December 2021 OISC Meeting Recap

In case you missed it, here is a recap of the most recent Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) meeting held on December 8, 2021. We had 28 attendees representing 24 organizations in total. Representation included 5 Federal Agencies, 6 State Agencies, 2 Educational Institutions, NGOs, advocacy groups, and individuals.

Highlights from the December meeting include: 

• 2 outgoing OISC members were recognized: Dave Pranger (Morrow County) and Jas. Adams (Public Member). The Council appreciates and values their expertise, input, and knowledge over the years.

• The Council approved the nomination of Troy Abercrombie (Western Invasives Network) as Chair and Christine Moffitt (Friends of South Slough Reserve) as Vice Chair for the upcoming year.

• Rick Boatner (2021 OISC Chair, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) gave an update on the 2021-2023 OISC budget, including the status of multiple federal grants. The Budget/Funding Committee will be working with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to figure out discrepancies in budget summaries.

• Rebecca McCoun (North Santiam Watershed Council) gave a presentation on Post-Fire Recovery in the North Santiam Watershed. View the presentation here. 

• Chris Benemann (Oregon Department of Agriculture) gave an update on new, upcoming quarantine rules. This includes making the 180-day emergency rule that was put in place following the interception of of zebra mussels on “moss balls” permanent. The permanent rule would require pre-notification of import into Oregon of these moss balls/marimo. ODA is also looking to implement a new quarantine for spotted lanternfly, which is already spreading rapidly on the east coast. The quarantine would be split into commerce (e.g. nursery stock) and non-commerce (e.g. people moving here from infested areas). 

• Catherine de Rivera (Portland State University) gave an update on the Memorandum of Understanding with ODA. Next steps include the Legislative Committee working with ODA to pursue insurance coverage for the OISC. 

• Karen Ripley (USDA Forest Service) gave an update on behalf of the Communications Committee. The 2020 Annual Report was finalized and is available here. 

Thank you to everyone that was able to join us for the meeting! The next meeting will be held virtually on January 11, 2022. Information about upcoming OISC meetings will be posted on the OISC Meetings Page as details are confirmed. 

Emergency Control Account Project: Invasive Marine Tunicate Response

Year: 2014

Amount: $13,000

Invasive Species Emergency:

In 2010, colonies of Didemnum vexillum, an invasive tunicate, were discovered for the first time in Oregon at two locations: the Umpqua Triangle (Siuslaw estuary) and the Charleston Marina (Coos Bay). Later in 2012 and 2013, new colonies of D. vexillum were discovered on stationary pier pilings in the Charleston Marina and on subtidal surfaces of large jetty boulders along the north jetty of the Umpqua Triangle (Siuslaw River mouth). These new discoveries were alarming because they indicated that the D. vexillum populations had gained sufficient propagule pressure to successfully recruit locally to adjacent habitats, and because they made the jump onto stationary objects (i.e., pier pilings and jetty boulders) that cannot be readily removed as a potential control measure. As a result, the OISC received an emergency funding request for $13,000 from the Oregon State Marine Board in June 2014 to implement an action plan addressing the spread of D.vexillum to stationary pier pilings, floating docks, and jetty boulders in Oregon estuaries.

D. vexillum colony on monitoring substrate in Charleston Marina – July 2013

Species Information:

Didemnum vexillum is a colonial tunicate that is native to the northwest Pacific region of Asia. This invasive species has become widespread in temperate coastal habitats around the world over the past 40 years. 

Why this is Important:

Colonies of Didemnum vexillum can out-compete native epibenthic organisms, such as mussels, scallops, and other sessile species and readily overgrow artificial substrata including pilings, boat hulls, floating docks, cables, mooring lines, cultivated shellfish, and aquaculture gear. Expansion of tunicate colonies may result in moderate economic impacts to shellfish mariculture operations and increase costs to combat fouling in marinas and on the hulls of recreational boats and commercial vessels.

Project Outcome:

During 2014 and 2015 the implementation of the action plan resulted in the small colonies that were present at the Charleston Marina being removed by divers that collected the specimens by hand. These collected specimens were then disposed of and long-term monitoring plates were deployed by the adjacent Institute of Marine Biology for monitoring annually by students. As of 2020, no new colonies had been reported but the COVID-19 pandemic created complications on gathering new data. Diving within the Umpqua Triangle for monitoring of that location has been sporadic as funding for that activity has not been available. It was determined back in 2016 that the overall population was staying static and not significantly increasing so it was decided to just monitor the status over time.

Save the Date! 12/15 Columbia Basin CWMA Webinar

Register now for the upcoming Columbia Basin Cooperative Weed Management Area December webinar, taking place December 15th from 12-3 pm Pacific time via GoToWebinar.

The webinar will feature updates on flowering rush from basin states and provinces, progress on biocontrol and other management topics. View the agenda here.

Register for Columbia River CWMA Fall Webinar 2021:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1273285460995986959

October 2021 OISC Meeting Recap

In case you missed it, here is a recap of the most recent Oregon Invasive Species Council meeting held on October 13, 2021. We had 27 attendees representing 22 organizations in total. Representation included 3 Federal Agencies, 7 State Agencies, 2 Educational Institutions, Tribes, NGOs, advocacy groups, and individuals. 

Highlights from the October meeting include: 

• Nikki Brooks (U.S. Customs & Border Protection) gave an update on the Invasive Species Information Hub progress and next steps. The Council approved publishing the Invasive Species Information Hub and for the Education and Outreach Committee to define and amend Hub terminology.

• Rick Boatner (2021 OISC Chair, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) and Isaak Stapleton (Oregon Department of Agriculture) gave an update on the 2021-2023 OISC budget and workplan. The Council will be putting together a 2023-2025 budget package request by June 2022.

• Todd Adams (Oregon Department of Agriculture) gave an update on the Apple Maggot Emergency Funding Distribution. Council funds were instrumental to continue the response project’s progress made in 2020 and carry through the 2021 to completion. 

• Jalene Littlejohn (OISC Coordinator) gave an update on appointed membership nominations and the work plan for wrapping up 2021.

• Catherine de Rivera (Portland State University) gave an update on the Memorandum of Understanding with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Next steps include a meeting with ODA to talk about agreements.

Thank you to everyone that was able to join us for the meeting! Information about upcoming OISC meetings will be posted on the OISC Meetings Page as details are confirmed. 

Possible Spotted Lanternfly Detection in Washington State

On October 27th, Washington State Department of Agriculture released information calling for the public to keep a watch out for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), a known invasive agricultural pest in Eastern U.S. states following a community member report of a possible sighting in the Omak region.

Spotted lanternfly is a destructive pest attacking primarily grapes, but also has been sighted in other crops such as hops, apples, peach, and other fruit trees. Should it become established in Washington, spotted lanternfly could threaten many Washington iconic crops and result in costly quarantines and increased pesticide use to manage the pest. Establishment in Washington poses a threat for additional spread into Oregon.

“This is another example of the important role everyone plays in stopping invasive species,” said Justin Bush, the [Washington Invasive Species] council’s executive coordinator. “If you spot a suspected invasive species, immediately notify the council through our website or phone app…. You may be reporting a new invasive species and help prevent millions, if not billions, of dollars in damage and loss.”

In Oregon, report potential invasive species sightings to the Oregon Invasive Species Online Hotline: https://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/reports/create. Reports will be responded to during the appropriate season for detection and follow up.

What you can do to help:

• Learn about spotted lantern fly (Lycorma delicatula) and its look-a-likes.

• Examine your trees, especially invasive tree of heaven, and other outdoor surfaces for spotted lanternfly - you are most likely to find egg masses, but you may spot an adult into the middle of November.

• Contribute to Oregon's Tree of Heaven Census to help map the distribution of this invasive plant that is a preferred host for spotted lantern fly: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/oregon-tree-of-heaven-census

• Know someone moving from a spotted lantern fly infested area? Ask them to inspect for egg masses on anything they are moving that has been left outside. Scrape and kill egg masses or adult insect pests that are found on the items to avoid moving them to the West Coast.

• To learn more about invasive species issues in Oregon, check out the recently published Invasive Species Primer found here: https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/threats-and-opportunities-primer

We will continue to post information about this situation and spotted lanternfly here:

Read the full release from Washington here:

https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2021/10/state-entomologists-call-for-public.html