11 Invasive Species Wreaking Havoc on OR's Environment

The Oregonian recently featured an article that highlights 11 invasive species of concern in Oregon. The article includes a good summary on how they got here, how they impact the environment, and what you can do if you find it. Included on the list is the American Bullfrog, Chinese mitten crab, common snapping turtle, and feral swine. Click here to read the full article. 

American bullfrog

Feral swine

Original Article Information:
By Kale Williams, Oregonian. Published May 30, 2018
 

Oregon AIS Inspection Stations: 2018 Year-to-Date Numbers

According to Rick Boatner, The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Invasive Species Coordinator and Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) Member, inspections in Oregon found two mussel-transporting boats over the May 11-13 weekend, bringing the 2018 year-to-date total to 6.

As of May 15, inspection numbers in Oregon are at 1,665 watercraft at the Central Point station near Ashland, 1,777 watercraft at Ontario, 153 at the recently opened Klamath Falls station, 197 at Gold Beach-Brookings, and 538 at Umatilla. The inspection station in Burns will be open early next month. Oregon has also intercepted 51 boats through mid-May with invasive aquatic plants, mostly Eurasian Watermilfoil.

To learn more about why it's important to Clean, Drain, and Dry all motorized and non-motorized watercraft,
check out our Clean, Drain, Dry Campaign page!

Original Article Information:
By Brad Carlson, Capital Press. Published on May 24, 2018.
Click here to read the full article

Emerald Ash Borer: No More Quarantine?

**Updated September 20, 2018**

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) sent out a bulletin on 09/18/2018 regarding their proposed removal of domestic quarantine regulations for the emerald ash borer (EAB) and they are currently looking for input. See information that came from USDA AHPIS below. Information can also be viewed by clicking here.

APHIS is proposing to remove the domestic quarantine regulations for the emerald ash borer (EAB). Eliminating this regulation is in keeping with USDA’s goal of reducing regulations that have outlived their usefulness. The proposal would end APHIS’ domestic regulatory activities, which includes actions such as issuing permits, certificates and compliance agreements, making site visits, and conducting investigations of suspected violations, and instead direct all available resources toward managing the pest. APHIS remains committed to controlling this invasive pest and wants to conduct more research and release a greater number of biological control agents—tiny stingless wasps that are natural predators of the EAB—since biocontrol has shown the most promise for stopping EAB’s spread.

We would like input on the proposal from you. Your participation in this process is valuable.

The proposed rule is available in the Federal Register and open for comment through November 19, 2018. APHIS will review all comments received during the comment period. If APHIS receives no new information significant enough to alter the proposal, APHIS will announce the final regulatory decision. The text of the final rule and discussion of the comments will be published in the Federal Register. Comments regarding the proposed rule for deregulation may be submitted by either of the following methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0056.

2. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2017-0056, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Supporting documents and any comments APHIS receives on this docket may be viewed athttp://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0056 or in the APHIS reading room, which is located in Room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039.

We look forward to continued collaboration with you and if you have questions about the proposed regulatory change for EAB, please feel free to contact the National Policy Manager Robyn Rose at 301-851-2283 or robyn.i.rose@aphis.usda.gov.

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The federal government is looking to possibly lift quarantines for the invasive emerald ash borer. Currently, this quarantine restricts movement of firewood from ash trees across state lines from states that already have emerald ash borer. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) told news sources that “33 states have EAB infestations, and every year the insect continues to be detected beyond the quarantine boundaries.” Based on the beetle’s continuous spread with the quarantine, eradication is not possible according to USDA APHIS. Federal and state forestry officials say that the quarantine has most likely slowed the spread of the emerald ash borer, but it hasn’t done enough to stop the spread.

U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr

USDA APHIS will make a final ruling in about 60 days after a public comment period in July 2018. The Forest Service considers the emerald ash borer to be the most destructive pest ever seen in North America, with economic costs reaching billions of dollars. Other approaches, including studies on resistant ash trees as well as biological controls are also being researched and explored. Developing a resistant tree and cloning it may be the best answer, says Connecticut state Forester Christopher Martin. Offering a silver lining, Martin said “We don’t think all hope is lost.”

Click here to read the full article

Original Article Information:
Marc Heller, E&E News reporter. Published: Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

OISC Celebrates 10 Years of Invasive Species Hotline

The Oregon Invasive Species Hotline has been around for 10 years now! Since its launch in 2008, there have been over 2000 reports submitted either online or by phone. The OISC would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that has reported invasive species sightings around the state -- you have contributed to vital early detection and rapid response efforts that aim to stop the spread of invasive species.

Percentage of All Reports by Species Category

In their efforts to detect new outbreaks, invasive species experts in Oregon face the daunting challenge of tracking hundreds of potential new invaders across millions of acres of farms, forests, and waterways. They can't do it alone. They need the help of all Oregonians to be their eyes in the field. To report invaders using the Oregon Invasive Species Online Hotline and search past reports, go here. To call in a sighting, call our Invasive Species Hotline: 1-866-INVADER (1-866-468-2337).

Visit our Report an Invader webpage to learn about other ways to report an invader!

Meet the 2018 OISC Chair

Each year, the position of OISC Chair rotates between ex-officio members of the Council. This year, the OISC welcomed its 2018 Council Chair, Glenn Dolphin, from the Oregon State Marine Board. 

Glenn is the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program Coordinator for the State Marine Board and has been with the agency for 11 years. He oversees and coordinates with program partners that the statewide AIS Prevention Program charged with protecting Oregon against the invasion of new aquatic species and managing existing populations to prevent their spread to new waterbodies.      

2018 OISC Chair, Glenn Dolphin.

Glenn came to the Marine Board after working for the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District for five years. While at the District, Glenn became a certified USDA Conservation Farm Planner and a certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control by the International Erosion Control Association. He primarily worked with private landowners in Marion County to provide technical environmental planning assistance to help solve environmental concerns and to design restoration projects. He moved to Oregon 19 years ago, after graduating from college with his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a water quality focus from the State University in New York at Plattsburgh. He is an outdoor recreation enthusiast and enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, boating and camping.