The impacts of invasive weeds and the importance of their management are becoming apparent to a wide variety of organizations.After habitat loss, invasive species have been recognized as the second largest danger to threatened and endangered species (Precious Heritage: The status of biodiversity in the United States, TNC).According to a study commissioned by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, 21 state-listed noxious weeds alone cause economic losses to Oregon of over $83 million per (Oregon Noxious Weed Strategic Plan, ODA, 2001).Throughout the four county region, there are a multitude of economic impacts which arise as a result of exotic plant infestations.Some of the most prevalent and intrusive impacts include:loss of revenue in nursery, farming and timber industries, increased roadside and power line maintenance costs, and an increased cost in maintenance of drainage ditches.Ecological impacts are also widespread and include degradation of water quality, loss of wildlife habitat and loss of rare and typical native plants in natural areas and open spaces.
The Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, Washington (CCMW) CWMA exists to create and support collaborative weed management among land managers and owners within these four counties (Appendix II:List of Cities and Large Private Landowners).Private lands include residential areas within incorporated cities and subdivisions, commercial and industrial properties, crop-producing farms and container nurseries.Weeds extend across multiple ownerships and travel over the landscape.For this reason, collaboration and partnerships are essential for effective management.In addition, partnerships can access new sources of funding and increase implementation efficiency.This plan is intended to provide guidance to local government on methods for utilizing available resources and capital on the noxious weed problem regardless of political boundaries.The CWMA promotes weed education/outreach, weed inventory and prevention, and weed control activities.
The CCMW CWMA (informally known as Four-County CWMA) includes 3727.6 square miles of land delineated on a map by the boundaries of the four counties.The CWMA has a total population of 1,894,321and includes the major urban and suburban areas of Portland, Vancouver, Gresham, Tualatin, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Oregon City as well as many smaller towns.
The counties also have extensive rural agricultural lands as well as important natural areas.The economy of the CWMA is very diverse including manufacturing, retail sales, import/export, government agencies, education, agriculture, forestry, recreation and tourism.Industrial areas are concentrated around the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and in the Columbia Slough Watershed.River drainages in the area include the Columbia, Clackamas, Lewis, Sandy, Salmon, Santiam, Tualatin, Trask, and Willamette Rivers.
The area has a diverse range of plants, wildlife, and their habitats.There are at least six distinct ecosystem types:cold, high elevation noble fir forests, wet western hemlock forests, mixed pine and fir forests, oak woodlands, valley grassland or prairie, and riparian communities. Loss of habitat, pollution, hydrologic alterations and exotic species introductions are the greatest factors contributing to the listing of federal and state Sensitive, Threatened and Endangered species.Within these ecosystems there are 63 endangered or threatened fish, wildlife and 19 plant species (Appendix III).Wildlife, which are generalists adapt more easily to pressures of development and urbanization.Examples of native fauna in urban areas are raccoons, coyotes, deer, beaver, sturgeon, and birds such as snow geese, Canada geese, robins, hummingbirds, eagles and osprey.There are also many native plants, which are more tolerant of disturbed conditions that commonly occur in heavily urbanized counties.Examples of native flora which tolerate these conditions are Douglas fir, Oregon grape, snowberry, western yarrow and Canada goldenrod.
Current CWMA MOU Participants:
Mt. Hood National Forest
Johnson Creek Watershed Council
BLM, Salem District
Port of Portland
Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District
Three Rivers Land Conservancy
East Multnomah SWCD
Tualatin SWCD
West Multnomah SWCD
Tualatin River Watershed Council
Metro Parks and Greenspaces
Portland Parks and Recreation
The Nature Conservancy
Oregon Department of Transportation
Clark County Weed Management
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Northwest RC&D
Clackamas SWCD
Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation
Cascade Pacific RC&D
The Wetlands Conservancy
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
City of Portland Environmental Services
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Forestry
Noah’s Nibblers, LLC.
Clean Water Services
City of Gresham
Management principles
The CWMA uses integrated weed management with the following principles:
Projects are designed using an ecosystem management approach based on an understanding of weed biology, weed ecology, and landscape level processes.
Treatment copies a wildfire management model with the following priorities:
a)Target sources of spread and isolated populations while protecting high value localities.
b)Determine the perimeter of larger infestations and contain them to the area.
c)Attack larger infestations or widely dispersed weeds using biocontrols when available.
Control projects are designed after serious consideration of a range of treatment options so that the control methods are the most effective and appropriate to a given situation.
Projects include a vision and plan for desired future conditions after the weeds are gone.
Education and outreach activities are targeted to specific audiences, with clearly defined desired behavioral changes.
Definition of management levels
Eradicate:the weed species is eliminated from the management area, including all viable seeds and/or vegetative propagules.
Control: Dispersal is prevented throughout the target patch and the area coverage of the weed is decreased over time.The weed is prevented from dominating the vegetation of the area but low levels are accepted.
Contain: Weeds are geographically contained and are not increasing beyond the perimeter of the infestation.Treatment within established infestations may be limited, but areas outside are controlled or eradicated.
Reduce: The density and/or rate of spread of the weed are reduced across a geographic area.
Custodial: Specific treatment for a particular plant is deferred at this time.Infestations may be treated as a result of other weed priorities.The species may not be inherently invasive, habitats are not susceptible to invasion, or the infestation is not treatable with current technology.
Goal
Prevent the introduction and control the spread of harmful invasive plant species in the CWMA region by facilitating cooperative management among all willing land managers.
Objectives and activities
1)Manage the CWMA through information sharing and relationship building.
Activities
a)Have regular CWMA meetings.
b)Use the Willamette-weed listserv to share and seek advice.
c)Involve new partners to represent all major land managers and others who work on weed issues (including industry).
d)Track legislative issues, funding opportunities, and other pertinent issues.
e)Develop and maintain an MOU, Management Plan and Yearly Operating Plan.
f)Develop long-term management objectives for weeds of concern, according to area prioritization.
g)Develop and maintain a reporting system.
h)Conduct tours and training for group members.
2)Inventory and assess weeds
Activities
a.Collect evidence of new invading species by mapping locations with GPS and taking photographs.
b.Develop protocols for surveying and mapping weed sightings.
c.Coordinate the use of a regional mapping system.
d.Develop and maintain monitoring and evaluation programs.
e.Develop risk assessment methodology and use it to assess potential invaders.
f.Maintain a shared database for inventory data of new and well-established weeds.
g.Review the weed list on a yearly basis.
h.Track and assess weed spread.
3)Conduct outreach to raise awareness about weeds among the wider public.
Activities
a)Prepare an annual report showing accomplishments and distribute to funding sources, media, government, citizen groups, etc.
b)Find/make brochures for consumers about horticultural weeds.
c)Develop awareness, education, and training programs.
·Provide updates to local nurseries/growers about potentially invasive plants.
·Work with consumers to educate them about these issues.
·Publish BMP’s for landowners for most threatening species.
d)Provide weed information to nurseries, landscapers, and homeowners.
e)Provide weed information to the media in order to generate helpful coverage.
f)Have weed booths at public events.
g)Sponsor local activities in coordination with the Oregon Invasive Species Council and National Weed Awareness Week.
4)Sponsor effective and innovative weed control (with restoration) projects.
Activities
a)Develop Best Management Practices for weed control (with restoration).
b)Conduct control projects on any of the following established weeds: clematis, ivy, knotweeds, butterfly bush, purple loosestrife, parrot feather and other aquatics.
c)Conduct control activities on new invaders.
d)Generate news coverage, build on-site kiosks, and take monitoring photos to show successful demonstration projects.
An example of the CWMA’s immediate and tangible goals:
1. Develop an interagency mapping and inventory system.
Coordinate between City, County, Regional agencies and non-profit or community groups working in the CWMA to develop and implement data standards leading towards a shared weed mapping and inventory system.
2. Develop educational materials for horticultural plant consumers.
Work with regional partners including local Extension Agents, the Master Gardener Program and the Native Plant Society of Oregon to develop educational materials which will provide a basis for understanding how consumers of horticultural plants impact greenspace areas.
Structure and Process
a)Steering Committee
Roles:
-Share information.
-Maintain the MOU by adding new members as necessary.
-Develop the Management Plan and the Annual Operating Plan and coordinate their implementation.
-Provide leadership to obtain staff support to coordinate CWMA.
-Interact with media and interested citizens.Partners will take the lead on their particular projects.
Composition and Process:Representatives of signatories to the MOU will form the core of the group, but the meetings will be open to any other interested persons.The Committee will convene roughly every two months and make decisions by consensus.
b)Subcommittees.For specific projects or tasks, ad hoc groups will be formed which can exist for a short time or indefinitely.
c)CWMA Coordinator.The CWMA Coordinator is a staff position to help facilitate the CWMA, raise funds, manage projects, and deal with public relations related to the CWMA as a whole.This position is currently unfilled but may be added in the future.
d)Meeting management. Steering Committee members will take turns as chair (prepare agenda and lead meeting) and secretary (prepare and distribute meeting notes).
e)Funding.The CWMA will not handle funding directly.Partner organizations will apply for and manage grants themselves.Where resources need to be shared, separate agreements between the relevant parties will be developed.
f)Planning:The Steering Committee will prepare an annual Operating Plan which specifies activities, responsible parties, deadlines for completion, and resources available to accomplish activities.
Modifications and term
The Management Plan is a living document and will be revised as needed by the Steering Committee.The Plan will be reviewed on a yearly basis and the Weed List adjusted as necessary.
List of Attached Appendices
Appendix 1: Weed List
Appendix II:List of Cities and Large Private Landowners
Appendix III:State and Federally Listed Wildlife Species
