Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive SpartinaChapter 4: Spartina Control and ManagementACOMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE MANAGEMENT OF SPARTINA IN WASHINGTON STATEK.C. MURPHY 1 ,W.BROWN 2 AND D. HEIMER 31 Aquatic Reserves Program Manager, Washington State Department <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47027, Olympia, WA98504-7027; kyle.murphy@dnr.wa.gov2 Executive Coordinator, Washington Invasive Species Council, P.O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504-09173 Noxious Weed Program Coordinator, Washington State Department <strong>of</strong> Fish and Wildlife, 4516 N 28 th , Tacoma, WA 98407Washington State has been fighting <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> invasive Spartina since <strong>the</strong> early 1990’s. Untilrecently <strong>the</strong> progress in Puget Sound was slow or, in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> Willapa Bay, non-existent.However, with appropriate funding, increased community, agency and legislative support, improvedtools, and better cooperation between <strong>the</strong> entities involved, <strong>the</strong> eradication in Puget Sound isprogressing at a rapid pace, and <strong>the</strong> tide is finally being turned in Willapa Bay.This paper discusses <strong>the</strong> challenges that have led to <strong>the</strong> current success in Washington State from anon-<strong>the</strong>-ground management prospective. Elements contributing to that success range from choosing<strong>the</strong> correct control tools to <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> cultivating community support and cooperationnecessary for a successful program, regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> infestation that is being treated.The lessons conveyed in this paper are intended to help o<strong>the</strong>rs confronting infestations <strong>of</strong> non-nativeSpartina and o<strong>the</strong>r invasive species to make <strong>the</strong> most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir available resources. Not repeating <strong>the</strong>same learning processes and avoiding <strong>the</strong> mistakes that have already been made can save resourcemanagers and field coordinators precious time and money and help to build a successful program toaddress invasive species problems.Keywords: Invasive Spartina, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina anglica, Spartina patens, Spartinadensiflora, Willapa Bay, Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Integrated Pest ManagementINTRODUCTIONSpartina species introduced to Washington State haveproven to be aggressive noxious weeds that severely disrupt<strong>the</strong> ecosystems <strong>of</strong> native saltwater estuaries. Theyoutcompete native vegetation and convert mudflats intomonotypic Spartina meadows. This is <strong>of</strong> great concernbecause estuaries serve as an important rearing area fornumerous fish species, important breeding, migration andwintering grounds for many migratory birds, waterfowl ando<strong>the</strong>r wildlife and provide a critical economic resource formany communities dependent on commercial fishing,mariculture, shipping and tourism (Patten and Stenvall2002). By 2002, in large areas <strong>of</strong> Willapa Bay, <strong>the</strong> area with<strong>the</strong> largest cordgrass infestation in <strong>the</strong> state, Spartinaalterniflora had reduced <strong>the</strong> available foraging time forshorebirds by 50% <strong>of</strong> winter daylight hours because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>reduction in mudflat acreage (Jaques 2002).In Washington, federal, state and local goverments,tribal entities, non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organizations, business interests,local universities and private citizens are working toge<strong>the</strong>r tocombat <strong>the</strong> invasion. This effort is becoming moresuccessful each year with reduction <strong>of</strong> invasive Spartinastatewide over <strong>the</strong> past two years. This report outlines <strong>the</strong>different components that have been instrumental in leading<strong>the</strong> Spartina eradication effort towards success, includingprogram support, planning and coordination, adaptivemanagement, and <strong>the</strong> evolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> various tools used foreradication efforts.EXTENT OF INFESTATIONWashington State has one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> largest invasions <strong>of</strong>non-native Spartina species on <strong>the</strong> entire U.S. west coast(Patten and Stenvall 2002). The invasion is comprised <strong>of</strong>four species, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina anglica,Spartina patens and Spartina densiflora, spread throughoutfour main waterbodies, Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, PugetSound and Hood Canal. Willapa Bay is known to containonly S. alterniflora; Grays Harbor contains both S.alterniflora and S. densiflora. Hood Canal is known tocontain S. alterniflora, S. anglica and S. patens, while PugetSound has infestations <strong>of</strong> S. alterniflora, S. anglica and S.densiflora.The current size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> infestation in Washington isapproximately 3,035 solid hectares (ha) (7,500 acres [ac]),affecting more than 7,300 ha (18,000 ac) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intertidalmarine environment (Murphy 2004). In Puget Sound andHood Canal <strong>the</strong>re are 95 sites with current or historicalinfestations (Fig. 1). The infestations cover approximately260 solid ha (645 ac). The infestation in Willapa Bay coversmore than 2,800 solid ha (7,000 ac) and encompases almost<strong>the</strong> entire shoreline <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bay (Fig. 2).- 223 -