RD139 - Annual Executive Summary of the Interim Activity and Work of the Virginia Invasive Species Council


    Executive Summary:
    Virginia Invasive Species Council

    The Virginia Invasive Species Council was created by statute, effective July 2003, § 10.1-2609 of the "Code of Virginia" and was charged with providing leadership with regard to invasive species. The Council was established as a policy council in the Executive Branch, Secretary of Natural Resources. The following individuals serve on the Council:

    The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr., Chairman, Secretary of Natural Resources;
    J. Carlton Courter, III, Commission of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
    Carl E. Garrison, III, State Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry;
    Joseph H. Maroon, Director, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation;
    William A. Pruitt, Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission;
    Robert B. Stroube, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health;
    Phillip Shucet, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health;
    William L. Woodfin, Executive Director, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries;
    John T. Wells, Director, Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

    Virginia Invasive Species Advisory Committee

    The Virginia Invasive Species Advisory Committee was formed in 2004. As stated in the Invasive Species Council Act, the advisory committee of stakeholders should serve to provide information and advice for consideration by the Council. The advisory committee shall recommend actions that may be taken at local, state, regional and ecosystem-based levels to achieve the goals and objectives of the invasive species management plan, and the advisory committee shall act in cooperation with stakeholders and organizations addressing invasive species.

    The advisory committee consists of the following individuals and organizations:

    James Akerson - National Park Service;
    Jennifer Allen - The Nature Conservancy;
    Bill Bolin - Dominion Power;
    Pam Dinkle - Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission;
    Ruth Douglas - Virginia Native Plant Society;
    Ray Fernald - Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries;
    Jan Ferrigan - Arlington County VA Cooperative Extension;
    Frank Fulgham - Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
    David Fuss - Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission;
    Greg Garman - Virginia Commonwealth University;
    P. Loyd Hipkins - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University;
    Scott Johnson - Virginia Department of Transportation;
    Roger L. Mann - Virginia Institute of Marine Science;
    Karen Mayne - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service;
    Sally Mills - Virginia Institute of Marine Science;
    Lisa Moss - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
    Rachel Claire Muir - U.S. Geological Survey;
    Rick Myers - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation;
    Steve Nash;
    Rickard J. Neves - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University;
    Brian Watts - College of William & Mary;
    Mary Williams - Dover Nursery; and
    Shepard M. Zedaker - Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.

    September 2004 Council Meeting

    At the September 2004 meeting, the Council considered key invasive species issues facing Virginia and their environmental and economic impacts. Secretary Murphy introduced the issue with the following remarks:

    “I have the privilege of serving as Governor Warner’s Secretary of Natural Resources and am chairman of the ISC. Thank you all for your willingness to serve and thank you to the members of the Advisory Committee.

    According to the National Invasive Species Council, hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of nonnative species have established populations in the United States. Invasive species continue to be introduced in new locations, with recent examples including the northern snakehead fish in Maryland and Virginia and the emerald ash borer in Michigan.

    The economic impact is staggering. According to the USDA, the Formosan termite causes at least $1 billion annually in damages and control costs in 11 states (in 2001 dollars). USDA also estimates that, if not managed, fruit flies could cause more than $1.8 billion in damage each year. (SOURCE: GAO October 2002 INVASIVE SPECIES U.S. Department of Agriculture 2001)

    New plants, animals, and diseases come to the Commonwealth each year, and these invasive species cost Virginia more than $1 billion annually to eradicate, monitor and control. Across the country, the cost is estimated at $100 to 200 billion per year – more than for all natural disasters combined. (SOURCE: Cornell University economist/ecologist David Pimentel)

    Some state agencies have taken some steps against some invasive species. For example, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is trying to stop the proliferation of Phragmites, while the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries grapples with Zebra Mussels and now, the Snakehead Fish.

    But agencies working independently cannot achieve what the Commonwealth can accomplish in unity.

    To date, there has not been a serious, comprehensive, study of the invasive species problem in Virginia. We are here to address that. And to change it. To address any crisis, we must first identify the problem, and that’s why we’re here today. To learn mo re about the problems of invasive species confronting the Commonwealth, to name the Virginia Invasive Species Advisory Committee, and to charge them with further researching the breadth, width, and scope of the problems we face. And finally, to plan for the creation of an invasive species annual report.

    Virginia can act to stop the attack against our lands, waters, and precious natural resources. The Advisory Committee will be asked to deliver hard facts, to identify and prioritize invasive species, and to offer suggestions on how to counter attack these insidious plants and animals costing the Commonwealth billons of dollars.

    In the end, with the presentation of an annual report, this Council will give the Commonwealth the vital ammunition it needs to begin to combat invasive species.

    Ordinary citizens can get involved and it would be very meaningful. I come from the Northern Neck where Alice Welford has taken on the issue of phragmites and has done a great deal. We need to thank the agency personnel and the citizens who devote so much time and effort to this problem.”

    Specific invasive species and issues addressed at the meeting included the following:

    • The Department of Forestry focused on American Chestnut blight, tree of heaven, oriental bittersweet, autumn and Russian olive, kudzu, gypsy moth, hemlock wooly adelgid, sudden oak death, and emerald ash borer.

    • The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries focused upon snakehead fish and zebra mussels.

    • The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spoke to Mile-a-Minute, Multiflora Rose, Thistles, Phragmites. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Resident Canada Geese, Black Vulture, Purple Loosestrife, Johnson grass, Hydrilla, Kudzu, Gypsy Moth, Mute Swan, Coyote, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Cotton Boll Weevil, Imported Fire Ant, African Honey Bee, Sudden Oak Death, Karnal Bunt of Wheat, Bacterial Wilt of Geraniums, Pine Shoot Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, Giant Salvinia, Giant African Snail, Brown Garden Snail, Plum Pox Virus, and Soybean Rust.

    • Roger Mann of the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences noted that Virginia should expect to see a larger influx of invasive species. For example there are as many as 160 invasive species in the estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay, and perhaps the temperature and salinity extremes of the bay have prevented the successful establishment by other potentially invasive species.

    He commented on several extremely invasive species that threaten the bay such as the rappa welk first found in the bay in 1998 and some 10,000 individuals have been collected to date, and the European Green Crab and Asian Shore Crab are knocking at the Bay’s door. He noted that once there is an invasive species in an open system it is almost impossible to get rid of it, and the real key is establishing a system to keep new invasives from arriving.

    • The Department of Conservation and Recreation discussed key examples of the 120+ least wanted plant species arriving in our forests and wetlands. These include Japanese stiltgrass, tree-of-heaven, garlic mustard, common reed, purple loosestrife, and giant salvinia.

    The Council charged the Advisory Committee to bring to the next Council meeting a recommendation on the format and general content for the Invasive Species Management Plan.

    October 2004 Advisory Committee Meeting

    On October 28, 2004, twenty members of the Advisory Committee met to consider development of the Invasive Species Management Plan. Following extensive research by Department of Conservation and Recreation staff into statewide management plans developed by other states and at the national level, the Advisory committee considered the Florida and National plans as good models for Virginia to consider.

    December 2004 Council Meeting

    In December 2004, the Council met, discussed and approved the following approach for the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan and directed DCR staff and the Advisory Committee to work toward completing a draft by late summer 2006:

    I. Why Do We Care – scope of the problem, economic and ecological impacts.

    What have we spent and what are we spending.

    II. Prevention

    • Identify pathways to Virginia. All aspects of trade, ports, pet trade, agriculture, building trade
    • Develop a risk assessment system
    • Develop a risk assessment for regional network for high traffic areas.
    • Consider Invasives of Highest Concern and ecosystems that are most likely to occur in
    • Education is a central element of prevention

    III. Early Detection

    • Target species/Identification (requires taxonomic resources/experts), and structured identification process from field to expert involving extension agents, volunteers (citizens networks), and taxonomic experts network.

    VDACS currently has plant inspectors in the field

    • Field Methods
    • Assess existing methods and programs and recommendations for expansion.

    IV. Rapid Response

    • What is the disconnect to early detection; often funding; consider Emergency Response Fund
    • Identify responsible agencies and authorities, Determine who has legal authority.
    • Evaluation process for rapid response when threat is identified
    • Develop general framework.

    V. Control/Management/Restoration/Eradication

    • Rank existing invasives (prioritize what is already here) – good models exist and are being developed – time consuming
    • Rank sites
    • Rank control methods
    • Assess/Agency/organization responsibilities and actions
    • Cost share incentives programs for invasives
    • Develop individual species management plans
    • Develop and distributed management/control actions (fact sheets)

    VI. Research and Risk Assessment

    • Life history information, niche definition, physiological differences, impacts on diversity and abundance for introduced species
    • Impacts on native communities – threshold targets for when and how much control
    • Identify existing control methods, and develop control techniques where none exist
    • Monitoring and design to optimize forecasting – to predict what areas and species are likely to be impacted
    • Adaptive management – assure coordinated with research and monitoring · Assess how to promote research needs to research community

    VII. Education and Outreach

    • Develop a “Website Clearing House” but recognize it does not reach all members of society
    • Emphasis on educating the public and consider regions and localities
    • How do we reach important targeted audiences that the Internet does not reach – personal property tax bills, newspapers, extension agents, master gardeners
    • Continuing education for natural resource professionals
    • State agencies which do targeted publications
    • Identify existing publications for outreach (Nursery industry and association journals, sport fishermen…)

    VIII. Coordination

    • Agency and organization coordination is the real opportunity for the Council to “make a mark”
    • What is working now and where can it be improved
    • Where should ultimate responsibility lie? VA Invasive Species Council should serve this role; need institutional memory to overlap between administrations. Develop this in the strategic plan.

    IX. Recommendations for Implementation

    X. Agency Current Actions and Findings

    The Council also approved resolutions to develop a plan for the creation of a list of Species of Highest Concern to fit within the framework of the proposed management plan, and for the development of an Invasive Species Council web site.

    Future Actions of the Council

    In the coming year, the Council will work to complete the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan, launch a website to better inform the general public on invasive species issues and Virginia activities, and develop a list of invasive species of highest concern.

    The Council recognizes that the authorization for the Council will expire on July 1, 2006. If the Council is to continue it will be important to demonstrate solid progress in 2005 in the face of limited resources. It will be essential that funding be made available to the Council in the FY07 budget, if Virginia is to stop the invasive species attack against our lands, waters, and precious natural resources, and costing the Commonwealth billons of dollars.