River to River River to River CWMA:CWMA:

Addressing the Issue of Addressing the Issue of Invasive Plants in Invasive Plants in Southern IllinoisSouthern Illinois

Christopher Evans, Christopher Evans,

River to River CWMA River to River CWMA CoordinatorCoordinator

OutlineOutline

►What is a CWMAWhat is a CWMA► River to River CWMARiver to River CWMA

AreaArea MembersMembers GoalsGoals

► Invasive PlantsInvasive Plants DefinitionsDefinitions ProblemsProblems CWMA speciesCWMA species

► SolutionsSolutions

What is a CWMA?What is a CWMA?

►Cooperative Weed Management AreaCooperative Weed Management Area►Collaborative effort between multiple Collaborative effort between multiple

agencies and organizations to agencies and organizations to coordinate efforts and programs for coordinate efforts and programs for managing invasive plantsmanaging invasive plants

►Well-defined area – counties, Well-defined area – counties, watersheds, regions etc.watersheds, regions etc.

►Different scopes – one species, suite of Different scopes – one species, suite of species, habitats, etc.species, habitats, etc.

Cooperation is KeyCooperation is Key

““Conservation can be achieved only be Conservation can be achieved only be the cooperative efforts of agencies, the cooperative efforts of agencies, organizations, and individuals across organizations, and individuals across the nation.”the nation.”- Natural Resource Conservation Service Strategic Plan 2005-2010- Natural Resource Conservation Service Strategic Plan 2005-2010

River to River CWMARiver to River CWMA

►Formally established in 2006Formally established in 2006►Coordinator hired in April, 2007Coordinator hired in April, 2007►Address terrestrial and aquatic non-Address terrestrial and aquatic non-

native invasive plants in Southern native invasive plants in Southern IllinoisIllinois

11 Southernmost Counties in 11 Southernmost Counties in IllinoisIllinois

•Alexander

•Gallatin

•Hardin

•Jackson

•Johnson

•Massac

•Pope

•Pulaski

•Saline

•Williamson

•Union

River to River CWMARiver to River CWMA► MembersMembers

Shawnee National ForestShawnee National Forest Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesIllinois Department of Natural Resources Crab Orchard National Wildlife RefugeCrab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Cypress Creek National Wildlife RefugeCypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy USDA Natural Resource Conservation ServiceUSDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Illinois Department of TransportationIllinois Department of Transportation Illinois Department of AgricultureIllinois Department of Agriculture University of Illinois – ExtensionUniversity of Illinois – Extension USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceUSDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Shawnee Resource Conservation and Shawnee Resource Conservation and

Development Area, Inc.Development Area, Inc. Southern Illinois University at CarbondaleSouthern Illinois University at Carbondale

River to River CWMA GoalRiver to River CWMA Goal

““Work cooperatively in inventorying, Work cooperatively in inventorying, monitoring, controlling, and preventing monitoring, controlling, and preventing the spread of non-native invasive the spread of non-native invasive plants across jurisdictional boundaries plants across jurisdictional boundaries in the 11 southern counties in Illinois.”in the 11 southern counties in Illinois.”

- RTR CWMA Memorandum of Understanding, 2006- RTR CWMA Memorandum of Understanding, 2006

River to River CWMA GoalRiver to River CWMA Goal

►By coordinating our efforts, we can:By coordinating our efforts, we can: Reduce the costs and time of Reduce the costs and time of

management activitiesmanagement activities Manage across boundariesManage across boundaries Pool available resourcesPool available resources Increase the chances of successIncrease the chances of success Better detect/prevent new introductionsBetter detect/prevent new introductions Better raise public awareness about Better raise public awareness about

invasive plantsinvasive plants Prioritize issuesPrioritize issues

Synergy – Getting more out of Synergy – Getting more out of your work through coordinationyour work through coordination

Weeds Can’t Read!Weeds Can’t Read!

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Synergy – Getting more out of Synergy – Getting more out of your work through coordinationyour work through coordination

Landowner A Landowner B

Synergy – Getting more out of Synergy – Getting more out of your work through coordinationyour work through coordination

Landowner A Landowner B

$$$$$$

Need for CooperationNeed for Cooperation

““There is a bountiful seed source of many There is a bountiful seed source of many of the exotic/invasive species on the of the exotic/invasive species on the lands surrounding the Refuge, thus in lands surrounding the Refuge, thus in order to be effective in our management order to be effective in our management plans, we must bring together a plans, we must bring together a complex set of interests including complex set of interests including private landowner, commercial, and private landowner, commercial, and public agencies.”public agencies.”- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive - Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, page 24Conservation Plan, page 24

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

►Not native to Southern IllinoisNot native to Southern Illinois► IntroducedIntroduced►Ability to reproduce in the wildAbility to reproduce in the wild►Potential to spread and cause Potential to spread and cause

economic or ecological damageeconomic or ecological damage Loss of species diversityLoss of species diversity Loss of ecosystem functionsLoss of ecosystem functions Loss of productivityLoss of productivity Loss of wildlife habitatLoss of wildlife habitat

Loss of productivityLoss of productivity

► Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle invasion leads to a invasion leads to a decline in the decline in the growth rate of trees growth rate of trees by over 50%by over 50%- Hartman and McCarthy 2007- Hartman and McCarthy 2007

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Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

►New habitat is free of natural predators, New habitat is free of natural predators, parasites, and diseasesparasites, and diseases Often gives exotic plants a competitive Often gives exotic plants a competitive

edge over native speciesedge over native species►Can readily invade disturbed areas due Can readily invade disturbed areas due

to:to: High seed productionHigh seed production Quick maturation timeQuick maturation time Efficient methods of seed dispersalEfficient methods of seed dispersal Allelopathic effects of some invasives?Allelopathic effects of some invasives?

AllelopathyAllelopathy

Some plants give Some plants give off chemicals off chemicals through their through their roots that roots that kill/inhibit other kill/inhibit other plantsplants

AllelopathyAllelopathy

► Garlic Mustard release Garlic Mustard release chemicals from its roots chemicals from its roots that kills the native that kills the native micorrhizal communitymicorrhizal community Native plants depend Native plants depend

upon micorrhizae to help upon micorrhizae to help absorb nutrients from the absorb nutrients from the soilsoil

Even after garlic mustard Even after garlic mustard control, recolonization of control, recolonization of the site by micorrhizae the site by micorrhizae may be slowmay be slow

Restoration efforts Restoration efforts hamperedhampered

Invasive Species DamageInvasive Species Damage

► Invade and occupy space before native species Invade and occupy space before native species can colonizecan colonize

► Grow over, crowd, or girdle native speciesGrow over, crowd, or girdle native species► Cast heavy shade and form dense monocultures, Cast heavy shade and form dense monocultures,

limiting the ability of native plants to growlimiting the ability of native plants to grow► Close-in open areasClose-in open areas► Limit animal and human movement through an Limit animal and human movement through an

areaarea► Limit recreational activitiesLimit recreational activities► Overwhelm seedbanksOverwhelm seedbanks

Once the invasive is cleared, only new invasives come Once the invasive is cleared, only new invasives come backback

Invade and occupy space before Invade and occupy space before native species can colonizenative species can colonize

Autumn olive and sericea lespedeza invading old roadbed

Grow over, crowd, or girdle Grow over, crowd, or girdle native speciesnative species

Kudzu overwhelming a hardwood forest

Cast heavy shade and form Cast heavy shade and form dense monoculturesdense monocultures

Japanese stiltgrass forming a solid mat of vegetation

Close-in open areasClose-in open areas

Bush honeysuckle invading an opening in a savanna restoration

Limit animal and human Limit animal and human movement through an areamovement through an area

Multiflora rose thorns – a serious deterrent to anything trying to travel through an infested area

Limit Recreational ActivitiesLimit Recreational Activities

Curly leaf pondweed infestation, reducing the ability of anglers to fish

Overwhelm seedbanksOverwhelm seedbanks

Rosettes of garlic mustard, showing domination of seedbank

Invasive Plants of Southern Invasive Plants of Southern IllinoisIllinois

► Autumn olive Autumn olive ► Bush honeysuckleBush honeysuckle► Chinese yamChinese yam► Common reed Common reed

(Phragmites)(Phragmites)► Crown vetchCrown vetch► Curly leaf pondweedCurly leaf pondweed► Eurasian watermilfoilEurasian watermilfoil► Garlic mustardGarlic mustard► Japanese honeysuckleJapanese honeysuckle► Japanese hopsJapanese hops► Japanese knotweedJapanese knotweed► Japanese stiltgrassJapanese stiltgrass

► JohnsongrassJohnsongrass► KudzuKudzu► Multiflora roseMultiflora rose► Musk thistleMusk thistle► Oriental bittersweetOriental bittersweet► Princess treePrincess tree► Purple loosestrifePurple loosestrife► Reed canarygrassReed canarygrass► Sawtooth oakSawtooth oak► Sericea lespedezaSericea lespedeza► Tree-of-heavenTree-of-heaven

Other species we do not know Other species we do not know about?about?

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Other species we do not know Other species we do not know about?about?

►Need for an Early Detection and Rapid Need for an Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) SystemResponse (EDRR) System Any new or suspected invasive species is Any new or suspected invasive species is

reportedreported Identification/threat is verifiedIdentification/threat is verified If so, necessary steps are taken to If so, necessary steps are taken to

eradicate or contain infestationeradicate or contain infestation

Which is Easier to Control?Which is Easier to Control?

Need for Control and Need for Control and ManagementManagement

““Exotic and invasive plant species pose Exotic and invasive plant species pose one of the greatest threats to the one of the greatest threats to the maintenance and restoration of the maintenance and restoration of the diverse habitats found on the Refuge.”diverse habitats found on the Refuge.”- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, page 24

““Eradicate, control, and prevent the Eradicate, control, and prevent the introduction of invasive exotic introduction of invasive exotic species”species” - One of six primary challenges set forth at the beginning of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources State Wildlife Action Plan

Need for Control and Need for Control and ManagementManagement

““Non-native invasive species must Non-native invasive species must be controlled or eradicated.”be controlled or eradicated.” - Shawnee National Forest, Land and Resource Management Plan

““We control invasive species We control invasive species because they are harming the because they are harming the native plants and animals we care native plants and animals we care so much about protecting.”so much about protecting.”- The Nature Conservancy Global Invasive Species Initiative website: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/

What are you doing about it? – What are you doing about it? – CWMA ProjectsCWMA Projects

Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning►Develop a CWMA strategic planDevelop a CWMA strategic plan

Informs agency’s management decisionsInforms agency’s management decisions Prioritize speciesPrioritize species Direct management activitiesDirect management activities Defines goals and objectives for CWMADefines goals and objectives for CWMA

What are you doing about it? – What are you doing about it? – CWMA ProjectsCWMA Projects

Educational campaignEducational campaign►Contact and inform anyone that has the Contact and inform anyone that has the

potential to cause or prevent the spread of potential to cause or prevent the spread of invasive speciesinvasive species Hunter and angler communityHunter and angler community Other outdoor recreationistsOther outdoor recreationists Fish/water garden storesFish/water garden stores Plant nurseriesPlant nurseries LoggersLoggers Etc.Etc.

PreventionPrevention

““First line of defense and the most cost First line of defense and the most cost effective strategy against invasive effective strategy against invasive species”species”- National Invasive Species Management Plan- National Invasive Species Management Plan

►Reduced useReduced use►SanitationSanitation► InspectionInspection►Proper disposalProper disposal

PreventionPrevention

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What are you doing about it? – What are you doing about it? – CWMA ProjectsCWMA Projects

Control and ID trainingsControl and ID trainings►For agency personnel, land owners, For agency personnel, land owners,

and the general publicand the general public IdentificationIdentification Need for controlNeed for control Management issuesManagement issues Control recommendationsControl recommendations

What are you doing about it? – What are you doing about it? – CWMA ProjectsCWMA Projects

► Invasive species distribution data Invasive species distribution data collection and mappingcollection and mapping SIU databaseSIU database 8,000 records for Southern Illinois8,000 records for Southern Illinois

►Continued collection of dataContinued collection of data Training volunteersTraining volunteers SurveysSurveys

►Online mapping system (eventually)Online mapping system (eventually)

What are you doing about it? – What are you doing about it? – CWMA ProjectsCWMA Projects

► Management on public lands and natural areasManagement on public lands and natural areas U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Illinois DNR, The Nature U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Illinois DNR, The Nature

ConservancyConservancy

► Management and prevention in roadside Management and prevention in roadside maintenance and construction areasmaintenance and construction areas ILDOTILDOT

► Survey, Inspection, and DetectionSurvey, Inspection, and Detection USDA-APHIS and Department of AgricultureUSDA-APHIS and Department of Agriculture

► Research on invasive species biology and Research on invasive species biology and managementmanagement SIUSIU

► Technical assistanceTechnical assistance University of Illinois Extension and NRCSUniversity of Illinois Extension and NRCS

► Cost share programsCost share programs NRCS and Illinois DNRNRCS and Illinois DNR

► Educational programs/Early Detection programEducational programs/Early Detection program EveryoneEveryone

Get InvolvedGet Involved

► Learn to identify the invasive species in your Learn to identify the invasive species in your areaarea

► Report any infestations of new invasive Report any infestations of new invasive species (RiverToRiver@gmail.com)species (RiverToRiver@gmail.com)

► Start a control program on your landStart a control program on your land► Do not plant or spread invasive speciesDo not plant or spread invasive species► Talk to local groups/communities about Talk to local groups/communities about

invasive speciesinvasive species► Talk to your local and state government about Talk to your local and state government about

invasive speciesinvasive species

Get InvolvedGet Involved

►Sign up for newsletter / email listSign up for newsletter / email list►Talk to me Talk to me

RiverToRiver@gmail.comRiverToRiver@gmail.com 618-998-5920618-998-5920

►On the web: www.????????????On the web: www.????????????►Contact any of the CWMA members for Contact any of the CWMA members for

more specifics on their programs more specifics on their programs (contact information available at CWMA (contact information available at CWMA website)website)