Choosing Your Battles, Prioritizing Invasive Plant Management

Tim Hyland, Santa Cruz District Cal-IPC Symposium October 9th, 2014

Hypericum canariense, San Mateo County

What your predecessor worked on? What has funding?

Favorite Place? Favorite Weed?

How to Prioritize?

Potpourri of Weeds, Adjacent to Año Nuevo SP

Wilder Ranch & Henry Cowell Redwoods SP

What And Where Are Your Weeds?

Our Approach

• Goal

• Rate/Likelihood of Spread

• Threat to Sensitive Resources

• Logistics

• Politics

• Potential for Success

• Eradication dividend

Vinca major, Henry Cowell Redwoods SP

Goal

• Eradication

• Elimination / Zero Density

• Outlier Control

• Perimeter Control

• Sustained Control

French Broom, Twin Lakes SB

Rate / Likelihood of Spread

Año Nuevo SP Hypericum canariense, San Mateo County

Threat to Sensitive Resources

• Listed Species

• Rare Habitats

Portuguese Broom in Sand Parkland, Santa Cruz County

Logistics

• Distance from base of operations

• Steep slopes

• Accessibility

• Poison oak

• Complexity of control techniques

Politics

• Multiple Land Owners

• Visibility of Project

• Public Perception

• Permitting

• Other entities Interested in Helping

Natural Bridges SB

• Efficacy of Control

• Seed Bank

• Detectability

• Life Cycle

Potential for Success

• Efficacy of Control Method

• Seed Bank

• Detectability

• Life Cycle

• Likelihood of Reinvasion

Potential for Success

Sunset SB

Eradication Dividend

Eucalyptus globulus, Santa Cruz County

Excel Ranking Form

Park M.U. Sub M.U. Goal Species Wilder Ranch Gray Whale Baldwin Grasslands Zero Density Cotoneaster

Likelihood of spread 2

Threat to sensitive resources 2

Logistics (P.O. slope, access) 3

Political (Neighbors, county, crew morale) 3

Potential for Success (Restoration, follow up) 3

Eradication dividend (Effort required to maintain goal) 2

Ranking 15

Scores range from 0-3 with the highest number denoting ease and threat

Final Product

Resources Management Priorities: Fall 2014 (September 1st to November 30th)

Park Mng. Unit Species Priority Est. Hrs. Comments

5 Year Goal

Big Basin Lower Waddell Ammophila 16 Su F W 0 Reilly zero density

Sunset Dune system Ammophila 17 Su F W 224 Hyland zero density

Sunset State Preserve Calla lilies 14 F 0 with Ehrharta erradicate

Manresa Uplands Cape Ivy 13 Su F W 0 sustained control

Wilder Seaward of Hwy 1 Cape Ivy 13 Su F 0 containment

Ano Coastal Prairie Cypress 14 Su F W 56 erradicate

Ano Ano Point Cypress 16 Su F W 56 Perimeter Control

Ano Franklin Point Cypress 16 Su F W 0 Completed summer Perimeter Control

Ano South Doug-Fir 16 F W 0 Completed summer Perimeter Control

Wilder Inland of Hwy 1 Doug-Fir 16 F W 0 Completed summer Outlier Control

Wilder Gray Whale Doug-Fir 16 F W 112 Outlier Control

Henry Cowell Sand Hills Doug-Fir 17 F W 28 Perimeter Control

Sunset State preserve Ehrharta calycina 17 Su F W Sp 56 zero density

Portola Campground Ehrharta erecta 17 Su F W Sp 0 completed summer zero density

Sunset State preserve Ehrharta erecta 17 Su F W Sp 9 w. Calycina zero density