Oregon Invasive Species Council Awards $170,000 in Invasive Species Education & Outreach Grants

MEDIA RELEASE | January 21, 2025 | For immediate release

Contacts

Josh Emerson | 2025 Oregon Invasive Species Council Chair | ​Joshua.EMERSON@deq.oregon.gov 

Robyn Draheim | OISC Coordinator | ​coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org ​

Tristen Berg | OISC Grant Administrator | Tristen.BERG@oda.oregon.gov 

Oregon Invasive Species Council Awards $170,000 in Invasive Species Education & Outreach Grants

The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is pleased to announce the Invasive Species Education and Outreach Grant recipients. The Invasive Species Education and Outreach Grant is the first-ever state-funded grant program overseen by the OISC and is dedicated to supporting projects that increase awareness of the impacts, spread, prevention, detection, and management of invasive species issues in Oregon.

The OISC received over $700,000 in requested funds from 34 qualified applications representing all regions of the state. Proposed projects included awareness efforts encompassing numerous high-priority invasive species, from terrestrial weeds and insect pests to aquatic invasive species, pathogens, and invasive wildlife. 

“We wanted to encourage a variety of applicants,” said Sam Chan, aquatic invasive species expert with Oregon Sea Grant and 2024 chair of the OISC. “The Council is interested in collaborative projects that demonstrate large-scale impacts as well as smaller, meaningful opportunities to engage diverse communities.”

The ten projects selected for funding showcase the outstanding collaboration and coordination efforts of entities across Oregon working on invasive species issues. To award as many high-priority projects around the state as possible, the OISC revised the scope of some applications and added $20,000 to the initial grant announcement of $150,000. Grantees and their partners are collectively providing more than $149,000 in matching funds - nearly a 1:1 match - toward the state’s investment in invasive species awareness. 

“The Oregon Invasive Species Council is thrilled to acknowledge the diversity of collaborative projects proposed by the successful applicants,” said Josh Emerson, ballast water program manager for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and current chair of the OISC. “The Council looks forward to highlighting these education and outreach efforts at future meetings.

Grant Awardees:

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District

$16,902

Coquille Watershed Association 

$15,000

Crooked River Weed Management Area 

$5,000

High Desert Museum 

$19,965

Klamath Soil and Water Conservation District

$15,000

Malheur County

$19,624

Oregon State University

$24,966

Rogue Valley Council of Governments 

$19,347

Tri-County Cooperative Weed Management Area 

$24,196

Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District 

$10,000

Supported by one-time funds received from the Oregon Legislature in 2024 through SB5701, this competitive grants program provides financial resources to implement outreach and education efforts crucial to engaging and activating a wide network of Oregonians to protect the state from harmful invasive species. Successful applicants demonstrated high-priority project goals tied to the OISC Education and Outreach Strategies outlined in Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species.

For more information about the Oregon Invasive Species Council Education and Outreach Grant Program and the awardees, please visit the 2024 OISC Education & Outreach Grant Announcement.

ABOUT THE OREGON INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL

The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is a coordinating group of state and public agencies, tribes, scientists, land managers, industry leaders, educators, and members of the public who lead the effort to protect Oregon from invasive species. The OISC’s mission - to protect Oregon's natural resources and economy by planning and leading a coordinated and comprehensive effort to keep invasive species out of Oregon and to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the impacts of invasive species already established in Oregon - requires effective, collaborative, cross-agency participation. As a result, Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species was adopted in 2017 and outlines the long-term and short-term strategies for the state’s invasive species control and includes the following objectives: 1) Prevention; 2) Early Detection & Rapid Response; 3) Control & Management; 4) Education & Outreach; 5) Coordination & Leadership.

The Oregon Invasive Species Council seeks nominations for TWO open council seats

The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is seeking nominations for TWO appointed member seats to serve a 2-year term (January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026). Could you, or someone you know, be a good addition to the OISC? Send in a nomination ASAP!

Invasive species have the potential to devastate Oregon’s infrastructure, economy, and natural resources that Oregonians hold dear. The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) acts as a catalyst for the collaborative effort to protect Oregon from invasive species across the network of its members, including state and public agencies, tribes, researchers, land managers, industry leaders, educators, and members of the public. Strong council member nominees will have experience or expertise that relates to invasive species prevention or control and/or specialize in a related area of interest. The Council is seeking the appointment of two members for 2-year term positions that conclude December 31, 2025: 

• A member who represents an entity, regardless of the form of the entity, with headquarters or principal operations in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, or Josephine Counties with the purpose of responding to invasive species concerns.

• A member who represents an organization or association with the purpose of advocating for environmental stewardship

Council members’ primary role is to support the advancement of Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species. Members benefit from the multi-agency communication and collaboration that the OISC provides through meetings, committees, events, and communication. Council members are expected to participate in 3 Council meetings per year (in person or by teleconference); multi-day meetings are typically held once a year, rotating around the state, and include a field trip. Council members are allowed to designate an alternate if they are unable to attend a meeting. Council members are not paid but may be reimbursed for travel expenses associated with attending Council meetings. 

Additionally, Council members are required to serve on at least one committee and support communication with and convening other interested groups to contribute to Council activities. Membership is limited to two consecutive two-year terms. 

The deadline to submit nominations is January 15, 2024. Fill out the online nomination form here: https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/nominations 

Complete nominations must include submission of the following information: 

1. The individual’s name, title, phone, email, and mailing address (self-nominations are accepted)

2. A brief description of the nominee’s qualifications. 

3. A statement from the nominee that explains their interest, relative experience, and contributions they are willing to make to the Council. 

4. Letters of support for the nominee are highly encouraged. 

The Council will notify appointees in late January and welcome the new appointee at the first OISC meeting in 2025 (on March 4, in Salem/hybrid). Interested parties are encouraged to attend the December OISC Business Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd, 2024 in Salem (or remotely). For more information about this meeting and to register to attend, please visit: https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/meetings 

2024 OISC Invasive Species Education & Outreach Grant Now Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 1, 2024

Contact: Robyn Draheim, OISC Coordinator coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

Sam Chan, OISC Chair samuel.chan@oregonstate.edu

SALEM, Oregon - The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is excited to announce that $150,000 in 2024-2025 biennium funds will be available to the OISC to fund education outreach project grants. The OISC will determine priorities and awards, while the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) oversees the fiscal administration of the OISC Education Outreach Grant Program.

The goal of the OISC is to fund as many high-priority projects as possible with the available funding and to make the process of developing a successful grant application as straightforward as possible. Invasive species threaten Oregon’s economy, ecosystems, working landscapes, infrastructure, and natural heritage. Unchecked, invasive species can imperil public health, fish and game populations, and outdoor recreation and transform ecosystems, resulting in widespread and long-lasting economic and environmental damage. Meaningful outreach and education are crucial to engaging and activating a wide network of people to protect Oregon from invasive species.

“We want to encourage a variety of applicants,” said Sam Chan, aquatic invasive species expert with Oregon Sea Grant and current chair of the Oregon Invasive Species Council. “The Council is interested in collaborative projects that demonstrate large-scale impacts as well as smaller, meaningful opportunities to engage diverse communities.”

The OISC is hoping to solicit a broad array of applications that serve to inform and engage the public and/or specific audiences on invasive species, their impacts, pathways of introduction, prevention, and management relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, food, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

● Project budgets must be at least $5,000. Projects over $20,000 must show a collaborative, larger-scale watershed, community, or statewide education or outreach impact. Project scalability is desirable. Funding requests must align with the projects’ scale and reach.

● Grants will be awarded based on the availability of funds. Who is eligible to apply? A grant applicant must be an eligible legal entity—a local or tribal government, non-profit organization, educational institution, or individual (an individual is not eligible for indirect or administrative costs). Eligible Legal Entities must have a FEIN number. A state or federal agency may apply for funding only as a co-applicant with an eligible entity.

Project goals should relate to understanding the impacts, spread, prevention, detection, or management of invasive species issues in Oregon and be relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

Important Dates

Application window: August 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024

Grant Awards announced: January 2025

Grant Cycle Dates: January 2025 - June 30, 2026

Grant application and additional information can be found at https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/grants

Sign up for grant notifications and other invasive species alerts:

Oregon Invasive Species Network: Sign up here (google group)

Oregon Noxious Weed list serve: Oregon noxious weed updates, meetings, and grant information

ODA Gov Delivery https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORODA/subscriber/new

Or email Tristen Berg at Tristen.BERG@oda.oregon.gov to request to be added to the Oregon Noxious Weed list serve.

SUMMIT ON INVASIVE INSECT PESTS TO BE HELD AUGUST 5th - 7th IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 9, 2024
Contact:

Robyn Draheim, OISC Coordinator coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org  

Sam Chan, OISC Chair samuel.chan@oregonstate.edu

SUMMIT ON INVASIVE INSECT PESTS TO BE HELD AUGUST 5th -  7th IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

SALEM, Oregon - The Oregon Invasive Species Council is excited to announce “Safeguarding Oregon: Understanding Invasive Insect Pests,” a three-day summit hosted by Clean Water Services in Hillsboro from Monday through Wednesday, Aug.5-7. Anyone interested in state efforts to protect commercial resources, urban tree canopies, culturally significant species, and natural areas from invasive insect pests is invited to attend. 

Each day, pest management staff from involved agencies will cover the successes and challenges of tackling insect threats facing the state. Participants will learn in presentations and in field visits about the risks of taking no action, as well as what management resources and strategies are needed to protect Oregon’s people and economy from insect pests. 

The summit is especially geared to regional, state, and local government decision-makers, resource managers, landowners and others potentially affected by invasive insect pests.

“Eradication is ideal but not always possible,” said Chris Benemann, Business Operations Manager for the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture. “So we’ll also highlight at the summit how slowing pest spread can be a critical step in the protection of agriculture, natural resources, and urban landscapes.” 

Participants will leave with knowledge about current and future threats as well as an understanding of what needs to be done to improve Oregon’s capacity for dealing with the economic and ecological risks posed by invasive insects. 

Participants can choose to attend all three days or register for individual events. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is requested. For more information or to register, go to https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/oisc-summer-summit

Day One: Monday, Aug. 5th

The program will focus on the state’s Japanese beetle response. It includes a half-day information session followed by a visit to a local beetle treatment site in Washington County. 

Day Two: Tuesday, Aug. 6th

Over the course of this full-day event, presenters will give an overview of Oregon’s main insect pest threats and management strategies. Six species of special interest to Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and the Willamette Valley will be highlighted: 

·      Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth)

·      Japanese beetle

·      Emerald ash borer 

·      Mediterranean oak borer

·      Spotted lanternfly

·      Japanese cedar longhorned beetle 

Day Three: Wednesday, Aug. 7th

The day will begin with an informative field tour to visit ground zero of the emerald ash borer response in Forest Grove and wrap up in the afternoon with the Oregon Invasive Species Council’s quarterly business meeting.

About the Oregon Invasive Species Council | www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

The Oregon Invasive Species Council was created by the Legislature in 2001 (ORS 561.685).
The mission of the Council is to conduct a coordinated and comprehensive effort to keep invasive species out of Oregon and to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the impacts of invasive species already established in Oregon.
More information is available at www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

New Grant for Invasive Species Education & Outreach Coming This Summer

2024 OISC Education & Outreach Grant Pre-Annoucement

The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is excited to announce that $150,000 in 2024-2025 biennium funds will be available to the OISC to fund education outreach project grants. The OISC will determine priorities and awards, while the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) oversees the fiscal administration of the OISC Education Outreach Grant Program.

●      Project budgets must be at least $5,000. Projects over $20,000 must show a collaborative, larger-scale watershed, community, or statewide education or outreach impact. Project scalability is desirable. Funding requests must align with the scale and reach of the project.

●      Grants will be awarded based on the availability of funds.

Who is eligible to apply? A grant applicant must be an eligible legal entity—a local or tribal government, non-profit organization, educational institution, or individual (an individual is not eligible for indirect or administrative costs). Eligible Legal Entities must have a FEIN number. A state or federal agency may apply for funding only as a co-applicant with an eligible entity.

The goal of the OISC is to fund as many high-priority projects as possible with the available funding and to make the process of developing a successful grant application as straightforward as possible.

Invasive species threaten Oregon’s economy, ecosystems, working landscapes, infrastructure, and natural heritage. Unchecked, invasive species can imperil public health, fish and game populations, and outdoor recreation and transform ecosystems, resulting in widespread and long-lasting economic and environmental damage. Meaningful outreach and education are crucial to engaging and activating a wide network of people to protect Oregon from invasive species.

The OISC encourages a broad array of applications that serve to inform and engage the public and/or specific audiences on invasive species, their impacts, pathways of introduction, prevention, and management relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, food, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

Project goals should relate to understanding the impacts, spread, prevention, detection, or management of invasive species issues in Oregon and be relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

Important Dates

Full grant announcement: Summer 2024

Grant Announcement, Application and Guidance will post here - August 1, 2024

Application window: August 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024   

Grant Awards announced: January 2025

Grant Cycle Dates: January 2025 - June 30, 2026

Sign up for grant notifications and other invasive species alerts:

Oregon Invasive Species Network: Sign up here (google group)

Oregon Noxious Weed list serve: Oregon noxious weed updates, meetings, and grant information

ODA Gov Delivery https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORODA/subscriber/new

Or email Tristen Berg at Tristen.BERG@oda.oregon.gov request to be added to the Oregon Noxious Weed list serve.