Katie Villano from the University of Alaska Fairbanks speaks to Tetlin Refuge staff about her work mapping invasive plants on recently burned areas of interior Alaska.

White sweetclover occurs along the Alaska Highway adjacent to the Tetlin NWR.

Located in the eastern most region of Interior Alaska, Tetlin Refuge is at a strategic location for the early detection of invasive species entering Alaska via the Alaska Highway corridor and Tanana River watershed.  For several years, refuge staff have been surveying and mapping invasive plant species along the highway corridor and refuge creeks and rivers.  When refuge staff heard a group of regional invasive plant experts would be passing through Tok en route to a conference in the Yukon, they seized upon the opportunity to share and exchange information. 

With an offer to stay in our refuge cabins, the group of weed warriors graciously accepted an invitation to participate in a community forum on invasive plants.  Presentations were made on invasive plants of concern in Alaska; invasive plants & wildfire in the boreal forest; control options for white sweetclover (locally our most widespread invasive plant); and an overview of the work done by the Committee for Noxious & Invasive Plant Management (CNIPM). 

The forum was attended by staff, a representative from our local Refuge Friends group, and the public.  In addition to sharing information with attendees, the forum gave the weed scientists a chance to hear about Refuge concerns and explore opportunities for future research on Tetlin Refuge.