Invasive species pose a serious threat to the economy, infrastructure, and food & water systems, and can impact outdoor recreation opportunities and tourism. The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is a group of state and public agencies, tribes, scientists, land managers, industry leaders, educators, and members of the public who provide leadership and coordination in the collaborative effort to protect Oregon from invasive species. Each year, the OISC sends out a request for nominations to fill available appointed member seats. One new member was selected to serve on the Council for a two year term (2022-2023) and six Council members were re-appointed for a second term.
In addition to the new council member, Troy Abercrombie (Western Invasives Network & North Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area) will serve as the OISC Chair for 2022 and Christine Moffitt (Friends of South Slough Reserve) will serve as the 2022 Vice Chair.
The OISC welcomes the following new and returning members:
Katie Murray, Oregonians for Food & Shelter
1st term on the Council
Katie is the Executive Director of Oregonians for Food & Shelter (OFS), having joined the organization in 2020 after 14 years at Oregon State University. Katie has over 16 years of experience working on pest issues around the state, including coordination with state natural resource agencies and a broad array of stakeholders. Like the Oregon Invasive Species Council, OFS aims to protect Oregon’s natural resources and economy through the integrated and responsible management of pests, including invasives. OFS is a broad coalition of more than 500 members across agriculture, forestry, and urban settings who are concerned with the protection of modern tools for healthy working and urban lands and spaces. Katie is serving on the Council as a member of the public.
Troy Abercrombie, Coordinator of Western Invasives Network
2nd term on the Council
Troy currently serves as the Coordinator for the Western Invasives Network (WIN), a network of 11 Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) that encompass 21 counties in western Oregon, southwest Washington and parts of Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. In this role, Troy facilitates and assists with the coordination of the CWMAs and their associated activities while serving as a resource to their membership, providing support for project development, partner recruitment, and community engagement. Troy represents an entity with a headquarters or principal operations in Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln or Tillamook Counties and with a purpose of responding to invasive species concerns.
During his first term on the Council, Troy served on numerous committees and brought forward the perspectives of the WIN membership. In 2021, Troy served as the Vice-Chair of the Council and worked hard to move Council objectives forward, including education & outreach products, interagency agreements and public webinars.
Edward “Chuck” Fisk, F5 Wildlife Control
2nd term on the Council
Chuck represents an entity with a headquarters or principal operations in Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion or Polk Counties and with a purpose of responding to invasive species concerns.
Chuck is the owner and operator of F5 Wildlife Control. One of the main components of effective wildlife control is the mitigation and elimination of invasive species. F5 is frequently called upon to control invasives such as nutria, opossums, and starlings. Primarily serving as a field technician has enabled observations and reports of illegal aquarium dumping as well as yard waste disposal while occasionally cataloguing and reporting invasive plant species.
During his first term on the Council, Chuck was able to inject the viewpoints of private business into council deliberations as well as the practical reality of where science intersects with social and economic concerns. This helped maintain a diverse council atmosphere where many professional and public concerns were considered.
Peter Kenagy, Farmer at Kenagy Family Farms & Regional Representative of the Oregon Farm Bureau
2nd term on the Council
As a lifelong resident, farmer, and manager of 450 acres along the Willamette River in Benton County, Peter has seen firsthand the shifts in vegetation and pressures of invasive weeds both on agricultural lands and natural areas over the last 45 years. He is active with both the Oregon Farm Bureau and Benton County FB in addition to being on the board of directors for the Specialty Seed Growers of Western Oregon and has been part of the Benton County CWMA since its inception. Peter has a unique and broad perspective on the issues and challenges that invasives present for both our natural
areas and working lands. Peter represents an organization or association that advocates on behalf of private industry in this state.
During his first term on the Council, Peter co-chaired the legislative committee in 2020 and met with and helped recruit the legislative liasons to the OISC
Tim Newton, Chair of Malheur Soil and Water Conservation District
2nd term on the Council
Tim is the current Chairman of the Malheur County SWCD and has 50 years of experience working in agriculture with progressive irrigation and water conservation techniques. In his role, he works with producers and landowners in Malheur County to address invasive species issues. Currently, they have 6 on-the-ground projects that deal with invasive species. Tim represents an entity with a headquarters or principal operations in Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Klamath, Lake or Malheur Counties and with a purpose of responding to invasive species concerns.
During his first term on the Council, Tim has been a valuable contributor at regular meetings and on committees.
Cheryl Shippentower, Plant Ecologist at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
2nd term on the Council
Cheryl is a Plant Ecologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Department of Natural Resources. In this role, her primary responsibility is the protection, enhancement, and ecological restoration of First Foods that are critical to Tribal culture. Because invasive species impact ecosystems that support First Foods, invasive species management is a major component of her work. Cheryl represents a Native American or Indian tribe or association of tribes within this state.
During her first term on the Council, Cheryl served on The Oregon Invasive Species Hub committee and hopes to make positive and meaningful contribution to the Council’s mission.
Alex Staunch, Operations Manager/Project Manager at Mosaic Ecology
2nd term on the Council
Alex is a Natural Resource Scientist at Mosaic Ecology, a private natural resource management firm based in Portland, OR. In this role, Alex manages a diverse portfolio of monitoring, surveying, and mapping projects and he uses his background in taxonomy and plant systematics to identify rare natives and new non-natives on the ground. He also manages on-going wetland restoration projects in the Willamette Valley and leads terrestrial restoration efforts in the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. Alex represents an entity with a headquarters or principal operations in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington or Yamhill Counties and with a purpose of responding to invasive species concerns.
For his second term on the Council, Alex will be involved in the education & outreach community, will contribute to The Oregon Invasive Species Hub, and hopes to better communicate the Council’s work with those in the Portland Metropolitan area and beyond.
