Vol. 22, No. 2 Summer 2014 Cal-IPC News Protecting California’s Natural Areas from Wildland Weeds

Newsletter of the California Invasive Council

VolunteersVolunteers in action

Boy Scout Troop One removes invasive hanging sedge, pendula, from Old Mill Creek, Marin County. See page 4. Photo by Betsy Wanner Bikle. INSIDE It takes a village to get rid of an invasive p. 4 A new tool for WHIPPing weeds p. 5 Get ready for the Symposium! p. 8 Revising bluegum eucalyptus p. 9 The road to WMA funding p.10 Working“climate smart” p.11 From the Executive Director The volunteer contribution

Cal-IPC ommunity volunteer projects, like the one organized by the Mill Valley CStreamKeepers (page 4), are critical to stopping infestations at the urban-wildland 1442-A Walnut Street, #462 Berkeley, CA 94709 interface. Such efforts do even more than protect the unique natural areas at hand. ph (510) 843-3902 fax (510) 217-3500 www.cal-ipc.org [email protected] Because major invasive plant infestations can get their start in developed areas, these local efforts may also prevent more widespread problems. A California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization Protecting California’s lands and waters Fifteen years ago there may have been a chance to stop stinkwort, Dittrichia gra- from ecologically-damaging invasive through science, education, and policy. veolens, from spreading outside the Santa Clara Valley and a few other locations. John Beall of the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner’s office raised the alarm, but STAFF there was not enough capacity for a coordinated response to get a handle on Dittrichia. Doug Johnson, Executive Director Elizabeth Brusati, Senior Scientist Stinkwort is now found from Mendocino to San Diego, and into the Sierra Nevada. Agustín Luna, Director of Finance & Administration One of the lessons we learned from this episode was that we must do more than Bertha McKinley, Program Assistant Dana Morawitz, GIS Coordinator & focus on known invaders. Efforts like the Bay Area Early Detection Network brought Program Manager for Regional Conservation more focus on anticipating the next problem , and considering on-the ground Christina Ripken, Conference Coordinator intervention earlier on the invasion curve. This precautionary trend is also evident in PlantRight’s recent addition of Stipa tenuissima, Mexican feather grass, to its list of DIRECTORS Jason Casanova, President horticultural plants to avoid in landscaping, despite the fact that the plant has not yet Council for Watershed Health become a significant problem in wildlands. Likewise, Cal-IPC is gearing up to conduct Kim Hayes, Vice-President Elkhorn Slough Foundation risk assessment on our Watchlist species to determine which pose the highest risk for Shawn Kelly, Treasurer detrimental impact in the future. Southern California Recovery Project Jutta Burger, Secretary Volunteers form a connection between the activities of professional land managers Irvine Ranch Conservancy and our communities at large. They allow Californians to get their hands dirty with the Morgan Ball Wildlands Conservation Science realities of stewardship, and to take ownership of their local environment. Some Tim Buonaccorsi volunteer efforts, like the Friends of Five Creeks in the East Bay (whose leader Susan RECON Environmental, Inc. Schwartz won our 2012 Catalyst Award) also weave in cultural history that builds a Jennifer Funk Chapman University deeper sense of place. Doug Gibson San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy Volunteer efforts make a major contribution to our work. Their local projects can be Jason Giessow integrated into broader landscape goals. The skills and knowledge developed in a local Dendra, Inc. effort can be exchanged with other volunteers in the region. And their enthusiasm for Elise Gornish UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences stewardship can be shared among generations to create a genuine passion for California Marie Jasieniuk wildlands. For these reasons, Cal-IPC is looking at ways to coordinate diverse volunteer UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences efforts at the regional level. The potential synergy is vital to our future success. Annabelle Kleist Capitol Impact Dan Knapp Los Angeles Conservation Corps John Knapp It’s the water... Symposium 23 in Chico! The Nature Conservancy Virginia Matzek rd Santa Clara University Our 23 annual Symposium will be in the Sutter Buttes. And did we mention David McNeill Oct. 8-11 at Chico State University, the awards banquet at the Sierra Nevada Baldwin Hills Conservancy with theme sessions focusing on the Brewery? Join us! See p.8. STUDENT LIAISONS intersection of wildland weed issues and Bridget Hilbig UC Riverside water issues. Plus all the latest reports on Meghan Skaer management techniques, program design, UC Davis and invasive plant research. Ken Moore Affiliations for identification purposes only. and Joe DiTomaso will team up to give a Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 - Vol. 22, No. 2 training on woody plant control, and our Editors: Doug Johnson & Elizabeth Brusati field trips include a visit to Peace Valley Published by the California Invasive Plant Council. Articles may be reprinted with permission. Previous issues are ar- chived at www.cal-ipc.org. Mention of commercial products Correction: The table of biocontrol species in our last issue contained a mistake. does not imply endorsement by Cal-IPC. Submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit content. Under yellow starthistle, the species Urophora jaceae should be Urophora jaculata.

2 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 Cal-IPC Updates carrying out conservation in the face of a rapidly changing climate. www.nwf.org/ Symposium registration open. Cal- Wildland Weed What-We-Do/Energy-and-Climate/Climate- IPC 23 happens in Chico this October, Smart-Conservation/Guide-to-Climate- complete with a banquet at the Sierra Smart-Conservation.aspx Nevada Brewery! See p.8. News Future invasive plant “hotspots.” AB2402 stripped of funding. The bill to Australian researchers modeled suitable renew the state’s Weed Management Area in Sacramento on Wed., Aug. 13, from habitat for 292 naturalized plants to (WMA) program passed the Assembly 6:30-8:00pm. We’ll also be giving a talk determine locations that may be most floor with a 73-0 vote, but with funding that day in the session on “Science at suitable for a large number of potentially removed. Cal-IPC continues to pursue Non-Profit Conservation Organizations” invasive plants later this century. They other avenues to secure WMA funding in (OOS 32). www.esa.org/am propose pre-emptive management in such next year’s budget. See p.11. Talking to landscape architects. Cal- “hotspots.” weedfutures.net WHIPPET online. With support from IPC’s Doug Johnson spoke on a panel for Mexico invasive species website. With the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish the San Francisco chapter of the American information in both Spanish and English, & Wildlife Service, a beta version of this Society of Landscape Architects on the lists of invasive species, the national multi-species population prioritization issue of invasive ornamental plants. strategy plan, and information about tool is now available. See p. 6. Other Updates prevention and collaboration programs. Weed management on military bases. PlantRight adds species. The partner- www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/invasoras Staff met with resource managers at Camp ship added Mexican feather grass ( Stipa Rancher describes worst drought in a Pendleton and other bases in California ), water hyacinth ( tenuissima Eichhornia lifetime. As a rancher and president of the to help set strategy, with support from the ), and yellow water iris ( crassipes Iris pseud- California Cattlemen’s Association, Tim Dept. of Defense Legacy Program. ) to its list of plants that nurseries acorus Koopmann is keenly aware of the tough and consumers should avoid. Retail Work begins on Sierra . choices ranchers in California are making nurseries can pledge to follow PlantRight’s Cal-IPC is contracting with Placer to cope with drought. He is an Aldo list, have their staff trained on invasive County, the Truckee River Watershed Leopold Award recipient and a founder plants, and receive acknowledgment on Council and others to control wildland of the California Rangeland Conservation PlantRight’s website. www.plantright.org weeds in and around meadows this Coalition. Hear an interview at www. summer, as part of a project funded by the SoCal land manager listserv. Join a new accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ Wildlife Conservation Society’s Climate listserv to discuss new invasive threats, cattle-ranchers-forced-to-cull/26595624 Adaptation Fund. restoration questions, and other topics of interest. To subscribe, contact Sandy New training video posted. Ken Moore Breaking News! Help remove DeSimone at [email protected]. of the Wildlands Restoration Team Mexican feathergrass from demonstrates methods for controlling Boating & Waterways now a division production. woody species. Thanks to Lynn Overtree of State Parks. The group controls The largest grower of Mexican for providing the footage. www.cal-ipc.org/ Egeria densa, water hyacinth, and South feathergrass in California (see update fieldcourses/videos American spongeplant in the Delta. www. above) has agreed to phase out the dbw.ca.gov/BoaterInfo/AquaInvSpec.aspx New board members. Four new plant and sell the remaining inventory members have been appointed by the Western Governors urge federal coop- to PlantRight at a discount. PlantRight Cal-IPC Board of Directors: Morgan eration on invasive species. Saying that will dispose of the plants safely but first Ball of Wildlands Conservation Science, invasive species create economic and eco- it needs to raise funds for this purchase. Elise Gornish and Marie Jasieniuk from logical damage across western landscapes, An anonymous donor will match each UC Davis, and David McNeill from the governors want to work with federal donation up to a total of $10,000. This Baldwin Hills Conservancy. See p.14. agencies to develop and implement a new is a unique chance to catch a new inva- New staff. Christina Ripken has joined National Invasive Species Management sion early and to reward a horticultural Cal-IPC for 2014 as Conference Plan. www.westgov.org/news/298- company for its willingness to change Coordinator. She brings nine years of ex- news-2014/583-western-governors-urge- its practices. Funds need to be raised perience organizing events, including the federal-cooperation-on-invasive-species quickly. Conference on Tropical and Subtropical New climate-smart guide. The Make a donation at www.plantright. Agricultural and Natural Resource National Wildlife Foundation published org (click on “Stop California’s Next Management (TROPENTAG). “Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Invasion”) or http://bit.ly/PlantRight. Invasive species mixer. Join us at the Adaptation Principles into Practice” with Ecological Society of America conference broad-ranging guidance for designing and

Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 3 It takes a village… to get rid of an invasive!

By Betsy Wanner Bikle, Mill Valley StreamKeepers, www.millvalleystreamkeepers.org

he Mill Valley watershed drapes above with drooping pendulous informally with permitting agencies. Tdown Mount Tamalpais to heads. The roots are not very deep – only The Mill Valley StreamKeepers Richardson Bay about 6 miles north about 8 inches. Short extend board decided to have two streamside of San Francisco. Thousands of homes the reach of individual plants. The plant removal locations: the location of the initial residential planting and a location downstream on public land. Both are eas- ily viewed by the public. We were thrilled to have a Mill Valley Eagle Scout candi- date, Jake Marquis, take on the project. His contractor father, David Marquis, and the whole Troop One helped in the effort. Meetings with the home landowners, the city Department of Public Works, the native plant nursery in Mill Valley, and permitting agencies were preliminary to the weekend of activity. We were very pleased to have the permission of the homeowners, Bill and Corinne Lenehan, to do the clearing and replanting. We dug up the invasive Carex in October, the best time of year for working in our streams which have threatened steelhead. We planted replacement natives at the same time. The city hauled away truckloads of Carex to a composting facility, and the Boy Scouts provided the A of Old Mill Creek before was removed from the streambanks. labor, tools, and pizza! Photos by the author. Additional work was done at the downstream end of the infestation along within about 8 square miles have changed can be distinguished by whitish underside the Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio. the setting, once redwood forest, oak of the blades; this is different from The property owner was especially woodlands and wetlands. Now tidy homes the native sedge found along our streams enthusiastic about the work as he himself sit on filled lands, with palms, lavender, which has shiny bright green undersides. had been an Eagle Scout and his sons eucalyptus, and in the streamside red- The plant is on the early detection list also are Eagle Scouts. The city helped by woods: Carex pendula (hanging sedge) for the Bay Area Early Detection Network taking all the green material pulled out to planted by home garden designers. although we have not heard yet of other a compost facility. The Carex seems to have been planted extensive invasions. However, it has been Several neighbors and folks walking in a single garden, at 310 Cascade Avenue noticed by vegetation managers of the along the stream were interested in streamside along Old Mill Creek about 20 Marin Municipal Water District who our work and pleased to hear that they years ago. But it has spread downstream have seen one clump near the Bowknot too could improve the habitat on their about two miles to the start of tidal salty – well away from a stream. South of San property without need of a permit. Mill water. Now we spot it up in the hills Francisco, a small amount has been seen Valley StreamKeepers hopes to make a along road sides. No Carex pendula grows in the extensive Midpeninsula Regional one-page brochure with mission, direc- upstream on Old Mill Creek from that Open Space District. tions, and pictures for streamside property first property, although a few plants can The Mill Valley StreamKeepers have owners. This will definitely fit into city be found high and dry above the first started a pilot project to begin to address and county goals. garden. the Carex thanks to a $2,500 grant from The only money we spent on this proj- In amateur botany-speak, Carex pen- the Cereus Fund of the Trees Foundation. ect was $1,875 for native plants: about dula is a sedge whose blades reach about We have conferred with native plant 35 lady ferns, 60 chain ferns, 60 Juncus 2 feet high; it sports a stem protruding nurseries and riparian restorationists and patens rushes, grasses, and two flowering 4 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 native shrubs. The California Native Plant Nursery in Mill Valley gave us a reduction in price due to the size of the order. We are dedicated to enlisting the help of more streamside homeowners and the City’s Department of Public Works. They need information and inspiration to turn back this invasion and return the stream to a more hospitable place for our threatened steelhead and the eventual return of coho salmon. California Invasive Species Action Week August 2-10, 2014 www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/ ActionWeek/

This new event sponsored by the California Dept. of Fish and Dads provided support for the Boy Scouts of Troop One, who took the lead on remov- ing the hanging sedge. Wildlife aims to increase aware- ness and promote participation in the work on California’s invasive species. Youth poster contest! Hand Carex pendula... and yelling at the ocean out brochures and add your event Andrea Williams, Marin Municipal Water District and Bay Area Early Detection Network to the online schedule. Sometimes I think my weed work is in addition to people planting them. like yelling at the ocean; hours of intense Hanging sedge can form dense patches, struggle, and I can make the tide go out. altering stream dynamics and vegetation. My work accomplished, I stop and turn I have been unable to find a definitive my attention elsewhere. But the tide estimate of seed life, but a good guess for returns. Those of us who live in coastal the is 10+ years. That means at least areas know to never turn your back on a decade of returning to stem the tide, the ocean (and that you can see really cool and communicating with other folks in stuff when the tide is out)—and those of the “tsunami zone” of spread. us who do weed work know our attention Eradication of hanging sedge will be must return to the weed patches we have similar to the effort curve of red sesbania worked to follow up! (Sesbania punicea), with the good news/ And so it is with hanging sedge (Carex bad news that we have begun work while pendula). This 6-foot riparian up-and- populations are less widespread but that coming weed (and BAEDN target) is it’s a much less obvious plant (and in only known from a few watersheds in one instance may have been planted by Youth volunteers with the Mountains California and the Pacific Northwest. someone thinking they were planting Restoration Trust help remove invasive It looks burly, but doesn’t actually have slough sedge, ). Keeping on red swamp crayfish Procambarus( much of a root system. What it does populations to ensure no further seed set clarkii) from Malibu Creek in Southern have are cascading waves of , seeds will be key to hanging this sedge out to California. Photo by John Burnap. that can be spread by water and wildlife dry.

Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 5 A new online tool for WHIPPing weeds: whippet.cal-ipc.org By Elizabeth Brusati and Doug Johnson, Cal-IPC

o prioritize which invasive plant WHIPPET is designed to work for walks you through these options. You may Tpopulations to control, land manag- users at a range of spatial scales and with want to run WHIPPET several times in ers need to consider species biology, a range of knowledge. Throughout its order to see the effect of changing scores species impacts, size and location of development, we worked to balance the for population parameters such as “acces- populations, and feasibility of control. needs of different users. Thus the system sibility” or “site value.” Prioritizing individual populations includes programmed default values as In addition to making changes to rather than species requires accounting well as options for customizing various parameters for each population, you can for spatial factors like “how isolated is parameters. also choose to upload your own custom- the population?” and “how near is it to a Adjusting data ized GIS layers for Roads and for Site Value. (In both cases, the customized vector of spread like a road?” This can be Species information in WHIPPET layer replaces the defaults for the area it a lot of information to evaluate, especially comes from each plant’s assessment for covers.) The default WHIPPET Roads given the number of species, populations, the Cal-IPC Inventory. WHIPPET also layer is based on a standard ESRI layer and site values a land manager may have has built-in databases for parameters like of public roads. Users may want to create to take into account. relative control effectiveness and cost. GIS a custom layer to incorporate additional WHIPPET (Weed Heuristics: Invasive layers for roads, rivers, mines, and site park roads or even trails and levees. The Population Prioritization for Eradication value are already loaded to aid geospatial default Site Value scores are based on Tool) was developed by UC Davis and the calculations. Together, these default values the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife’s California Dept. of Food and Agriculture mean that running WHIPPET can be as Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE II) to help analyze this large amount of simple as choosing only the species and layer, which aggregates numerous wildlife information. WHIPPET is based on region you wish to analyze. an algorithm that combines numerous species and population factors (including spatial analysis) to create a ranked list of populations suggesting which are highest priority. With support from the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Cal-IPC has developed an online version of WHIPPET, making the tool more accessible and easier to use at a range of geographic scales. WHIPPET draws population informa- tion from Calflora (www.calflora.org), which contains over 200,000 invasive plant locations. This means that you will need a Calflora contributor account to log in to WHIPPET. You can use existing public data posted on Calflora as well as data that you upload to Calflora (which can be kept private as “unpublished” data if necessary). WHIPPET currently contains data for the 210 species on the Cal-IPC Inventory. Up to 50 species can be chosen for one WHIPPET run (but selecting a large number of populations may require several minutes for the system to retrieve However, if you want to further parameters. Users may prefer to use their information, so narrowing your species customize your analysis, parameters for own custom Site Value layer that instead list can be a useful first step). WHIPPET each population can be adjusted based on prioritizes sites based on sensitive species, focuses on eradication, so it will work best your knowledge of local sites. WHIPPET for species that are not widespread. cultural resources or other factors. 6 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 Online WHIPPET walks users through five steps for adjusting data after retriev- ing the requested populations (screenshot opposite page). Three main criteria, each with several sub-criteria, determine the final score for each population (diagram this page).

Resulting prioritization prioritize management on California In accordance with Federal law and WHIPPET generates recommenda- refuges. The California Dept. of Water US Department of Agriculture policy, tions for prioritizing invasive plant Resources plans to use WHIPPET for Cal-IPC is prohibited from discriminating management. Two caveats are important restoration work as part of the the Bay on the basis of race, color, national origin, to keep in mind. First, like any decision- Delta Conservation Plan and the Central sex, age, or disability. support tool, WHIPPET provides results Valley Flood Protection Plan. that are only as good as the available data WHIPPET is in beta version and on which the analysis is based. Second, your feedback will help us refine the tool. Features the results are not intended as a prescrip- If you have questions or find problems, Analyzes hundreds of populations tion; they may not include all factors please contact us at [email protected]. simultaneously. important to a particular site. Acknowledgments However, WHIPPET’s output Species information included – no Funding was provided by the USDA need to research. includes both maps and a table that shows Forest Service, Special Technology the full analysis so you can judge how Development Program; the US Fish No GIS required (but results can be the factors combine to generate the final & Wildlife Service Inventory and imported into GIS if desired). recommendation, and then adjust accord- Monitoring Program; and the California Default values provided, custom ingly. The online User Guide recommends Wildlife Conservation Board. adjustments supported. steps to take after running WHIPPET to The California Dept. of Water Map output shows ranked priorities. refine your results. Resources contributed Gina Darin’s time. Next steps Gina developed WHIPPET as part of her Table output shows calculation Cal-IPC will use WHIPPET in its Master’s thesis, and continues to improve details and supports further analysis upcoming projects, including regional the desktop version, which offers en- and map creation. planning for the California Wildlife hanced customizaton for those with GIS Full user guide with instructions, Conservation Board. The US Fish & capability. Contact her at gsdarin@water. background, and limitations. Wildlife Service will use WHIPPET to ca.gov for more information. Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 7 WildlandWildland WeedsWeeds andand Water*Water*

23rd Cal-IPC Symposium October 8-11, 2014 California State University - Chico www.cal-ipc.org/symposia *and drought

Join your fellow land managers, researchers, and conserva- Sessions tionists in Chico for information and inspiration! Fall colors will be out, most of the treatment season will be behind us, Talks by invited experts in theme sessions: and it will be time to cogitate and celebrate. We look forward Riparian Restoration to seeing you there, where the Cascades, the Sierra Nevada and the Great Central Valley all come together! Weeds as Water Wasters Complex Problems, Creative Solutions Trainings, Oct. 8 Plus talks by a range of speakers in “contributed” sessions: Woody Weed Control Field Course, Bidwell Park, 10am- Prevention and Early Detection 4pm: Mechanical and chemical techniques for removing woody plants. Instructors include Joe DiTomaso and Ken Innovative Tools & Techniques Moore. (Separate registration required) Mapping & Monitoring DPR Laws and Regulations, 6-8pm: We will apply for Invasive Plant Biology & Impacts 2 hrs of DPR Laws & Regs continuing education credits. (Included with your Symposium registration) Discussion Groups Interact with your peers to discuss key issues: Paper and Poster Sessions, Oct. 9-10 Control Methods: Ask the Experts Keynote speaker: Tom Griggs of River Partners in Chico Decision-Support Tools for Prioritization (retired), a pioneering restoration organization that applies agricultural techniques to large-scale restoration projects. Working with Volunteers Other featured speakers include Tim Koopmann, winner Careers in Invasive Species & Restoration of the Aldo Leopold Award, President of California Working on the Wildland-Urban Interface Cattlemen’s Association, and a founder of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. Revegetation & Competitive Planting 8 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 Registration Register by September 10 for the $295 early-bird rate! Sierra Nevada Brewery! Discounts for Cal-IPC members, Symposium volunteers, pre- ...is this year’s location for the Thursday evening Social senters, and students. Rates and information on discounted Hour, Raffle & Silent Auction, and Awards Banquet. hotel room blocks are listed on our website. The brewery is just two miles from Chico State Students and will provide the Student Paper & Poster Contest (with $250 prizes!) perfect atmosphere to win weed-pulling tools, Cal-IPC Student Chapter Lunch gourmet food, books, or Career Panel trips in our annual raffle Student registration rate only $100! and auction. Promises to be memorable! Continuing Education Credits Cal-IPC will apply for continuing education credits from the Dept. of Pesticide Regulation, including 2 hours of Laws & Regs and 12 hours Other. The field course and field trips will Awards have additional credits. See who receives this year’s Golden Weed Wrench for Land Manager of the Year, Jake Sigg Award for Dedication and We will also apply for credits from the Society for Range Vision, Catalyst Award, and Organization of the Year! Management. Credit hours will be posted on our website in late summer. Photo Contest Get out your camera/smartphone/tablet and impress your Sponsorship fellow weed workers! We’re working to expand the formats of

Photo from Western Rivers Conservancy, www.weternrivers.org Conservancy, Rivers Western from Photo Get visibility for your organization’s work while supporting this year’s contest. the Symposium and Cal-IPC programs! A range of levels www.cal-ipc.org/symposia/photocontest.php. are available. Sponsor benefits including free Symposium registration, exhibit space, recognition at the event, and professional-level memberships for your attendees. www.cal-ipc.org/symposia

Field Trips, Oct. 11

Peace Valley in the Sutter Buttes / Oroville State Wildlife Area (8am–5pm) Experience the Sutter Buttes, eroded volcanic lava domes that make up “the world’s smallest mountain range”! Public access is limited—this is a special opportunity to visit Peace Valley, a State Parks property located within the Buttes. Stoney Creek / Kopta Slough / Woodson Bridge Natural Preserve (8am–5pm) Meander through multiple riparian restoration sites with Tom Griggs of River Partners (our keynote speaker). Tom will showcase his pioneering riparian restoration work at the 708-acre Kopta Slough. Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (8am–12pm) A unique opportunity to enjoy a much-loved refuge as a Chico local! Stewarded for the last decade by Dr. Paul Maslin, the Reserve protects nearly 4,000 acres of diverse canyon and ridge , including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek. Reducing invasive plant impacts is a key management goal for the Reserve. Plus: Calflora Training (separate registration through Chico St. Herbarium) Calflora staff will be on hand to provide a hands-on training on the use of Observer, their smartphone tool for logging observa- tions in the field, and to give an update on the development of Weed Manager.

Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 9 www w..sutterbuttes99s.org Ninety-Nines. Buttes the Sutter from Buttes of the Sutter Photo Revisiting bluegum eucalyptus: Cal-IPC proposes adjustments to its assessment By Kristina Wolf, UC Davis, and Doug Johnson, Cal-IPC

alifornia has a love-hate relationship and the original assessment was completed for the assessment. The first is to increase Cwith Australian eucalyptus trees. as part of a major initiative during which the level of abiotic impacts (criterion 1.1) We are accustomed to their unmistakable some 200 plant species where assessed. from Moderate to Severe. The increase is profile, and for many they evoke nostalgic Given the intense interest in eucalyp- due primarily to the major changes to fire memories of seashore excursions. For tus, the assessment merits thorough regime where dense stands of eucalyptus others, they are bark-shedding behemoths re-examination. are established. This is especially true that clog coastal streams. And for others All invasive plant species have stronger when comparing to grasslands, where they are culprits in the 1991 Oakland impacts in some areas than in others; eucalyptus was often planted, but it is Hills fire which claimed 25 lives. Jared eucalyptus are no exception. And every also true relative to native woodlands and Farmer provides a thoughtful cultural land management situation has its own riparian areas. Another key abiotic impact history of eucalyptus in Trees in Paradise: unique set of factors to consider: biologi- is the high groundwater use of eucalyptus. A California History. cal, cultural, and economic. Cal-IPC’s The other change involves downgrad- Since its inception in 1996, Cal- assessments aim to provide science-based ing the ability of eucalyptus to spread. IPC’s Invasive Plant Inventory has listed information on ecological impacts that Several criteria in section 2 have been re- bluegum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) can serve to inform that aspect of any scored, including: the role of disturbance and redgum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camal- particular land management decision. on establishment (eucalyptus for the dulensis). (Some twenty other eucalyptus We convened an expert team to revisit most part require active planting to get species have been introduced to California our assessment of bluegum eucalyptus. established); innate reproductive potential but have not become invasive.) We examined literature submitted by (eucalyptus reproduction is relatively One of the atypical aspects of assess- those critical of the assessment, and col- slow); and potential for human-caused ing these eucalyptus species is that they lected additional literature to document dispersal (bluegum eucalyptus is virtually were purposefully planted for a range of the determinations made for each crite- gone from the horticultural trade). uses, including fuel breaks, firewood, and rion in our assessment system. A review These changes do not alter the overall aesthetics, and today’s stands are those draft is now available (see www.cal-ipc/ip/ rating of E. globulus as “Moderate” in the same populations. Some stands in moist inventory/eucalyptus) and comments are Cal-IPC Inventory. They do, however, areas are actively regenerating and spread- being solicited through July 31. provide a more current and thorough ing, while others in dry areas are not, and Changes in the draft assessment foundation for informing decision- few if any isolated new populations occur making that includes consideration of Two significant changes are proposed outside of these planted areas. So we are ecological impacts. gauging ecological damage resulting from intentional planting. In recent years, eucalyptus species have become highly politicized, as fire safety plans call for clearing thousands of trees in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Scripps Ranch and other communities. One has only to read the extensive commentary following online articles to sense the division and passion of those interested in our eucalyptus. Some of this energy has come Cal- IPC’s way, because our assessment of ecological impact is sometimes used in arguments for removing a particular stand. Advocates have questioned aspects of Cal-IPC’s 2006 assessment, and we agreed that this assessment was dated and should be revisited. New literature is available, www.plantright.org

10 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 AB 2402: The rocky road to WMA funding By Doug Johnson, Cal-IPC

iven the slight thaw in the state’s changes to the structure of the WMA Gbudget freeze, Cal-IPC sponsored program that can help it operate more ef- Weed Management AB 2402 (Buchanan) this spring to fectively. The portion of funding directed pursue renewed funding for the state’s to program support has been increased as Drought Relief Weed Management Area program and to enable coordination with hundreds of weed biocontrols program. The bill has partners in 58 counties. 1 million acre-feet wasted each received support letters from150 conser- AB 2193 (Gordon) year by yellow starthistle in the vation organizations across the state. Meanwhile, the Habitat Restoration Central Valley The bill passed the Assembly and Enhancement Act also passed the Gerlach (2004) found that yellow Agriculture Committee unanimously, and Assembly floor unanimously. The bill starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), more recently, the Assembly floor on a would give the CA Dept. of Fish & consumes between 1,050-1,200 m3/ 73-0 vote. In between, however, the $2.5 Wildlife the ability to approve voluntary, hectare/year of excess water relative million in funding was removed because small-scale (up to 5 acres) habitat restora- to exotic annual grasses, the most there the bill was unlikely to make it tion and erosion-control projects within common ground cover in California through the appropriations process. 60 days in an effort to facilitate such rangelands. Pitcairn et al. (2006) What does this mean? For funding, projects. The approval would be in lieu estimated 2.6 million net acres of we continue to explore ways to influence of existing CDFW permit requirements yellow starthistle in the Central the legislature and the Governor’s office such as Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Valley (Sacramento and San Joaquin as they finalize the budget, making the Alteration Agreements and Section 2081 River drainages) in 2002 and more case that invasive plant management is Incidental Take Permits. than 14 million gross acres infested critical for long-term drought relief (see We will keep you posted on progress throughout California. sidebar). It saves groundwater and helps as the legislative session and the budget reduce wildfire risk. continue to unfold. We are monitoring Converting to acre-feet: Even without funding, moving the possible water bonds for this fall, and a (1,125 m3/ha/yr) (0.0008 ac-ft/m3) bill forward does have benefit. For one it possible park bond for next year, both of (0.4 ha/ac) = 0.36 acre-feet water per shows continued interest in the program. which could contain funds for on-the- acre YST per year It also makes small but important ground restoration work. Total for the Central Valley: (2,600,000 acre YST) (0.36 ac-ft/acre YST/year) = 940,000 ac-ft/yr Thus approximately one million acre-feet of water are consumed by yellow starthistle each year in the Central Valley above and beyond what would be consumed by annual grasses. References Gerlach, John D., Jr. 2004. The impacts of serial land-use changes and biological invasions on water resources in California, USA. Journal of Arid Environments, 57: 365–379 Pitcairn, Michael J., Steve Schoenig, Rosie Yacoub and John Gendron. 2006. Yellow starthistle continues its spread in California. California Agriculture, 60(2): 83-90. californiaagriculture.ucanr.org Invasive Weeds Awareness Day at the Capitol atendees before capitol visits, March 12. Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 11 Climate-smart invasive plant management: Getting from “you should” to “here’s how”

By Virginia Matzek, Santa Clara University; Sandy DeSimone, Audubon Starr Ranch; and Elizabeth Brusati, Cal-IPC

and managers are often told that they managers are already familiar with taking that go along with different combinations Lneed to plan for climate change, that an adaptive management approach. of those variables. For instance, local today’s weed work may be nothing but Climate change will require managers to precipitation in California might increase wasted effort in the warmed-up, dried-out be even more adaptive in their thinking or decrease in the future and a biocontrol California of the future if their manage- and practice. A manager’s toolbox in an agent for a particular species may be ment techniques and restoration plans uncertain future will need to include: approved or not approved for release. A don’t adapt. The problem is this advice formulating management plans to manager can imagine what might change, is rarely accompanied by any practical resemble risk analyses; trying more high- and how to react, for the four possible sce- suggestions on how to plan. What exactly risk approaches along with traditional narios (e.g., increased precipitation + new is a manager supposed to do? techniques; monitoring more extensively biocontrol agent, decreased precipitation Cal-IPC made a first attempt at filling (more variables, longer timeframes) to + no biocontrol agent, etc.) that information gap with a special half- capture phenological changes and No. 3: Resilience will come from day event preceding last year’s Symposium responses to a shifting climate; and decid- building in redundancies, and planning in Lake Arrowhead. The intent of the ing which undesirable species deserve the for success under multiple scenarios. “Climate-Smart Land Management most priority. One of the principles of climate-smart Workshop” was to help managers No. 2: Scenario planning can help focus planning is to build in redundancy— overcome the paralysis we sometimes feel our attention on the most important multiple seed sources, increased size and in the face of uncertainty and complex drivers of change. Scenario planning is a connectedness of preserved or treated recommendations from academic useful technique for envisioning what the areas, high ecological and species diversity, researchers, and to facilitate a move into future will look like and evaluating how etc. Similarly, when a project or plan is active decision-making mode. different decisions might play out depend- designed, alternatives should be judged The 30 participants heard talks on ing on future conditions. Originally devel- for their potential success under multiple uncertainty in climate modeling, princi- oped by the military to prepare responses future scenarios, and the best choice is the ples for climate-smart land management, to unusual (but plausible) strategic situa- project that has the most success across and frameworks for envisioning future tions, scenario planning involves choosing scenarios, not the project that performs scenarios and planning for ecological a few important unknown variables, and the best under just one likely scenario. restoration. The heart of the workshop, then imagining storylines or scenarios Nat Seavy of Point Blue Conservation though, was a participatory exercise, based on the real-world experience of planning for climate change at Audubon Starr Ranch in Orange County, which gave at- tendees some practice in deciding whether climate change warranted a change in strategy for controlling particular weed species. Several lessons emerged from the workshop: No. 1: Uncertainty is not going to go away. The challenge is to embrace it, not resist it. Everything in climate-smart land management is uncertain, from the models we use to decisions on what species belong in what climate zone, to the forecasts of rainfall and temperature patterns a half-century from now, to the efficacy of management techniques like biocontrol. These uncertainties not only Audubon Starr Ranch is taking climate change into account while planning and add up, they multiply. Luckily, most monitoring restoration projects. Photo by Sandy DeSimone.

12 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 Science took workshop participants altogether. Blue Conservation Science’s climate-smart through several examples, including a Of course there were no “right” riparian restoration project. We also look at the possibilities for tidal answers determined at the workshop— followed principles for climate adaptation restoration in the San Francisco Bay Area. only time (and monitoring!) will tell. But laid out by various agencies and compiled Using scenario planning with two main participants reported that the exercise on the California Climate Commons drivers—high or low sea level rise, and helped them think more creatively and website. high or low rates of sediment supply to expansively about how they will manage Useful references are linked from the the newly restored —planners invaders in the future, rather than con- Cal-IPC climate adaptation webpage found that selecting restoration sites tinuing to pursue a single path forward. at www.cal-ipc.org/ip/climateadaptation. under the assumption that any one of At Cal-IPC, we were inspired to Resources from the workshop itself are the four scenarios would occur actually develop this workshop becausewe did not also available on the page, including had the best overall success, compared to find scenario planning exercise or climate pdfs of the speakers’ talks and the species fitting a particular approach to a single adaptation plans specific to invasive plant matrix. For more information about the scenario. Managers should take some management in published literature matrix exercise, please contact Sandy solace in the fact that, although the future or online. Our closest analog was the DeSimone, [email protected], is unknown, it is possible to plan for a excellent work done in support of Point 949-858-0309. variety of outcomes. No. 4: Dang… this is really hard when you sit down to do it. The last part of the workshop was an exercise in decision- making, based on real issues faced by Audubon Starr Ranch in working to protect songbirds and their habitat. We affectionately termed this exercise “The Matrix” because we compiled information into a tabular format to facilitate analysis. Using summary information from the scientific literature, participants were asked to decide on the major climatic drivers of future change in the vegetation at Starr Ranch, such as increased sum- mer drought or wetter winters. For each invasive plant species at the site, the par- ticipants evaluated whether the changing climate variable would increase, decrease, or leave unchanged the site’s suitability for that plant. This was also done for several native plant species that currently provide significant wildlife habitat for songbirds at Starr Ranch. A second part of the matrix asked participants to evaluate the benefits of the species, if any, to wildlife. This allows for the possibility that these wildlife services could be provided by non-natives in the future if key native plants are no longer able to provide them. Then, the sum of the information, and the managers’ intuition and understanding about vegeta- tion management, were used to determine if any change in Audubon Starr Ranch’s priorities should be considered—that is, whether any invasive species should be made higher or lower priority, or if con- trol of any species should be abandoned

Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 13 Charting a course on Santa Cruz Island

he Cal-IPC board of directors con- Tvened its annual strategic retreat in May, this year on Santa Cruz Island. The Nature Conservancy and the University of California Reserve System hosted Cal-IPC. Together with key staff and board alumni, the meeting planned future strategy and provided the inspiraton of seeing species found nowhere else, like the Santa Cruz Island kit fox. Special thanks to UC Reserve Director Lyndal Laughrin who made sure we had

everything we needed during our stay at providing logistical support. Thanks the UC Santa Cruz Island Field Station, also to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Eamon O’Byrne, TNC’s California for helping cover food costs. To keep Islands Project Director, for opening costs down for the organization, board up the Santa Cruz Island Preserve and members covered their own travel costs to the island.

Lyndal Loughrin has served as the UC Reserve Director on Santa Cruz Island for over 40 years. Plein air painting, such as this portrait of Dr. Laughrin overlooking Valley Anchorage, has a deep history on the island. Welcome new board members! The Cal-IPC Board of Directors appointed four new members to two-year terms. Morgan Ball is Executive Director of Wildlands Conservation Science in Ventura. He’s a wildlife biologist and habitat restorationist with experience in coastal and riparian habitats in Central California and the northern Channel Islands. Elise Gornish is a postdoctoral scholar at UC Davis working on arid land restoration and invasive species management. David McNeill is Executive Officer of the State of California’s Baldwin Hills Conservancy. He oversees the long-term acquisition and planned development of open space into much needed parkland for southwest Los Angeles County. Marie Jasieniuk is Associate Professor in the Plant Sciences Department at UC Davis where she focuses on identifying the origins and routes of spread of invasive plants. Learn more at www.cal-ipc.org/about/staff.php.

Morgan Ball Elise Gornish David McNeill Marie Jasieniuk

14 Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 Thank You for Supporting our Work!

Supporting Members Organizational Members

[New and renewing] Stewardship Circle ($1,000) Peter Beesley, Grass Valley Gary Gero, Glendale Karen Paulsell, Oakland Jake Sigg, San Francisco Peter Schuyler, Santa Barbara Champion ($500) Jason Casanova, La Crescenta Doug Gibson, Encinitas Georgia Stigall, Woodside Michael Swimmer, Palm Desert Charles & Marilyn Wright, Irvine Partner ($250) Jutta Burger, Santa Ana Bob Case, Concord Darlene Chirman, Santa Barbara Jennifer Funk, Orange Jason Giessow, Leucadia Jodie Holt, Riverside Brent Johnson, Paicines Shawn Kelly, Oxnard Supporters: Marc Lea, San Luis Obispo ACS Habitat Management Placer County Department of Agriculture Paul Ziemann, Boulder, CO Cabrillo National Monument City of Walnut Creek Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Individual Membership CNPS Sierra Foothills Chapter San Joaquin Regional Conservation County of Lake Agricultural Stewardship Circle $1000 Corps Commissioner’s Office Champion $ 500 Sierra Foothill Conservancy Partner $ 250 Inyo County Water Department Sweetwater Authority Professional $ 100 Mendocino Redwood Company The Nature Conservancy-California Friend $ 50 Natomas Basin Conservancy Student $ 25 Tule River Indian Tribe Orange County Parks Members receive Cal-IPC News and discounts on Symposium registration. Organizational Membership Benefactor $2000 Pro membership for 8 Quarter-page Patron $1000 Pro membership for 6 Eighth-page Sustainer $ 500 Pro membership for 4 Logo Supporter $ 250 Pro membership for 3 Name Organizations receive Professional membership for individuals and newsletter recognition for 12 months.

See www.cal-ipc.org for full membership details

Cal-IPC News Summer 2014 15 Non-Profit Org. California U.S. Postage Invasive Plant PAID Berkeley, CA Council Permit No. 1435

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The Wildland Weed Calendar California Invasive Species Action Week Pacific NW Invasive Plants Conference Bay-Delta Science Conference August 2-10, statewide September 16-17, Seattle, WA October 28-30, Sacramento www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/ActionWeek depts.washington.edu/uwbg/education/ scienceconf2014.deltacouncil.ca.gov/ conferences/2014InvPlants/InvPlants2014 Ecological Society of America Central Coast Invasive Weed Symposium August 10-15, Sacramento Cal-IPC Symposium November 6, Monterey Bay www.esa.org/am October 8-11, Chico cciws2014.eventbrite.com www.cal-ipc.org/symposia California Adaptation Forum California Association of RCDs August 19-20, Sacramento Natural Areas Association Conference November 12-15, Ventura www.californiaadaptationforum.org October 15-17, Dayton, OH www.carcd.org/annual_conference0.aspx naturalareas.org/conference Sierra Nevada Alliance CNPS Conservation Conference September 6-8, Kings Beach California Naturalist Conference January 13-17, 2015, San Jose www.sierranevadaalliance.org October 17-19, Pacific Grove www.cnps.org calnat.ucanr.edu/2014conference

“ Just over one third of species protected under CMS Appendix I and II are under some level of threat from Invasive Alien Species... Predominant threat mechanisms are predation, habitat loss, disease transmission, competition and interspecific hybridization.” ~ From the Executive Summary of Review of the Impact of Invasive Alien Species on Species Protected under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), a 2013 report prepared by the Invasive Species Specialist Group, International Union for Conservation of Nature, report to the United Nations.