Summer 2019 OISC Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who came out to our July 2019 OISC meeting that took place at the Oregon Department of Forestry in Salem, OR. Here is a quick recap of the meeting in case you missed it:

Chair Update and Budget Report

The legislative session ended on June 30, 2019 and the OISC received $150,000, plus a one-time appropriation of $300,000 through House Bill 5050. Between now and the next Council meeting, a budget will be developed that includes Council operations, contribution to the state’s emergency control account for invasive species, and education & outreach grants.

WGA Policy Resolution 2019-06, Biosecurity and Invasive Species Management Update

Bill Whitacre from the Western Governors Association joined the meeting via conference call. WGA’s Biosecurity Initiative is a year long initiative including four workshops in the west and a resulting report with policy resolution. Each workshop was held on a different topic and recordings are available online if you missed them. You can also find the  Policy Resolution 2019-06 here, which gives direction to WGA going forward and the Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Special Report, which includes 30-40 specific recommendations to improve invasive species management in the west.

Council Priorities & Implementation

With the passing of Senate Bill 445, there will be updates to the Council’s membership, leadership and reporting structure. Next steps for the Council include updating the Council’s operating procedures, Administrative Rules and work plan to satisfy both the resulting changes from SB445 and the Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species. Highlights from three priority topic discussions about council priorities and implementation are below.

Small Group Working Session Highlights

Snapshot of Outreach & Education Grants Discussion

Discussed a two-tiered approach for launching an outreach & education grant program. 

• Tier One: General invasive pest topics or campaigns based on Council’s priorities. Discussed media and collaboration with travel organizations and other industries.

• Tier Two: Fewer, smaller projects or campaigns including social media and school projects (outdoor school, sports clubs, etc.)

Snapshot of Council Priorities Discussion

• SB 445 implementation

• Evaluate Action Plan

• Maintain hotline

• Fundraising & grant writing

• Working with industry

• 2020 Summit

Snapshot of Communication Planning Discussion

• Create products that share stories

• Connect efforts and people

• Emphasis on benefits of coordinated effort 

• Cross-boundary collaborations

• Publicize invasive hotline 

• Robust events calendar

• Interactive story map showcasing across the state

Thank you for a productive Council Meeting!

We hope to see you at the next meeting in eastern Oregon on October 15-17, 2019. More details will be available soon on the OISC meetings page.

Be on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation issued a statement warning residents to be on alert for the well-known invasive bug called the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). These bugs feed on more than 70 species of plants, including some that are economically important to Oregon, such as apple trees, grapevines, and hops. Before the bugs become adults, the nymphs are small and black with white spots, which turn red for a short period of time and look like the one featured below in the video. While these invasive pests have not been reported in Oregon, it’s important to be informed and stay on the lookout for potential threats. If you think you’ve found a spotted lanternfly nymph or an adult spotted lanternfly, please call the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline at 1-866-INVADER (1-866-468-2337). To learn more about the spotted lanternfly, check out this useful webpage here.

Spotted lanternfly fourth (final) instar nymph (immature). Credit: itchydogimages

Profile of spotted lanternfly adult at rest. Note the wings are held tent-like over the back of the insect. Credit: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Meet Norie Dimeo-Ediger!

Meet Norie Dimeo-Ediger, joining the OISC in 2019 as an at-large Council member. Norie holds a master’s degrees in both K-12 science education and adult education, and she currently acts as the Director of K-12 Education Programs at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. Throughout her career, she has acted as an educator in many settings, from classroom to field programs to community colleges to her current setting at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. She has both formal and non-formal environmental and outdoor education experience.

Having worked for over 30 years in and outside the classroom, educating students of all ages, it is an exciting opportunity to have Norie on the Council. She is well-known and respected throughout the state for working collaboratively to develop and support relevant and useful programming and resources. Norie also brings an expertise in building diverse and collaborative partnerships and an ability to engage audiences in understanding important ecological concepts.

When it comes to invasive species work, Norie comes at this topic with a lens of forest management. Invasive species are of paramount importance for the health of forest species and forest practices. A top concern of Norie’s is the invasive species that are introduced via firewood. She understands the importance of storytelling when it comes to educating about the threats of invasive species, which is part of why she’s excited to be a newly appointed OISC Council member! Norie told us in an interview, “I’m most looking forward to leveraging resources, not reinventing wheels. I look for different talents and ways to approach solutions in a group setting.”

We’re back!

Hello! Due to budget concerns, the Oregon Invasive Species Council Coordinator had to take a brief hiatus from social media and website through June. However, we are happy to announce that we’ve returned and are ready to get back on track! Please feel free to send us any information you find relevant to invasive species news, including upcoming events, reports, risk assessments, best practices, or projects you are working on!

The next Council meeting will be held July 30th in Salem. For the most up-to-date information on upcoming Council meetings, please visit our Meetings Page. 

We’re excited to be back!

New Council Member Friday: Olivia Duren

For our first post in the series “New Council Member Fridays,” Meet Olivia Duren:

Joining the Council as an at-large member in 2019! Olivia received her Masters of Science in Botany at Oregon State University and is now a Riparian analyst with The Freshwater Trust. Olivia works at the intersection of applied ecology and restoration. This means she connects research and management for effective restoration practices.

Invasive species are one of the primary threats to successful riparian restoration and the ecosystem services that she is trying to restore (i.e. water retention, water temperature, fish & wildlife habitat). Invasive species, particularly noxious weeds, continue to be a critical issue impacting restoration. Olivia wants to address this issue to protect Oregon’s resources for future generations.

Outside of work, Olivia loves discovering new places to explore with her family. If it’s down a dirt road and along a river, she is there! Recently, Olivia was able to combine her adventures with a role as volunteer botanist out in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa Mountains. She combined efforts to both set up a new GLORIA site and spend time catching bugs with her kids.

Picture of Olivia Duren exploring with family and doggo.

As a new Council member, Olivia is most looking forward to learning from her fellow Council members and connecting efforts across Oregon, Idaho, and California.