Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

Chapter 4: Spartina Control and Management<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive Spartinaanalytic services are <strong>of</strong>ten very expensive. Most agencieshave geographic information system (GIS) expertise, but<strong>the</strong>y are assigned to <strong>the</strong> highest priority projects for <strong>the</strong>agency. The Spartina infestation was not considered to besufficiently important to justify dedication <strong>of</strong> internal GISservices by any <strong>of</strong> Washington’s state agencies. Fortunately,precision is not critical. You really don’t need maps andanalysis worthy <strong>of</strong> scientific publications. For that reason, Ibelieve that <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> standard-accuracy Global PositioningSystem (GPS) technology is an acceptable way to map formanagement purposes. We found that a basic survey <strong>of</strong>Willapa Bay could be done in seven-day period bydelineating <strong>the</strong> outer edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> infestation using a GPSunit. GPS surveys are inherently ground-tru<strong>the</strong>d and georeferenced.The data from a GPS survey can be easilyexported and displayed as a GIS layer. Our total cost wasless than $2,000. Infrared aerial photography and itsinterpretation, by comparison, was so expensive thatagencies could only afford to have it done every third year.Image processing and interpretation required years <strong>of</strong> work.Katy Zaremba presented information earlier in this Spartinaconference indicating that aerial photography misses a greatmany plants. While aerial photography may have academicvalue, I believe that we have learned that it is not <strong>the</strong> optimalway to serve day-to-day management needs.In terms <strong>of</strong> quantity, however, I would say that it wouldbe difficult to have too many maps. During <strong>the</strong> first fiveyears <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Willapa Spartina program, we had too few. It isbest to have surveys done at <strong>the</strong> beginning as well as at <strong>the</strong>end <strong>of</strong> each season. I would recommend that you have GISand GPS services at your beck and call. You’ll need maps torespond quickly to new challenges as <strong>the</strong>y arise.For example, in 2002, Dr. Kim Patten <strong>of</strong> WashingtonState University concluded that herbicide applications wouldonly deliver optimal kill rates if a minimum <strong>of</strong> 12 hours <strong>of</strong>dry time followed treatment. Our challenge was to determinewhe<strong>the</strong>r Spartina in <strong>the</strong> lowest elevations <strong>of</strong> Willapa Baywere exposed for at least 12 hours during any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tidesexpected in <strong>the</strong> upcoming season. Using <strong>the</strong> new LiDARbathymetry layer generated through <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong>California at Davis and <strong>the</strong> NOAA Coastal Services Centerproject, Teresa Alcock and Keven Bennett <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> University<strong>of</strong> Washington’s Olympic Natural Resources Center(ONRC) formulated a method for presenting spatiallyexplicittidal predictions. Ano<strong>the</strong>r example <strong>of</strong> a spatialinformation challenge was <strong>the</strong> identification <strong>of</strong> owners <strong>of</strong>infested parcels. In many areas <strong>of</strong> Willapa Bay, <strong>the</strong> pattern<strong>of</strong> ownership is extremely complex with hundreds <strong>of</strong> plotsshaped like jigsaw pieces. Before treatment could take place,landowners had to be contacted and permission forms had tobe completed. ONRC staff generated maps with ownershipsand Spartina coverage displayed.In addition to its use as a monitoring and planning tool,GIS also played an important role in communications andpublic relations. An animated movie clip we generatedgraphically displayed how <strong>the</strong> Spartina infestation wouldexpand throughout Willapa Bay. This short movie proved tobe one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most effective educational tools we created tocommunicate <strong>the</strong> risks. In addition, GIS played aninvaluable role in generating concrete images to helpfacilitate discussion <strong>of</strong> alternative strategies. Because we hada GIS staff at <strong>the</strong> ready, we were able to rapidly react to <strong>the</strong>emerging information needs as <strong>the</strong>y arose.LESSON 2: TEACH THE PUBLIC WELLIn Willapa Bay, it was obvious from <strong>the</strong> beginning thatbroad-based public support for <strong>the</strong> control program wasnecessary. Roughly half <strong>the</strong> infestation occurred on privatelands. The full costs <strong>of</strong> control far exceeded <strong>the</strong> local abilityto pay, so help from <strong>the</strong> state and federal government wasneeded. The only practical option was a concerted andhighly visible effort by public agencies. So it was obviousthat <strong>the</strong> Spartina control program could not succeed without<strong>the</strong> consent, understanding and au<strong>the</strong>ntic support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>citizenry. Controversy would also have complicated <strong>the</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> lawmakers to secure <strong>the</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> dollars <strong>of</strong>funding needed to sustain <strong>the</strong> eradication effort to itsconclusion. The public relations challenge was successfullymet by focussing time and energy on educating andinvolving local residents; this kept <strong>the</strong> Spartina issue at <strong>the</strong>top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> priorities list. We also provided numerousopportunities for citizens to track control program progressand comment on its evolution. Because for years <strong>the</strong>Spartina control effort was not making progress, many <strong>of</strong>our public meetings provided <strong>the</strong> opportunity for expressions<strong>of</strong> harsh criticism. In response, agency personnel becameexcessively defensive.To overcome <strong>the</strong> climate <strong>of</strong> pessimism that surrounded<strong>the</strong> Spartina issue, we resorted to some ra<strong>the</strong>runconventional approaches to public education. Weunderstood that <strong>the</strong> standard environmental jargon andtactics that work well in receptive urban populations wouldonly trigger sarcasm and hostile reactions in our area. Onenew way in which we delivered detailed information toaudiences was through educational placemats. We designedplacemats presenting key information along with beautifulimages and distributed <strong>the</strong>m free <strong>of</strong> charge to local c<strong>of</strong>feeshops around Pacific County. Customers in restaurantsproved to be very willing to read whatever was available as<strong>the</strong>y waited for <strong>the</strong>ir orders. Copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> placemats werealso carried away and shared with o<strong>the</strong>rs. Ano<strong>the</strong>r successfuldevice was our series <strong>of</strong> “science for <strong>the</strong> people” meetings inwhich research scientists presented progress updates on <strong>the</strong>irwork to <strong>the</strong> public. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more entertaining <strong>of</strong> thoseevenings occurred when Dr. Donald Strong <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> University- 230 -