June 2018 OISC Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who made it to the June 2018 OISC meeting on the southern Oregon Coast - and a special thank you to our hosts at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB), the Charleston Marine Life Center, and The Bandon Community Center!

Day 1 at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

The 2-day event was packed with engaging presentations, group discussions, field trips, and a joint meeting with the Oregon State Weed Board.

A quick recap:

• We had more than 80 attendees over the 2-day event, representing nearly 40 organizations.

• Representation included 8 State Agencies, 5 Educational Institutions, 4 Federal Agencies, 3 Tribes, and many others, including city/state elected officials, NGOs, advocacy groups, and individual community members.

• ...and 3 people tried oysters for the first time!

 

Day 1: OISC Meeting in Charleston, OR

We learned about and connected with:

• Marine vectors & ballast water from Rian Hooff at Oregon DEQ (View PDF)

• Early detection / rapid response programs from Bree Yednock at South South Slough Estuarine Research Center (View PDF)

• Coastal tourism and partnership opportunities from Miles Phillips at Oregon Sea Grant (View PDF), Dave Lacey at Oregon Coast Visitors Association (View PDF), and Janice Langlinais at Coos Bay - North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau (View PDF) 

• Reporting and tracking invasive species using Oregon's Invasive Species Hotline and iMap Invasives from Lindsey Wise at Institute for Natural Resources (View PDF)

• Biofouling invasions and issues from Glenn Dolphin (2018 OISC Chair) at Oregon State Marine Board (View PDF) and Zofia Knorek at OIMB (View PDF)

• Coos Watershed Association's education, detection and response (Strike Team!) programs from Ed Hughes (View PDF)

• Partnerships, planning and data by the Partnership for Coastal Watersheds from Jenni Schmitt at South Slough Reserve and Don Ivy with the Coquille Indian Tribe (View PDF)

• An active update to the Rocky Shores Management Strategy from Deanna Caracciolo & Andy Lanier at Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (View PDF)

• Green Crab detections and monitoring from Jenni Schmitt 

• Whole watershed restoration efforts in the South Slough

Day 2: OISC/OSWB Joint Meeting in Bandon, OR

We learned about and connected with:

• Feral swine detections in S. Oregon and a new State Action Plan for Feral Swine in the future from J.D. McComas at USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (View PDF)

• Economic and environmental consequences of Sudden Oak Death from Wyatt Williams at Oregon Department of Forestry (View PDF) & Representative David Brock Smith

• Forest Service priorities and invasive species projects from Karen Ripley and Ellen Michaels Goheen at US Forest Service (View PDF)

• Noxious weed control to protect sensitive habitats and endangered plants from Sherri Laier at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

• Impacts of Gorse and collaborative solutions through the Gorse Action Group from Jim Seeley at Wild Rivers Coast Alliance (View PDF)

• Opportunities to engage with policy makers from Representative McKeown

• Collaborative funding strategies

• Successful early detection and rapid response efforts to control new harmful weeds in partnership with Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon State Parks

Here’s to another successful Council Meeting -- 

We hope to see you at the next one!

Information on past and future meetings can be found on the OISC Meetings page. 

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*Note: The views and opinions expressed in the attached file(s) or link(s) above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oregon Invasive Species Council. Please contact the author directly if you have any questions regarding the content.

Upcoming OISC Meeting along the Southern Oregon Coast

As we approach the middle of June, an important event to keep on your radar is the upcoming 2-day OISC meeting happening on June 19th and 20th along the Southern Oregon Coast! Here’s a quick break down of the event:

Day 1 will kick off in Charleston, OR at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and will focus primarily on aquatic invasions. There will be field trips to local sites in the afternoon and a social hour following the meeting.

Day 2 will be a joint meeting with the Oregon State Weed Board (OSWB) in Bandon, OR and will take place at the Bandon Community Center (The Barn). There will also be field trips to local sites in the afternoon.

View/download the OISC meeting agenda  ||  View/download the OSWB meeting agenda

Be sure to keep an eye out for our post-meeting blog entry that will recap the meeting and include topics discussed and thoughtful questions brought forward.

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.