Revised June 16, 2011

Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area

Long Term Management Plan

Purpose and description

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, The Nature Conservancy).

Throughout the Columbia Gorge, the Mt. Hood National Forest, and surrounding lands, there are a multitude of impacts which arise as a result of invasive (also called “noxious”) weeds. Some of the most prevalent and intrusive impacts include increased roadside and power line maintenance costs, degradation of water quality, loss of wildlife habitat, and loss of rare and typical native plants in natural areas and open spaces.

The Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) exists to create and support collaborative weed management among public and private land managers and owners.

Weeds extend across multiple ownerships and travel over the landscape, and 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 on the noxious weed problem regardless of political boundaries. The Columbia Gorge CWMA promotes weed education/outreach, weed inventory and prevention, and weed control activities.

List of Partners

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District; Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District; Oregon Department of Transportation; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Klickitat County Noxious Weed Control Board; Underwood Conservation District; Mt. Hood National Forest; Oregon Department of Agriculture; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Bureau of Land Management, Salem District; The Nature Conservancy; Friends of the Columbia Gorge; Skamania County Noxious Weed Control Board; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; USDA Forest Service - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute; Wasco County Weed Department; US Army Corps of Engineers; Columbia Riverkeeper; Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Boundaries of Columbia Gorge CWMA

In Washington, it includes lands in Clark County within the boundary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; In Skamania the CWMA extends northward along the Clark-Skamania County border to the USFS 90 road, where it travels east to Curly Creek road, along Curly Creek Rd E to USFS 30 road, then North to USFS 24 road along the border of Indian Heaven Wilderness continuing on USFS 24 road southeast to USFS Rd 8821, E. onto the USFS 88 road to the Klickitat county line. The border follows the northern Klickitat County line east to state highway 97 south where it meets the Columbia River, it includes the Wild and Scenic segments of the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers.

In Oregon, the Columbia Gorge CWMA extends eastward along the Columbia River from its confluence with the Sandy River to the Deschutes River, then upstream to its intersection with Highway 216 and then westward to Highway 26, continuing westward until the town of Sandy, then north on Ten Eyck Road to where it meets the Sandy River.

Management principles

The Columbia Gorge 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.

Goal

Prevent the introduction and control the spread of harmful invasive plant species in the Columbia Gorge 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 WillametteWeed list-serve 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)Inform partners of legislative issues, funding opportunities, etc.

e)Develop and maintain an MOU, Management Plan and annual Operating Plan.

f)Develop long-term management objectives for weeds of concern, according to area prioritization.

g)Conduct tours and training for group members.

2)Inventory and assess weeds

Activities

  1. Collect evidence of invading species by mapping locations with GPS and taking photographs.
  2. Maintain monitoring and evaluation programs.
  3. Develop risk assessment methodology and use it to assess potential invaders.
  4. Review the weed list on a yearly basis.
  5. 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)Develop awareness, education, and training programs for partners and the public

4)Sponsor effective and innovative weed control (and native plant restoration) projects.

Activities

a)Conduct control projects

b)Detect and report new invaders.

c)Generate news coverage, recruit volunteers, and take monitoring photos to show successful demonstration projects.

d)Determine appropriate restoration strategies for affected sites.

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.

Weeds of Concern

Notes for weeds of concern tables in the CWMA area:

Weed Categories: Weeds are divided into four general categories which are managed in different ways. These categories are similar to state/county rating systems, but assignment of weeds to specific categories reflects the distribution of those weeds within the CWMA region. This list of weeds may not include all weeds found locally.

Early Detection: Some of these weeds are found outside the CWMA region but could invade the region at any time in the future. Some have been found in the CWMA in isolated populations. Management focuses on developing an Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) network of people and organizations to identify sites.

High Importance: These weeds can be locally abundant, but may also occur in spotty distribution across the landscape. Management focuses on inventory to determine distribution, followed by eradication of small, isolated populations, and control or containment of larger infestations.

Common: These weeds occur across the landscape at a level where eradication, containment or control is not economically feasible. Management focuses on removing them from ecologically, socially and economically important sites and slowing their spread through prevention actions. When available, biological controls should be used.

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) rating:

An “A” means the weed is either a potential invader from neighboring states or it is present in small enough infestations to make eradication/containment possible. A “B” listing means the weed is regionally abundant, but may have limited distribution in some counties. A “T” listing means ODA is implementing a statewide management plan targeted to that species.

Washington Noxious Weed Control Board Rating:

Class A Weeds: Non-native species whose distribution in Washington is still limited. Preventing new infestations and eradicating existing infestations are the highest priority. Eradication of all Class A plants is required by law.

Class B Weeds: Non-native species presently limited to portions of the State. Species are designated for control in regions where they are not yet widespread. Preventing new infestations in these areas is a high priority. In regions where a Class B species is already abundant, control is decided at the local level, with containment as the primary goal. Please contact your County Noxious Weed Control Coordinator to learn which species are designated in your area.

Class C Weeds: Noxious weeds which are already widespread in WA or are of special interest to the state’s agricultural industry. The Class C status allows counties to enforce control if locally desired. Other counties may choose to provide education or technical consultation.

Habitat: “U” means upland, “R” means riparian, and “A” means aquatic

Weeds of Concern: “U” = upland, “R” = riparian, “A” = aquatic

Common name / Latin name / ODA rating / WA NWCB
rating / Habitat
Early Detection
Garlic Mustard / Alliaria petiolata / B / A / U,R
Small and Common Bugloss / Anchusa arvensis & A. officinalis / B / B / U
False Brome / Brachypodium sylvaticum / B / A / U
Giant Hogweed / Heracleum saylvaticum / A / A / R, A
Hawkweeds / Hieracium spp. / A / A, B, C / U
Hydrilla / Hydrilla verticillata / A / A / A
Kudzu / Pueraria lobata / A / A / U
Paterson’s Curse / Echium plantaineum / A / NL / U
Rush Skeleton Weed / Chondrilla juncea / B, T / B / U
Russian Knapweed / Acroptilon repens / B, T / B / U
Vochin Knapweed / Centaurea nigrescens / NL / A / U
Spurge Laurel / Daphne laureola / B / B / R, A
Puncturevine / Tribulus terresttis / B, T / B / U
Creeping Water Primrose / Ludwegia hexapetala / B / B / A
Yellow Starthistle / Centaurea solstitialis / B, T / B / U
Flowering Rush / Butomusumbellatus / A / A / R, A
Shiny geranium / Geranium lucidum / A / B / U
Old man’s beard / Clematis vitalba / C / B / U
Tamarisk (salt cedar) / Tamarix ramosissima / B / B, T / U, R
Pokeweed / Phytolacca americana / Not listed / Not listed / U
Mole spurge / Euphorbia lathyris / Not listed / Not listed / U
Leafy Spurge / Euphorbia esula / B, T / B / U
Yellow archangel / Lamiastrum galeobdolon / Not listed / B / U
High Importance
Gorse / Ulex europaeus / B, T / B / U
Jubata (pampas) grass / Cortaderia jubata / B / Not listed / U
Whitetop/Hoary Cress / Lepidiumdraba / B / C / U
Purple Loosestrife / Lythrum salicaria / B, T / B / R, A
Japanese, Giant, hybrid knotweeds / Polygonum cuspidatum, sachalinense, Xbohemicum / B / B / R
Yellow Flag Iris / Iris pseudacorus / B / C / A, R
Dalmatian Toadflax / Linaria dlmatica / B, T / B / U
Water Hemlock / Citcuta douglosii / Not listed / Not listed / R
Oxeye daisy / Leucanthemum vulgare / Not listed / B / U, R
English Hawthorn / Crataegus laevigata / Not listed / Not listed / R, U
Butterfly bush / Buddleja davidii (B. variabilis) / B / B / U, R
Mediterranean sage / Salvia aethiopis / B, T / A / U
Common
Eurasian Water milfoil / Myriophyllum spicatum L. / B / B / A
Canada Thistle / Cirsium arvense / B, T / C / U
St. Johnswort / Hypericum performatum / B / C / U
Common Ragweed / Ambrosia artemisiifolia / B / Not listed / U
Poison Hemlock / Conium maculatum / B / B / U, R
Himalayan blackberry / Rubus discolor / B / C / U, R
Scotch broom / Cytisus scoparius / B, T / B / U, R
English ivy / Hedera helix / B / C / U, R
Reed canary grass / Phalaris arundinacea / Not listed / C / R
Tansy ragwort / Senecio jacobaea / B, T / B / U, R
Houndstongue / Cynolgossum officiniale / B / B / U
Tree of heaven / Ailanthus altissima / Not listed / Not listed / U, R
Vinca major / Vinca major L. / Not listed / Not listed / U
Common burdock / Arctium minus / Not listed / Not listed / U
False indigo / Baptisia australis / Not listed / Not listed / U. R
Diffuse knapweed / Centaurea diffusa, / B, T / B / U
Meadow knapweed / Centaurea jacea x nigra / B, T / B / U
Spotted knapweed / Centaurea stoebe / B, T / B / U

Modifications and term

The Management Plan is a living document and can be revised as needed. The Management Plan will be reviewed on a yearly basis and the “Weeds of Concern” list adjusted as necessary.

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