Inland Mendocino Cooperative Weed Management Area
2008 Strategic Plan for Invasive Plants Management

Invasive plants collectively constitute a serious liability for the future of both the inland ecology and the regional economy. Long-term weed -management strategies must be aligned with land management goals in order to gain the voluntary cooperation of stakeholders. The IMCWMA 2008 Strategic Plan arises from the land management goals of its partners and stakeholders, and is based on the principles of trust, unified action, informed decisions, and adaptive, integrated pest management (IPM). The Strategic Plan contains four elements: Education, Information Management, Projects, and Administration.

This planning document consists of four sections and appendices. In the first section, the mission, geographic scope, problem, goals, principles and approach are introduced. In the second section, the IMCWMA program structure and priorities are described. In the third section, the goals, principles and objectives of each program element are stated. The fourth section contains references and other relevant resources. The Appendix to the plan contains definitions of terms.

The mission of the Inland Mendocino Cooperative Weed Management Area partnership is to prevent and minimize harm from invasive plants cooperatively through integrated pest management.

The geographic area adopted for this weed management area consists of all lands and waters in Mendocino County within the borders defined as follows and as shown Figure 1:

• on the west, the watershed boundaries dividing the Russian, Eel and Mattole River basins from the basins of the coastal rivers of the Mendocino Coast Hydrologic Unit
• on the north, the Humboldt-Mendocino county line;
• on the east, the Mendocino county line with adjacent counties Tehama, Glenn and Lake;
• on the south the Sonoma-Mendocino county line.

Headwaters and upper portions of the Russian, Eel and Mattole River basins are included in the area. This geographic region will be referred to as the Inland Mendocino Cooperative Weed Management Area (IMCWMA).

A number of non-native plant species have been introduced in inland Mendocino County. Some of these non-native species have altered plant community composition and vegetation structure, and disrupted ecosystem processes and functions. Many of these invasive plants continue to spread throughout this region, outcompeting native plants. Invasive plants also represent a burden to the human economy, impairing agriculture, forestry, transportation, and aesthetics. These invasive species collectively constitute a serious liability for the future of both the inland ecology and the regional economy.

Long-term weed -management strategies must be aligned with land management goals in order to gain the voluntary cooperation of stakeholders. The land management goals that are held by stakeholders within the IMCWMA, and are relevant to invasive plant management, are:

• Protection and enhancement of functional ecosystems of all lands and waters;
• Minimization of the costs of effective property management;
• Minimization of fire hazards and fire control costs;
• Maximization of the sustainable productivity of fisheries, farms and timber lands;
• Protection and enhancement of the quality of managed landscapes;
• Maximization of the utility of transportation corridors, on land and waters;
• Protection and enhancement of biodiversity in wildlands and waters;
• Protection of human health and safety, and enhancement of the quality of life.

(Note: The goals are not listed in any order of priority.) We recognize that some of these goals are competing, but affirm that they are not mutually exclusive and may be optimally attained through long-term management.

The following concepts constitute the fundamental philosophy for implementing this plan:

• [Trust]: The IMCWMA seeks to build trust and cooperation by recognizing differences and common interests in public and landowner goals;
• [Unified Action]: Unified action, through pooled resources, area-wide priorities, cooperative strategies, and collaborative efforts, is the best method for reducing the extensive ecological, economic, and social impacts of invasive plants upon the resources and residents of the IMCWMA;
• [Informed Decisions]: Successful invasive plant management is based on the best available knowledge of invasive plants- their physiology, life history, environmental requirements, distribution, and control methods- as well as resources at risk;
• [Adaptive Management]: Invasive plant management requires an ecologically-based adaptive management approach;
• [Integrated Pest Management]: (Adapted from [6]) In the application of Integrated Pest Management to invasive plants we will:
  • use monitoring and inspection to stay fully informed about invasive plant populations and conditions that can lead to invasive plant problems;
  • supplement our experience with monitoring and inspection to determine when to act against invasive plants;
  • record monitoring and inspection results, document the performance of treatments and justify herbicide applications;
  • use non-chemical approaches as the first line of defense against invasive plants and evaluate all invasive plant management options for risks to health, the environment and beneficial organisms;
  • solve invasive plant problems with effective, long-term strategies - structural design and maintenance issues that contribute to invasive plant problems are addressed, where appropriate;
  • prepare for changes in invasive plants and IPM techniques, recognizing that improvement involves staying abreast of new technologies and concepts;
  • communicate the IPM approach to others;
  • abide by posting and notification requirements for herbicide applications;
  • identify and target high priority risks for reduction.

This plan addresses four major elements critical to building a strong and successful, regionally-coordinated management program for invasive plants, as follows:

1. Education: Raising Awareness and Prevention. The Education Element will be implemented by the Education Workgroup, whose role is to increase awareness of invasive plants and the reasons for preventing and managing them.
2. Information Management : Early Detection, Survey, Mapping and Monitoring. The Information Management Element will be implemented by the Information Management Workgroup, whose role is to provide the information needed to make effective planning decisions and carry out weed control projects.
3. Projects: Treatment, Restoration and Research. The Projects Element will be implemented by the Projects Workgroup, whose role is to develop and implement invasive plant control strategies following the principles of integrated pest management (IPM).
4. Administration: Governance, Planning, Funding, Membership and Staffing. The Administration Element will be implemented by the Planning Committee, Financial Committee and Coordinator.
   • The role of the Planning Committee is to review, coordinate and guide the overall operations of the IMCWMA.
   • The role of the Financial Committee is to procure and manage the funds of the IMCWMA.
   • The role of the Coordinator is to facilitate communication among the workgroups and committees, to ensure that the workgroups and committees have the resources they need to perform their roles, and to perform outreach to the community to encourage participation in invasive plant management.

1. Partners of the IMCWMA are organizations and individuals who have signed the IMCWMA Memorandum of Agreement.
2. Associates of the IMCWMA are organizations and individuals that further progress towards achieving the goals of the IMCWMA, but have chosen not to sign the Memorandum of Agreement.
3. Stakeholders are all residents, land-owners and local organizations of the IMCWMA.
4. Workgroups and committees guide and assist the Coordinator in carrying out the activities of the IMCWMA.
5. Workgroup participation is open to all Partners, Associates and like-minded Stakeholders.
6. Committee participation is restricted to Partners of the IMCWMA; however, committee meetings are in general open to the public. Closed door sessions of the committees will be held when confidential information must be discussed.
7. Each workgroup and committee will choose a chairperson, whose role is to lead the workgroup or committee and to represent that workgroup or committee on the Planning Committee. The chairperson must be a Partner or representative of a Partner organization.

A thorough assessment of priority invasive plant species and management sites will be conducted after the initial survey and mapping of invasive plant distributions is completed. The assessment procedure is defined below but has not been completed as of 5/7/2008. Until that assessment is completed, short-term planning will be guided by the expert judgment of the Planning Committee. In particular, the IMCWMA is placing high priority in the short-term on

• education focused on prevention, including the implementation of best management practices for weed-free materials and the use of non-invasive plants in firescaping;
• early detection and rapid eradication of Red Alert Weed Species throughout the IMCWMA, including wooly distaff thistle (Carthamus lanatus) and red sesbania (Sesbania punicea) ;
• the containment of waterprimrose-willow (Ludwigia hexapetala)to keep it from establishing in the West Fork of the Russian River or north of Potter Valley;
• establishment of refugia at certain high-value sites through the removal of brooms (Cytisus scoparius, Genista monspessulana, Spartium junceum) on state and county roadsides.
• encouragement of Weed-Prevention Areas through cooperative agreements among neighbors.

1. Sources. An initial list of invasive plant species of potential concern to the IMCWMA is created by merging
   1. the California Invasive Plant Council 2007 Invasive Plant Inventory ( weeds rated H, M or L),
   2. California State Noxious Weeds (rated A, B, C or Q) that are not native to the IMCWMA,
   3. Oregon, Washington and British Columbia Noxious Weeds and invasive plants that inhabit the coast range and inland zone, and
   4. additional weed species of local concern nominated by IMCWMA Partners.
2. Categorization Based on Invasive Plant Management Goals. The management goals of prevention, eradication, containment and establishment of refugia are selected for each species based primarily on its distribution within the IMCWMA. Figure 2 contains a decision tree depicting the categorization process described in this section. Figure 3 shows a schematic of the geometric configuration of infestations associated with each of the weed management goals. Information from the IMCWMA partners and other reliable sources is used to determine which species are currently known to be present in the IMCWMA. If a species is known to be present in the IMCWMA, expert judgment of the IMCWMA partners is used to assess the extent of occupation of each species’ potential distribution. State Noxious Weed Ratings are one of several factors contributing to this categorization.
   1. If most of a species’ potential distribution is occupied, the management goal is establishment of refugia where this species, as well as other invasive plants, has been locally extirpated. C-rated California Noxious Weeds are included in this category. This species will be addressed on a site-specific basis. For further information, refer to the section on Prioritization of Sites.
   2. If some of a species’ potential distribution is occupied, the management goal is containment. To most effectively use IMCWMA resources to implement containment, species in this category will be prioritized based on impacts. For further information, refer to the section on Prioritization Based on Impacts.
   3. If little of a species’ potential distribution is occupied: the management goal is eradication. A-rated California Noxious Weeds are included in this category. To most effectively use IMCWMA resources to implement eradication, species in this category will be prioritized based on impacts. For further information, refer to the section on Prioritization Based on Impacts.
   4. For those species not known to be present in the IMCWMA, expert judgment is used to assess the probability of invasiveness in the IMCWMA.
      1. If a species is determined to be likely to invade,the management goal is early detection. To most effectively use IMCWMA resources, species in this category will be prioritized based on impacts. For further information, refer to the section on Prioritization Based on Impacts.
      2. If a species is not determined to be likely to invade, the management goal is to periodically review the literature for updated information about the species, and reassess as necessary.
3. Prioritization of Efforts
   1. Prioritization based on Impacts: priority is based on the maximum rating from the assessment of ecological, economic and socio-cultural impacts.
      1. Assessment of Ecological Impact
         1. Ecological impact may include impact on abiotic ecosystem processes, impacts on plant community composition, structure and interactions, impacts on higher trophic levels and impacts on genetic integrity.
         2. The initial assignment of Ecological Impact is based on the Cal-IPC Invasive Plant Inventory, 2007 Revision, Ecological Impact rating.
         3. Based on partner input, the Cal-IPC Ecological Impact ratings are modified as appropriate for local conditions.
      2. Assessment of Economic Impact
         1. The initial assessment of Economic Impact is based on the California State Noxious Weed Rating. A species is considered to have a significant Economic Impact if its Noxious Weed rating is A, B, C or Q.
         2. Species of known local economic impact that are not rated Noxious Weeds will also be considered.
      3. Assessment of Socio-Cultural Impact
         1. The nature and assessment of the Socio-cultural Impact of individual invasive plant species has not yet been defined as of 5/7/2008.
   2. Prioritization of Sites: Management of invasive plants at a particular site may have one or more of the following weed management goals: demonstration, prevention, eradication, containment, establishment of refugia, or research. Site priority will be based on the sum of ratings for the characteristics, listed below, associated with the chosen management goals. The ratings will be determined by expert judgment.
      1. Demonstration
         1. Visibility;
         2. Generality;
         3. Multiple Ownership and/or Management;
         4. Probability of Success.
      2. Prevention
         1. Invasibility
         2. Preservation Value
      3. Eradication
         1. Probability of establishment
         2. Feasibility: accessibility, resources, regulatory issues
      4. Containment
         1. Proximity to Leading Edge
         2. Feasibility: accessibility, resources, regulatory issues
      5. Refugia Sites
         1. Value: to fulfillment of land management goals, based on the maximum of economic, ecological and/or socio-cultural value ratings
         2. Threat: sites currently with a low density of non-native plants, but with nearby spreading infestations of invasive plants;
         3. Feasibility: accessibility, resources, regulatory issues

1. Goals
   • Elevated awareness of the community’s need for healthy ecosystems;
   • Increased understanding of the ecological, economic, and social impacts of invasive plants in inland Mendocino Counties;
   • Availability of knowledge, expertise, and other resources about invasive plants and alternatives to invasive plants;
   • Development of educational materials and programs.
2. Principles.
   • The IMCWMA will foster education through collaboration and cooperation.
   • The focus of the Education Workgroup will be community-based exchange of information.
3. Objectives
   1. For 2008 - meet the deliverables identified in current funding, including:
      • Develop the IMCWMA website
      • Develop and distribute Red Alert flyer and firescape alternatives brochure
      • Recruit volunteers for weed surveys and control
      • Conduct outreach regarding the distaff thistle eradication program;
      • develop the online curriculum on vegetation management through native plant restoration;
   2. For 2009-11 - establish a sustainable education and outreach program for invasive plant management including:
      • Maintain the IMCWMA website;
      • Develop additional educational materials at a rate of ? per year, including a poster;
      • Hold public outreach meetings at a rate of at least 1 per year;
      • Hold public educational workshops based on the online curriculum;
      • Conduct directed outreach to recruit volunteers;
      • Distribute educational materials to nurseries, weed-prevention areas and to the IMCWMA Partners for posting and distribution;
      • Conduct outreach to county and municipal agencies (? per year);
   3. For 2011-13:
      • Maintain the education and outreach program above;
      • Maintain and improve the online curriculum through feedback from workshops;
      • Collaboratively develop a weed management handbook

1. Goals
   • provision of strategic, accurate and up-to-date information about weed distribution that can be used to support education, control and basic understanding of ecology of invasive plants;
   • establishment of standards for data collection, management and distribution;provision of technical assistance to other organizations regarding information management for invasive plants.
2. Principles
   • The IMCWMA will utilize and adapt accepted techniques, standards and methods to ensure data quality as well as regional and interagency value.
   • The Information Management Workgroup will ensure that the uses of the data drive the collection of data - including scale, resolution, presence/absence versus abundance, associated characteristics.
   • Responsible information management includes protection of private information and respect for confidentiality concerns.
   • Data that the IMCWMA makes publicly available should be accessible to a broad audience.
3. Objectives
   1. For 2008 - meet the deliverables identified in current funding, including:
      • integrate existing data from our Partners to start a baseline assessment of weed distribution;
      • complete roadside weed surveys on 5% of inland Mendocino county;
      • create and populate a weed distribution database with online forms;
   2. For 2009-11:
      • finish the baseline assessment of weed distribution;
      • establish a sustainable information management program including:
        1. support site-specific surveys and monitoring as needed;
        2. support species-specific early-detection and eradication projects;
        3. support containment decisions;
        4. expand the online database to include management information.
   3. For 2011-13:
      • maintain the information management program described above;
      • establish the capability for analysis of potential range, probability of occurrence and predictive spatial modeling

1. Goals
   • management of weeds;
   • provision of technical expertise on a project-specific basis;
   • maintenance of records concerning weed - control activities in the IMCWMA.
2. Principles
   • The IMCWMA will develop a long-term strategy for implementing weeds management projects.
   • The Projects Workgroup will consider a variety of weed management goals: eradication, containment, and establishment of refugia.
   • The long-term weed management strategy will be two-pronged, having both species-specific and site or ecosystem-specific management perspectives.
3. Objectives
   1. For 2008 - meet the deliverables identified in current funding, including:
      • implement eradication efforts at red sesbania and distaff thistle sites;
      • support WPA management efforts;
   2. For 2009-11 - establish a sustainable projects program for invasive plant management including:
      • develop eradication, containment, refugia and WPA sites as needed;
      • evaluate treatment option through adaptive management on project sites.
   3. For 2011-13:
      • develop eradication, containment, refugia and WPA sites as needed;
      • evaluate treatment option through adaptive management on project sites.

1. Goals
   • establishment of a sustainable and effective IMCWMA Partnership;
   • development and implementation of a governance structure for the IMCWMA;
   • facilitation of internal and external IMCWMA communications;
   • procurement and management of resources, both monetary and in-kind, at a level sufficient to optimally manage invasive plant populations within the IMCWMA;
   • inclusion in IMCWMA activities of all stakeholders who can further attainment of the IMCWMA goals and objectives;
   • employment of staff at a level appropriate to IMCWMA needs.
2. Principles
   • The IMCWMA administration will operate consistently with the overarching principles of the IMCWMA.
3. Objectives
   1. For 2008 - meet the deliverables identified in current funding, including:
      • complete the Memorandum of Agreement;
      • adopt the IMCWMA Strategic Plan;
      • secure funding for the coordinator position for 2009;
      • prepare the NFWF Project Final Report;
   2. For 2009-11 - establish a sustainable administration system for the IMCWMA including:
      • complete a Long-Term Weed Management Plan for red sesbania and distaff thistle eradication sites;
      • procure funding for the tasks of all workgroups;
   3. For 2012-13:
      • revise the Strategic Plan;
      • complete a Long-Term Weed Management Plan for a species targeted for containment (e.g. water primrose-willow).

1. Cal-IPC Invasive Plant Inventory (2007 revision), obtained 5/7/2008 from http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/inventory/index.php
2. “About UC IPM”, obtained 1/16/06 from http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/IPMPROJECT/about.html
3. “Invasive Plant Management: CIPM Online Textbook”, obtained 5/7/2008 from http://www.weedcenter.org/textbook/toc.html
4. “Verified IPM Performance”, obtained form http://www.ipminstitute.org/IPM_Star/ipmstar_guiding_principles.htm

1. An “ecosystem” is comprised of all the biological and physical elements in a physically defined area, including all processes and interactions among those elements.
2. A “native plant species” is constituted by a population of potentially interbreeding plants that have evolved within a given ecosystem over many generations in popular terms. For ecosystems in California, this generally includes all plants present prior to European contact.
3. “Non-native plant species” means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, any species, including its seeds, spores, or other plant material capable of propagating that species, that is not a native species of that ecosystem.
4. “Introduction” means the deliberate or unintentional escape, release, dissemination, or placement of a species into an ecosystem in which that species has not evolved. Such introductions are generally, either directly or indirectly, a result of human activities.
5. An “invasive plant species” is a non-native plant whose introduction has the potential to cause deleterious economic or environmental impacts.
6. For the purpose of this document, a “weed” is equivalent to an invasive plant species.
7. “Control” refers to any of a variety of species-specific weed management goals applicable to species that have already been introduced into an area, ranging from complete eradication to containment or suppression.
8. “Treatment” refers to any of a variety of direct weed control measures, including biological, manual, mechanical, cultural and chemical treatments. It also refers to measures whose goal is to reduce the invasibility of an ecosystem.
9. “Integrated Pest Management” (IPM) is a strategy that focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems with minimum impact on human health, the environment, and nontarget organisms. With regard to invasive plants, IPM emphasizes preventative measures, biological control , adoption of cultural practices that reduce plant invasion, and cost-effective manual, mechanical, or cultural treatments. Herbicides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed to achieve management objectives, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism(s). Control measures are selected and implemented in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment (adapted from [4]).
10. “Ecologically-based adaptive management is conducted with the understanding that prediction of management outcomes in ecosystems is imprecise. Therefore, the focus is on gathering information and adjusting management over time and space for the particular area of interest, and adjusting management practices according to assessment of new information” [5].
11. A “refugium” is a spatially-defined area managed to be free of invasive plants that negatively impact the land management goals of that area.

Figure 1. IMCWMA Map.

Figure 2. Prioritization Tree.

Figure 3. Weed Management Goals illustrated.