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 SpartinaPVC photo plot, rebar stakes for marking photo points, and acompass for calculating directional bearings for photos. Thecommunities provided <strong>the</strong>ir own digital cameras for <strong>the</strong>monitoring.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONPeople For Puget Sound’s project manager establishedan initial steward in each community in July and August2004 through our 2003 outreach efforts and with <strong>the</strong>assistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Washington State University ExtensionBeach Watchers Program. To date, <strong>the</strong> project has conductedoutreach to <strong>the</strong> communities <strong>of</strong> Juniper Beach and EagleTree Estates on Camano Island, and Harrington Lagoon onWhidbey Island. A neighbor from a fourth community,Cavelero Country Club on Camano Island, attended ano<strong>the</strong>rcommunity’s meeting and has been working with <strong>the</strong> projectmanager to get her community involved in <strong>the</strong> project.The project manager met with <strong>the</strong> community stewardsbetween August and October to conduct Spartina surveys <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> neighborhood’s shoreline, and training on monitoringtechniques. Baseline visual and photographic surveys wereconducted at this time, along with photo monitoring. Theproject manager also began training <strong>the</strong> stewards in nativeplant identification, focusing on plants commonly confusedwith Spartina.People For Puget Sound and its partners also hostedthree large, public Spartina dig events from June throughAugust 2004. These events focused on manual removal inareas where chemical control is not desired. Volunteers weretrained in manual removal techniques including digging andseedling removal with an emphasis on removing allrhizomatous roots to prevent regrowth.The project manager worked with partners to educate<strong>the</strong> general public about Spartina through <strong>the</strong>se communitydig events. The 6th Annual Skagit Dig Days was held onJune 19th at <strong>the</strong> Swinomish Casino lagoon. This event drew38 volunteers for four hours <strong>of</strong> manual removal. Twoadditional dig events were held in Island County: OakHarbor on Whidbey Island had 14 volunteers for three hourson August 14, and Iverson Spit on Camano Island drew 22volunteers for four hours on August 28.Monitoring surveys <strong>of</strong> approximately 20 hectares (48acres) <strong>of</strong> area affected by Spartina were conducted betweenMay 1 and October 31 This number was estimated from datain WSDA’s 2003 Spartina Eradication Program Report to<strong>the</strong> Legislature, PUB 805-110 (available online athttp://agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/Weeds/Spartina/default.htm).It is projected that this same area will be monitored oneadditional time during <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> this grant period, endingMay 2005. The three dig events resulted in an estimated 0.6hectares (1.5 acres) <strong>of</strong> Spartina removed from <strong>the</strong> nearshore.Outreach to <strong>the</strong> private communities was not intended toresult in direct control <strong>of</strong> Spartina, since <strong>the</strong> Island CountyNoxious Weed Control Progrram is currently managingcontrol efforts throughout <strong>the</strong> county. We expect that WSDAwill report <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> acres treated at <strong>the</strong>se sites in its2004 report to <strong>the</strong> Legislature.Thus far this project has trained over 70 citizens inproper identification and manual removal methods forinvasive Spartina through <strong>the</strong> large community dig events.We have educated over 60 private shoreline property ownerson Spartina’s environmental impacts, control methods,identification, and options for community-based eradicationthrough community meetings and presentations. The projectmanager has trained 11 stewards from <strong>the</strong> three communitiesin proper monitoring techniques. The stewards have agreedto conduct photo monitoring <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir community beachestwice a year, conduct visual monitoring throughout <strong>the</strong> year,report all monitoring activities to <strong>the</strong> project manager,provide copies <strong>of</strong> all monitoring photos, work with <strong>the</strong>project manager and Island County Noxious Weed ControlBoard to organize control efforts, and commit to long-termstewardship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir community beaches for hopefully 20years or more.We have received very positive feedback from <strong>the</strong>public for this project and we feel that this first year hasbeen a great success. The project will continue to conductoutreach to three to five additional communities each year,while maintaining <strong>the</strong> necessary level <strong>of</strong> involvement incurrent communities’ activities. The project manager islooking into expanding <strong>the</strong> project in upcoming years inseveral areas. There is a distinct need to conduct yearly GPSsurveys <strong>of</strong> each community’s infestation and to acquire GIScapabilities that would allow for <strong>the</strong> production <strong>of</strong> maps ando<strong>the</strong>r visuals.The project manager is also investigating options for anonline database that can be accessed by our staff, communitystewards and neighbors, and our partnering agencies andorganizations. The project manager will also be workingwith WSDA, NOAA, and Restore America’s Estuaries todevelop a Spartina stewardship manual and a regionalSpartina information and identification flyer.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), SkagitCounty Marine Resources Committee, Island County MarineResources Committee and Island County Noxious WeedControl Board have provided funding support for thisproject. I would also like to thank Kyle Murphy at WSDAfor his support and assistance in this project. Susan Horton<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Island County Noxious Weeds Control Program andSusan Moreno <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Swinomish Tribe Planning Departmentprovided hours <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir time in <strong>the</strong> planning and execution <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> three dig events. Dot Irvin and John Custer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> WSUExtension Beach Watchers Program assisted in contactingpotential stewards in new communities. Lastly, a verygenerous thank you to Adrianna Ericson who provided atleast 15 hours a week during <strong>the</strong> summer months to assist infield work and steward training.- 266 -