<str<strong>on</strong>g>Proceedings</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Third</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Internati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>ference</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Invasive</strong> SpartinaChapter 4: Spartina C<strong>on</strong>trol 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, Washingt<strong>on</strong> State Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47027, Olympia, WA98504-7027; kyle.murphy@dnr.wa.gov2 Executive Coordinator, Washingt<strong>on</strong> <strong>Invasive</strong> Species Council, P.O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504-09173 Noxious Weed Program Coordinator, Washingt<strong>on</strong> State Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fish and Wildlife, 4516 N 28 th , Tacoma, WA 98407Washingt<strong>on</strong> State has been fighting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spread <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> invasive Spartina since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> early 1990’s. Untilrecently <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress in Puget Sound was slow or, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Willapa Bay, n<strong>on</strong>-existent.However, with appropriate funding, increased community, agency and legislative support, improvedtools, and better cooperati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entities involved, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eradicati<strong>on</strong> in Puget Sound isprogressing at a rapid pace, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tide is finally being turned in Willapa Bay.This paper discusses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> challenges that have led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current success in Washingt<strong>on</strong> State from an<strong>on</strong>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>-ground management prospective. Elements c<strong>on</strong>tributing to that success range from choosing<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> correct c<strong>on</strong>trol tools to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultivating community support and cooperati<strong>on</strong>necessary for a successful program, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> size <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infestati<strong>on</strong> that is being treated.The less<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>veyed in this paper are intended to help o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>ting infestati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-nativeSpartina and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r invasive species to make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir available resources. Not repeating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>same learning processes and avoiding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mistakes that have already been made can save resourcemanagers and field coordinators precious time and m<strong>on</strong>ey and help to build a successful program toaddress invasive species problems.Keywords: <strong>Invasive</strong> Spartina, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina anglica, Spartina patens, Spartinadensiflora, Willapa Bay, Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Integrated Pest ManagementINTRODUCTIONSpartina species introduced to Washingt<strong>on</strong> State haveproven to be aggressive noxious weeds that severely disrupt<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ecosystems <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> native saltwater estuaries. Theyoutcompete native vegetati<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>vert mudflats intom<strong>on</strong>otypic Spartina meadows. This is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> great c<strong>on</strong>cernbecause estuaries serve as an important rearing area fornumerous fish species, important breeding, migrati<strong>on</strong> andwintering grounds for many migratory birds, waterfowl ando<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r wildlife and provide a critical ec<strong>on</strong>omic resource formany communities dependent <strong>on</strong> commercial fishing,mariculture, shipping and tourism (Patten and Stenvall2002). By 2002, in large areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Willapa Bay, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area with<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest cordgrass infestati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state, Spartinaalterniflora had reduced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> available foraging time forshorebirds by 50% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> winter daylight hours because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reducti<strong>on</strong> in mudflat acreage (Jaques 2002).In Washingt<strong>on</strong>, federal, state and local goverments,tribal entities, n<strong>on</strong>-pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it organizati<strong>on</strong>s, business interests,local universities and private citizens are working toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r tocombat <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> invasi<strong>on</strong>. This effort is becoming moresuccessful each year with reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> invasive Spartinastatewide over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past two years. This report outlines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>different comp<strong>on</strong>ents that have been instrumental in leading<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartina eradicati<strong>on</strong> effort towards success, includingprogram support, planning and coordinati<strong>on</strong>, adaptivemanagement, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various tools used foreradicati<strong>on</strong> efforts.EXTENT OF INFESTATIONWashingt<strong>on</strong> State has <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest invasi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>n<strong>on</strong>-native Spartina species <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire U.S. west coast(Patten and Stenvall 2002). The invasi<strong>on</strong> is comprised <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>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 c<strong>on</strong>tain<strong>on</strong>ly S. alterniflora; Grays Harbor c<strong>on</strong>tains both S.alterniflora and S. densiflora. Hood Canal is known toc<strong>on</strong>tain S. alterniflora, S. anglica and S. patens, while PugetSound has infestati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> S. alterniflora, S. anglica and S.densiflora.The current size <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infestati<strong>on</strong> in Washingt<strong>on</strong> isapproximately 3,035 solid hectares (ha) (7,500 acres [ac]),affecting more than 7,300 ha (18,000 ac) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intertidalmarine envir<strong>on</strong>ment (Murphy 2004). In Puget Sound andHood Canal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are 95 sites with current or historicalinfestati<strong>on</strong>s (Fig. 1). The infestati<strong>on</strong>s cover approximately260 solid ha (645 ac). The infestati<strong>on</strong> in Willapa Bay coversmore than 2,800 solid ha (7,000 ac) and encompases almost<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire shoreline <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bay (Fig. 2).- 223 -
Chapter 4: Spartina C<strong>on</strong>trol and Management<str<strong>on</strong>g>Proceedings</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Third</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Internati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>ference</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Invasive</strong> SpartinaFig. 1. Map showing Spartina invasi<strong>on</strong> sites found within Puget Sound inWashingt<strong>on</strong> State, USA.PROGRAM SUPPORTSupport for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartina eradicati<strong>on</strong> program inWashingt<strong>on</strong> is vital for success and can be categorized intothree types: community, agency, and legislative.Community support for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> program has come fromprivate landowners, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom own property directlyaffected by Spartina or situated adjacent to infestati<strong>on</strong>s, butalso includes local industries, sportsmen, tribal entities withland impacted by Spartina invasi<strong>on</strong>s, envir<strong>on</strong>mental groups,and local universities. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outset <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eradicati<strong>on</strong>program in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> early 1990s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> biggest advocates for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>program were those who depended <strong>on</strong>, managed, or ownedproperty in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intertidal envir<strong>on</strong>ment impacted by Spartina.During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> early stages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infestati<strong>on</strong>, communitysupport played a critical role in bringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problem to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goverment agencies who were in apositi<strong>on</strong> to acknowledge and act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problem and locallawmakers who were in a positi<strong>on</strong> to mandate and fundappropriate acti<strong>on</strong>s.Support for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> program also has come from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> variousfederal, state and local government agencies that must dealwith <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartina invasi<strong>on</strong> ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir landFig. 2. Map showing Spartina invasi<strong>on</strong> sites found within Willapa Bay inWashingt<strong>on</strong> State, USA. Infestati<strong>on</strong> data provided by Washingt<strong>on</strong> StateDepartment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Natural Resources.management resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities or through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir various legalmandates. These agencies include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, which manages Willapa Nati<strong>on</strong>al Wildlife Refugein Willapa Bay, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Washingt<strong>on</strong> StateDepartments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources,Ecology and State Parks. County noxious weed c<strong>on</strong>trolboards are also involved with and support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartinaeradicati<strong>on</strong> program as a part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir legislative mandates.Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Washingt<strong>on</strong> State Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agriculture ismandated by law to lead <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statewide eradicati<strong>on</strong> effort.In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning stages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eradicati<strong>on</strong> program, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>early 1990s, some higher-level individuals within keyagencies were reluctant to recognize Spartina as a threat.However, after field pers<strong>on</strong>nel familiar with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problemeducated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pertinent issues, and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> passage<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> state legislati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se agencies became fully supportive<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effort. The most important step in this educati<strong>on</strong>process was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinued efforts by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> field pers<strong>on</strong>nel andbiologists working <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartina problem in educating<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al peers, making <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spartina’sthreat to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> larger ecosystem and viability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> estuaries.- 224 -
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