ACTION ITEM:Agenda approved.
ACTION ITEM:Minutes of last meeting reviewed, approved with corrections.
Discussion Items: Workgroup and Committee Briefs were presented. Then Tasks assigned in previous meetings were reviewed for progress and revised status. In order to facilitate progress towards meeting the deliverables of the PTI project, interns will be hired for the summer to assist the coordinator with a number of tasks, as noted below.
Task 1. In order to develop an MCWMA policy on liability coverage for volunteer events, MCWMA partners and staff are researching the approaches used by other organizations to address this issue. Tara contacted Point Cabrillo Lighthouse Keepers for information on thier policy. Their coverage is included in their general liability coverage for their organization and property- they do not have a special rider for such coverage. It has been suggested that the California State Department of Resources might have a uniform policy in this regard. A subtask was created in January, 2006 to research this issue but has not been completed, and has been tabled.
Task 2. In order to conduct outreach to consulting foresters, Tara has ordered lists of Registered and Consulting Foresters from CDF. After these arrive, MCWMA materials will be mailed to foresters who work within the MCWMA. Further, Walt will attend the forester's breakfast and ask about invasive plant management resources that would be valuable on a website. Tara will work with the summer interns to create a webpage of resources for foresters. The Logging conference in Ukiah was suggested as an educational venue, and will be added to the venues list maintained by the Education & Outreach Workgroup. The conference is only held every 2 years.
Task 3. In order to develop data-quality objectives for Noyo/Big River Watersheds Management Plan, documents, possibly developed by the USFS, are being sought on the impacts of invasive weeds. The Information Management Workgroup will use such studies, as well as expert knowledge, to develop DQO's to be used for the data-collection to be implemented under the Proposition 50-funded project to develop an Integrated Coastal Watershed Management Plan for the Noyo and Big River Watersheds.
Task 8. In order to develop protocols for baseline assessment of project sites, an outline was developed by Lynn, in collaboration with the Information Mangement Workgroup. The outline was tested at the Demonstration Project Site and was found to be successful in guiding the development of DQO's. Further comments are sought on the outline. Lynn will distribute the outline to technical experts for review. It is anticipated that the outline will be tested further during the development of the Integrated Coastal Watershed Management Plan.
Task 9. In order to complete the Strategic Plan, Tara has made the additions and changes suggested from the last meeting, including the addition of figures and charts to clarify the logic and terminology. There remains a need for a glossary to be developed. This glossary would also be implemented independently on the website and would be available for incorporation into other documents developed by the MCWMA. Assuring consistent usage and understanding of terminology is vital to communication among MCWMA partners and associates. Tara will work with the summer interns to generate a list of terms to be included in a glossary, and to research definitions of these terms. MCWMA Partners are encouraged to review the Strategic Plan and send comments to the coordinator.
Task 10. In order to implement the species categorization and prioritization, Tara reviewed invasive species lists from Oregon. The purpose is to identify species likely to invade the MCWMA. Of the 47 species found on Oregon lists (that are not already on the MCWMA invasive weed list), 3 are native to the MCWMA. Of the remaining 44 species, 5 are present in the MCWMA and should be evaluated for distribution and impact. The remaining 39 are not present in the MCWMA, and should be evaluated for risk, including:
According to Peter's recommendation, Rubus laciniatus (Cutleaf blackberry) will be added to the list of invasive weeds in the MCWMA.
In addition to the species lists, supporting information about impact of widely-distributed species is required in order to prioritize MCWMA actions. Peter distributed the published booklet of the Cal-IPC review, which contains ratings of environmental impact of many of the species on our lists. Tara will supervise the interns in compiling these ratings for the MCWMA invasive weed list. Tara will work with Walt to develop economic impact ratings of forestry weeds. Peter will assess species for socio-cultural impact.
Task 12. In order to maintain weed treatment records to satisfy deliverables of the NFWF grant, MCWMA Partners and associates are requested to submit data concerning the area treated in their vegetation management activities this season. We estimated treatment of 20-50 acres (gross) within the MCWMA during the NFWF project period (June 15, 2005- Dec. 15, 2006). However, the coordinator has received no such reports. The in-kind reporting form was modified to accomodate such data as of March 25, 2006.
Task 13. In order to increase awareness of invasive weeds and their management, the MCWMA coordinator has prepared a monthly e-mail newsletter. Additional content is needed. Short articles at an elementary level about specific weeds, specific management techniques, or other focused topics of interest are needed. Such articles would be incorporated into the website Once a sufficient number of such articles are prepared, we would like to have them published as a newspaper series. Volunteers are needed to prepare such articles.
Task 14. To prepare for the demonstration project at the intersection of Highway 1 & 20 in Fort Bragg, a survey for sensitive species must be conducted. Further, photomonitoring of the pre-treatment condition of the site is needed. Tara will speak with the Solid Waste Department to arrange for the pampas grass debris to be included with the green waste at the Caspar Transfer Station. The transfer stations normally put pampas grass debris into the landfill because of concern over the spread of viable seed. However, pampas grass seed is not viable after 6 months, ans seed-ripening occurs in August or September. Thus, composting of pampas grass debris is not a risk to dispersal in the period of March to July. Revegetation plans, with the assistance of Ken Montgomery, will be initiated. Tara will get information about burn pile setback requirements. The advantage to landowners of burning is decreased brush disposal costs. Peter estimates 50 person days to remove the broom at the demonstration project.
Task 15. In order to encourage volunteer and landowner management of invasive weeds, incentives are needed. A question was raised as to whether tax-deductions are available to volunteers. Tara will research this question.
Discussion: A Caspar resident, Guil Dye, has expressed interest in pursuing funding for gorse removal in Caspar. The office of Patty Berg has been contacted, but they stated that no special legislation to provide such funding was likely to pass. State funds for weed management through AB 2479 ($2.5 million per year among all WMAs in California) was suggested as a source of funding. However, the level of funding expected from AB 2479, roughly $50,000 per county per year, is insufficient to address the gorse problem except through a very long-term effort.
Flaming was discussed as a follow-up technique. In this approach, a flame from a (propane) torch is briefly applied to foliage, causing wilting within a few hours. Fire hazard is kept to a minimum by performing this treatment in the rainy season, or even, in the rain. This technique is known to be effective for broom, and is included in our project plan for the demonstration site. In the case of gorse, however, there can be sprouting from root fragments, and it is not easy to distinguish such sprouts from seedlings. Flaming would not be expected to be effective on root resprouts.
ACTION ITEM: Coordinator's Priorities (April, 2006) were approved.
ACTION ITEM: Next Planning Committee Meeting set for Thursday June 1, 2006, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, JDSF Learning Center.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.