paul Minault is following the process and providing formal Steve Schoenig, Treasurer Independent Consultant comment on ways to include invasive plant management, for instance in the section on Jutta Burger, Secretary protecting open space for habitat and conservation. Irvine Ranch Conservancy Morgan Ball The National Green Building Standard is in revision, including a brief section Wildlands Conservation Science on non-invasive landscaping. A project loses significant points if it cannot claim to Tim Buonaccorsi RECON Environmental, Inc. be using non-invasive vegetation (and a project can earn extra points for removing Gina Darin invasives found on site). New draft language clarifies that invasive plant lists are not California Department of Water Resources Jason Giessow limited to those from a government agency. Dendra, Inc. This elevates the potential for using other Elise Gornish science-based lists from organizations like UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences Shawn Kelly Cal-IPC. Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Drew Kerr California recently completed the 2015 Invasive Spartina Project Update to its Wildlife Action Plan. Tabular Ed King Placer Co. Ag. Commissioner’s Office presentation of 29 ecological pressures Annabelle Kleist considered in the statewide stakeholder pro- Capitol Impact cess show that invasive species are the top Dan Knapp American Conservation Experience ecological pressure on wildlife by far, with John Knapp 50% more strategic actions proposed than The Nature Conservancy the next runner up (“livestock, farming, and ranching”). Though the plan does not call

STUDENT LIAISONS this out explicitly in the text, the evidence Marina LaForgia is there, and groups dedicated to protecting UC Davis wildlife can’t miss the significance. Justin Valliere UC Riverside Only time will tell, but with luck these Affiliations for identification purposes only. small bits of progress will add up to big progress in the future. Cal-IPC News California Water Efficient Landscaping model ordinance: Fall 2015 - Vol. 23, No. 3 www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/landscapeordinance Editors: Doug Johnson & Elizabeth Brusati Published by the California Invasive Plant Council. Articles may California General Plan Guidelines: www.opr.ca.gov/s_generalplanguidelines.php be reprinted with permission. Previous issues are archived at www.cal-ipc.org. Mention of commercial products does not imply endorsement by Cal-IPC. Submissions are welcome. We National Green Building Standard: www.homeinnovation.com/ngbs reserve the right to edit content. California Wildlife Action Plan: www.wildlife.ca.gov/SWAP

2 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 Cal-IPC Updates SF Bay Upland Habitat Goals. The regional goals document has been Desktop WHIPPET. The WHIPPET WildlandWildland updated. Cal-IPC contributed to chapters tool helps land managers prioritize popu- on “Connections to the Watersheds” lations of invasive plants for eradication. Weed News and Wildlife. baylandsgoals.org/ Last year an online version was released Weed News science-update-2015/ by Cal-IPC. Gina Darin of the CA Dept. of Water Resources has completed a EMAPi conference in Hawai’i (see p. 13). Weeds hurt sage grouse. The Westsern new-and-improved version of the desktop Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Upcoming project. We received a two- version that you can use with your own produced a report on Invasive Plant year grant from the National Fish and ArcGIS for greater ability to customize the Management and Greater Sage-Grouse Wildlife Foundation to remove Algerian analysis Download from whippet.cal-ipc. Conservation as part of the run-up to the sea lavender from marshes around San org. recent decision to not list the Great Basin Francisco Bay and Herbicide BMPs. Our manual of “Best to develop an index Management Practices for Wildland for ranking the Stewardship: Protecting Wildlife When level of invasive Using Herbicides for Invasive Plant plant threat to each Management” includes practices to reduce salt marsh. risks to wildlife. Toxicology charts show risks of commonly used herbicides to Other News different type of wildlife. Download from Using livestock www.cal-ipc.org. to control weeds. Regional proposals. We worked with University partners in three more regions—South of Nevada Central Coast (Santa Barbara and San Cooperative Luis Obispo counties), North Central Extension has de- (Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties), signed a handbook and San Mateo County (for Canary Island for using livestock St. Johnswort)—to submit proposals to for noxious weed the California Wildlife Conservation control in nine Wall of Arundo. Second place in 2015 Photo Contest, by Sloane Board to eradicate high-priority invasive Western states. Seferyn, UltaSystems Environmental, Inc. plant species. The guide includes detailed information species as endangered. www.doi.gov Getting around. Cal-IPC has pre- on 26 weed species and is available as a sented on our work at the State of the free download. www.webpages.uidaho.edu/ CISM closes. After 15 years as a suc- San Francisco Estuary conference in rx-grazing/Guidelines.htm cessful western regional hub for invasive Oakland, the Southwest Climate Summit species expertise and interagency project in Sacramento, and at the international Educational books. Teaching About collaboration, the Center for Invasive Invasive Species is designed for youth Species Management closed its doors June educators, with 11 units and 20 ready-to- 30 due to loss of funding. Their website use activities on invasive species (www. serves as an archive of CISM’s projects greenteacher.com). Outlaw Weeds of the and resources. www.weedcenter.org West has descriptions of invasive plants in western states, plus cartoons, photos, and botanical drawings to capture children’s interest, ages 8-12. www.mountain-press. Keep current! com. Remember to check your Cal-IPC State Wildlife Action Plan released. The membership status on the mailing 2015 revision of California’s Plan is now label of this newsletter. Keep your available. The SWAP describes challenges membership current so you don’t miss faced by wildlife and proposes actions for out on any of the new happenings in each eco-region of California. Invasive the field. You can renew online or with species are listed more often than any the enclosed envelope. Thank you for other threat. Cal-IPC wrote the appendix your membership and the support it on Invasive Species. www.wildlife.ca.gov/ provides for our work! SWAP Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 3 Early Detection in Bay Area National Parks

By Eric Wrubel, San Francisco Bay Area National Parks

he Invasive Plant Species Early uncommon in SFAN parks, or are A prioritization matrix was developed TDetection (ISED) program of the located in adjacent lands, that would to rank species for early detection, based San Francisco Bay Area National Parks cause ecological or economic impacts on current knowledge. Species ranked Network (SFAN) was high if any of the developed to locate following were true: new infestations of - they are invasive in invasive plants before California they become widely established in network - they are ecosystem parks. Prevention is alterers (effecting major the first line of defense changes to chemical or against biological inva- physical processes in sions. However, when ecosystems) preventative measures - they endanger rare are not successful, early plants detection and rapid response (EDRR) is - their known acreage the most efficient and in the parks was low, cost effective strategy and their feasibility of to reduce the harmful control was high. impacts of invasive Surveys are species. conducted on foot by The SFAN parks ISED teams of two to four trained staff include Golden Gate Early detection intern Lindsay Ringer removes foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) at members, interns, National Recreation Rodeo Lagoon in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Photo by Kevin and volunteers. The Area, John Muir Sherrill. National Historic protocol focuses on Site, Pinnacles National Monument, and roads and trails because Point Reyes National Seashore. These if they were to become established. they are primary pathways for the estab- protected areas are critical for conserva- 2. Rank park subwatersheds by resource lishment and spread of invasive plants. tion of the endemic flora and fauna of value and risk of invasion. Survey all The highest priority target species are Central California, a global biodiversity roads and trails in each park within a mapped with the greatest level of detail, hotspot. Due to their close proximity to five year survey cycle, with top prior- while medium and low priority species are major metropolitan areas, SFAN parks ity subwatersheds surveyed annually, mapped with decreasing levels of detail. are also vulnerable to biological invasions moderate priority surveyed biennially, ISED teams also implement manual through numerous pathways, and are and low priority surveyed once within treatments to remove small populations of heavily impacted by invasive plants, with five years. Assess and map target high priority species, when treatment time over 90 invasive species under active invasive plant populations detected will not exceed 10% of survey hours. management. The SFAN Inventory and during surveys, and communicate Outreach and collaboration Monitoring Program has published and findings quickly to park vegetation The ISED program was designed as implemented a detailed early detection managers. an early warning system that accommo- protocol to promote EDRR in the parks 3. Evaluate data after each five year dates information inputs from a diverse (Williams et al. 2009). survey cycle to determine the distri- network of observers. Detailed data Early detection protocol bution of target invasive species along from protocol-level surveys document roads and trails in each park, and The following objectives form the abundance or absence of target species in identify possible management actions framework of the ISED protocol: survey areas. Opportunistic observations to prevent new infestations. Use the are also encouraged in order to increase 1. Develop a priority list of target data to refine subwatershed rankings the probability of detecting uncom- invasive plant species that are for search priority and timing. mon invasive plants at an early stage of 4 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 establishment. We receive early detection ISED program produces a monthly used for data import, export, editing, and reports from volunteers, park staff, park email newsletter, Early Detection News, analysis. Weed Manager allows unprec- partners, weed management areas, and documenting significant new occurrences edented opportunities for data sharing local resource management agencies. and survey results, and publishes annual between users, while also providing robust Although these reports are not used in reports on the NPS Natural Resources privacy tools, making it an ideal platform data analysis, they often alert us to newly Publication Management website (www. for storing and disseminating early detec- introduced species, or new locations nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm). The tion data. of target species. The ISED program ISED program also collaborates with The ISED program has mapped over provides plant identification products regional and statewide organizations such 8,000 infestations of target invasive plant and services, and conducts formal and as the Bay Area Early Detection Network, species since 2008, and removed over informal trainings, to increase awareness county-based Weed Management Areas, 1,000 of these infestations. ISED has also of new invaders in network parks. California State Parks, and Cal-IPC. discovered over 50 non-native species Reliance on data collected by volun- Data, results and future directions not previously known to occur in SFAN teers has evolved over the course of the parks. Network parks actively integrate Since its inception, the ISED program program. Initially, volunteers from the ISED data into invasive plant manage- has been involved in the development general public were recruited and trained, ment and planning, which has led to the of innovative tools to collect and share in the hope that they would become initiation of control efforts for species invasive plant data. The GeoWeed advanced observers capable of conduct- in the early stages of invasion, such as geospatial database and mapping system, a ing independent protocol-level surveys. stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens), mayten modification of The Nature Conservancy’s However, low recruitment and retention (Maytenus boaria), Andean tussockgrass Weed Information Management System rates, and marginal data quality led us (Stipa manicata), and others. (WIMS), was developed in partnership with the Evaluation of data from the first five- Sonoma year survey cycle suggests refinements for Ecology search priority and timing. The current Center detection rate of approximately 1,500 in 2007. new patches per year exceeds the response In 2012 capabilities of park programs. The survey the SFAN frequency may now be reduced to come Inventory into balance with treatment rates, since we and have comprehensive distribution informa- Monitoring tion from over five years of high-fre- Program quency surveys. We also hope to improve partnered the linkage of early detection data with with Calflora treatment data from other programs to and a better assess the effectiveness of EDRR as coalition a unified management strategy. of resource Resources management agencies Williams, A. E., S. O’Neil, E. Speith, to create and J. Rodgers. 2009. Early detection of Early detection interns Kris Daum and Raphaela Floreani Buzbee the Weed invasive plant species in the San Francisco remove kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare) at Point Reyes National Manager Bay Area Network: A volunteer-based Seashore. Photo by Nick Stevenson, NPS. system, approach. Natural Resource Report NPS/ which was SFAN/NRR—2009/136. National Park to abandon this approach. Reportable launched in 2015. Weed Manager is Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. data is collected by staff and interns, who hosted on Calflora.org, the most compre- are generally able to invest more time to Newsletters available at: www.sfnps.org/ hensive statewide repository for informa- develop the skills necessary to identify and weed_watchers/newsletters tion on native and naturalized plants in map target species which are often cryptic. To subscribe to Early Detection News, California. Based in part on the GeoWeed email [email protected] Monthly reporting and communica- data model, Weed Manager tracks invasive tion with a network of weed workers plant occurrences, assessments and Calflora Weed Manager: www.calflora. creates an information feedback loop treatments (OATs) through time. Mobile org/entry/weed-mgr.html that enhances the effectiveness of early platforms such as tablets and smartphones detection efforts, and increases aware- are utilized for mapping and data col- ness of new invasive species threats. The lection, and web-based applications are Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 5 2015 Cal-IPC Symposium

Photo Drew Kerr ...in sunny San Diego! Over three hundred land managers, researchers and volunteers came to our 24th annual event, including attendees from Baja California, Italy, France, and Oman. This year’s Symposium featured special sessions on how invasive plant management can be incorporated into habitat conservation planning. A closing panel on the future of invasive plant manage- ment stimulated discussion on research needs, new technology, cross-border collaboration, and finding new funding. Presentations are posted at: www.cal-ipc.org/symposia/archive Congratulations to this year’s award winners! Jake Sigg Award for Vision and Service: Cindy Burrascano, San Diego CNPS [top right, with Doug Johnson and Mike Kelly] Golden Weed Wrench for Land Manager of the Year: Bill Neill, Riparian Repairs [middle right, with Doug Johnson and Jason Casanova] Organization of the Year: Urban Corps of San Diego County [bottom left, Doug Johnson; Robert Chavez; corpsmembers Tanya Sanchez, William Beaven, and Ismael Solis; and Cal-IPC board member Dan Knapp (second from right). Weedzilla for Land Manager of the Year: Clark Cowan, Channel Islands National Park [bottom right, with Bobbi Simpson and Irina Irvine] Student Papers: 1st Justin Valliere, UC Riverside; 2nd Ellen Esch, UC San Diego; 3rd Cody Ender, Sonoma State University Student Posters: 1st Kerstin Kalchmayr, San Francisco State University; 2nd Annika Rose-Person, UC Santa Cruz; 3rd Julia Michaels, UC Davis

6 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 The poster session featured 23 presenters. Here, Julia Trish Smith of The Nature Conservancy leads a panel of experts on habitat Michaels of UC Davis talks about her work measuring conservation planning in discussion about how regional plans can incorporate impacts of grazing on vernal pools. Photo JP Marie. invasive plant management to protect habitat for listed species. Photo Drew Kerr.

Field trips took attendees to the Cleveland National Forest (not pictured), Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve (left), and Black Mountain Open Space for a drone mapping demonstration by The Nature Conservancy’s Brian Cohen (right). Photos Dana Morawitz, Elizabeth Brusati

The raffle and social hour provided time to relax with fellow Mickie embraces Bromus carinatus and promises everything will be OK. attendees and support Cal-IPC’s work. Photo JP Marie. Photo Contest 3rd Place, Melanie Dickinson, Younger Lagoon Reserve. Mark your calendars for Cal-IPC’s 25th Symposium, Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite, Nov. 2-5, 2016! Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 7 Is glyphosate a carcinogen? (And is that the most important question for land managers to ask?)

By Joel Trumbo, California Department of Fish and Wildlife

his past May, the International the judgment of the reviewing patholo- TAgency for Research on Cancer gists was that the kidney tumors were not (IARC) made a determination that treatment-related. The IARC pathologists, glyphosate—the active ingredient in however, did not agree with the US EPA’s Roundup® and other similar herbicide conclusion and included the study with products—is probably a human carcino- its original conclusions in their 2015 gen. IARC placed the herbicide in its 2A assessment. “probable human carcinogen” group along Toxicological risks must be assessed with other synthetic compounds such as by looking not only at toxicity—in the insecticide malathion (and other risks this case carcinogenicity—but also at such as UV light and red meat). IARC’s exposure. This assessment cannot be determination was based on “limited made solely by asking the question, Is the evidence of carcinogenicity in humans substance a carcinogen? While several of and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity the animal feeding studies in the IARC in experimental animals.” assessment demonstrated a positive rela- In response to the IARC decision, Cal tionship between glyphosate exposure and EPA’s Office of Environmental Health cancer, the concentrations in those tests Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published were higher than what an herbicide appli- a notice announcing its intent to list the cator would experience in the field. Even herbicide as a carcinogen under the Safe if one ignores the fact that oral exposures Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Prop 65 Warning Sign: One important are highly improbable for applicators, the Act of 1986 (Prop 65). The comment disadvantage of this sign is that it alerts dosages themselves are atypical for actual period for this decision closed this past one to the presence of a carcinogen or herbicide use scenarios. Depending on the October 20. OEHHA’s decision is reproductive toxicant, but it provides no study that’s examined, the tumor-causing forthcoming. information on the level of exposure that dosages were from 30 to 30,000 ppm. Reaction to the IARC determination would actually put you at risk. Using these dosages, a man weighing 175 and the potential Prop 65 listing was pounds would have to drink more than a significant. People on both sides of the or bias. Additionally, these studies have quarter tablespoon to slightly more than 1 fence—pesticide advocates and pesticide limitations such as the accuracy of self- gallon of herbicide every day for 2 years opponents--were asking, Should we stop reported information and the effect that to have an exposure that’s equivalent to using glyphosate? In order to answer this exposure to other substances, including that of the lab animals’. question, it’s valuable to consider the other pesticides, might have on cancer As more research is done, it’s a cer- following. incidence. In short, these types of studies tainty that many more substances, some can identify a correlation, but they don’t First, IARC’s determination of “lim- of which we are commonly exposed to in establish a direct link or causality. ited evidence” of human carcinogenicity everyday life, will be identified as carcino- was based on information provided by IARC’s determination was also based gens. The recent inclusion of bacon and epidemiological studies. These studies on “sufficient evidence” of carcinogenic- other processed meats on IARC’s Group used questionnaires given to farmers ity in lab animals, but not all of the I list for known human carcinogens is and their families in North America and studies in the assessment revealed a evidence of this. When considering these Europe to look for a link between chemi- carcinogenic link. Only four of the seven types of determinations, it’s critical to cal exposure and cancer. Epidemiological chronic feeding studies used in the IARC remember that the amount and duration studies can reveal if there’s a positive assessment found a relationship between of exposure must also be considered, association, or correlation, between glyphosate and cancer. One of those not just the fact that the chemical made exposure to the agent and cancer, but they studies—a 24-month feeding study where it “on the list.” Perhaps the best advice cannot be used to determine the cause of kidney tumors in mice were initially regarding this fact can be found on the the cancers. They also cannot completely determined to be glyphosate-related—was rule out other explanations such as chance re-evaluated by the US EPA in 1991 and ...continued page 9

8 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 “Do No Harm” to avoid introducing pests in restoration

By Elise Gornish, UC Davis

cological restoration is integral for the academic institutions, native plant The CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter Ereestablishment of functional plant nurseries, and restoration practitioner has posted several YouTube videos on communities in degraded systems across organizations. avoiding the spread of Phytophthora: California. Restoration often involves the The dynamic group of presenters transplanting of nursery stock or field- www.youtube.com/ featured researchers from all over the watch?v=CuPYc9lcCcc collected plants into damaged habitat, state, and presentations covered a range of and this movement of plant materials can topics, including: historical perspectives www.youtube.com/ sometimes result in unintended transfer on California restoration; soil biology and watch?v=oKEQqDBU3vw of plant pathogens, pests and diseases into restoration; plant and pest invasion in www.youtube.com/ previously uninfected habitats. As you are California; Phytophthora in native areas; watch?v=lMw4NpDgCTs probably aware, this has become a critical and mitigating movement of Phytophthora issue in the wake of several inadvertent in native nurseries. Most of the presenta- introductions of Phytophthora ramorum, tions will be available on the workshop University of Wisconsin press. We look the pathogen causing Sudden Oak Death, website in the near future. In addition forward to organizing the second annual through contaminated native plant stock to formal presentations, the workshop Do No Harm workshop, which will focus from nurseries. provided opportunities for networking on addressing another aspect of ecological To address this unintended conse- and collaboration initiation through restoration in California. The workshop is quence of ecological restoration activities, discussion panels and coffee breaks. tentatively scheduled for November 2016 UC Cooperative Extension Specialists The workshop closed with all attendees in Davis. Stay tuned for an announce- Elise Gornish and Travis Bean organized completing a survey that was designed ment in Cal-IPC News. the first annual Do No Harm workshop to collect information about unintended (http://donoharm.ucdavis.edu), held at consequences of activities associated with the UC Palm Desert campus on Nov. 5, ecological restoration. 2015. The day-long workshop featured Many diverse sponsors helped make a series of poster and oral presentations the workshop possible: UC Riverside and that focused on identifying, preventing UC Davis, UC Division of Agriculture and mitigating the spread of pests, plant and Natural Resources, the Center for pathogens and diseases through ecological Conservation Biology, the Watershed restoration activities in California. The Nursery, the Riverside-Corona Resource event was extremely successful, with over Conservation District, the California 70 attendees affiliated with a diversity Invasive Plant Council, the UC Weed of groups, including federal agencies, Research & Information Center, and the

...glyphsosate continued using glyphosate?, the answer leads us back to exposure. If exposure is low, risk website of the American Cancer Society: will also be low. In the final analysis, this “Even if a substance or exposure is known means that there’s no good reason to stop or suspected to cause cancer, this does using glyphosate whether it’s a carcinogen not necessarily mean that it can or should or not. be avoided at all costs. For example, Joel Trumbo is a Senior Environmental estrogen is a known carcinogen that Scientist with the California Department occurs naturally in the body. Exposure to of Fish and Wildlife. Joel has been the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight statewide Integrated Pest Management is also known to cause cancer, but it’s Coordinator for CDFW since 1990. not practical (or advisable) to completely Contact him at Joel.Trumbo@wildlife. avoid the sun.” ca.gov. As to the question, should we stop

Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 9 Is it just me, or is puncturevine everywhere this year? By Jennifer Gibson, Ecologist, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

es, puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), competitor and not a prolific seed pro- because it is not common in wildlands Ya.k.a. “goat head” or “caltrop” (or ducer, when compared to other noxious and is more typically found in urban or “scourge of summer” by kids on bikes weeds. And, new infestations can be agricultural areas and roadsides. I have everywhere because the thorny seed heads easily controlled by hand pulling before to agree with this - I don’t see this plant puncture bike tires with ease). The name the burs begin to form. Other suggestions adversely affecting native biodiversity in “caltrop” comes from the spiked metal for control include planting vegetation wildlands. But I do see it in parks and devices designed to impede advancing that can out-compete puncturevine. open spaces. So, as a land manager of a armies in medieval times. Besides injury, The bad news is that it seems to thrive National Recreation Area that’s focused the burs can also be toxic to sheep and in drought conditions, which may be why on preserving and protecting native plant cattle, causing nitrate poisoning. it appears to be spreading throughout communities while also promoting hik- This summer, when I went running California the past few years. And the ing, biking and positive visitor experience, on the same trails I’ve run on since high other bit of bad news is that I spoke with it is at the top of my “Most Wanted” list school in my favorite Bay Area park – several parks affected by this plant and of weeds to manage. Sycamore Grove near Livermore – there even though this species can be relatively Would a Cal-IPC listing help? I think it was, crawling onto park property from easy to treat, most land managers are so. The more public outreach and educa- an adjacent vineyard in giant sprawling woefully underfunded and understaffed to tion, the better. The Online Inventory is mats. I know this plant well. We’ve been tackle this unanticipated problem. not just for land managers and academ- treating a well-established population up On the lighter side, online searches ics; it is used by volunteers, planners, at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area were entertaining. You can buy “Ouchless and concerned citizens. Providing an where I work in northern California for Faux-Paws” to protect your pet’s feet from assessment of the ecological impacts ten years now, and it takes back-to-back puncturevine. In Oregon, you can buy of puncturevine would help managers treatments (sometimes 5-6 mechanical puncturevine weevils to use as biocontrol control the species and help the public and chemical treatments) and monitoring (for every 10 units of weevils purchased, understand how to prevent spread. And every summer to keep it from going to you get a free 1964 silver Kennedy the good news is that even though getting seed. And now I find carpets of the stuff half-dollar!) There’s “I Hate Goat Head” this plant under control is a lot of work, I moving into my favorite park in the Bay apparel, videos, rants from bicyclists, vol- think it can be done. Particularly if we can Area! It’s in the horse trailer parking lot unteer work weekends and even bounties treat the parks and recreation areas where where people unload saddles, blankets and placed on each garbage bag stuffed with the seeds are most likely to adhere to little gear; the main parking lot with strollers, dead plants. It’s a relief to know that I’m kids’ shoes, bike tires and paws, and then bikes, dogs, and little kids; and radiating not alone – this plant is universally hated. later be dispersed and spread elsewhere. out from these areas along trails. And if Cal-IPC needs a universally-hated However, even though puncturevine plant to rally support for common cause What’s worse is that when I drove back is C-rated by the California Department to Shasta County, I found it everywhere amongst diverse user groups – then of Food and Agriculture, it is not listed in puncturevine is definitely our plant! as well; in front of the Volunteer Fire the Cal-IPC Online Inventory – mostly Department, around the elementary The best thing about this story is that school’s soccer field, on paths at the State after I drafted this article, I found myself Historic Park, and at the new open space back on the running trails at Sycamore dog park along the Sacramento River. I Grove and I did not see a single punc- even found new infestations popping up turevine plant. Zero. Nada. I was begin- at trailheads and developed areas in my ning to think I imagined the thousands of park. And you know that the seeds are plants sprawling out from the parking lot hitching a ride on visitors to these sites and along the roads and trails. I emailed back to people’s backyards, neighbor- the park and found out that yes, the plant hoods, and other uninfested parks and really exploded on them this year, but recreation areas. park staff and volunteers to hand pull it I had to ask myself, “Has it always throughout the park. So, it is possible to been like this? Is anyone tracking punc- get a handle on it! I know there needs turevine? How did it get so out of hand?” to be follow-up, but congratulations to Sycamore Grove for setting the example The good news is that it is a poor and taking care of their park!

10 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 Scotch broom gall mite: a new partner in broom management

By Scott Oneto, Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Central Sierra

recent find in El Dorado County has French or Spanish broom. Up until 2013, and other agencies spend a considerable Aweed scientists, land managers, forest- the mite had only been found as far south amount of time and taxpayer money each ers, botanists, and plant conservationists as Ashland, Oregon, with no occurrences year treating Scotch broom plants either throughout Northern California very in California. excited over a tiny mite. However in The broom gall mite has recently March 2014, a land- been observed attacking the invasive owner in El Dorado plant Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) in County brought a California’s natural landscapes. Scotch sickly looking Scotch broom, desired for its bright yellow flow- broom plant to the ers and rapid growth, was first introduced local U.S. Forest into North America as an ornamental and Service (USFS) for erosion control. However, its ability to office to examine outcompete native plants and form dense small growths on the stands has also made it one of California’s branches. Farm advi- worst wildland weeds. sors in the University The mites cause galls, small abnormal of California growths on the plant’s buds, to form Cooperative during feeding, greatly reducing Scotch Extension’s (UCCE) broom’s ability to grow and reproduce. El Dorado County This mite is considered to be an ideal office have been biological control agent due to its special- monitoring this ized feeding habits and the debilitating mite’s spread damage it can cause to invasive weeds. In throughout the some areas, the gall mite has already killed Pacific Northwest large stands of broom. for the past few years and identified the The mighty mite sample as a potential The Scotch broom gall mite, more gall mite. closely related to spiders and ticks than Since the first insects, is a type of eriophyid mite that is detection in El nearly invisible to the naked eye, measur- Dorado County, Galls on scotch broom. Photo by Scott Oneto. ing roughly the width of a human hair. USFS, UCCE, and Although the mite is tiny, the galls formed the California Department of Food and by applying herbicides or prying them up by plants in response to the mite’s feeding Agriculture have been on the lookout by the root. With the mites’ help, we’ll are quite noticeable. The small fuzzy for other occurrences of the gall mite on make much greater progress toward reduc- masses occur along the length of the stem Scotch broom. Surprisingly, the mite has ing Scotch broom infestations. and can be numerous. since been found in many areas through- Help us track the spread of this Native to Europe, the mite was first out El Dorado, Placer, and Nevada counties; but how it got there is a mystery. beneficial mite. If you see evidence of found on Scotch broom in the Tacoma, Scotch broom gall mites, report it on Washington, and Portland, Oregon, Mites are known to travel long distances using wind currents and by hitching rides the UC Cooperative Extension website: regions in 2005. (It was not introduced as ucanr.edu/broomgallmite. a formal biocontrol, and how it got there on animals, humans and equipment. It remains a mystery.) Since that time the is likely that many more finds will be For more information about Scotch mite has become established throughout forthcoming. broom and other brooms, read UC IPM’s western Washington and Oregon and Scotch broom currently infests Pest Note: Brooms at www.ipm.ucdavis. even into parts of British Columbia. The millions of acres throughout California, edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74147.html. mite is very host-specific and has not been causing loss of native plant biodiversity Contact Scott at [email protected]. found on other broom species, such as and an increased fire risk. The USFS

Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 11 Might wood rats be allies in broom management? In Marin County’s oak-bay-madrone forests, it’s common to see sizable wood rat middens, the piles of sticks and leaves they build to live in, near stands of mature French broom (photo below). Broom growing near these middens often has bark missing around the base of the stems and on parts of the upper stems as a result of herbivory (photo at left). While the bark removal does not appear to kill the plants, it does appear to weaken them and could potentially cause mortality in conjunction with other factors, par- ticularly intense sunlight and drought. In addition, some mature broom stands have very few seedlings. Might wood rats be consuming a significant portion of the seed bank? This may be a question worth researching. -Paul Minault

Dredging for Hydrilla tubers Hydrilla verticillata is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds. Introduced into Florida from Sri Lanka through the aquarium trade in the 1950s or 1960s, it had infested 100,000 acres by 1994 with presence in 80% of the the state’s lakes and rivers. The plant is now actively managed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at a cost of $20-35 million each year. Hydrilla grows quickly, doubling size in 2 weeks, and it spreads easily through fragments and tubers, which can survive for 4-7 years in sediments where they are hard to reach. Besides the aquarium trade, the plant can be introduced via infested water lily bulbs and warm-water fish stocking. USDA has listed hydrilla as a federal noxious weed. In California, hydrilla first appeared in 1976 in Yuba County. It has also been found in Clear Lake, a major recreational boating destination. In partnership with the California Dept. of Water Resources, the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) maintains a program working to eradicate hydrilla from the state. Clear Lake is a primary target because of its proximity to the Delta, but ditches in Yuba County remains an important front because spread could impede agricultural irrigation. Small-scale mining equipment is used to dredge for tubers (right), and then irrigation channels are lined with concrete. -David Kratville, CDFA 12 Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 Hawai’i: Ground zero for plant invasions - and EMAPi13!

By Gina Darin, California Department of Water Resources and Dana Morawitz, Cal-IPC

hirty-four countries from around ready for the challenge. Dave Richardson Abstracts may be found at www. Tthe world were represented by 200 of South Africa summarized reality best emapi2015.hawaii-conference.com/ researchers, land managers, government when he suggested that “the global trans- program. representatives, and students on the Big plant experiment has only just begun”. The field trip to Hawai’i Volcanoes Work smarter, National Park included a behind-the- not harder – Kat scenes look at invasive plant strategies Shea from Penn and the US Forest Service biocontrol State University quarantine lab in the park. We saw dem- demonstrated how onstrations of how hard it is to remove understanding dis- dense stands of Hedychium gardnerianum turbance regimes or “toiletbrush ginger” (renamed from leads to more “Kahili ginger” to give it a non-Hawaiian efficient manage- name with a negative connotation) and ment. Hillary the impacts it is having on the native Cherry from Ohia forest. Australia talked The next EMAPi conference, about incipient EMAPi14, will be hosted by the attempts to use University of Lisbon in Portugal in dogs and drones to September of 2017. survey for barely Gina and invasive “toilet bowl ginger.” Land managers gave it detectable invad- this name to make the plant seem unappealing.

Island of Hawai’i this past September ers, such as hawkweed for the 13th international conference on (Hieracium spp.), in the Ecology and Management of Alien remote mountainous Plant Invasions (EMAPi13). Presenters areas of her district. included three Cal-IPC Board members— Leveraging biocontrol Jennifer Funk of Chapman University, was the subject of many Elise Gornish of UC Davis, and Gina presentations. Darin of the California Department of Water Resources—as well as Cal-IPC Invasions on Hawai’i Program Manager Dana Morawitz. – Peter Vitousek from Stanford University Program session topics ranged from presented on “Plant the biology and ecology of invasive plants invasions and their to policy and management, and focused ecosystem-level conse- mainly on environmental weed issues, quences across environ- though some agricultural weeds were mental gradients” using addressed too. It seemed like an interna- Hawai’i as a key ex- tional Cal-IPC Symposium! Several key ample. Rhonda Loh, an themes throughout the conference were: ecologist for the Hawai’i Global trends – Mark van Kleunen Volcanoes National Park, from Germany delivered a talk on “Plant discussed how the park naturalization: From global patterns to prioritizes sites and sets regional and local drivers.” Regan Early goals to conserve some from the UK covered global predic- of every sensitive habitat tion models and assessments of which type in the park. Water hyacinth fills a pond at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. countries’ policies and funding levels were Cal-IPC News Fall 2015 13 Habitat conservation planning and weed management available to support activities including developed successful strategies including: s part of the Symposium, Cal-IPC planning invasive plant control. Caltrans hosted a conference track exploring - Maintaining a right-of-entry database A provides advance mitigation funds for con- nections between habitat conserva- for private property where weed popula- future highway construction. At the tion plans (HCPs) and landscape-level tions have been treated. federal level, the US Fish & Wildlife invasive plant management. Planning Service supports the Endangered Species - Testing treatment efficacy before scaling experts from federal and state agencies Act through grants for local planning and up to larger projects. joined land managers in exploring ideas land acquisition work; it may also be able for strengthening the connection in the - Removing populations of weed species to fund implementation of key steward- future. that are a significant threat to spread even ship projects like invasive plant control. when they are not (yet) located in prime HCPs are regional plans that balance Habitat conservation planning is habitat for covered species. development with conservation. HCP driven by local needs for both conserva- funding is being put toward invasive - Using helicopter surveys to map weeds tion and development, so it’s a situation- plant management, and as more HCPs efficiently over large areas. specific process. However, there are efforts get created, more invasive plant manage- to standardize and streamline aspects of - Engaging volunteer weed spotters as part ment work can be implemented at the the process. A national coalition of HCP of an early detection program. landscape-level. HCPs pay for protection partners recently formed to support con- - Tracking restoration work in an online of listed species by tapping sources such servation work across the country. Here in database to provide a historic view. as fees on developers, tipping fees for California, the state’s Biodiversity Council landfills, and fees for regional infrastruc- - Preparing response actions to be used (comprising all state and federal agencies ture build-out. The new HCP in Santa immediately after a wildfire, both to keep that touch on biodiversity) approved an Clara County is funded in part by fees weeds from spreading and to take advan- “Integrated Regional Conservation and based on nitrogen deposition from vehicle tage of opportunities for weed control. Development” planning approach. This and power plant exhaust (which promotes IRCD approach has a goal of mapping Overall there was broad agreement invasive plants in endangered butterfly critical resources and determining regional at the conference that many aspects of habitat). conservation priorities across the entire landscape-level invasive plant manage- Some funding is available from state in advance of setting up plans to ment – BMPs, prioritization, partner agencies. In California, once an area has balance conservation and development. coordination – are a great fit for habitat established a Natural Areas Conservation conservation planning. We look forward Managers controlling invasive plants Plan (NCCP), the Dept. of Fish & to continuing this important discussion. on behalf of an HCP/NCCP have Wildlife has local assistance grants

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The WILDLAND WEED CALENDAR California Weed Science Society Rare Plant Survey Protocols California Invasive Species Action Week January 13-15, Sacramento March 14-15, Oxnard June 4-12, statewide www.cwss.org www.cnps.org/workshops www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/ Action-Week California Rangeland Summit Measuring & Monitoring Rare Plant January 21-22, Stockton Populations Natural Areas Conference www.carangeland.org April 4-6, Zzyzx October 21-22, Davis www.cnps.org/workshops www.naturalareas.org Tamarisk Coalition February 9-11, Grand Junction, CO SERCAL Cal-IPC 2016 Symposium www.tamariskcoalition.org May 11-13, Kings Beach November 2-5, Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite www.sercal.org www.cal-ipc.org Western Society of Weed Science March 7-10, Albuquerque, NM www.wsweedscience.org

“Landscape-level conservation is hope-propelled rather than fear-accelerated. It’s a banding together in the face of grave environmental threats of extinctions and degradation whose alchemy is that, by widen- ing our horizons, the focus isn’t so much on salvage operations as on the astounding number of things that can and need to be undertaken to restore, replenish, safeguard, protect, and celebrate the long-term integrity of this gigantic continent’s astonishing natural and cultural heritage.” ~ Tony Hiss, from the Forward to Expanding Horizons: Highlights from the National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation, Washington DC, Oct. 2014. www.largelandscapenetwork.org.