INVASIVE PLANT INVENTORY AND BIRD CHERRY CONTROL TRIALS Phase I: Non-native plants recorded along four Anchorage Municipality trail systems INVASIVE PLANT INVENTORY AND BIRD CHERRY CONTROL TRIALS Phase I: Non-native plants recorded along four Anchorage Municipality trail systems Prepared by: Helen Cortés-Burns and Lindsey A. Flagstad Alaska Natural Heritage Program University of Alaska Anchorage 707 A Street Anchorage, AK 99501 Prepared for: The Municipality of Anchorage & Anchorage Parks Foundation October 2009 Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 3 Methods......................................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Study area .............................................................................................................................................. 4 II. Plot types ................................................................................................................................................ 5 a. Plot naming and numbering convention ........................................................................................... 5 b. Exhaustive species plots .................................................................................................................. 7 c. Outlier plots ...................................................................................................................................... 8 III. Post-fieldwork analyses .......................................................................................................................... 9 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 10 I. Study-wide trends ................................................................................................................................. 13 a. Non-native species most frequently recorded on MOA lands........................................................ 13 b. MOA land cover types most susceptible to invasion ..................................................................... 17 II. Study-wide control priorities ................................................................................................................. 18 a. Identifying priorities for control work .............................................................................................. 18 b. Priority areas and species for control work .................................................................................... 18 III. Campbell Creek Greenbelt ................................................................................................................... 22 a. Summary of key findings ................................................................................................................ 22 b. Exhaustive species plot results ...................................................................................................... 25 IV. Chester Creek Greenbelt ...................................................................................................................... 29 a. Summary of key findings ................................................................................................................ 29 b. Exhaustive species plot results ...................................................................................................... 32 V. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail .................................................................................................................. 38 a. Summary of key findings ................................................................................................................ 38 b. Exhaustive species plot results ...................................................................................................... 41 VI. Kincaid Park .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Overview and summary of key findings ......................................................................................... 46 Multi-use Trail ................................................................................................................................. 53 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 53 b. Exhaustive species plot results ............................................................................................... 55 Sisson Trail .................................................................................................................................... 57 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 57 b. Exhaustive species plot results ............................................................................................... 60 Margaux‘s Loop .............................................................................................................................. 61 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 61 b. Exhaustive plot results ............................................................................................................. 62 Lekisch Trail ................................................................................................................................... 64 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 64 b. Exhaustive species plot results ............................................................................................... 67 Mize Loop ....................................................................................................................................... 70 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 70 b. Exhaustive species plot results ............................................................................................... 70 Jodhpur Loop ................................................................................................................................. 72 a. Summary of key findings ......................................................................................................... 72 Post-fieldwork deliverables ......................................................................................................................... 73 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 74 References .................................................................................................................................................. 77 Literature cited ...................................................................................................................................... 77 Web sources used ................................................................................................................................ 80 Appendices ................................................................................................................................................. 82 Appendix I: Highly-invasive species recorded in Alaska ............................................................................. 82 Appendix II: Field datasheet........................................................................................................................ 83 ii Appendix III: Voucher list ............................................................................................................................ 84 Appendix IV: Biology, distribution and management recommendations for select non-native species...... 90 High-priority species ............................................................................................................................. 90 Low-ranked species of concern ............................................................................................................ 90 Unranked species ................................................................................................................................. 91 Species not considered in this report ................................................................................................... 91 Hordeum jubatum (63, foxtail barley) ............................................................................................. 91 Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (58, common dandelion) ....................................................... 91 Poa pratensis spp. pratensis and ssp. irrigata (52, Kentucky, spreading or rough bluegrass) ................................................................................................................................ 92 Poa