Invasive Non-Native Plants in the Lower Elwha Watershed Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Preparing for...
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Invasive Non-Native Plants in Invasive Non-Native Plants in the Lower Elwha Watershedthe Lower Elwha Watershed
Elwha Ecosystem RestorationPreparing for the Revegetation of the Reservoirs
Olympic National ParkIn partnership with
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Lower Elwha Klallam ReservationLower Elwha Klallam Reservation
Glines Canyon DamGlines Canyon Dam
Strait of Juan De Fuca
Olympic National
Park
Highway 112
Highway 101
Port Angeles
Robyn Hill
Geyser ValleyGeyser Valley
Elwha DamElwha Dam
Lower Elwha Klallam ReservationLower Elwha Klallam Reservation
Glines Canyon DamGlines Canyon Dam
Strait of Juan De Fuca
Olympic National
Park
Highway 112
Highway 101
Port Angeles
Robyn Hill
Geyser ValleyGeyser Valley
Elwha DamElwha Dam
EXPECTED CONDITIONSCritical Ecosystem processes will be severely damaged (erosion, nutrient cycling, hydrology)
Natural succession of the middle areas of the reservoirs expected to be slow
Lake Aldwell Lake MillsGlines Canyon DamGlines Canyon Dam
Elwha DamElwha Dam
Managing Invasive Species in the Managing Invasive Species in the Lower ElwhaLower Elwha
• Prioritize species to manage– From 1991-2008, 147 exotic species have
been observed in the lower Elwha watershed– Rank species according to invasive potential
• Resources: – County and State noxious weed lists– NatureServe.org– Park data– Scientific literature
The Top “Species of Concern” The Top “Species of Concern” known to occur in the Lower Elwhaknown to occur in the Lower Elwha
Species Common Name
Bromus tectorum cheatgrass
Centaurea biebersteinii spotted knapweed
Centaurea debeauxii ssp. thuillieri meadow knapweed
Centaurea diffusa diffuse knapweed
Centaurea jacea brown knapweed
Cirsium arvense Canadian thistle
Cytisus scoparius Scot's broom
Geranium robertianum herb Robert
Hedera helix English Ivy
Hypericum perforatum common St. John's wort
Ilex aquifolium English holly
Lathyrus latifolius perennial pea
Species Common Name
Lathyrus sylvestris small everlasting peavine
Linaria vulgaris butter and eggs
Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass
Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese knotweed
Polygonum sachalinense giant knotweed
Polygonum x bohemicum Bohemian knotweed
Potentilla recta sulfur cinquefoil
Prunus laurocerasus Laurel cherry
Rubus discolor Himalayan blackberry
Rubus laciniatus evergreen blackberry
Senecio jacobaea tansy ragwort
Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass)
• Annual grass• Cheatgrass mainly
threatens dry, grassland ecosystems– May be common in riparian
communities
• Can drastically change fire regime
• Depletes soil moisture early in growing season
Spikelets 15-20mmSpikelets 15-20mm
Pubescent blades and sheathsPubescent blades and sheaths
Cytisus scoparius (Scot’s broom)
• Evergreen, perennial shrub
• Aggressive invader currently infesting over 2 million acres in CA, WA, and OR
• Alters soil nutrient regime by adding nitrogen
• Creates monocultures• Can change fire regimes
Geranium robertianum (herb Robert, stinky Bob)
• Semi-evergreen, semi-perennial forb
• Aggressive invader of shady forests and sunny sites
• Creates monocultures• Seeds prolifically• Seed dispersed by
ejecting out of pods and sticking to travelers
Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
• Perennial, rhizotomous grass
• Forms dense single species stands– Inhibits native– Reduces diveristy
• Little value to wildlife• Alters hydrology in
streams, wetlands
Ligules: membranous 4-10 mmLigules: membranous 4-10 mm
Polygonum spp. (the BIG knotweeds)
• Includes P. sachalinense, P. cuspidatum, and P. x bohemicum
• Displaces streamside vegetation
• Causes increased bank erosion and clogs small waterways
• Forms thickets up to 12 feet tall and produces allelochemicals
• Spreads mainly by rhizomes but also by fragments of root
Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry)
• Displaces streamside and upland vegetation
• Forms thickets up to 12 feet tall
• Vegetatively spreads by rhizomes and by fragments of root
• Birds and mammals disperse the seed
Managing Invasive Species in the Managing Invasive Species in the Lower ElwhaLower Elwha
• Prioritize species to manage– Locate populations of the primary species of
concern in the Elwha watershed• 2001 mapping project
Roads
ONP Trails
Reveg Project Boundary
2001 Survey Points
Roads
ONP Trails
Reveg Project Boundary
2001 Survey Points
2008 Survey Points
Managing Invasive Species in the Managing Invasive Species in the Lower ElwhaLower Elwha
• Treat priority species in watershed prior to dam removal
• Prioritize sites to manage– Areas directly adjacent to reservoirs– Areas we will use as staging sites for
revegetation activities– Use model of propagule movements to
identify invasive population “hot spots”
Managing Invasive Species in the Managing Invasive Species in the Lower ElwhaLower Elwha
• Treatments– Herbicides specific for each species/situation– Hand-pull some species
• Scot’s broom• Herb Robert• Young seedlings of English holly