Invasive Species Management
Reports
Sustainable Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) for Effective Management on Military Bases and Adjacent Lands across Florida - Annual Reports (2011) and Work Plans (2012), March 2012 (Legacy 11-437) (PDF)
This document details the accomplishments, challenges, and plans for future efforts within 5 CISMAS in Florida, which contain DoD installations as members. This document contains valuable lessons learned and strategies that could benefit anyone developing and implementing a CISMA.
Sustainable Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) for Effective Management on Military Bases and Adjacent Lands across Florida - Monitoring Report (FY11 Photo Monitoring conducted on FY10 Control Projects), 2011 (Legacy 11-437) (PDF)
This FY11 Monitoring Report details the invasive species management and restoration efforts on and adjacent to installations within the CISMA. This includes the following five (5) Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) and military installations involved in this project: Six Rivers CISMA (Eglin AFB), Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance (Tyndall AFB), East Central Florida CISMA (Patrick/Canaveral AFB), Heartland CISMA (Avon Park AFR), and the Florida Keys CISMA (NAS Key West).
Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance CISMA [Includes Tyndall Air Force Base] Invasive Species Management Plan, July 2011 (Legacy 10-437) (PDF)
In 2003 the Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance (ARSA) Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) was founded by stakeholders in the Apalachicola River Region, FL. TNC updated and expanded this document in June of 2011 with support from U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Legacy Resource Management Program to include Tyndall AFB. This plan offers information necessary to implement a cooperative approach to invasive management by maximizing limited financial and personnel resources throughout the region, prioritize highly valued sites, and reduce threats on a landscape scale. Individual land managers are encouraged to use this document as a guide to implement strategies on their own sites. This method will be used as a management tool to protect the native flora and fauna of the Apalachicola River region and serve as a model for other regions. Inclusive in this report is a detailed species-specific Invasive Species Management Plan applicable to Tyndall AFB.
Utilizing Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation of Invaders on Six (6) Military Bases and Adjacent Lands in Florida. Final Report. July 2011 (Legacy 10-437) (PDF)
Since 2009 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Eglin Air Force Base (AFB)with funding from the Legacy Program has worked with military bases in Florida to establish and/or strengthen six Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs). These CISMAs help to reduce reinfestation from invasive species on six DoD bases and three service branches including: Eglin AFB, Tyndall AFB, Camp Blanding ANG, Cape Canaveral AFS/Patrick AFB Avon Park AFR and NAS Key West. This report details the development of the CISMAs, the accomplishments of each, monitoring of projects, and strategic plans for each CISMA. This report also includes a Strategic Plan Template.
Utilizing CISMAs to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation of Invaders on six (6) Military Bases and Adjacent Lands in Florida - Phase I Monitoring Report for Eglin AFB January 2011 (Legacy 10-437) (PDF)
This report details the efforts from mid-March 2010 until mid-may 2010 by EST members in treating Eglin reservation lands for invasive species infestations using mechanical and chemical methods. Targeted species included Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum), Lantana (Lantana camara), Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), and Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum).
Utilizing Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation of Invaders on six (6) Military Bases and Adjacent Lands in Florida-Phase I Monitoring Report for NAS Key West January 2011 (Legacy 10-437) (PDF)
This project was designed to remove priority invasive plants from a public beach area that is directly adjacent to NAS Key West conservation lands. By removing these plants, a nearby seed source was removed thereby reducing re-infestation from this source onto NAS Key West. This Monitoring Report details efforts on approximately one linear mile of infested area. The majority of infestations were latherleaf (Colubrina asiatica) and beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada).
Creating Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida Phase I Report-July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
The overall objective of this effort was to strengthen, sustain and create four CISMAs to address the critical threat from invasive species on four Florida military bases and surrounding lands. Strong CISMAs would have plans to prioritize their efforts, would include many agencies and organization and would use on-the-ground control projects to demonstrate effectiveness in approach. They would also be networked into other CISMAs in the Florida. This report details the efforts for the 1st phase.
Creating Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida: Six Rivers CISMA/Eglin AFB-Strategic Plan July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
Six Rivers CISMA is a partnership of public and private agencies and landowners from across nine Florida and Alabama counties. Alabama counties include Baldwin, Convington and Escambia. Florida counties include Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington. This CISMA includes Eglin Air Force Base, FL. This Strategic Plan with its goals and objectives was designed to guide the interactions of all agencies and landowners within the CISMA boundaries.
Creating Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida: First Coast IWG/Camp Blanding Army National Guard -Strategic Plan July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
The First Coast Invasive Working Group (FCIWG) was established in December 2006 to work across federal, state, local, and private lands for invasive species management. This plan includes Camp Blanding ANG. This Strategic Plan with its goals and objectives was designed to guide the interactions of all agencies and landowners within the CISMA boundaries.
Creating Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida: Keys ISTF/ Naval Air Station Key West -Strategic Plan July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
This Strategic Plan with its goals and objectives was designed to guide the interactions of all agencies and landowners within the CISMA boundaries.
Creating Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida: Heartland CISMA/Avon Park AFR-Strategic Plan July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
This Strategic Plan with its goals and objectives was designed to guide the interactions of all agencies and landowners within the CISMA boundaries.
Department of Defense Island Restoration Opportunities in the Tropical Indo-Pacific through Removal of Introduced Rats, Final Report November 2011 (Legacy 09-438) (PDF)
Introduced rats are known to dramatically affect island biodiversity and so rodents have been removed from approximately 300 islands worldwide, demonstrating that eradication of rats can be a valuable tool for natural resources conservation. This document is a compilation of islands in the tropical and sub-tropical Indian and Pacific (Indo-Pacific) oceans in which the DoD owns or leases, or has management stake in at least a portion of the land area. Also included in this compilation are some non-DoD islands in the same region that have been or may be proposed as mitigation sites for DoD activities on adjacent islands. The islands analyzed here are those for which rat removal, or in the case of already ratfree islands, maintenance in a rat-free state, may be a feasible action for the benefit of the island's native biodiversity and/or the military mission.
Ecological Monitoring Compendium on Wake Island Prior to Rat Removal - Final Technical Report, November 2011 (Legacy 09-438) (PDF)
Introduced rats are known to dramatically affect island biodiversity. On Wake Island, a U.S. Air Force installation in the tropical Pacific, rats predate seabirds and may have extirpated several seabird species from the island. Rats may impact a range of other biota and ecological processes on Wake. The Wake Island eradication provides a valuable opportunity to document ecological changes on such an island by monitoring various taxa before and after the operation. This report contains a Work Plan, Monitoring Protocol, and Sampling Designs for Seabird Monitoring, Shorebird Monitoring, Sea Turtle Monitoring, Vegetation Sampling, Arthropod Sampling, and Rodent Population Monitoring on Wake Island. The protocols and results described in the above reports, if replicated post eradication, can provide valuable documentation of ecological changes on Wake Island resulting from rat removal. These documented changes can then be used to generate predictions about ecological responses to potential rat eradications on other tropical islands on which the Department of Defense (DoD) has a management stake.
Creating CISMAs to Effectively Reduce Re-infestation on Four (4) Military Bases and Surrounding Lands in Florida: Statewide Coordination July 2010 (Legacy 09-437) (PDF)
This document contains a Strategic Plan template for use by Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA) throughout Florida. It should be considered a starting point and should be revised by each CISMA to reflect local area priorities, landowners and membership capacity. It should also be noted that this plan has a strong emphasis on terrestrial invasive plants. However, actions were defined that address animals and pest/pathogens as well as aquatic resources. This document also includes a presentation describing CISMAs and a poster highlighting the project.
Logistical and Technical Support for the North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area: Sharing DoD Invasive Plant Species Management Strategies with Installation Neighbors - Final Report, March 2010 (Legacy 09-334) (PDF)
This project enabled the North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area (NCSWMA) to inventory and control invasive plant populations on lands in the vicinity of the military installations in the Sandhills region. This project assisted the NCSWMA in implementing regional invasive plant management strategies, including preventing the establishment of new invasive plants; inventory, control and monitoring of existing invasive plant populations; increasing public awareness of invasive plant issues and facilitating cooperation with land managers and landowners throughout the Sandhills region to control invasive plants. This Report details the accomplishments and provides detailed maps and GIS data.
Eliminating Invasive Introduced Species While Preserving Native Species in Coastal Meadow Habitat, a Critically Imperiled Ecosystem-Final Report January 2010 (Legacy 08-400): (PDF)
This study investigated the effectiveness of large-scale mechanical removal of Scotch broom and the impacts on native vegetation in a critically imperiled ecosystem: coastal meadow habitat. Three land management priorities were included as part of this study: (1) eradication of the invasive European shrub, Scotch broom; (2) protection of native species in a critically imperiled ecosystem on adjacent non-DoD Lands; (3) improvement of training lands by reducing encroachment of invasive woody species in grasslands.
Invasive Species Guidebook for DoD Installations in the Delaware River Basin (Legacy 08-328) (PDF)
This report provides a guide for invasive plant species identification, management techniques, how to guide on preventing recurring invasive species and restoring historical plant communities, forming cooperative partnerships to acheive management goals and case studies.
Effects of Invasives on the Distribution of Keystone Desert Plants on Military Lands - Technical Report, May 2009 (Legacy 08-411) (PDF)
The overall objective of this project is to better understand the impacts of invasive species on key components of ecosystems and pollinator communities, in order to address management concerns for desert plant communities and their associated threatened and endangered species. The study documented emphasized the integration of invasive nonnative plant invasion with other ecological processes through assessments of the spatial effects and fire dynamics of Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) on the distribution and abundance of Palmer's agave (Agave palmeri), investigations of changes in A. palmeri pollinator community composition.
Invasive Species Guidebook for DoD Installations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Legacy 06-328) (PDF)
The first part of the guidebook covers the most detrimental invasive plant species encountered in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, with pictures and descriptions of each species to aid identification and appropriate control methods. The second part discusses strategies and management activities to prevent recurrence of problem invasive species.
The North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area: Strategic Plan (Legacy 06-334) (PDF)
This document outlines a strategic plan that defines a structure, recommends a membership recruitment strategy, and identifies goals and actions for the North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area over a 5 year period.
Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico (Legacy 06-312) (PDF)
The goal of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of using remotely sensed and GIS data as tools to support early detection of invasive plants on Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB), NM. The proof-of-concept approach was to first create inductive models of potential invasive species habitat based on known plant occurrences on HAFB and then create spatial models of distributional pathways on HAFB, and conducted a risk assessment that allows for prioritizing areas for conservation efforts.
Actions to Abate Critical Threats, such as Encroachment and Invasive Species, Using GIS and Conservation Area Planning Across the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP) Landscape Annual Report (Legacy 05-280) (PDF)
December 2006. This report details the goals and accomplishments during Phase I of this two-year project, which focuses on the initial development of this GIS database and incorporating this database into an updated GCPEP Conservation Area Plan in FL, which includes Eglin AFB. Appendices include invasive species information, a variety of resource maps and project site information.
Brown Treesnake Interdiction and Prevention of Spread, Guam - Final Plan, September 2011 (Legacy 05-238) (PDF)
The Department of Defense has made considerable annual commitments to preventing the inadvertent spread of Brown Tree Snake (BTS) via Guam’s outbound cargo network. This document summarizes current BTS control methods and strategies, locations of strategic actions for BTS containment on Guam and provides recommendations for improvement of these efforts.
Invasive Non-Native Plants That Threaten Wildlands in Arizona, August 2005 (04-1703) (PDF)
This document contains information that identifies and distinguishes those non-native plants that can invade an area and cause adverse ecological impacts from those non-native plants that, at least based on current knowledge, are relatively innocuous.
Transfer of Invasive Species Associated with the Movement of Military Equipment (Legacy 03-123) (PDF)
This document provides a general overview of the current process that exists to clean, inspect, and regulate the movement of invasive species through ports of embarkation and debarkation.
Invasive Species Data Management Support Tools for Cooperative Weed Management Areas, Revised October 7, 2005 (02-1703) (PDF)
The Nature Conservancy, with funding through the Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse (SWEPIC) team, conducted a project from July 2002 to July 2005 to develop computer tools that will help members of cooperative weed management areas (CWMA) in the southwest better manage non-native, invasive plant information and share that data within and among other CWMA's. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Sonoran Desert Invasive Species Council (SDISC) and its two member CWMA's, the King of Arizona and Borderlands.
Manuals
Commander's Guide On Invasive Species (PDF)
Invasive species can take over training lands, injure soldiers, damage equipment, overwhelm listed and at-risk species, and significantly erode natural resources and training budgets. The Commander's Guide on Invasive Species highlights key issues, relevant policies, mission impacts, and key actions that commanders and other installation personnel can take.
Invasive Species Guidebook for DoD Installations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Legacy 06-328) (PDF)
This first part of the guidebook covers the most detrimental invasive plant species encountered in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, with pictures and descriptions of each species to aid identification and appropriate control methods. The second part discusses strategies and management activities to prevent recurrence of problem invasive species.
Development of a Categorized List of Invasive Non-native Plants That Threaten Wildlands in Arizona: Individual Plant Assessments by Species: Vol 2. Hordeum murinum to Vinca major (PDF)
September 2005. Contains detailed individual assessments of invasive plant species common to the southwest US. Assessments include the ecology and an assessment of the potential threat posed by each species.
Yellow Starthistle Management Guide (PDF)
This management guide supports effective land management by compiling current information on the biology, impacts, and control of yellow starthistle. Several techniques are highlighted including mechanical tools, chemical treatments, cultural practices, and biological agents. Each technique is discussed in detail to assist land managers decide the best approach after consideration of a particular site parameters.
A Resource Guide for Invasive Plant Management in the Sonoran Desert, October 2001 (02-1703) (PDF)
Plantas Invasoras del Desierto Sonorense (with printing guidemarks) 2004 (02-1703) (PDF)
Fact Sheets
The Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System - PMIS (Legacy 09-229) (PDF)
Fact Sheet: Removal of Invasive Fire Prone Grasses (Legacy 07/08-362) (PDF)
Fact Sheet: The North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area: Sharing DoD Invasive Plant Species Management Strategies with Installation Neighbors (Legacy 07-334) (PDF)
Summarizes the objectives and accomplishments of this project to assist NCSWMA implementing regional invasive plant management strategies at Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall, North Carolina.
Fact Sheet: The North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area: Facilitating Regional, Invasive Species Management Partnerships Among DoD and Neighboring Land Stewards (Legacy 06-334) (PDF)
This 3 page fact sheet details a project that formed the Weed Management Area (WMA) partnership of Federal, State and local government agencies, as well as, individuals, and various interested groups that cooperatively manage non-native invasive plant species (NIS) in the NC Sandhills. The fact sheet summarizes the project objectives and accomplishments to date.
Invasive Plants in Managed and Natural Systems: Linking Science and Management (Legacy 03-185) (PDF)
Field Evaluation of Chemical Methods for Brown Tree Snake Management (PDF)
Fact Sheet: Model Invasive Species Control Project: Yellow Starthistle (NR) (PDF)
Bad Neighbors: Invasive Species: Impacts on the Environment Invasive Species? (PDF)
Outreach flyer that explains the impact of invasive species common to the NC Sandhills area, and gives some examples and what the general public can do to help control the spread of problematic non-native invasive plants.
Training Materials
Invasive Species Outreach Toolkit
The North Carolina Sandhills Weed Management Area Training Workshop: June 2006 (PDF)
Materials consist of a presentation summarizing the invasive species problems faced by the North Carolina Sandhills region which includes Fort Bragg, defines a weed management area and outlines the plan of action to begin to solve the weed problem.
Publications
Don't Let Your Cat Go AWOL! Indoor Cats Are Safe Cats (PDF)
Biodiversity and Conservation - Effects of a Nonnative, Invasive Lovegrass on Agave Palmeri Distribution, Abundance, and Insect Pollinator Communities (PDF)
Lindsay, D., et al. (2011) Effects of a nonnative, invasive lovegrass on Agave palmeri distribution, abundance, and insect pollinator communities. Biodiversity and Conservation. (Publication for Legacy 08-411 Effects of invasives on the distribution of keystone desert plants on military lands.)
Inventories
Posters
Bringing Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas to the Military in Florida - Poster, April 2012 (Legacy 11-437) (PDF)
This exhibit poster details the highly successful Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) project and presented at the April 2012 Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Annual Symposium.
POSTER Eliminating Invasive Introduced Species While Preserving Native Species in Coastal Meadow Habitat, a Critically Imperiled Ecosystem (Legacy 08-400): (PDF)
This poster depicts the study investigating the effectiveness of large-scale mechanical removal of Scotch broom and the impacts on native vegetation in a critically imperiled ecosystem: coastal meadow habitat.
Tools
The Brown Treesnake, Species Information Sheet - 2011 (Legacy 05-238) (PDF)
This 2-page information sheet provides species information, including biology, habitat, damage, and spread to be used as an outreach tool.
PMIS: The Updated Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (Legacy 09-229)
This dynamic database contains the most current aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant information (including range, introduction information, species description, habitat and growth characteristics, and why it is a problem) and detailed mechanical and chemical methods of control. This Database includes species ID function and numerous photos of each species. The database now contains 174 species and video clips for 80 of these species that help further in characterizing the species, its habitat and growth pattern and diagnostic features. The database is now fully accessible on smart phones and tablets.
[WinZip] Invasive Species Databases: PMIS ISIS and APIS: Desk Top Shortcut Option (Legacy 09-229)
This SETUP package allows for the installation of quick desktop links to three information-packed, dynamic invasive species databases developed by USACE ERDC. By using the Setup feature, one can access the databases without loading additional software to one's computer. The links take you to: The Plant Management Information System (PMIS: containing invasive wetland and terrestrial plant information and herbicide information), Aquatic Plant Information System (APIS: containing not only aquatic species information, but also ecology basics, the phenological cycle of Eurasian watermilfoil, effects of invasive plant communities, steps to develop an Invasive Species Management Plan, plant sampling techniques, and plant propagation methods), and Invasive Species Information System (ISIS: containing detailed information on invasive reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, mammals and plants).
State Agencies
State Plant Regulatory Agencies and Noxious Weed Coordinators (PDF)
SMR Conference Posters
Keys in Controlling the Non-native Plant Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) (PDF)
This handy poster details the most effective steps to take to combat this invasive species depending on the differing levels of infestation.
NC Sandhills Weed Management Areas LEAST WANTED (PDF)
Outreach poster depicting and describing the top 5 least wanted invasive plant species for the WMA.
