The Blue Ridge PRISM Introduction to the PRISM Rod Walker , Landowner Ashton Fisher, Program Director July 22, 2017 www.blueridgeprism.org PRISM = Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management

Plan for Today Plant ID for any plants brought in Introductions Introduction to the Blue Ridge PRISM - Ashton PRISM updates – Rod et al PEC presentation Creating a Rappahannock organization

Introductions and Background Go around the room for introductions Where is your land – county or town? Why are you here? What do you want to learn?

It All Started with Bittersweet

It All Started with Bittersweet

It All Started with Bittersweet

Background Many landowners struggle with invasive plants Threats to forests – both trees and vines Understory impacts – both shrubs and groundcovers Farm fields – thistles, autumn olive, stiltgrass, … Invasive plants present daunting challenges: Many species are well established New species show up regularly They move faster than we do There is never enough time, money and manpower You clean them out in one place and they show up in another, and their seed banks persist for years Issues on how to treat them Chemicals, fire, hand pulling, cutting, mulching, goats, …

Background Each landowner develops his own plan, does his own work and then finds he has to defend his borders Better answer if contiguous landowners all do the same work We can do more together than we can as separate efforts A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) looks like the best way to work together Forming a CWMA allows us to: Share best practices – get more done with less money Obtain additional funds from third parties Provide a vehicle for increasing public awareness and enlisting additional support and participation

So What is a CWMA? Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) are local, independent organizations that facilitate collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries for more effective invasive plant management.

National CWMA map www.invasiveplantcenters.org

The Blue Ridge PRISM A CWMA formed here in Virginia in 2014 Another one is being formed in Northern VA And others in VA are under consideration The mission of the Blue Ridge PRISM is to reduce the impact of invasive species in our targeted geography.

Blue Ridge PRISM Geography

The People Involved are from: Piedmont Environmental Council The Nature Conservancy Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Park Trust Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Virginia Master Naturalists Virginia Master Gardeners VA Native Plant Society Albemarle Natural Heritage Soil & Water Cons Dist VA Dept of Forestry VA Dept of Cons & Rec VA Cooperative Ext VDOT US Forest Service Rockfish Valley Foundation Ivy Creek Foundation 500 Year Forest Foundation NRCS Tree Stewards Forestry services firms Private landowners Other volunteers

Current Top-Priority Species Tree Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven) (biocontrol possible?) Vines Oriental bittersweet Mile-a-minute vine (biocontrol available) Kudzu Porcelain berry Japanese honeysuckle Shrubs Autumn olive Multiflora rose (biocontrol possible?) Chinese privet Ground covers Japanese stiltgrass Wavyleaf grass Garlic mustard

Working Groups Area stewardship program Early detection and rapid response Education and outreach General management Grants and fundraising IT/Information systems Marketing Organizational membership Prevention Research

Resources on our Website Go to www.blueridgeprism.org and click ‘invasives’

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/35292

Other Useful Information Factsheets on the website VA Dept of Forestry summary treatment chart Contractor list Equipment & herbicide sources lists are in process Various books on native and invasive plants VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation list of invasive plants Come to our quarterly meetings Learn about assistance available from our partners

How to get Involved? Quarterly meetings Working groups Be part of an Area Stewardship Volunteer field work – e.g. removing wavyleaf Training programs Speaking engagements Table at events Partner with us Donate money or help with grant writing Join our mailing list

Questions? Questions for here and now? Anyone want to be added to our mailing list? Ashton Fisher at ashton@blueridgeprism.org

Other Resources www.mipn.org, Midwest Invasive Plant Network, source of the CWMA overview slides www.weedcenter.org, Center for Invasive Plant Management www.maipc.org, Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/invspinfo.shtml, VA DCR Natural Heritage www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/nativeplants.shtml, for native plant information See list of PRISM resources