Statistical Modeling Helps Fisheries Managers Remove Invasive Species

From ScienceDailey:

"South Dakota State statisticians and natural resource management researchers have worked together to determine the best time and location to capture and remove a maximum number of invasive carp from lake systems. 

Carp feed on bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrates, such as bloodworms, by sucking up the mud, then selecting their food and ejecting most of the non-food portion. This feeding technique dislodges vegetation and stirs up sediment, which makes the water cloudy and causes nutrient release and algal blooms, Brown explained. These actions degrade the quality of the lake water and impact native fish populations.

'Carp are not a preferred species, so they go untapped in terms of angler harvest,' Brown explained. Consequently, commercial harvest is one of the methods used to decrease carp populations. But figuring out where and when to 'cast their nets' to harvest a maximum number of carp involves complex modeling -- that's where the statisticians can help."

S.D. GFP biologists Dave Lucchesi and Todd St. Sauver, front; Matt Hennen, in orange cap, and crew remove carp from Lake Norden. Credit: Image courtesy of South Dakota State University.

The original article, which was published on December 16, 2017 in ScienceDaily, can be accessed by clicking here. 

Reference:
South Dakota State University. "Statistical modeling helps fisheries managers remove invasive species." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 December 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171216154305.htm>.

The Battle Against Japanese Beetle: Round 2

From the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA): 

With year one of an expected five-year Japanese beetle eradication effort completed in the Cedar Mill area of Washington County, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is formulating plans for 2018 that go beyond this year’s treatment area. The expansion is not unexpected and ODA is hopeful that community support remains impressively strong.

“Going into year two, the message really hasn’t changed,” says Clint Burfitt, manager of ODA’s Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program. “This is still a community-based project. If we are going to be able to eradicate Japanese beetle, it’s because the people in the community want to be a part of this project. What we saw this first year was strong, vocal, and explicit grassroots support from the community that they appreciate what we are doing and how we are doing it.”

To read the full article from ODA, click here. 

For more information about the Japanese beetle eradication project, click here.

From NRCS: "The Rancher in the Rye"

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently posted a great article about how one Oregon rancher, with the help of the NRCS, used a conservation plan to improve hundreds of acres of land that were inaccessible, overgrown with invasive weeds and thick brush, only a few years ago. 

"Buying more land isn’t always an option. But often, you can make your existing land go much further. By removing invasive weeds, seeding rye grass and adopting rotational grazing, Oregon rancher Jeff Baxter was able to produce a whole lot more on the same number of acres."

Read the full article here.

Reclaiming over 100 acres of land from invasives means better grazing for Jeff's cattle and a cheaper hay bill. Courtesy photo by Jeff Baxter.

Jeff Baxter (left) and David Chain review the conservation plan that transformed Baxter Ranch. NRCS photo by Spencer Miller.

Congratulations to the Gorse Action Group!

Earlier this week, the Gorse Action Group (GAG) signed a Declaration of Cooperation (DOC) to address the issue of controlling ---and eradicating--- Gorse. This noxious weed introduced to Bandon in the 1890s rapidly invades land, creating a very thorny problem for parks, roadsides, ranches, farms, and forests. It is also highly flammable and one of the most difficult weeds to manage in the world. This is a serious issue for the vitality of the South Coast, and anywhere else that Gorse spreads!

Join the fight against Gorse - check out the GorseActionGroup.org website for more information. 

Mary Schamehorn, Mayor of Bandon, seen signing the DOC.

Jim Seeley, Executive Director of the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance and Co-convener of the Oregon Solutions Gorse Project, seen signing the DOC.

Extended Deadline for New Council Member Nomination

OREGON INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL REQUESTS NOMINATIONS FOR 5 COUNCIL SEATS

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Statewide, OR... DEADLINE EXTENDED.  The deadline for nominations has been extended to December 11, 2017 at 10:00 am.  

The Oregon Invasive Species Council is seeking nominations for 5 at-large member seats that become vacant at the end of December. Strong nominees will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Environmental Law

• Marine and Estuary Ecology

• Aquaculture

• Horticulture

• Weed Control

• Small Woodlands

• Parks and Recreation

• Science Education/K-12

• Pet Industry

• Regional Coordination

• Seed or Nursery Industry

The council is particularly interested in representation from Eastern, Southern, or Central Oregon.  Nominees should be willing and able to serve for two years. Council members are expected to attend 2-3 meetings per year in various parts of the state, participate in conference calls, and contribute to other Council activities. There is a two-term limit. Council members are not paid but are reimbursed for travel expenses associated with Council business, including Council meetings.

Nominations and questions about the process should be directed to Jalene Littlejohn, Oregon Invasive Species Council Coordinator (coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org).  Please include the individual’s name, title, phone, e-mail, and mailing address, as well as a brief description of their qualifications (self-nominations are acceptable). In addition, the Council requests a statement from the person being nominated that explains their interest and contributions they are willing to make to the Council. Letters of support for the nominee are helpful. The deadline for nominations is December 11, 2017. The council will welcome the new appointees at the first meeting of the Council in 2018.

The Council is comprised of representatives from seven state agencies: Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University (Sea Grant), Portland State University (Center for Lakes and Reservoirs), Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Marine Board, and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Ten at-large members are appointed by the agency representatives. Council members are drawn from government agencies, universities, industries, organizations, and individuals with an interest and expertise in some aspect of invasive species management.