Vol. 20, No. 3 Summer 2012 Cal-IPC News Protecting ’s Natural Areas from Wildland Weeds

Quarterly Newsletter of the California Invasive Council

BentgrassBentgrass stymiesstymies wetlandwetland plansplans

Jeremiah Mann of the USDA Natural Resources Inside: Conservation Service holds up windblown pannicles from Australian bentgrass ( Bentgrass clogs wetlands...... 4 avenacea) from a seasonal wetland managed by Symposium in Sonoma County...... 6 the Sonoma Land Trust. New management guidebook...... 10 Got permits?...... 11 Photo: Karl Kraft, NRCS From the Director’s Desk Front page news ere at Cal-IPC we consider the environmental impacts of invasive to Cal-IPC be front page news. It is not often that the media does, too. On May 26 the 1442-A Walnut Street, #462 H Berkeley, CA 94709 Sacramento Bee carried a front page article on yellow starthistle and state budget cuts ph (510) 843-3902 fax (510) 217-3500 www.cal-ipc.org [email protected] to weed programs. Cal-IPC staff and members provided information for the article,

A California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the story was picked up by national press and radio.The article describes what’s at Protecting California’s lands and waters stake in the effort to stop yellow starthistle from infesting higher elevations in the Sierra from ecologically-damaging invasive plants Nevada. By focusing on “leading edge” populations at the 4000-foot level, the project is through science, education, and policy. a cost-effective approach to protecting uninvaded areas higher up. An example like this STAFF Doug Johnson, Executive Director helps convey the dynamic nature of weed spread, and how land management strategy is Carol Bardoff, Program Assistant set. Elizabeth Brusati, Science Program Manager Alice Chung, Project Manager The author gets a few things wrong in trying to dramatize and personalize the threat. Heather DeQuincy, Outreach Program Manager When was the last time you encountered starthistle six feet tall, with spikes “perfectly Agustín Luna, Business Manager placed to stab a shoulder or poke an eye”? And though it reduces abundance of native Bertha McKinley, Program Assistant Dana Morawitz, Mapping Program Manager grassland species, starthistle cannot literally “turn meadows into deserts.” Such inac- Cynthia Powell, Project Manager curacies are inevitable with media attention. Online comments appended to the article make it clear that there are skeptics ready to use any such weakness to dismiss the entire DIRECTORS topic. But many more readers are informed about an issue that affects them. John Knapp, President Native Range, Inc. Environmental communications experts caution against alarmist messages that can, in Jason Casanova, Vice-President Council for Watershed Health aggregate, contribute to resignation in the face of seemingly insurmountable problems. Doug Gibson, Treasurer We are challenged to convey the urgency of this issue while pointing to positive work San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy that can and should be done. Like us, you may get excited when you see or hear Julie Horenstein, Secretary California Department of Fish & Game invasive plants covered in the news. When you do, send us clippings or links to help us Edith Allen track and public perceptions. We will continue to push for increased University of California-Riverside covereage. Peter Beesley Pacific Gas and Electric Regarding the article on page 8, all I can say is that is has been and continues to be an Edmund Duarte st Alameda County Department of Agriculture incredible team effort, and I am privileged to hold this position. See you at our 21 Jason Giessow Symposium, October 10-13 in Sonoma County! Dendra, Inc. Kim Hayes Elkhorn Slough Foundation Sue Hubbard Federal Employee Shawn Kelly Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Dan Knapp Los Angeles Conservation Corps Chris McDonald UC Cooperative Extension Peter Schuyler Ecological Consultant Andrea Williams Marin Municipal Water District STUDENT LIAISONS Chelsea Carey UC Merced Kai Palenscar UC Riverside Affiliations for identification purposes only. Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 - Volume 20, Number 3 Editors: Doug Johnson, Elizabeth Brusati, Heather DeQuincy Goats browsing Spanish broom on lands of the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Cal-IPC News is published quarterly by the California Invasive Indians in Lake County. The goats successfully treated 5 acres, eating leaves and young Plant Council. Articles may be reprinted with permission from the editors. Submissions are welcome. Mention of commercial shoots and barking the remainder of the plants, which were finished off by applying products does not imply endorsement by Cal-IPC. We reserve clove oil to the crown in the summer. Photo courtesy of Greg Dills, East Lake & West Lake the right to edit all work. RCDs and Alisa Carlson, Cow Mountain Kiko Goats. 2 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Wildland Weed NewsNewsNewsNewsNews

Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties as non-native plants typically flowered likely become the origins of new infesta- received Sierra Nevada Conservancy later than native German species and were tions. (Sacramento Bee, May 26, www. grants for weed work. Two grants totaling more likely to be self-pollinated, therefore sacbee.com/2012/05/26/4517821/budget- $73,867 will allow the counties to treat avoiding competition for pollinators. On cuts-hurt-long-battle-against.html) invasive plants at 25 strategic locations the other hand, native plants tended to A dock dislodged by last year’s tsunami totaling 120 acres on the west side of live in a wider variety of habitats, while in Japan brought 100 tons of organ- the Tahoe National Forest, reducing the non-natives specialized in fewer habitats. isms and dozens of species to Oregon. threat of catastrophic fires by removing These differences persisted even for Scientists have collected barnacles, ladder fuels and improving stream bank species that were introduced centuries starfish, urchins, anemones, amphipods, habitat. Removal of musk thistle along ago. According to one researcher, “These worms, mussels, limpets, snails, solitary the Truckee and Little Truckee River and results are an argument in support of tunicates and algae that survived the trip reservoirs will also be supported. the view that the need to differentiate across the Pacific. They include a brown California’s Wildlife Action Plan is being between native and non-native species in alga (seaweed) called wakame (Undaria updated. The plan was first completed ecological systems remains”. The study pinnatifida) which has never before in 2007 by the state Department of Fish was published in Ecology Letters. (Science been found north of Monterey (and is and Game (DFG) and UC Davis to fulfill Daily, May 4, www.sciencedaily.com/news/ on the Cal-IPC Inventory). (Eureka federal requirements for receiving wildlife plants_animals) Science News, June 7. esciencenews.com/ grants. Invasive species were identified The Sacramento Bee covered yellow articles/2012/06/07/floating.dock.japan. as a major statewide stressor. DFG is starthistle and state budget cuts. The carries.potential.invasive.species) coordinating an update of the plan with article highlighted the Yellow Starthistle Four botanical gardens will compile the goal of developing detailed regional Leading Edge project which coordinates information on 400,000 plant species priorities. Cal-IPC aims to partner with projects in 14 counties to prevent the worldwide. The New York Botanical DFG and others in identifying invasive spread of the weed into higher eleva- Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, The plant management priorities for the new tions of the Sierra Nevada. In 2011 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and the plan. (www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WAP/) program received $2.7 million in state Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have Non-native and native plant species funding. Now it receives nothing. The announced plans to develop the World use different strategies to be successful. mapping effort, as of last year, identified Flora, the first modern, online catalog German researchers compared features 586 “outlier” starthistle populations that of the world’s plants, by the year 2020. such as lifespan, type of pollination, and have already jumped across the Leading (Phys.org, April 23, phys.org/news/2012- habitats occupied for native and non-na- Edge line and edged higher into the 04-online-botanical-gardens.html) tive plants. They found differences, such Sierra. Without treatment, these will

Cal-IPC Updates Regional Strategies Thank You, Funders! Fire BMPs Coming Soon Cal-IPC is working with regional partners We recently received grants from the to develop strategies for top priority California Landscape Conservation A new chapter of our Prevention Best eradication targets using our online Cooperative for regional planning, Management Practices Manual will CalWeedMapper tool. From there, we as well as from the US Forest Service cover prevention for wildfire-related work together on proposals for funding and the US Fish & Wildlife Service activities, with funding from the US to implement projects. The central Sierra to develop an online version of the Forest Service. www.cal-ipc.org/ip/ (Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, WHIPPET prioritization tool with prevention. Tuolumne counties) is applying for grants Calflora (see Winter 2011 issue). Watchlist Updated to eradicate several species in its region. Error See calweedmapper.calflora.org. This list of new plants of concern The last issue stated that symposium has been updated and is available as a Board Elections registration includes lodging. It does spreadsheet or pdf. Send information Ballots will be mailed in late summer. not. We apologize for the error. on new weeds to Elizabeth Brusati, Please return yours by the deadline on the [email protected]. www.cal-ipc. ballot so your vote can be counted! org/ip/inventory/weedlist.php

Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 3 Feature Best laid plans... Australian bentgrass (Agrostis avenacea) invades following seasonal wetland enhancement by Julian Meisler, Sonoma Land Trust

[The unanticipated impact of Australian Creating wetlands wet or flooded habitats (Zedler and Black bentgrass on this hydrological restoration 2004). Known also as blowngrass, its The primary goal was to create roost- project illustrates one of the myriad unpre- seed-laden panicles disperse by snapping ing and foraging habitat for shorebirds dictable ways in which invasive plants can off in the wind and tumbling in great and dabbling ducks, particularly during impede stewardship activities.] numbers to surrounding lands. high tides and storms when the Bay’s he character of northern San Pablo mudflats are unavailable. The parameters First collected in California in 1904, TBay, which spans portions of Marin, for such habitat are simple: relatively bentgrass now occurs from Kern County Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties, shallow pools without emergent vegeta- to Tehama County in coastal, valley, and is decidedly rural. In the right season tion accompanied by short statured plants foothill areas from sea level to nearly (and outside of rush hour), a drive along in the surrounding uplands for predator 1,000 feet in elevation (Zedler and Black its edge via State Highway 37 can be detection. 2004, Calflora website 2012). A discon- a birder’s dream with large flocks of tinuous population occurs in San Diego The project entailed restriction of the waterfowl and shorebirds easily visible in County where it has invaded vernal pools. site’s surface and subsurface drainage to roadside marshes and sloughs. Importantly, as of 2004, the San Diego promote ponding in natural depressions. vernal pools were the only reported site However, it is by no means pristine. To keep vegetation low, cattle grazing, and of significant invasion in all of California Like most of the San Francisco Bay to a lesser extent mowing, are the tools (Cal-IPC website). Estuary, this area was largely diked and used. Initially the pasture was seeded with drained some 150 years ago resulting perennial ryegrass, a species that although While bentgrass was first observed in an estimated 70 to 85% loss of both non-native, dominates the region and is in Solano and Marin counties in 1946 seasonal freshwater and tidal wetlands easily managed with livestock. and 1957, respectively (Consortium of (Goals Project 1999). Through the efforts California Herbaria, ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ The careful engineering used to of many public agencies, nonprofits, consortium), the first record from Sonoma facilitate ponding was a great success with and individuals, great progress has and County, which separates Solano and wetter years yielding more than 160 acres continues to be made in restoring the Marin, apparently was not until 1991 of wetlands. Shorebirds and ducks re- area’s tidal marshes. Within five years the (Best et al. 1996). However, it is likely sponded vigorously. Monitoring revealed total area of restored tidal marsh along that it has been in Sonoma County far more than 22,000 individual waterbirds this stretch will exceed 15,000 acres and longer but not reported, perhaps because using the site during 17 monitoring visits more is planned. of its low numbers. in 2008 (Wetland and Water Resources Less effort, however, has been devoted 2009). Although bentgrass inhabits temporar- to seasonal wetland restoration despite ily wet or flooded habitats, it appears its widely recognized importance. Along Bentgrass invades to require disturbance before becoming Sonoma County’s Bay shoreline and But this habitat came at a price. By invasive. For example, bentgrass has been adjacent uplands, the Sonoma Land Trust the close of the first wetland season, the observed for decades at Solano County’s (SLT) owns or has conservation easements site experienced a massive invasion by Jepson Prairie Preserve, a vernal pool over nearly 5,000 acres, including a Australian bentgrass (Agrostis avenacea), grassland, but it remains a minor compo- 279-acre property known as North Parcel. a species only occasionally seen in the nent of the flora there. Nearly 10 years ago SLT implemented region and never before in abundance. Disturbance does it a project at the North Parcel property Australian bentgrass is native to intended to create seasonal wetlands on The wetland project marked a radical and apparently to some south formerly cultivated land, a project that change in management at North Parcel Pacific Islands. Classified as a perennial, it yielded successes but came with a signifi- and the invasion seems to be the result may act as an annual (Bauder et al. 2002) cant unintended consequence. of several factors. For decades the site and most frequently occurs in temporarily had been disked and planted to produce

4 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Bentgrass (the finely-textured, light-colored grass in the photo) lines the bottom and banks of this drainage ditch. The grass is tall enough to hide predators of shorebirds and dabbling ducks, the species for which this property is being managed, and control has proven challenging. oat hay. It is likely that herbicides were be effective in controlling its spread but to enhance wetlands in exchange for used and any weeds, including bentgrass, it must be grazed before going to seed. As retiring marginal land from agriculture. would have been minimized. Following the plant matures it becomes unpalatable Because it is a wetlands program and not the cessation of disking, the site was to cows and the panicles are free to snap an agricultural program, grazing of the seeded with ryegrass and given over to and take flight with the region’s incessant easement area is governed by an an- grazing which in its first year included an summer wind. As any land manager using nual Cooperative Use Agreement (CUA) unfortunate episode of winter trampling. grazing as a management tool can attest, produced by NRCS that dictates when Finally, and possibly of greatest timing can easily be thwarted by logistical and whether grazing (or other agricultural importance, the artificial impoundment challenges including rapid changes in activity) can occur. of water, particularly for extended periods, weather, infrastructure failures, lessee chal- Although the goals of the WRP at appears to favor bentgrass. Zedler and lenges, and more. North Parcel may include shorebird Black (2004) report that the species can At North Parcel a somewhat unique habitat, it cannot be at the expense of tolerate prolonged flooding and can factor limiting SLT’s ability to graze at other species’ habitats, grassland birds for germinate in up to 30 cm of water. While the proper time is a conservation ease- example, which are negatively affected by other species can do this, there are few ment over half the property held by the close cropping of vegetation by livestock. that can also tolerate prolonged drought. USDA Natural Resources Conservation This challenge was exemplified in Service (NRCS) under the Wetland Management challenges 2012. The CUA permitted grazing to Reserve Program (WRP). The WRP is a At North Parcel, bentgrass is proving successful national program that provides ...continued page 10 extremely difficult to control. Grazing can financial incentives to private landowners Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 5 st ...WHIPPET from page 6 Cal-IPC’s 21 Annual Symposium Bay to Basin: Coordinating Response to Invasive Plants across California October 10 - 13, 2012 Wine Country Doubletree, Rohnert Park

Join us in Sonoma Presenters County for this year’s Symposium! Posters From oak woodlands to redwood groves, Discussion San Francisco Bay shoreline to the planned Groups Blueridge-Berryessa National Conservation Area in wild Napa Awards County, Sonoma Banquet County is a spectacular part of California. Exhibitors Join natural resource ­managers, ecologists, Photo students, and ­restoration volunteers Contest from across the state to learn ­about and discuss the latest in Raffle & control techniques Auction and research results while networking and mingling during the Field awards banquet, social Trips hour and field trips. Pulling Parentucellia is the focus of an annual volunteer workday organized by Americorps at the Van Hoosear Wildlflower Preserve in Sonoma County. Parentucellia viscosa (yellow glandweed) is parasitic, so land managers have avoided herbicide treatments that could translocate to the preserve’s diverse native plants.

6 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Special Sessions Discussion Groups “Working Across Landscapes” • Weed control methods Q&A “Working Across Taxa” • Prevention Best Management Practices video “Working Across Time” • Reducing the potential for wildlife impacts Invited speakers will discuss large-scale and long-term from herbicides efforts on invasive plants. • Protecting native pollinators Credits are pending from the Department of Pesticide • A coordinated statewide management Regulation, including 2 hrs. of Laws and Regulations. strategy for stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens) • Seeking funding in a competitive environment And More! • Cal-IPC project updates Presenters • Student lunch • Photo contest voting (entries due September 7) Posters Habitat Restoration Workday: Wednesday, October 10 Discussion Groups Cal-IPC’s newest training opportunity! Get your hands dirty and learn about specific management techniques, on-the-ground. Location to be announced! Awards Field Trips: Saturday, October 13 Banquet Half-day and full-day field trips. Detailed descriptions are available on the Symposium webpage. Exhibitors Mount Tamalpais: Learn about innovative trials on nonchemical methods for removing broom, as well as Photo meadow restoration. Contest Pollinator Tour: Visit one of Sonoma’s many organic farms, featuring native hedgerows supporting pollinators. Sonoma Restoration Hotspots: Sonoma County has Raffle & numerous reserves managed by Audubon Canyon Ranch, Auction the Sonoma Ecology Center, the Pepperwood Preserve, State Parks and others. Visit some of the region’s top wildland restoration sites, from native wildflowers and woodlands. Field Mount Tamalpais overlooks San Francisco Bay from Marin County and is home to both Mount Tamalpais Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area: Venture to restoration Trips State Park and watershed lands of the Marin Municipal sites deep in the wilds of northern Napa and learn about Water District. Photo by Dana Morawitz, Cal-IPC the effort to create the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area. www.cal-ipc.org/symposia

Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 7 Doug Johnson: 10 years with Cal-IPC! by Joe DiTomaso, UC Davis, Cal-IPC President 2002-03

s far back as 2000, the Board of allowed Cal-IPC to hire Doug for two fully aware of what was at stake. ADirectors for Cal-IPC discussed the years and only pay half of his salary, as Within a couple of years, Doug’s con- possibility of hiring an executive director. the Fellowship paid the other half. Prior tributions were already numerous and the At that time, nearly everything we did was to being hired as the Executive Director, Board felt confident that the experiment through volunteered time from our Board Doug was a geographer by training, but was over and we had made an exception- or membership. We hired Sally Davis to he also had experience with wildland ally good decision. Over the past several put out the newsletter, but that was pretty weeds from field work conducted in years, the modest yearly budget has grown much the extent of our budget in those Mendocino and the San Francisco Bay to several hundred thousand dollars per days. Our primary revenue was through Area. As he stated in his introductory ar- year. Today, the society employs eight the annual symposium. additional people and has two Then-President Mike Kelly student liaisons. The website felt that hiring an executive is information rich, the inven- director primarily to write tory is considered the gold grants might allow Cal-IPC standard for other states, the to expand and take on new publications are high quality, projects as well as increase our the field courses are outstand- operating funds. Like most ing, and all the other projects, good ideas, this one had to particularly CalWeedMapper simmer for a couple of years are innovative and pioneering. while the Board contemplated Cal-IPC, through the lead- the pros and cons of such a ership of Doug Johnson, plays decision. Because Cal-IPC’s a major role in the National total annual budget was Association of Exotic Pest around $40,000 in those Plant Councils and National days, we feared that hiring Invasive Species Awareness an executive director that Week in Washington DC. was unable to bring in grants The society even has a student might drive the society broke Doug taking a break on a field trip at last year’s Symposium. chapter. Doug has become and, dare I say, to extinction Photo: Dana Morawitz, Cal-IPC the high-profile face of Cal-IPC. within a couple of years. This ticle in the Cal-EPPC News (now Cal-IPC He served as the Chair of the was particularly troublesome to me, as I inaugural California Invasive Species was the President of the society in 2002, News) in 2002, “Working on wildland weeds presents a special opportunity to Advisory Committee and as an officer when we made the decision. As you could with the National Association of EPPCs. imagine, I did not want my legacy to be work together with partners brought together by concern for the health of the His easygoing demeanor and calmness as the President that drove the society to allows him to influence people and form bankruptcy. land. With that kind of cooperation, we can make things happen!” And make alliances. Through his organizational skills Obviously, the Board of Directors things happen he did! he is able to get things done efficiently decided to take a chance and recruit for and quickly. It is difficult even to imagine what an executive director. We felt that we had In Doug’s 10 years as Executive less than two years to invest with our Doug Johnson has done for Cal-IPC. I am pretty sure that the Board of Directors Director of Cal-IPC, he has elevated the existing funds. From that point forward, society to national status and the influ- the Board and society made every correct in 2002, even in their wildest optimism, would not have been able to envision ence that the society has on legislators, decision that could be made and we are scientists, policy makers, students, and benefiting in so many ways today. where the society would be 10 years later. In Doug’s first two months on the job field practitioners is remarkable. While When Doug Johnson interviewed he wrote five grant proposals, with one there many dedicated people that have for the executive director position, he of them funded. Other Board members, contributed to this progress, one stands had already been notified that he was including myself, also wrote grants that at the top. Congratulations to Doug the recipient of the Robert & Patricia provided some funding to Cal-IPC. It Johnson for his incredible accomplish- Switzer Foundation Fellowship. This was a heck of a team effort, with everyone ments in 10 years with Cal-IPC.

8 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Partnering with college helps track medusahead by Jim Alford*, American River College (formerly California Dept. of Fish & Game); Daniel Benedetti, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Nathan Jennings, American River College

ildland managers must deal with are former professionals working to build Wbiotic invasions in spite of ever new skills. These students can help build more limited resources and in many your organizational capabilities. The cases without botanical staff. This project newest version of the most commonly demonstrates the utility of remote sensing used mapping software, ArcGIS 10, can to identify invasive plant infestations. implement the most common vegetative indices. Vegetative indices literally show In an era of shrinking government us things our eyes cannot see. support for weed eradication, remote sensing can help fill the gap for restora- The methods used in this study are tion programs. Geographic Information easily repeatable. While high-end image Medusahead’s common name derives Systems (GIS) build upon field data and processing software is prohibitively expen- from Medusa and her hair of snakes in the use of vegetative indices can guide sive for agencies and non-profits, free or Greek mythology. Photo: Zoya Akulova, both survey and treatment. Many uni- low cost access is available to students. In Cal-IPC Photo Contest 2011 versities and colleges have GIS programs. this case, the total project software cost For example, American River College in was less than $200. Community college Sacramento has GIS work experience slots GIS programs make good partners. conditions and also produce materials for for 48 students a year. Many GIS students The students benefit from real world an effective portfolio. Wildlands managers benefit by adding to their weed manage- ment tools. Two examples using National Agricultural Information Program Methods data. At left: Medusahead populations The study site is New Hogan Lake, (small, dark dots) on a 2009 image of Calaveras County, California. It is New Hogan Lake, Calaveras, County. managed for recreation and flood control Below: Blue oak-chaparral community. by the Army Corps of Engineers. The From left to right the circled signatures Corps has an aggressive weed removal are blue oak (Quercus douglassi), interior program. However; they are hampered live oak (Quercus wislizeni), chamise by a lack of botanical staff. The site is (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and manzanita highly disturbed by historic and current (Arctostaphylos viscida). NAIP imagery is mining, dam operations and roads. The acquired every year during the spring and grasslands are typical of central California is public domain. Photos: J. Alford. low elevations: they are dominated by Eurasian plants. In this case, the highly invasive medusahead grass, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, dominates grasslands of intermediate disturbance. We used ENVI 4.8 (ITT Visual Solutions, 2010) for image processing and ArcGIS 10 (ESRI, 2009) for map- ping, although all described tasks can be completed with only ArcGIS 10. Data were obtained from the California Geospatial Clearing House (atlas.ca.gov/ imagerySearch.html). We used free imagery from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Information Program (NAIP). These are

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Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 9 New control manual for 350 weed species by Joe DiTomaso, Department of Plant Science, UC Davis, [email protected]

[Look for this amazing new reference on our control options for each species. This options include recommended rate, website and at the Symposium this October!] information is based on peer-reviewed timing and any remarks or cautions. hile several publications provide and non-peer-reviewed literature and I led a team of authors which included Wdetailed information on the the personal experience of the authors. a range of individuals that conduct management of weeds in agricultural Extensive internet searches located research on the control of invasive systems, there is currently no multiple credible sources for detailed plants and other non-crop weeds: Lars comprehensive book that provides control information on invasive plant control. Anderson from USDA, Tim Prather options for invasive and weedy species The authors summarized what they from the University of Idaho, Tim Miller in natural areas. This year, the first such considered to be the most relevant and from Washington State University, and book will be published by the Weed practical control options for each plant. University of California Cooperative Research and Information Center at UC Our goal is to provide as many options Extension experts including Guy Davis (wric.ucdavis.edu). as possible, with the hope that at least Kyser, Scott Oneto, Steve Orloff, John a few can achieve the desired objective Weed Control Handbook for Natural Roncoroni, Rob Wilson, Steve Wright, for a given situation when assessed in an Katie Wilson, and Jeremiah Mann. Areas in the Western United States covers Integrated Pest Management approach. ~350 species of weeds that invade or The field of invasive plant cause problems in wildland and natural While the bulk of the text is dedicated management is dynamic, with new species areas, rangelands, grasslands, pastures, to providing control options, the book appearing each year and new control riparian and aquatic areas across thirteen also includes information on the range techniques being developed by researchers western states, including California. It’s of control techniques and equipment and field practitioners. Our objective expected to retail for approximately $30. used in natural areas, as well as safety is to update and reprint the handbook The species chosen were those on the state and environmental considerations, about every three years so the information noxious weed lists of the western states, herbicide characteristics, rainfast periods, stays current. This will also allow us to as well as other non-crop weeds that are and grazing and haying restrictions for improve the handbook with the feedback frequently problematic in natural areas of terrestrial herbicides, a list of species with we receive from those who use this new the western U.S. biological control agents either available resource. or under development, and helpful The book describes chemical, conversion tables. The chemical control mechanical, biological and cultural Bentgrass continued... (e.g. no impoundment), application of Resources begin in late February, assuming dry soil herbicide, and seeding with native grasses. Bauder, E.T., Snapp-Cook, J., Sakrison, J., conditions, but prohibited grazing after Will this mean that the original shorebird Detwiler, P. 2002. A study on Agrostis avenacea mid-March unless a survey determined goals will have to be modified? Possibly. in vernal pools on Marine Corps Air Station the absence of nesting grassland birds. In the same manner that SLT has modi- Miramar, San Diego, California. However the rains did not begin until fied its management practices (grazing, Best, C., Howell, J.T., Knight, W. & I. and March and continued through early April. mowing, flooding) to achieve habitat Wells, M. 1996. A Flora of Sonoma County. By the time the ground was sufficiently goals, it may be that the goals themselves California Native Plant Society. dry, nesting in the tall grasses was under- must change to respond to altered Goals Project. 1999. Baylands Ecosystem Habitat way and grazing within the easement area conditions. Goals. First Reprint. U.S. Environmental was restricted. Bentgrass was left to thrive Protection Agency, San Francisco, Calif./S.F. Bay The fact that rapid changes in land Regional Water Quality Control Board. and multiply. management can lead to weed invasions Such challenges aside, bentgrass has is not novel. Nor is the fact that artificial Wetland and Water Resources. 2009. 2007-2008 Year-five monitoring and five-year summary now reached a level at which it cannot changes to hydrology (i.e. prolonged monitoring report. North Parcel and Leonard be controlled by grazing and mowing water impoundment) is a form of distur- Ranch seasonal wetlands enhancement project alone. NRCS recognizes the problem bance. But at North Parcel these lessons Sonoma County, California. and is working with SLT and the San have surfaced again and we as a land Zedler, P. and Black, C. 2004. Exotic plant inva- Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge (the management community are reminded sions in an endemic-rich habitat: The spread of future owner of the site) to prepare a plan of the need to continually learn, modify, an introduced Australian grass, Agrostis avenacea for more direct control. This is likely to and adapt our management with changing J.F. Gmel., in California vernal pools. Austral include a change in water management conditions. Ecology 29, 537-546. 10 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Update on the California Aquatic Pesticide Permit: Déjà vu all over again? by Michael Blankinship, Blankinship & Associates, Inc., Davis, CA ave you ever been on a trip and Hswear that you have been there be- Think you have a permit? Better double check! fore? Things for some reason just seem to There is ongoing confusion between staff at the SWCRB and the Regional Water have that eerie look of familiarity. It’s easy Quality Control Boards on permit payment and issuance. Anyone that is not to get that same feeling with the ongoing listed by the SWRCB is not enrolled and is not covered by the permit. To review evolution of environmental permitting for the permittee list: weed management work in or near water. 1. Go to the website ciwqs.waterboards.ca.gov/ciwqs/readOnly/PublicReportGeneral Application of herbicides to “waters OrderServlet?inCommand=reset. of the United States” requires a permit issued by the State Water Resources 2. Type “2004-0009-DWQ” in the Order Number box, click Run Report and Control Board (SWRCB). This affects click on the number value under the “No. of Active Enrollees” column. invasive plant management projects 3. Review the report for your organization’s name. If you are not listed, or are taking place near open water. Since 2002, listed as inactive, contact your local RWQCB to resolve the problem. we have learned to live with the current NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) aquatic pesticide lawsuits. The citizen lawsuit provision of What can go into water? Only 11 permit. It has become familiar and largely the Clean Water Act provides an oppor- herbicides are approved for aquatic use in workable to us. tunity for anyone (such as environmental California, and of those only a few such as advocacy groups) to sue you if they feel glyphosate and imazapyr are in common The existing permit is currently being you have adversely impacted water quality. use by restoration workers. Surfactants are re-drafted by the SWRCB. The goal is to Although not bullet-proof, the permit restricted to non-ionic varieties. “catch-up” and develop consistency with provides significant defense and “cover- Contact the author at [email protected]. other recently adopted permit require- age” against such legal action. ments for vector (e.g. mosquito) and aquatic animal applications. Early indications suggest that the new permit is similar in many ways to the old permit. The Association of California Water Agencies Aquatic Pesticide Work Group has worked to help SWRCB staff better understand what it takes to control aquatic vegetation. The soon-to-be- released draft permit requirements reflect plenty of dialogue on how to reasonably “bracket,” measure and report potential impacts to water quality without invoking expensive and often confounding tech- niques like toxicity testing. Keep an eye out for the public review version of the draft at www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/ programs/npdes/aquatic.shtml sometime this summer, and be prepared to comment and contribute to the final permit that Pesticides have been approved for use in Lake Tahoe. The State Water Resource will be used for the 2013 weed season. Control Board recently approved an amendment that would allow aquatic pesticides to be used in Lake Tahoe to preserve public health and combat invasive species (especially Permit Benefits an aquatic plant, Eurasian watermilfoil). This is a considerable change, given that What do you get out of this permit ex- the previous versions of the Basin Plan did not allow the use of aquatic herbicides. cept more paper and a hit to your budget? The amendment must be approved by the U.S. EPA and California’s Office of Simply put: Protection from potential Administrative Law before it can be implemented. Photo by Elizabeth Brusati Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 11 Thank You for Supporting our Work! per meter squared in these areas. 3. Establish an area to experiment on alternative medusahead treatments. Recent Donors New Members The recommended area is a 12.7 acre site near a monoculture of Your tax-deductible donations are As a Cal-IPC Member, you join a medusahead. extremely valuable in supporting our powerful network of land managers, programs. Thank you! researchers, volunteers, and concerned Examination of classification results citizens. Welcome! found that 100% of our medusahead Champion ($250-$499) points fell in only 20% of the classes. Ann Lopez (Fontana) This suggests that the further refine- Jason Giessow (Encinitas) Jason Erlich (San Diego) ment by ground truthing plots could Shawn Kelly (Oxnard) Linda Stamer (Fawnskin) produce a hybrid classification predictive Friend (up to $99) Joanne Whitney (San Francisco) of infested sites. Further iterations may Menuhati Kemma’atah (San Diego) Marcia Basalla (Novato) produce a reliable model for medusahead Matt Weiser (Sacramento) populations at this site (Ray 1994). Doug Johnson (Albany) Alicia Funk (Nevada City) United Way (Sacramento) Remote sensing capabilities can greatly assist in the identification, treatment and modeling of plant invasions. Recent improvements in mapping software have Medusahead continued... Results and Discussion increased remote sensing capabilities and democratized access to these techniques. aircraft derived four-band images (Red, Examination of the NDVI- We all understand that a proper releve or Green, Blue and Infrared) with one meter transformed data allowed identification plot assessment requires a bird’s eye view. resolution. NAIP images are acquired of woody plants to species. We found Remote sensing can add a new layer of during the height of the growing season, that blue oak (Quercus douglassi), interior information to an even larger bird’s eye typically May to June. California has live oak (Quercus wislizeni), chamise view than any plot system alone could excellent coverage because of the impor- (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and manza- provide. tance of its agriculture to the nation. nita (Arctostaphylous viscida) were easily identifiable in the NDVI image (see This project was conceived as a com- Data were transformed by the ap- photo). munity college GIS remote sensing class plication of the Normalized Difference project. Involving student interns in your Vegetative Index (NDVI). The algorithm Medusahead can be controlled GIS work has the potential to improve is NDVI = (Red - IR)/ (Red + IR). The with fire and mowing at the soft-seed your organization capabilities. Investing NDVI was developed in the 1970s to stage. The study site has a tight urban time in befriending professors or speaking predict famines in developing regions interface, making fire an unlikely choice. to classes may find you students to do (Jensen 2005). Since that time, more We produced maps with medusahead similar projects. than two dozen vegetative indices have data points plotted on the NDVI images. come into use. The NDVI works because Inspection of these images resulted in the Resources plants absorb red wavelengths and reflect following treatment prescriptions: ESRI. 2009. ArcGIS, Redlands, CA, ESRI. infrared, both by a better than five to 1. Mow intermittent watercourses ITT. 2010. ENVI. Boulder, CO, ITT Visual one ratio (Jones and Vaughan 2010). in Acorn campground. Water Information Solutions. ArcGIS 10 provides NDVI as a built-in courses were easily identifiable in Jensen, J. 2005. Introductory Digital Image transformation. the NDVI. The development of this Processing. Upper Saddle River, NJ, Pearson We surveyed for pure medusahead campground created a hydrological Prentice Hall. stands greater than 1 m2 and easily found impediment that facilitated medusa- Jones, H. and R. Vaughan. 2010. Remote Sensing 214 data points. Maps were produced head infestation by providing the of Vegetation. Oxford, Oxford University Press. with these data points upon NDVI- late spring saturated soils it prefers. Ray, T. 1994. A FAQ on Vegetation in Remote transformed NAIP imagery and subjected The hydrological impediment also Sensing. Retrieved June 24, 2011, from www. to expert inspection. Additionally, a facilitated an infestation of perennial yale.edu/ceo/Documentation/rsvegfaq.html. ten-class K-means unsupervised classifica- pepper weed. USDA. 2009. National Agricultural Information Program. tion was performed. Classifications are 2. Mow intermittently flooded banks. procedures based upon individual pixel These regularly disturbed areas Contact the author at jim.alford@comcast. statistics. They simply divide the pixels provide a metapopulation source for net into groups mechanistically through typi- upland infestations. Medusahead cal statistical classification procedures. density is many thousands of stems

12 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 Shelterbelt

All-Terrain IPM Services www.ShelterbeltBuilders.com

Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 13 data. Groups can be open to the public “Climate Projections FAQ” to help land Readings & or by invitation only. Members can share managers understand what climate projec- observations before they are made public. tions are, their strengths and limitations, Resources www.calflora.org/entry/applications2.html and to provide some guidance regarding Biofuels Risk how climate projections might be used for Know of a resource that should be shared climate change impact studies. www.fs.fed. “Growing Risk: Addressing the Invasive here? Send it to [email protected]. us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr277.pdf Potential of Bioenergy Feedstocks”, a Updated Mapping Handbook new report from the National Wildlife UC Extension Resources The California Weed Mapping Federation, explores the challenges and “Wildflowers” is a growing educational Handbook, originally published in 2002, policy solutions surrounding the use resource for people who are interested in has been updated by the Sonoma Ecology of non-native and potentially invasive land management in Southern California, Center as a new online version, now with bioenergy crops. www.nwf.org/growingrisk hosted by UC Cooperative Extension. a standardized field form and accompany- Control Database wildflowers.ucanr.org/Wildflowers/Home. html ing spreadsheet. www.calweedmapping- The Midwestern Invasive Plant Network handbook.org has produced an online database of Wildflower Blog New Calflora Functions control methods for 40 invasive plant spe- If you want to improve your bo- The Calflora Database recently added cies. Features include a rating of efficacy tanic knowledge, check out this blog by a two new functions. First, species pages for each control method after one year of woman in Marin County who is learning now display the annual bloom periods treatment. mipncontroldatabase.wisc.edu one local plant each day. She includes for more than 9000 plants. Users can Climate Change FAQ photos and information about each plant, covering both natives and non-natives. also search for plants that bloom in a Confused about climate change projec- flowersofmarin.wordpress.com particular month. Second, users can now tions? The US Forest Service has released join or start groups for collaborating on

Cal-IPC’s Habitat Restoration Workdays

Gain hands-on field experience controlling invasive plants 2012 Schedule at Cal-IPC’s Habitat Restoration Workdays, conducted in partnership with land management organizations across • Friday, August 24 the state! Discuss the theory behind various invasive plant Arcata (Humboldt County) ­control techniques and practice these techniques under Early Detection Mapping in Dunes Habitat expert guidance. These half-day events can also be counted • Saturday, September 29, toward your Wildland Manager certificate. Felton (Santa Cruz County) Woody Plant Control Tools at Old Quarry Site • Saturday, October 20, Chico (Butte County) Manual Methods for Removing Invasive Trees • Saturday, November 3, Tiburon/Corte Madera (Marin County) Mapping Methods for New Invaders • Saturday, December 8 Big Sur (Monterey County) Control Methods for Cape Ivy and Periwinkle Tarping to control purple velvet grass (Holcus lanatus) during a Habitat Restoration Workday in the Presidio, San Francisco. Find more information and register at: cal-ipc.org/fieldcourses

14 Cal-IPC News Summer 2012 The WILDLAND WEED CALENDAR

Natural Areas Conference August-October October 9-12 2013 Norfolk, Virginia CNPS Vegetation Mapping Course Ecological Society of America Annual Mtg www.naturalarea.org/12conference August 5-10 January 2013 Portland, Oregon Cal-IPC’s 21st Annual Symposium UC Berkeley www.esa.org/portland October 10-13 cnps.org/cnps/education/workshops/ Rohnert Park USDA Forum on Invasive Species Rangeland & Livestock Management www.cal-ipc.org August 20-31 January 10-13 Swanton Pacific Ranch, Davenport North American Weed Mgmt. Assoc. Conf. Annapolis, Maryland [email protected] October 29-November 1 www.nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/ Branson, Missouri interagency_forum/ UC Davis Aquatic Weed School www.nawma.org September 5-6 Northern California Botanists Symposium Davis January 14-16 wric.ucdavis.edu November - December Chico www.norcalbotanists.org California Estuarine Research Federation Russian River Watershed Symposium September 27-28 November 2 California Weed Science Society Conf. January 23-25 Long Beach Cloverdale online.sfsu.edu/~caers/ [email protected] Sacramento www.cwss.org Southern California Botanists Symposium Central California Invasive Weed Symp. October 6 November 8 Weed Science Society of America Meeting February 4-7 San Marino Felton, Santa Cruz County wwww.socalbot.org/symposia.php [email protected] Baltimore, Maryland www.wssa.net

Quotable “Usually just provided with one perspective, the public [has] largely accepted the idea that non-natives, as a group, are noxious and undesirable… Efforts to vilify non- native species by misrepresenting their effects are ultimately counterproductive, as is the use of pejorative language to describe them… When there is no demonstrable harm— and instead simply ecological change—a much more sensible approach to non-native species is to learn to live with them.” ~ Dr. Mark Davis, Macalester College, “Harm is in the Eye of the Beholder”. This essay and the one quoted below were presented as a point/counterpoint feature in Earth Island Journal (Winter 2012).

“Naysayers are unlikely to make much scientific headway, given the demonstrated costs of invasions on the ground and the remarkable finds of hundreds of scientists worldwide who have turned their attention over the last two decades to detailed study of invasions. However, it doesn’t take much for a few credentialed scientists to influence policymakers, particularly when the policymakers are glad, for political reasons, to be able to justify not acting.” ~ Dr. Daniel Simberloff, Univ. of Tennessee, “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”

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