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PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018
2018 Accomplishments Report
INTRODUCTION 2
2018 HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS 4
Kudzu Removal 4
Pike Knob Preserve 5
Formation of RGCWPMA 6
Discover Nature Day 2018 6
PHCWPMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 2018 7
Invasive Plant Treatments 7
Resistance & Bio-Control 8
Monitoring & Research 9
Education & Outreach 10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 2
The Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (PHCWPMA) is a
partnership of diverse interests with federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and
private land owners working together to address the threat of non-native invasive species. The
PHCWPMA encompasses twelve counties in West Virginia and Virginia and strives to decrease the
impacts of invasive species on native plant and animal communities, public and private forests, aquatic
resources, agricultural lands and local economics using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
This February, the PHCWPMA was joined in its efforts by the newly formed Rivers and Gorges
CWPMA (RGCWPMA). The RGCWPMA covers ten counties in West Virginia and 2.4 million acres
focused around New River Gorge. Both CWPMAs will be partnering on education and outreach as well
as research.
This report features highlighted projects from the past year as well as a complete list of reported
accomplishments from PHCWPMA partners.
Compiled by Hannah Wroton, AFHA AmeriCorps USFS Ecosystems Partnerships.
Introduction
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 3
Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFHA)
AmeriCorps
American Forests
Blue Ridge PRISM
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
(CVN WR)
Experience Learning
Fairmont State University—College of
Science and Technology
George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests (USFS– GWJ)
Monongahela National Forest (USFS– MOF)
Native Plant Society
Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS)
Pendleton County Farmland Protection
Board
Potomac Valley Conservation District
Private landowners
National Forest Foundation
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Trout Unlimited
U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS)
U.S. Forest Service—Northeastern Area State
and Private Forestry (USFS NA S&PF)
U.S. Forest Service—Northern Research
Station (USFS– NRS)
WesMonTy Resource Conservation and
Development Project, Inc. (WesMonTy
RC&D)
West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA)
West Virginia Forestry Association
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
(WVDA)
West Virginia Division of Highways
(WVDOH)
West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF)
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
(WVDNR)
West Virginia Native Plant Society (WVNPS)
West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WVRC)
West Virginia University Extension Service
(WVU-ES)
Virginia Cooperative Extension
PHCWPMA is proud to include the following partners:
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 4
2018 Highlighted Projects
The West Virginia Division of Forestry (DOF) is fighting the first-known invasion of kudzu in
Pendleton County, with the help of the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia
University (WVU) Extension Service.
WVU Extension Agent and County Program Coordinator David Seymour spotted the aggressive
vine growing on private land near a county highway. The kudzu was growing in the highway right-of-
way and climbing up a residence. Seymour contacted West Virginia DOF’s service forester Rosey
Santerre to discuss teaming up to get the invasive vine under control. They worked with the landowner
and the Division of Highways to perform the first of several treatments using the Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) approach to eradicate the only known infestation of kudzu in Pendleton County.
IPM achieves long-term pest control through a combination of techniques such as biological control,
habitat manipulation and monitoring. Pesticides, if needed, are used judiciously.
The DOH employee who worked with the WVDOF to get this treatment done had attended a
presentation done by PHCWPMA AmeriCorps in 2012 titled “Why you should care about invasive
species”. This presentation was designed to interest DOH employees by talking about the adverse effects
of NNIS on sportsmen and landowners. He remembered the Kudzu pictures from this presentation and it
motivated him to collaborate.
Excerpt from WV Division of Forestry Press Release, Rosey Santerre
BEFORE AFTER
The West Virginia Division of Forestry is Kicking Kudzu Out of
Pendleton County
Kudzu infestation before and after treatment by the WVDOF and WVDOH
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 5
The Nature Conservancy’s Pike Knob Preserve is one of the
most unique locations in West Virginia. The grassy bald supports a
wide variety of rare plants, the nearby forest is home to the
southernmost native red pine stand in the country, and the 360-
degree panorama offers views of Spruce Knob, Germany Valley, and
Allegheny Mountain. It is also home to seven different invasive
plants, all of which threaten the unique grassy bald community.
Along with other ecologically unique sites in the North Fork
Mountain geography, Pike Knob has been a focal area for the
PHCWPMA field crew since the early days of the CWPMA.
NNIS treatments
at Pike Knob have posed some interesting challenges for the
crews. When treatments began in 2011, several acres of the
bald were dominated by dense monocultures of invasive
plants. Herbicide treatments of those areas were very
effective, but they left large patches of exposed soil, which
were then re-colonized by the same invasive species. In order
to combat this, the field crews began spreading a mix of
native grass seeds post-treatment in 2013, with the intention
that those native species would establish themselves in the
patches of exposed soil and prevent invasive plants from re-
colonizing. Starting the following year, the crews also began
to use a highly specialized suite of herbicides – combined
with manual treatments – to maximize destruction of invasive
plants while minimizing effects on native plants.
These methods, combined with a successful biocontrol program for yellow toadflax, have been
extremely successful. Cheat grass and other invasive plants only occupy a small portion of their former
area, and native warm-season grasses dominate much of the
treatment site. This integrated approach is both easier and more
effective than traditional herbicide-only treatments. Although we
aren’t eliminating 100% of every invasive species every year, we
are drastically reducing their seed production while also exposing
a lot of bare soil, which native grasses have clearly been
colonizing even in years when we don’t spread seed ourselves.
Utilizing natural processes to supplement our traditional
treatments has greatly decreased the crew’s annual workload at
Pike Knob, and it has set this unique site on the path to recovery.
By Ben Rhodes, TNC Ecological Restoration Coordinator
Pike Knob Preserve
2013 crew member Jenna Stalnaker spreads
native warm-season grass seeds in a patch
of dead cheat grass (light brown).
2018: the cheat grass infestation is dramatically
smaller, and native warm-season grasses (tall clumps
of grass) planted by TNC have taken its place.
2018: The area is now overwhelmingly
dominated by a mix of native grasses.
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 6
On February 28th, 2018 the inaugural
meeting of the Rivers & Gorges CWPMA
was held in Beckley, West Virginia. The
RGCWPMA is a newly formed sister
CWPMA and encompasses 9 counties in
West Virginia: Pocahontas, Webster,
Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Mercer, Summers,
Monroe, and Greenbrier. Centered around the
New River Gorge, the RGCWPMA includes
2.4 million acres of land and several DNR
focal areas.
The Education & Outreach committees
and the Research & Monitoring committees of
the RGCWPMA and the PHCWPMA will be
partnering together to expand their
capabilities and resources as well as some
shared Steering Committee members.
By Amy Coleman, USFS-MOF South Zone
Ecologist
Formation of the Rivers & Gorges CWPMA
Discover Nature Day was held for the 7th year in
2018 at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. Put on by
the U.S. Forest Service and partners, about 800 visitors
attended the educational event. 46 partner booths
provided visitors with a wide array of educational topics
and activities.
The activity fair included fly-tying, a bat cave,
animal tracking, and a morning garlic mustard pull. Nine
groups participated in providing nature education
featuring everything from pollinators to native fish to
agricultural pests.
By Hannah Wroton, AFHA AmeriCorps with USFS
Discover Nature Day 2018
Learning about animal tracks at Discover Nature Day
2018
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 7
2018
PHCWPMA Accomplishments
Following is a complete list of the reported projects completed by the CWPMA partners with-in the
PHCWPMA and RGCWPMA boundaries with in the last year.
Invasive Plant Treatments
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY (TNC): The
PHCWPMA field crew treated a total of 1635
acres on non-native invasive plant species. 17
Monongahela National Forest Sites totaling 1162
acres and 9 private and TNC sites totaling 473
acres both exceeded treatment goal. The crew
treated 19 species on 26 different sites.
RIVERS & GORGES CWPMA: Partnered with
private landowner Traci Hickson and Cass
Scenic Railroad State Park to remove Japanese
stiltgrass along a ten-mile road along
Leatherbark Run in Pocahontas County, WV.
GARLIC MUSTARD CHALLENGE: During the
spring of 2018, 132 volunteers pulled approximately 493 pounds of garlic mustard at
different locations in the Monongahela National Forest over the course of a month. See
Education & Outreach section.
The crew treated 6 different invasive species on the grassy
bald at TNC’s Pike Knob Preserve
Resistance & Biocontrol
USFS NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION (USFS-NRS) & THE
NATURE CONCERVANCY (TNC): Sampled the understory
vegetation both within a forested area and in a more open
area at Bickle Knob for pre-biocontrol (Ceutorhynchus spp.
-- beetles) release monitoring on garlic mustard
populations. The release may occur next year (if APHIS
approves) or in the next few years.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA):
A total of 1,500 R. latipes weevils were released at three
locations in Hardy and Grant Counties in May, 2018.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA):
A total of 600 M. janthinus biocontrol beetles were released at one location in Pendleton
County in June of 2018.
Running buffalo clover that was found
while sampling for pre-biocontrol release
at Bickle Knob. Photo Ellen Baker, WVU.
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 8
Monitoring & Research
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY (TNC): The
PHCWPMA field crew monitored 824 acres of
treated areas for treatment efficacy and
unintended environmental damage. The average
efficacy was 88% and no significant non-target
damage was noted at any site.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
(WVDA): Conducted 15 pest surveys at nurseries
in Grant, Hardy, Pendleton, Randolph,
Pocahontas, and Tucker Counties.
The PHCWPMA Field Crew celebrates after finishing a
woody NNIS removal project near Judy Gap
Education & Outreach
PHCWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Reprinted brochures for pests and
pathogens, plants, and aquatic NNIS. Eight agencies contributed $8,798 to print 4,190
brochures.
PHCWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Received grant funding through the USFS
Citizen Science Grant to expand the current NNIS citizen science program to grades K-12 and
into five counties around the Monongahela National Forest (MOF). The grant will support the
creation of two sets of four educational trunks for varying grade level for each zone of the
MOF. The grant program will be implemented in local schools in the spring of 2019.
CWPMA EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE: In partnership with Play Clean Go, The Pests
that Girdle the Home of Tucker the Turtle and Fighting Invasive Pests: Tucker the Turtle’s
Field Guide were updated.
PETERSBURG CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM: A 4-week program for the 5th graders at
Petersburg Elementary educates the students about NNIS, the problems, and their
treatments. 104 students participated in the 4 class series.
RCWPMA CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM: The Rivers & Gorges CWPMA expanded the four week
non-native invasive species education program to Green Bank Elementary Middle School and
Marlinton Middle School. The program concluded with a field trip to the Monongahela
National Forest where students removed garlic mustard from the Blue Bend Campground
along Anthony Creek in Greenbrier County.
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 9
Education & Outreach
MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF): Selected as a pilot Forest for the Wild
Spotter app, a program that aims to build citizen science volunteer capacity to protect
America’s wild places from harmful invasive species (https://wildspotter.org)
MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF) & WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Provided
educational materials and information
about NNIS at the 2018 Forest Festival in
Elkins to 540 community members.
DISCOVER NATURE DAY: Approximately
800 people attended Discover Nature Day
at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. 46
partners volunteered to provide NNIS and
other information to the public. 42 of the
attendees volunteered to pull Garlic
Mustard during the event, see Garlic
Mustard Challenge.
GARLIC MUSTARD CHALLENGE: Last
spring, USFS in conjunction with partners and volunteers coordinated the Garlic Mustard
Challenge. Over the course of about a month, approximately 492.5 pounds of Garlic Mustard
were removed by 132 volunteers. See table below.
MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST (USFS-MOF): 100 kids participated in river snorkeling
events at White’s Run where they learned about aquatic NNIS.
NNIS EDUCATION IN VISITORS CENTERS: Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, Cranberry
Mountain Nature Center, Cass Railroad State Park, Lost River State Park, Blackwater State
Park all have NNIS educational displays and distribute educational materials.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Held five presentations on
invasive insects with over 300 attendees.
Date Location # of Volunteers Pounds of Garlic Mustard Removed (lbs)
5/31/2018 Blue Bend 46 140
N/A Ice Mountain 8 52.5
4/28/2018 Discover Nature Day 68 100
5/5/2018 Greenbrier State Forest 10 200
TOTAL 4 Locations 132 Volunteers 492.5 lbs. of Garlic Mustard
Volunteers pull Garlic Mustard at Discover Nature Day 2018
PHCWPMA Annual Accomplishment Report 2018 10
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA) & WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY (WVDOF): Taught NNIS classes to Potomac State College Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) class.
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICES (WVU-ES): Programs such as A Walk in
the Woods and Four Season Forests now include invasive species coverage.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WVDA): Provided outreach and
presentations on various NNIS at the West Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association
Summer Farm meeting and at the Logging BMP workshop.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (WVDEP): Held
educational programs for 15 youth groups where NNIS was discussed.
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (WVDNR): Held presentations on
NNIS for the West Virginia Conservation Agency, WVDNR trainings, and the West Virginia
Department of Highways (WVDOH).
WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (WVDNR): Held presentation on
NNIS and their native look-alikes at Innovations in Invasive Species Conference.
FACEBOOK: the PHCWPMA page has 336 likes and has reached 1,234 people through posts
this year.
PHCWPMA WEBSITE: The PHCWPMA website remains updated and active.
RGCWPMA GARLIC MUSTARD PULL: Coverage of the Blue Bend Garlic Mustard Pull in the
Pocahontas Times.
NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER GOATS: Three news outlets covered New River Gorge’s
herd of NNIS eating goats.
DISCOVER NATURE DAY: Discover Nature Day was publicized on WBOY and on the Alleghany
Mountain Radio.
Education & Outreach
Media