Department of Agriculture

Forest Service Invasive Pacific Northwest Region Plants

Program Accomplishments

Partnerships pulling together! Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, North Fork John Day Watershed Council’s Youth Crew, and Malheur National Forest personnel removed invasive St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) from a rock pit.

Fiscal Year 2015 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632- 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, , D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program. [email protected] . Pacific Northwest Region 2015 NFS Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Pacific Northwest Region invasive plant program epitomizes the “All Lands, All Hands” approach to land management. Our program managers excel at working cooperatively with other staff to integrate invasive plant management into Land Management Plan revisions, large landscape-scale restoration projects, and cooperative watershed management projects with State & private partners. Despite an extremely challenging wildfire year, we accomplished 48,932 acres of invasive plant treatments, meeting our Regional target.

Regional highlights include: Figure 2. Northwest Youth Corps sign language crew preparing to pull noxious weeds on Gold Beach RD, Rogue Treating invasive plants prior to planting native • -Siskiyou National Forest. species for pollinator and Monarch butterfly habitat in the Columbia River Gorge. • Employing numerous youth crews with • Making significant progress on reducing the assistance from Title II funding. mouseeared hawkweed infestation on Mount St. • Conducting Early Detection/Rapid Response Helens National Volcanic Monument, in partnership treatments on over 540 sites in the region. with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Cowlitz County, and Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. • Inspecting and treating over 231 rock pits, reducing the spread of invasive plants during road • Issuing FINAL EIS’s for invasive plant treatments repair and construction. using herbicides on the -Snoqualmie and Malheur National Forests. • Managed treatment plans and impact s from 544,696 acres of wildfire burned areas. • Completing NEPA and implementing herbicide treatments for a true aquatic invasive plant, yellow • Cooperating with over 200 different partners. floatingheart, on the Umpqua NF. • Reaching over 6,000 individuals with educational efforts.

Challenge • FS policy for treatment of invasive plants in areas burned by wildfire is inadequate to address the urgent treatments needed and the ecological impacts created by weed expansion after fire.

Contact: Shawna L. Bautista, 503-808-2697 Pacific Northwest Region State & Private Forestry PO Box 3623 Figure 1. Oregon Department of Agriculture spraying an infestation of yellow floatingheart on Umpqua NF. Portland, OR 97208 Pacific Northwest Region

2015 State & Private Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Region 6 has excellent relationships with our State and private partners when it comes to invasive plant work and 2015 was another very successful year. Our primary partners for Forest Health Protection (FHP) invasive plant work are the Oregon and Washington Departments of Agriculture. We also partner with University of Washington and Washington State University Cooperative Extension to support important studies on the use of herbicides to control invasive plants. In addition, we provide both staff participation and financial support to the Invasive Species Councils in both Oregon and Washington. Our cooperative work allows efficient Figure 1. Oregon Department of Agriculture noxious weed managers and UTV spray rig used to control spotted knapweed treatment, survey, inventory, education and along highway right-of-ways. outreach activities to benefit the lands and citizens of both states as well as nearby National Forest Oregon Department of Agriculture System lands. Accomplishments highlights for FY2015 include: • Supported statewide biocontrol program, including release and monitoring of biocontrol Administrative Studies agents and studies on new agents. • Efficacy and timing of low-rate herbicide • Supported the statewide weed free forage applications to herb robert (Geranium robertianum) program. – Tim Miller, WSU. • Supported ODA weed managers conducting • Effects of Imazapyr Tank Mixes on Non-target 9,500 acres of weed treatments on State and Amphibians – Amy Yahnke, UW. private lands. Washington Department of Agriculture • Conducted numerous public education and • WSU published results of a survey on the outreach activities. effectiveness of the statewide Biocontrol Program, • Compiled and entered data provided by users which is supported largely by FHP funding. The into the statewide WeedMapper database survey found that the biocontrol program produced effective educational and outreach materials, • Plan and implement Oregon Weed Awareness treated 46,865 acres per year, and reduced weed Week and the Interagency Noxious Weed densities on 79,644 acres per year. Symposium. Award cooperative grants to watershed councils, • Supported Noxious Weed Control Boards in 8 • counties. conservation districts and weed management areas for control of priority weeds. • Early Detection/Rapid Response on new invasions of priority species on 2,500 acres. Contact: Shawna L. Bautista, 503-808-2697 • Continued to develop educational postcards and pamphlets on priority weeds and distributed them to the public. Pacific Northwest Region State & Private Forestry PO Box 3623 Portland, OR 97208

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The effort to control invasive plants is never ending; our approach is to limit treatments to specific sites that are threatened, to EDRR sites, and to sites under-going restoration. Highlights include: • Skamania County helped to treat Scot’s broom infestations that erupted in the oak restoration at Collins Slide area and in the Western Pond Turtle habitat adjacent to the oaks. Removal of the Douglas fir trees created enough disturbance to stimulate soil broom seed germination. • Prescribed fire at Wagon Road unit near Mosier offered opportunities to treat annual invasive grasses in preparation for native grass and herbaceous seeding. Treatments with Plateau showed some promise but we Figure 1. Two years after a prescribed burn near Rowena, did note some damages to desirable natives. Seeding Oregon, the infestation of rush skeleton weed has not erupted as some had suggested. This is welcome news that was accomplished by hand with mixed results. will help alleviate fears that fire will always increase weed • A small area near Mosier was treated with Roundup infestations. Nevertheless, the threat is still real and and Poast in preparation for planting native flowering monitoring will continue. herbaceous species, including Asclepias spp., specifically for pollinator and Monarch butterfly populations. • Invasive plant control continues at Sandy River Delta in support of the on-going restoration of native hardwood forests and off-channel fish enhancement work.

2015 Accomplishments Acres treated = 975 ac. USFS Invasives funding = $65,000 Partnership funding: $230,000 Partners/Cooperator Lower Columbia Partnership (LCEP), Sandy River Basin Watershed Council, Ash Creek Forest Figure 2. This wetland restoration at Horsetail Wetland Management, Friends of Sandy River Delta, Friends was primary for fisheries; but an important component of Trees, YESS, Mt Hood Community College, was the control of reed canary grass with a subsequent Skamania County, Klickitat County, Hood River planting of native shrubs, trees, and other flora. This County, Wasco County, Multnomah County, East revegetation has been very successful. Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District,, among others. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Contacts: 902 Wasco Ave., Suite 200 Robin Dobson, Ecologist, 541-308-1717 Hood River, OR 97031

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Treatments • The Colville National Forest was able to effectively treat 1,455 acres with herbicide application through a mix of contract and force account applications to control invasive plants. The Forest only attained 66% of its target due to extensive wildfires and conditions that resulted in suspension of work on invasive plant treatment contracts. Education • The Forest, through its employee orientation process, presented invasive plants information to nearly all employees which included noxious weed identification, treatment and prevention measures. Other Forest Projects • Three Title II projects involving invasive plant Figure 2. Upper Bestrom Meadow 1 year after herbicide treatment. treatments were approved and funded in 2015 by the Forest’s RAC. Two were focused on preventative measures on access routes to the Forest and adjacent private lands through Pend Oreille and Ferry County Noxious Weed Control Boards. The other was for manual treatment of Year : 2015 noxious weeds on Forest roads by Stevens County Conservation District and the Sand Canyon Expenditures: $ 212,000 Total Funding Homeowners and Friends group. The Colville’s $193,000 NFVW CFLRP project, Vision 2020, contributed $30,000 $30,000 CFLN – CFLRP Funding, Vision 2020 toward invasive plant treatments within the

project area. Partners/Contractors/Coop: Ferry County Noxious Weed Control Board, Pend Oreille County Noxious Weed Control Colville National Forest Grazing Permittees, Sand Canyon Homeowners and Friends, Stevens County Conservation District, Washington State Department of Transportation.

Contacts: Travis Fletcher, Invasive Plants Program Manager, (509) 775-7424, [email protected]

Colville National Forest 765 South Main Street Colville, WA 99114 Figure 1. Upper Bestrom Meadow following herbicide application to treat yellow hawkweed. Deschutes National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Deschutes NF Invasive Plant Program had a very successful year. Prevention, control, surveying, and working with partners remain the focus. Highlights include: • Implemented an integrated strategy to control/contain 5,269 acres of invasive plants; 6 stream miles were treated using herbicide and manual control methods and 4,538 total acres were monitored. • Continued implementing Invasive Plant Treatment EIS which includes the use of herbicides, an EDRR strategy, and developing treatment prescriptions for each site that are approved by a Forest Invasives IDT. • Volunteers and partners contributed over 1,795 hours surveying and controlling invasive plant infestations. • 12.25 acres were seeded with native plants for restoration and prevention of invasive plant establishment. • 8,119 acres of weed surveys were completed on roadsides, wildfires, and project areas. • 4 newly discovered non-native species were Figure 2. Smooth wire fence protects habitat from off- documented on the forest. road vehicle disturbance and the spread of Medusahead • Approximately 785 people were reached through 65 and spotted knapweed. hours of public meetings, trainings, and field trips.

2015 Accomplishments Acres treated = 5,269 ac. Total USFS Funding = $312,600 Partners/Cooperators: 16 Oregon Department of Agriculture, Deschutes County Vegetation Management, Deschutes County Weed Board, Klamath County Weed Control, Heart of Oregon Corps (Youth Conservation Corps), Bend-La Pine School District, Klamath County School District, Northwest Youth Corps, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County Weed Control, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), Friends of the Metolius, Caldera, Camp Sherman Weed Warriors, Figure 1 District Botanist Christina Veverka conducting Central Oregon Children’s Forest, Oregon Department an inspection for invasive plants on equipment prior of Transportation. to entering Forest Service project site.

Contacts: Sarah Callaghan, Invasive Plant Program Manager, 541-416-6588 Deschutes National Forest Maret Pajutee, Sisters RD, 541-549-7727 63095 Deschutes Market Rd Christina Veverka, Crescent RD, 541-433-3234 Bend, OR 97701 Marlo Fisher/Charmane Powers, Bend/Ft. Rock RD, 541-383-4743 Fremont-Winema National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Accomplishment Highlights Include: • Cooperative Projects:  2014 Title II provided employment for 1 Integral Youth Services (IYS) crew, which treated 637 acres in 2015.  Through an agreement with the Lakeview District BLM, 1 BLM employee assisted us for 5 weeks with treatment, surveying, and monitoring. With assistance from additional BLM crew, we accomplished 100 acres of manual treatment on NFS lands. • Treatment:  Continued existing agreements with Klamath County Public Works and Lake County CWMA for Figure 1. 2015 crew: including the 1 BLM employee herbicide application. Treated 759 acres with from our interagency agreement. Funding for this crew herbicide. came from appropriated and CFLR funds. Amazing  Provided weed survey results for the Ruby crew! Pipeline and coordinated treatments on 32 acres with their herbicide applicator. 2015 Accomplishments  Treated 1,199 acres manually with force account crews, 189 acres with the Youth Conservation Treated Acres Fund Code Source Crew. • Prevention: 611.3 SRS2 Title II 1,674.9 NFVW Base Program  Provided input to 5+ planning projects. 697.4 CFLN CFLR  Implemented prevention measures during 32.5 CFMJ Ruby Pipeline underburn, timber sales, and pre-commercial thinning projects. 3,016.1 TOTAL  Inspected, monitored and/or treated over 30 rock pits/quarries. Partners/Cooperators  Surveyed approximately 2,750 acres prior to ODA timber sale implementation, 450 acres post Klamath County Public Works timber harvest, and another 4,125 acres for Integral Youth Services planning purposes. Lake County CWMA, and • Monitoring: Lakeview District BLM  Regional Office and Forest Staff provided a review of our Invasive Plant Program. The Contacts: information exchange was extremely helpful and Joe Washington, Forest Botanist, 541-947-6253 will help build a stronger program. Erin Rentz, Westside Botanist, 541-885-3444  530 new infestations discovered. Jeannette Wilson, Eastside Botanist, 541-576-7593  1,153 previously treated sites determined “inactive” in 2015 (217 acres).  91 sites (25 acres) were considered eradicated Fremont-Winema National Forest after monitoring this year. 1301 S. G Street Lakeview, OR 97630 Gifford Pinchot National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

We treated a total of 2,800 acres implementing our site specific EIS on the forest, and also provided invasive plant analysis for 60 other forest projects . Other highlights include:

Education and Outreach: We reached more than 3500 people during Invasive information at Earth Day, Portland Sportsman Show, Free Fishing Day , and White Pass Field Day.

Invasive Plant Surveys and Monitoring: Partnered with PNW Invasive Plant Council ‘s “Citizen Science for EDRR” training , which was attended by 35 individuals . 1,458 acres were monitored for treatment Figure 1 Washington school for the Deaf students effectiveness. manually control scotch Broom in the Muddy River drainage. Additional forest projects: The forest partnered with Rocky Mountain Elk Year: 2015 Foundation, Skamania and Klickitat County to treat 93 acres of invasive plants in important meadows to Expenditures: $ 334,672 Total Funding benefit elk, Mardon Skipper, and pale blue- eyed grass.. $ 172,000 NFVW Invasive Plant Program $ 55,005 CWKV Timber Sale K-V funding We also partnered with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, $ 22,200 CWKV K-V Monitoring Cowlitz County, Washington Department of Fish and $ 35,400 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Wildlife to treat mouseeared hawkweed, scotch broom $ 41,700 Stewardship Contracts Retained and knapweed on the Toutle River flats and hummocks Receipts area in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Completed two volunteer survey and treatment work Partners/Contractors/Coop: Mt St Helens Institute, days with RMEF volunteers, Cowlitz County, WDFW and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Gifford Pinchot forest employees. Task Force, Cowlitz, Pierce, Lewis, Skamania and Klickitat Counties Weed Control; Washington The forest implemented a Challenge Cost Share project Department of Transportation, Washington on the Muddy River which utilized partner support from Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nisqually River Mount St. Helens Institute, Washington School of the CWMA, WA School for the Deaf. Deaf and Skamania County to control Scotch broom in the Muddy River watershed (Figure 1). Contacts: Carol Chandler, Invasive Plant Program Manager, 360-891-5106 Coordinated invasive survey and treatment on high use Brad Krieckhaus, North Zone Invasive lead, 360-497-1164 lakes by the aquatics and terrestrial groups. Eurasian Andrea Ruchty, South Zone Invasive lead, 509-395-3414 watermilfoil was manually pulled in Coldwater Lake on Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This plant threatens the integrity of the evolving ecosystems Gifford Pinchot National Forest affected by the eruption. 10600 NE 51st Circle Vancouver, WA 98682 Malheur National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Malheur National Forest’s 2015 Invasive Plant Program exceled in preventing new introductions, surveying for new infestations, treating existing invasive plants, working with partners, and completing an EIS. • Completed Malheur National Forest Site-Specific Invasive Plants Treatment Project EIS/ROD, which enables the use of herbicides and biological control agents for the first time in decades! • Treated 458.5 acres forest-wide with manual and mechanical treatments (e.g. mowing, pulling, grubbing, cultural treatments) as Forest was still enjoined by court order from using biological or chemical treatments. • Updated invasive plant inventory data in upcoming Figure 2. Partnerships pulling together! Rocky Mountain Elk planning areas, including two sub-watersheds and Foundation, North Fork John Day Watershed Council’s Youth approximately 400 miles of roadside surveys. Crew, and Malheur National Forest personnel removed invasive St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) from a rock pit. • Developed and began implementing a protocol for rock pit surveys and weed-free certification. Surveyed over 88 rock pits (351 acres). 2015 Accomplishments • Initiated and developed new partnerships with Invasive Plants Treated = 458.5 acres adjacent landowners, grazing allotment permittees, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other Funding stakeholders. Base Invasive Plant Program = $ 241,000 • Employed more than 20 local youth in partnership Additional Invasive Plant NEPA = $ 15,000 with the North Fork John Day Watershed Council to treat Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration = $36,000 infestations in the Collaborative Forest Landscape Partners/Cooperators Restoration Project (CFLRP) Area. North Fork John Day Watershed Council, Americorps, • Developed a BAER invasive plant monitoring and Grant County Soil & Water Conservation District, Blue treatment plan for the Canyon Creek Complex. Mountains Forest Partners, Harney County Restoration Collaborative, Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Harney County, Grant County, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Transportation, Upper South Fork John Day Watershed Council, private landowners, ranchers.

Contacts: Whitney Rapp, Invasive Plants Specialist, 541-575-3067 Joseph Rausch, Forest Botanist/Ecologist, 541-575-3141

Figure 1. The Americorps crew welcomed the help of a horse to Malheur National Forest pack out 140 pounds of Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica). PO Box 909 / 431 Patterson Bridge Rd. John Day, OR 97845 Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Inventory • The Weed Watchers and other volunteers surveyed Final Environmental Impact Statement for Invasive 190 acres of trails and other areas. Plant Treatment was signed in June! • 10 commercial quarries and 5 Forest Service administered rock pits were inspected for invasives. Treatments and Efficacy Monitoring Approximately 1,495 acres of invasive plants were Notable Finds treated in 2015, and 66.1% of FY2014 treatments were • 1 infestation of old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba) was monitored for efficacy in 2015. found on the Skagit River. This is the first recorded • 612 acres of Japanese and Bohemian knotweed infestation on the Forest. (Polygonum spp.) were treated by the Skagit Fisheries • 3 infestations of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) Enhancement Group (SFEG), plus 208 more acres on were found on the Mt. Baker District, an uncommon find the North Fork Nooksack River. in the north zone of the Forest. • 300 acres of thistle (Cirsium arvense) at • Skagit County Roads found and treated garlic mustard Skiyou Island were treated. (Alliaria petiolata) adjacent to the Forest. To date no • Staff at the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area treated known infestations of garlic mustard occur on the Forest. 11 acres of orange and yellow hawkweed. • Released biocontrol agents for Scotch Broom (Broom seed beetle (Bruchidious villosus) and Canada thistle (gall fly (Urophora cardui).

Other Accomplishments • 50 students from Immaculate Conception Middle School planted over 700 trees and shrubs to outcompete the invading reed canarygrass. • Due to effective knotweed treatments on the Skagit and Sauk by SFEG, the amount of herbicide mix Figure 2. Old man’s beard vine, Skagit River. used has fallen from 83 gallons in 2010 to 35 gallons in 2015. 2015 Invasives Program Expenditures

NFVW, USFS Invasive plant management: $166,000 CWKV, Timber sale K-V: $30,000 NFXF, Snoqualimie River road treatments: $19,287

Partners & Cooperators: Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit River Systems Cooperative, Upper Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, The Mountaineers, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust , King, Pierce, Kittitas, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom County Weed Boards, Washington State Department of Transportation, Federal Highways, WA State University Integrated Weed Control Program, Mt. Adam’s Institute, Americorps, Northwest Youth Corps, Figure. 1. Trees and shrubs at Ovenell planted by Washington Conservation Crew, Whatcom County Corrections students from Mt. Vernon. Crew, Energy, Snohomish County, Inland Northwest Invasive Plant Council. Contacts: Jonathane Schmitt, Invasive Species Specialist, 360-436-2334 Shauna Hee, North Zone Botanist, 360-854-2635 Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Carrie Schreiber , South Zone Botanist, 425-888-8753 2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 3a Kevin James, Botany Program Manager, 425-783-6043 Everett, WA 98201 Mt. Hood National Forest 2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Mt. Hood National Forest successfully implemented its eighth year of noxious weed treatment and prevention since signing its FEIS in March 2008.

Accomplishment highlights include: • Partnership with Hood River SWCD, Master Gardeners, landowners and ODA to contain garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) found within one mile of the Forest Boundary. • Weed Watcher training session co-hosted with Clackamas SWCD at Forest Headquarters. • Participated in the initiation of the Clackamas River Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP). • Public and student education at Master Gardener Spring Fair, Trailgate recreation event, and with Youth Conservation Corps, Catlin Gable school, and Parkdale Figure 2. George Petty (ODA) treating new infestation of Private School. meadow hawkweed along an important access road. • Catlin Gable school hand-pulled knapweed (Centaurea (photo by C. Mead) spp.) and sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) in conjunction with eastside stream restoration project. 2015 Accomplishments • Received assistance from Clackamas SWCD to treat orange and meadow hawkweed (Hieracium Acres Fund Code Activity

aurantiacum, H. caespitosum) in powerline Right-of-Way. 1053 SSCC Retained receipts • Surveyed several FS rock quarries (200+ acres), and five private quarries for FS project use through 150 NFWF Challenge cost share continued forest-wide quarry/rock source inspection 7 CWKV Invasive plant treatment policy for the MTH (reviewed and improved by the MTH

850 NFVW Invasive plant treatment invasive plant specialists and approved by the FLT in 2014). 2,060 Total Acres treated

Partners/Cooperators: Oregon Department of Agriculture; Oregon Department of Transportation; Wasco, Hood River, Clackamas, and Multnomah Counties; Clackamas, Hood River and Wasco SWCD; Bonneville Power Administration; Portland Water Bureau; Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area.

Contacts: Chad Atwood, 503-668-1668 Christina Mead, Invasive Plant Lead, 541-467-5132

Mt. Hood National Forest Figure 1. Volunteers at the Trailgate Festival Invasive 16400 Champion Way Species table. (photo by C.Mead) Sandy, OR 97055

Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland 2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland Invasive Plant Program had a very successful year. Prevention, control, surveying, and working with partners remain the focus. Highlights include: • Implemented an integrated strategy to control/contain 4,080 acres of invasive plants and conducted 3,156 acres of monitoring. • Continued implementing Invasive Plant Treatment EIS which includes the use of herbicides, an early detection/rapid response (EDRR) strategy, and developing treatment prescriptions for each site that are approved by a Forest Invasives IDT. • 885 acres surveyed and 200 acres of invasive plants treated within Ochoco Divide Research Natural Area. Figure 2. Invasive Plant Program Manager Sarah Callaghan, • Completed 60 acres of invasive plant surveys and 48 Paulina Ranger District Botanist Jill Welborn, and acres manual treatments in Bridge Creek Wilderness. volunteer Margaret Marshall at the Ochoco National • Inspected over 49 FS and commercial mineral sources Forest invasive plant informational table at the 2015 Deschutes County Master Gardener’s Spring Seminar. for invasive plants and treated as needed or cleared source for use on forest projects. • Completed 1,445 acres of invasive plant surveys and 15 acres of EDRR treatments in the Fox and Bailey Butte 2015 Accomplishments fire areas. Acres treated = 4,080.7 • 550 acres of weed surveys were completed in other project areas. Total USFS Funding = $320,738 • Over 275 people were reached through public meetings, educational programs, and field trips. Partners/Cooperators: 13 Northwest Youth Corps, Heart of Oregon Corps/AmeriCorps /Youth Conservation Corps, Jefferson County Weed Control, Wheeler SWCD, Crook County Weed Control, Crooked River Weed Management Area, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), Middle Deschutes Watershed Council, Powell Butte Community Charter School, Jefferson CO SWCD, FANS, Oregon Natural Desert Association

Sarah Callaghan, Invasive Plant Program Manager, 541-416-6588 Jill Welborn, Paulina RD, 541-416-6635

Ochoco National Forest 3160 NE 3rd St. Prineville, OR 97754 Figure 1 Important and unique scablands infested Crooked River National Grassland with Ventenata in the Corner Creek Fire area. 813 SW Highway 97 Madras, OR 97741 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Okanogan -Wenatchee NF Invasive Plant Program had a busy and productive year. Treatment, prevention, research and monitoring were the focus: • Four Invasive Plant managers served as Resource Advisors on wildfires in Chelan and Okanogan Counties. • Partnered with the PNW Research Station to determine effectiveness of native grass seeding on invasive plant prevention following the Carlton Complex fire. • Established biocontrol monitoring transects in burned areas in cooperation with WSU Extension. • Conducted Weed Free Hay education, hay field and gravel pit inspections. • Cooperated with the Chelan County PUD to release biocontrols (15 sites) for Dalmatian toadlflax and Figure 2 Research plot to study the effectiveness of knapweed on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts. post-fire seeding of native grasses on preventing • Completed over 14,000 acres of weed surveys on invasive plant spread and establishment (Carlton roadsides, burned areas, and project areas. Complex, Methow Valley Ranger District). • Treated over 250 acres of the Washington Class A Noxious Weed common crupina as part of the Crupina Task Force, in cooperation with private landowners. 2015 Accomplishments • Completed Chapters1,2 of Forest-wide Invasives EIS. Acres treated = 5,800 ac. Total Funding = $583,294 USFS Invasives funding = $457,000

Partners/Cooperators Washington State Department of Agriculture, Chelan County Noxious Weeds, Washington State Conservation Corps, Washington State Noxious Weed Board, Okanogan County Noxious Weeds, The Nature Conservancy, WSDOT I-90 project, Kittitas County Weed Board, BPA, Yakima County Noxious Weed Board, Okanogan County Noxious Weed Board, Chelan County Public Utility District, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, BLM, USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station, Twisp River Weed Warriors, Washington State University Extension Integrated Weed Control , Figure 1 Washington Conservation Corps treating common Private landowners, Echo Ridge Nordic Ski Club. crupina (WA Class A noxious weed), Chelan Ranger District.

Contacts: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Brigitte Ranne, Zone Botanist Entiat/Chelan RD, 509-682-4941 215 Melody Lane Stuart Woolley, Resources/Planning Staff Officer, 509-664-9332 Wenatchee, WA 98801

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

In 2015, the Olympic National Forest successfully treated 725 acres of weeds on the Forest. Title II funds paid for 50% of these treatments, with the remainder funded by the Timber, Roads, Recreation and Invasive Plant programs.

Our Rock Source Inspection program has made real progress both on and off the forest, in partnership with the County Noxious Weed Control Boards (NWCB) on the Olympic peninsula. Forest and private rock sources are much cleaner. The Counties have told us that quarry owners are now calling them, requesting inspections and certification. Tribes, County and State agencies are following suite, and treating weeds in their rock sources and/or requiring weed free gravel. A great example of the power of Partnerships!

Other accomplishment highlights include:

• With assistance from the Quinault Indian Nation, we Figure 1. The first Butterfly bush found on the forest, treated weeds in the Quinault and Queets watersheds. along a roadside above a creek. • Made significant progress towards adding aminopyralid to our list of approved herbicides . 2015 Accomplishments • Continued to assist Wildlife program with several elk forage units by conducting follow-up treatments on 725 acres treated several acres of cutleaf and Himalayan blackberry. This is Total Funding: $285,080 Forest Service: $192,080 the second year of these treatments, and results so far Partners: $80,000 (county weed boards) + $13,000 (WCC) have been excellent. Total Funding: $285,080 • Completed 38 separate treatments at rock sources throughout the Forest, at 30 different sites, which was Partners/Cooperators funded by CMRD, CMLG, NFTM and Title II in FY15. Rock Clallam, Jefferson, and Mason Counties Noxious Weed source inspections were completed at 17 on-Forest Control Boards; Washington Conservation Corps; quarries, and FS staff and the County Weed Boards Quinault Indian Nation; Quinault Recreation Residence continued outreach to more than 15 commercial rock HOA, Skokomish Watershed Action Team. sources on the Olympic Peninsula. • Discovered and subsequently pulled a single butterfly Contacts: bush along a road and directly upslope from a creek in the Susan Piper Cheryl Bartlett Will Arnesen upper Skokomish River Watershed. This is the first time Wildlife, Botany Forest Botanist & Invasive Plant and Invasive Plant Native Plant Program we’ve found this destructive weed on FS lands in this Program Manager Program Coordinator watershed; it is a major problem downstream in riparian 360-956-2435 Coordinator 360-956-2302 areas, so this is a great example of Early Detection / Rapid 360-956-2283 Response at work! Olympic National Forest 1835 Black Lake Blvd SW, Suite A Olympia, WA 98512 Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Highlights include: • 2 new early detection patches of Japanese knotweed treated on the Illinois River • 20 acres of invasive knotweed control in the Rogue River corridor, with Curry Soil and Water Conservation District • Removed 14 acres of English Ivy along riparian corridors on Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts • Expansion of biocontrol Mecinius janthinus at large yellow toadflax sites on High Cascades Ranger District • Over 3,000 acres surveyed for introduced Alyssums (yellowtuft) and 180 acres treated (with partners, on- Forest and off) • Continued ID Team work on 3 pesticide-related NEPA Figure 1. Northwest Youth Corps sign language crew projects. preparing to pull noxious weeds near Agness on Gold • Invasive plant risk analysis for multiple projects on Beach RD. Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts. • Lower Rogue Integrated Vegetation project weed 2015 Accomplishments treatments. • Resource Advisor roles on Collier Butte and Buckskin Total acres treated for invasive species on administrative fires promoting washing stations and inspecting potential sites, forest, rangeland, meadows, road and river fire lines for noxious weed presence. corridors, recreation sites and rock quarries: • Northwest Youth Corps treated 3 acres of multiple • 1,586 acres treated manually and mechanically invasive species at the Sucker Creek Restoration Project • 812 acres treated with herbicides and 30 acres at the Hogue Meadow Stewardship Expenditures: $ Total 405,495 Restoration Project. $ 242,600 - NFVW (Core Invasive Plant Control) $ 70,000 - NFVW (Yellowtuft and NEPA) Education and Prevention: $ 81,020 - CWKV (Timber Sale Invasive Plant Control) • Jackson CWMA “Let’s Pull Together” Event at Coyote $ 11,875 - Burned-area Post-Fire Monitoring Trails Nature Center. $ 55,000 - Stewardship Credits • Worked with 4 Northwest Youth Corps groups on Gold Beach Ranger District (Figure 1). Partners/Cooperators/contractors • Invasive plant presentation at Union Creek BLM, USFWS, Crater Lake NP, ODA, OHA, TNC, CWMAs campground. (Jackson, Josephine, and Siskiyou), MSM Forestry, Strauss • Continued involvement in Jackson, Josephine & Eco Services, Eddleman Forest Care, Curry Soil and Water Douglas Quarry Accreditation program. Evaluated Conservation District, Coos County Corrections Crew, quarries in Curry County. Jackson County Community Justice Crew, Oregon Youth • Worked with Pacific High school to revegetate around Employment Initiative, Northwest Youth Corps, and culverts, to prevent colonization by invasive plants. Student Conservation Association.

Contacts: Forest Botanist, 541-618-2056 Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Gold Beach RD botanist, 541.247-3656 3040 Biddle Road Wild Rivers RD botanist, 541-592-4052 Medford, OR 97504 Siskiyou Mountains RD botanist, 541-899-3855 Siuslaw National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

In 2015 the Forest continued to focus on sand dune and riparian meadow habitat restoration, invasive species of limited occurrence, project mitigation, and habitat for listed threatened species. Program Highlights include: • Treatment continued at strategic locations for in sand dune habitat threatened by invasive European beachgrass, gorse, and Scotch broom. • A four year effort to contain and control false brome on 28 miles of road has resulted in about a 97% reduction of weed cover. • Giant and Japanese knotweed treatment continues to be a priority along threatened coastal coho streams. • Inventoried 2000 acres for invasive species. Figure 3. Chemical treatment of European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) to maintain conditions required for successful nesting of threatened western snowy plover. 2015 Accomplishments (acres)

SRS2 – Secure Rural Communities • Japanese knotweed (1.3), Scotch broom (5)

NFVW – Vegetation Management • false brome (224), gorse (111), European beachgrass (36), English ivy (1), Japanese knotweed (0.2), Scotch broom (162), Canada thistle (2), reed canarygrass (18), foxglove (26), pale- yellow iris (0.8), non-native blackberry (34), tansy ragwort (28), yellow archangel (0.1), meadow knapweed (0.7), multiple-species (11). Figures 1 & 2. Before and after removal of Scotch broom encroaching an upland meadow. The released native shrub, CWKV – Knutson-Vandenberg coyotebrush (Baccharis pilularis) is a late-season nectar ∗ Scotch Broom (23), non-native blackberry (24), source for pollinators. Multiple-species (39).

NFRW – Recreation/Heritage/Wilderness ∗ Tansy ragwort (1.3).

SSCC– Stewardship ∗ Non-native blackberry (9), false brome (10), scotch broom (5), reed canarygrass (1).

CONT - Contributed or Volunteer • Scotch broom (2), tansy ragwort (8), European beachgrass (0.3), Japanese knotweed (20), giant knotweed (40).

Partners/Cooperators Northwest Youth Corps, Mid-Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area, Power of Florence, Yachats Invasive Patrol (YIP), Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Lincoln County Road Department, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Siuslaw Soil Siuslaw National Forest and Water Conservation District. 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR 97339 Contacts: Greg Treber 541-563-8419; Marty Stein 541-563-8417

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

In 2015, the Umatilla National Forest continued to inventory and treat invasive plant infestations in priority locations across the Forest. Implementation of Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) continued with the addition of newly discovered invasive plant populations. Targeted species include rush skeletonweed, common bugloss, spotted and diffuse knapweed, Dalmatian toadflax, leafy spurge, scotch thistle, hound’s-tongue, and meadow hawkweed. Projects included: • Partnership with Wallowa Resources to continue inventory and treatment in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, and the Grande Ronde River corridor. Figure 1. Walla Walla RD/Whitman college intern Jeremy Kruger treating common bugloss along Meacham Creek. This is a newly introduced non- • Partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders to native invasive species on the Umatilla National Forest. identify Containment Areas across ownerships. • Assisted non-Federal weeds management agencies with the development of treatment and inventory 2015 Accomplishments databases, using NRIS as a model. Acres Fund Code Accomplishment • Partnership with Tri-County (Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties, OR) Cooperative Weed Management 4800 NFVW INVPLT-NXWD-FED-AC Area to treat roadside patches of spotted and diffuse knapweed on both Forest Service lands, and along roads 1109 CWKV INVPLT-NXWD-FED-AC through private land that access Forest Service lands. 100 NFWF RG-VEG-IMP (BMEI) • Co-led a Forest Leadership Team pack trip into the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness to spotlight invasive Integrated HBT-ENH-TERR 7129 plant management. targets S&W-RSRC-IMP

• Partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to treat invasive plants Partners/Cooperators within a recent floodplain restoration project (Figure 1). Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Access and Habitat Program, • Heppner district has a cooperative agreement with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rocky the Wheeler County soil and water conservation district Mountain Elk Foundation, and Blue Mountain Elk on a yellow star thistle project on private lands adjacent Initiative. County cooperators include Asotin (WA), Grant, to Federal lands in Wheeler County. Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties in Oregon. Wallowa Resources, NFJD Watershed Council, • Actively used gravel pits were surveyed and treated Tri-County CWMA, private landowners, ranchers, and the for invasives before use. Prineville District BLM.

Contacts: Paula Brooks, 541-278-3931 (Supervisor’s Office); Tim Collins, 541- 676-2114 (Heppner Ranger Umatilla National Forest District); Tom Thompson/Brad Lathrop, 541-427-5366 72510 Coyote Rd. (North Fork John Day District); Eric Pfeifer, 509-522- 6022 (Walla Walla and Pomeroy Districts). Pendleton, OR 97801

Umpqua National Forest

2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

• Managed 910 acres of false brome , spotted and diffuse knapweed by herbicide (glyphosate and Tordon) application. • Managed 2,473 additional acres of priority weeds including blackberry, Canada thistle, English ivy, Italian thistle, Japanese knotweed, Malta thistle, meadow knapweed, rush skeletonweed, Scotch broom, St. Johnswort, vinca, yellow archangel, yellow starthistle and additional sites of false brome with a variety of manual methods. • Completed an EA for managing an Oregon Class A noxious aquatic weed, yellow floating heart, and initiated the first treatment using an aquatic formulation of Imazapyr in cooperation with the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture. Figure 2. Oregon Department of Agriculture spraying an • Managed numerous weed infestations using the Al infestation of yellow floating heart at Willow Sump. Kennedy and ML King Alternative High Schools, the Phoenix Alternative High School and the Lane County Sheriff’s Work Crew. • Mitigation for invasive weeds occurred on • The entire PacifiCorp North Umpqua Hydroelectric the Bunker Hill, Potter Mt. and Stouts Project and powerline corridor was inventoried for invasive Creek Fires. Mitigations included weeds as a condition of the relicensing agreement. establishment of a weed washing station. flagging weed avoidance areas and prescribing post-fire seeding adjacent to known infestations and BAER related monitoring.

Partners/Cooperators: Oregon Department of Agriculture PacifiCorp Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District Douglas County Weed Board Upper Willamette Weed Management Area Douglas County Weed Management Area Al Kennedy Alternative High School Martin Luther King Alternative High School Phoenix Alternative High School Lane County Sheriff’s Work Crew

Contact: Richard Helliwell 541-957-3337 Figure 1. Some of the 2015 Diamond Lake weed crew. Umpqua National Forest 2900 NW Stewart Parkway Roseburg, Oregon 97471 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest 2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest invasive plant program is currently hampered by a lawsuit and partial injunction. But despite that challenge, the forest accomplished some good work, including:

• Continued Implementation of the Invasive Plants Treatment Project Record of Decision with treatment of the Invasive Plants across the forest.

• Effectively treated a total of 2,532 acres of invasive plant sites with an average outcome of 85% control.

• Partnered with Wallowa Resources and the Tri-County Cooperative Weed Management Area to control purple loosestrife along the Snake River, meadow hawkweed in the Eagle Cap Figure 1. Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum) is a Wilderness and whitetop in Baker County, as well relatively new introduction on the Wallowa-Whitman as several other invasive plants in cooperation National Forest invading meadows and now poised to invade the Eagle Cap Wilderness. with Wallowa Resources, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture and Tri-County Cooperative Weed Management Area. 2015 Accomplishments

Acres Treated ...... 2,532

Partners/Cooperators Oregon Department of Agriculture Tri-County Cooperative Weed Management Area Wallowa Resources.

Contacts: Gene Yates 541-523-1290 Beckijo Smergut-Wall 541-426-5529 Scott Schaefer 541-523-1940

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest PO Box 907 Baker City, Oregon 97814 Figure 2. Lesser knapweed flower weevil, Larinus minutus on spotted knapweed. Willamette National Forest 2015 Invasive Plant Accomplishments

Invasive Plant Program highlights include:

Treatment: 5776 reported acres – 4683 acres using manual and mechanical methods and 1093 acres using herbicide .

Survey Discovered and treated a large population of spotted knapweed at the entrance to the at Santiam Pass. Worked with Recreation Staff to select invasives as an element to track in Wilderness Stewardship Performance. Figure 1. Beth Myers-Shenai of ODA helped with spotted knapweed treatments on Detroit RD this Special Weed Removal Projects: summer. • Treated weeds in South Fork McKenzie Restoration area, which is a Challenge Cost Share project. 2015 Accomplishments • Northwest Youth Corps worked on several restoration projects and on Echo and Crescent Meadows Challenge 295,000 NFVW Base Funding 3647 ac Cost Share project. 349,264 CWKV Timber Sales 1671 ac

th • Sweet Home Crew helped with the 6 annual Moose In addition we accomplished integrated weed treatments Lake weed pull, the annual Iron Mountain Weed Pull and while doing other activities: Wildlife (265 ac), Fire the Two Girls Creek weed pull. Suppression (16 ac), Stewardship (24 ac).

Cooperative Relationships: Partners/Cooperators: Oregon Department of • Botanists participate in Western Invasives Network Agriculture Weed Control Program, Eugene and Upper Willamette and Mid Willamette Cooperative Water and Electric Board, Youth Conservation Weed Management Areas. Corps Crews on Middle Fork and McKenzie RDs, Northwest Youth Corps on Middle Fork and • Linn County Juvenile Department tackled multiple Sweet Home RD, Linn County Juvenile sites of Scotch broom on Sweet Home District. Department, Oregon Department of Transportation.

Contact: Jenny Lippert 541 225-6440 Forest Botanist & Invasive Plant Coordinator

Willamette National Forest 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite Springfield, Oregon 97477 Figure 2. Manual control of Scotch broom on Middle Fork RD.