Newsletter Vol 11 Issue 2, 2003 – California Invasive Plant Council

Cal EPPC News
Protecting California’s Natural Areas
from Wildland Weeds
Vol. 11, No. 2, Summer 2003

Quarterly newsletter of the California Exotic Pest Plant Council

Symposium 2003! We are excited to be holding our annual meeting
October 2-4 at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach. The
theme of this year’s symposium is “Planning Weed Management for
Ecosystem Recovery,” and the Tahoe basin offers an superb setting for
exploring the role of invasive plant control in the greater restoration
context. Registration details are enclosed.

!
e
o
h
a
T

Inside:
The hunt for red Sesbania
Wildland weeds climb the Sierra
New Cal-EPPC weed list report
Pampas grass ad draws ire
Pathways to invasion

[Photo of Rubicon Trail courtesy of Tahoe artist Lorraine DiMaggio,
whose work can be found at Cabin Fever in Tahoe City.]

From the Director’s Desk

Where are we headed?
California
Exotic Pest Plant
Council
1442-A Walnut Street, #462
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 525-1502
www.caleppc.org
A California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization

Better yet, where do we want to be headed? The California wildland weed community
has spent significant energy exploring this question recently in an effort to create a
vision and a blueprint for future work.
In January, The Nature Conservancy held a workshop to discuss establishing a California Invasive Species Council to better coordinate state government programs. Then on
April 2, one hundred invasive plant experts gathered in Sacramento for a Weed
Summit, at which attendees fleshed out details of a draft state wee plan modeled after
the national management plan and Montana’s action plan. The draft will receive broad
review before being finalized and distributed for endorsements.

Our Mission
CalEPPC works to protect
California’s natural areas
from wildland weeds through
research, restoration, and education.
Executive Director
Doug Johnson
dwjohnson@caleppc.org
Board of Directors
Joe DiTomaso (President)
UC Davis Weed Science Program
Steve Schoenig (Vice President)
California Dept. of Food & Agriculture
Mona Robison (Secretary)
UC Davis Weed Science Program
Becky Waegell (Treasurer)
The Nature Conservancy
Mike Kelly (Past President)
Friends of Penasquitos
Carla Bossard
St. Mary’s College
Matt Brooks
USGS Western Ecological Resource Center
Deanne DiPietro
Sudden Oak Death Research Project
Tom Dudley
UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Biology
Dawn Lawson
US Navy Facilities

Finally, CalEPPC’s Board of Directors met May 3, to identify and rank thirty-five
projects that will move wildland weed work forward in California. These various efforts
produced a high degree of agreement on certain issues.
For instance, we need improved economic analyses that convincingly demonstrate the
ecological and societal impact of invasive plants. Such analyses will get the attention of
elected officials and the public; without it, our task is much more difficult.
We need leadership and authority, both in government agencies and in the private
sector, backed up by science-based invasive plant lists. We need to secure steady
funding for local management efforts through WMAs. We need to partner with
nurseries and gardeners. We need to support research evaluating potential invasiveness
of various horticultural cultivars. We need to streamline regulatory requirements.
While we envision such expansions, the weed programs at CDFA and UC Cooperative
Extension are taking large cuts (30-50%) to staff and operating expenses. The cuts to
CDFA programs target early detection and biocontrols, two priorities identified in the
upcoming state plan. At times it feels like one step forward and two steps back.
In the long term, these programmatic losses may be but temporary setbacks. The
current burst of planning efforts has harnessed extraordinary knowledge and concern.
If we can build on this momentum, we will be laying a solid foundation for tomorrow’s
effective programs.

Carri Pirosko
California Dept. of Food & Agriculture
Alison Stanton
BMP Ecosciences
Scott Steinmaus
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Peter Warner
California State Parks
Bill Winans
San Diego County Watershed Management

CalEPPC News
Summer 2003 – Volume 11, Number 2
Editor: Doug Johnson, dwjohnson@caleppc.org
CalEPPC News is published quarterly by the California
Exotic Pest Plant Council. Articles may be reprinted
with permission from the editor. Submissions are
welcome. We reserve the right to edit all work.

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

Avoid suspicious hitchhikers

Wildland Weed NewsNewsNewsNewsNews
nv
asiv
Celebrate California IInv
nvasiv
asivee Weed
eness Week, July 20-26. Time to
wareness
Awar
write a newspaper op-ed, invite your
County Supervisors to tour a restoration
site, set up an exhibit in libraries… use
your imagination!
A multi-year project conducted at Fort
Hunter-Liggett in Monterey County won
nv
asiv
war
eness
the National IInv
nvasiv
asivee Weed A
Awar
wareness
Coalition
war
d for exceptional
Coalition’’s 2003 A
Awar
ward
on-the-ground efforts and success in the
battle against invasive plants in the
United States. The project is testing
integrated approaches combining spring
and summer herbicide applications,
prescribed burning, and biological control
agents. Project collaborators include the
US Army, UC Davis, The California
Department of Food & Agriculture, the
Monterey County Department of
Agriculture, and Dow AgroSciences.

Adjuv
ants are often of more ecological
djuvants
concern than the active ingredients in
herbicides used for wildland weed control.
The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland
Invasive Species Team has added a new
chapter to their Weed Control Methods
Handbook to examine adjuvants.

ct of
S 144, the Noxious Weed Contr
Control
Act
ol A
2003, proposes $100 million in funding
for local WMAs. The bill passed the US

When people hear the word
“ivy,” they say, “Ah,” then
sign the petition.
Senate unanimously on March 4. The
companion bill, HR 119, has been
referred to the Natural Resources Committee in the House, chaired by California Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Stockton).
The committee has yet to move on the
bill, which it needs to do in order for the
House to vote on it. You can fax letters to
Rep. Pombo at (202) 225-0861.
Researchers studying roadside infestations
found that cover of non-native plants was
more than 50% greater in interior sites

Walking the halls of Congr
ess—the California delegation to NIW
AW4. This February,
Congress
NIWA
Wendy West (Eldorado County Agricultural Commissioner’s office), Nelroy Jackson
(National Invasive Species Advisory Committee), and Jake Sigg (California Native Plant
Society), together with CalEPPC Director Doug Johnson, attended the fourth National
Invasive Weeds Awareness Week in Washington, DC. Together with invasive plant
management advocates from around the country, the delegation attended presentations
by top officials in the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. They also met with
legislative aides in the offices of a dozen key California representatives to Congress.

adjacent to paved roads than in those
adjacent to 4-wheel-drive tracks. (Conservation Biology, April 2003)
Hawaii’s Govenor Lingle signed legislation last month establishing the Hawaii
Inv
asiv
pecies Council (HISC). The
nvasiv
asivee SSpecies
council is intended to direct local, state,
federal, and international efforts to
control, eradicate, and prevent the
introduction of harmful exotic species to
the islands.
The citizens of Mercer Island, east of
Seattle, need 2,500 more signatures to
put an initiative on the November ballot
which would, if approved, create a 10year levy providing $1.25 million tax
dollars for the control and eradication of
English IIvy
vy. According to Ivy committee
member Virginia Arnon, when people

hear the word “ivy,” they say, “Ah,” then
sign the petition.

Ducks U
nlimited, the Mule D
eer
Unlimited
Deer
Foundation, and the Rocky M
ountain E
lk
Mountain
Elk
Foundation all signed on in support of
Congressman Mike Thompson’s federal
funding request for biocontrols development for brooms and gorse. These groups
have made invasive plants a priority
because they degrade wildlife habitat.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ continued page 6
ntern
Thanks to CalEPPC P
Prroject IIntern
dson for her help with this
Richardson
Bree Richar
issue of CalEPPC News. If you are
interested in volunteering at the
CalEPPC office in Berkeley, please
contact Doug Johnson at

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

Feature

The Hunt for Red Sesbania
Biology, Spread, and Prospects for Control
By JJohn
ohn C. H
unter and G
errit A. J. P
latenkamp
Hunter
Gerrit
Platenkamp
Jones & SStokes,
tokes, SSacramento,
acramento, CA
In the last few years, red sesbania has been
eliciting increasingly strong concern in the
Sacramento area and along the San Joaquin
River. This article provides a primer on a
relatively new infestation in California.

Red sesbania (Sesbania punicea), aka
scarlet wisteria, is a small tree in the pea
family (Fabaceae). It has a graceful form,
striking scarlet flowers, and winged pods.
It also has proven itself a successful
invader.
This South American native rapidly
became a problematic invader in South
Africa during the 1970s, has naturalized
in the Southeast from Florida to Texas,
and is now being reported from several
riparian areas in California’s Central
Valley. Red sesbania’s reproductive
biology and recent spread in California
show that this plant could become a
major threat to ecosystem integrity and
flood conveyance along many streams in
California. Comprehensive control
measures are urgently needed to avert the
potentially catastrophic situation that
developed in similar environments in
South Africa.

BIOLOGY
Red sesbania is well suited to life in
the riparian zone. Its pods, which have
spongy inner tissues (the mesocarp), float
for up to ten days, even after splitting
open (Hunter, unpublished data). These
pods fall from the branches throughout
winter and spring. The seeds, like those
of many legumes, germinate when
abraded. When comparing different
germination treatments, we found that
37% of seed germinated after shaking in a
jar with small pebbles, versus only 8%

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

germination following soaking, stratification, or no treatment (difference statistically significant at P<0.01). Furthermore, seeds that do not germinate can persist in a seed bank until abraded in subsequent years. At one site along the Lower American River, we sieved seed of previous years from the upper 3 cm of soil. On average, there were over 1,000 seed per m2, and 16% germinated after abrasion. This combination of dispersal and germination mechanisms should be effective at placing red sesbania seedlings in sites disturbed after flood flows along our rivers. Furthermore, because of its large seed (typically >5 mm long), it is
able to establish under a wider range of
sites and conditions than Fremont
cottonwood and willows, which effectively require a moist exposed substrate
with little competing vegetation.
Red sesbania grows and reaches
maturity rapidly. Within several days of
germinating, the seed gives rise to a large
seedling (5-10 cm long). This seedling
elongates and produces leaves throughout
the growing season. Seedlings that we
planted grew more than 1 m during their
first year. During the first year or two,
plants typically grow as a single unbranched shoot. Later, they produce
widely diverging lateral shoots and
develop a broad crown that reaches 4-5 m
in height. Plants typically begin reproducing in their second year. Reproductive individuals produce 100-1,000 pods
each year, with 5-10 seeds per pod.
Frequently, red sesbania produces dense
thickets, where reproductive output can
exceed 500 seeds per m2 each year.
In addition to its ability to disperse
widely, germinate in response to disturbance, and rapidly reach reproductive

maturity, red sesbania has the ability to
dominate sites and may retain that
dominance for several generations. The
species forms dense thickets with 100%
cover over areas up to several thousand
m2, and can cover over 50% of areas
greater than a hectare (Eva Butler &
Associates 2000). It also has some degree
of shade tolerance, and we have observed
red sesbania saplings growing beneath a
red sesbania canopy. Because it has the
potential to form dormant seed banks and
to regenerate in its own shade, red
sesbania may be able to maintain its
dominance on a site through recurrent
recruitment.

SPREAD
This problematic invader is rapidly
spreading along Central Valley rivers.
Though introduced to California as an
ornamental prior to 1930 (Bailey 1930),
red sesbania was not documented in
riparian vegetation until 1987, and was
not included in a regional flora until 1994
(Oswald and Ahart 1994). Since 2000, it
has been reported at multiple sites and is
already abundant along the Lower
American River and the San Joaquin
River near Fresno (Ondricek-Fallscheer et
al. 2003).
For approximately 11 miles of the
Lower American River in Sacramento, red
sesbania occurs along channel banks, bars,
and islands. In 1999, it was mapped on
over 137 acres, with over 25% cover on
13 acres (Eva Butler & Associates 2000).
These sites are low in the riparian zone
and inundated by typical spring floods
(Jones & Stokes 2002). Along the
American River the primary vegetation
types with red sesbania are herbaceous
wetland and riparian scrub dominated by

narrow-leaved willow.
It also occupies similar sites along 15
miles of the San Joaquin River near
Fresno. There it grows on 15 acres along
the channel and adjacent gravel pits
(Moise 2002). Most of this vegetation
has been mapped as open willow scrub
dominated by narrow-leaved willow.
However, red sesbania also occurs in
herbaceous and mixed riparian vegetation
and on sparsely vegetated sites.
Colonization of channel banks, sand
and gravel bars, and instream islands with
dense red sesbania thickets may result in a
substantial increase in hydraulic roughness. Dense shrub thickets have approximately twice the roughness of open
banks, herbaceous cover, and gravel bars
(Marsh et al. 2001, Chin 2000). The
consequences of this roughness for flood
stage depends on site-specific attributes,
but can be considerable. Based on our
estimate of potential changes in composite (overall) roughness, red sesbania
thickets could increase the stage of a 10year flood event by more than a foot at
representative sites along the San Joaquin
River near Fresno.
Unless controlled, red sesbania
probably will spread further along the
American and San Joaquin Rivers, and
along other Central Valley rivers. It
already has been recorded along the
Feather and Sacramento rivers, and at
several locations in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta (Ondricek-Fallsheer et al.
2003). It is likely to become abundant
throughout the region’s riparian zones,
displacing native plants, altering wildlife
habitats, and increasing hydraulic
roughness (and thus reducing flood
conveyance).

CONTROL
To control red sesbania, biological,
chemical, and mechanical treatments have
all been used successfully. In South
Africa, a combination of three insects
from Argentina has provided effective
biological control of red sesbania
(Hoffmann and Moran 1998). The
sesbania flower beetle (Trichapion
latrivetre) can reduce pod production by
up to 98%, though its effectiveness
depends on climate. The sesbania seed
weevil (Rhyssomatus marginatus) reduces

The large winged pods of rred
ed sesbania can float for miles befor
ting
beforee lodging and star
starting
a ne
w infestation. P
hoto bbyy JJohn
ohn H
unter
Hunter
unter..
new
Photo
seed production by up to 84%. The third
species, sesbania stem borer
(Neodiplogrammus quadrivittatus),
damages and kills trees, and together with
the other species provides almost complete control. Successful chemical
treatments include repeated foliar
applications of glyphosate to kill small
plants (up to 3 feet high), and brushing
the cut stumps of larger plants with
triclopyr (Erasmus et al. 1996). Mechanical treatments include hand pulling of
first year plants and using a weed wrench
to remove larger individuals. Fortunately,
red sesbania does not produce root
sprouts when the shoot is damaged,
which increases the effectiveness of
mechanical treatment.
Red sesbania’s invasion of the Central
Valley is at a critical stage. Unless
effective control efforts are initiated
immediately, control costs will rise

exponentially and within several years
may become prohibitive. Some efforts are
underway along the American and San
Joaquin Rivers, but additional efforts are
needed to eliminate newly established
populations beyond these major infestations, so that these nascent populations
do not themselves expand over large areas.
If substantial control efforts are initiated
now, this species may be successfully
controlled, and its impacts on our riparian
ecosystems avoided. However, if substantial control efforts are not initiated now,
this species will likely displace and
preempt native vegetation from thousands
of riparian sites, as have Himalayan
blackberry, perennial pepperweed, and
others.

MAPPING
Robin Fallscheer with the California
Department of Fish and Game is mainCalEPPC News

Summer 2003

On April 22, USFS Chief Dale Bosworth
thday speech at the CommonEarthday
gave an Ear
wealth Club in San Francisco. Invasive
species were one of his “big four” issues
affecting the health of our forests and
grasslands.
Invasive species were deemed the greatest
ecological and economic threat to the
Great Lakes region during the Aquatic
ummit, held in Chicago
Inv
pecies SSummit
nvasiv
asivee SSpecies
asiv
this spring. Scientists, engineers, and
invasive species experts gathered to
discuss possible solutions to the “revolving
door” for aquatic invasives that exists
between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River drainage basins.
“Alien Invasion,” an article by Yvonne
Baskin in the May 2003 issue of Countr
Countryy
Living, identified some of the worst
ornamental invaders and suggested ways
that readers could help prevent the spread
of this ‘green asphalt.’
Scientists at the USGS Forest and
Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in
asiv
Corvallis, Oregon documented inv
invasiv
asivee
species helping each other. Non-native fish
are eating native dragonfly nymphs that
would normally eat non-native bullfrog
larvae, essentially promoting the bullfrog
invasion. On the flip side, efforts to

red Sesbania…
…continued from preivous page
taining a database of occurrences of red
sesbania in California. You can help track
the spread of red sesbania in California by
reporting new occurrences to Robin at
.

REFERENCES
Bailey, L. H. 1930. The standard cyclopedia of
horticulture. Macmillian Company, New
York.
Chin, D. A. 2000. Water-resources engineering.
Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey.
Erasmus, D. J., B. D. Viljoen and R. L. J.
Coetzer. 1996. Efficacy of selected

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

Sweet relief — from predation pressure
[From Scientific American, April 2003, “Data Points: Invaded Nation”]
Life in a new country can be a lot easier. Two studies, which examined 473
European plant species and 26 animal species that have invaded the U.S.,
confirm long-standing thinking that such species tend to have fewer enemies
and infections in their new digs. They are therefore better able to survive and
to crowd out indigenous flora and fauna. Invasive species are considered the
second biggest threat to biodiversity, after habitat destruction.
Percent drop in fungal infections in European plants after invading U.S.: 84
Percent drop in viral infections: 24
Percent drop in all diseases: 77
Average number of parasites on a species in its indigenous range: 16
Number of parasites that accompany an invader to its new range: 3
Number the invader subsequently picks up: 4
[Data source: Nature, 6 February 2003]

control the fish may also control the
bullfrogs. The study appears in the April
issue of Ecology Letters, on-line at .
Scientists at the Cooperative Research
Centre for Australian Weed Management
(Weeds CRC) and the Department for
Environment and Heritage in South

herbicides applied to Sesbania punicea
stumps. Applied Plant Science 10: 12-15.
Eva Butler & Associates. 2000. Report on the
1999 Red sesbania quick-strike campaign in
the American River Parkway. Eva Butler &
Associates, Sacramento.
Hoffmann, J. H. and V. C. Moran. 1998. The
population dynamics of an introduced
tree, Sesbania punicea, in South Africa, in
response to long-term damage caused by
different combinations of three species of
biological control agents. Oecologia 114
(3): 343-348.
Jones & Stokes. 2002. Vegetation and wildlife
management element of the river corridor
management plan for the lower American
River (vegetation resource management
program). Prepared for Sacramento Area
Flood Control Agency, Sacramento.
Marsh, S. B., G. P. Johnson and R. R.
Holmes. 2001. Data base and computational tools to aid in determination of
roughness coefficients of streams. In
Progress Water-Resources Investigation, U.S.

Australia have developed DNA fingerprinting for the 14 species of European
blackberry that invade 8.8 million
hectares in Australia. Accurate identification of plants will support more efficient
control.

Geological Survey in cooperation with the
Illinois Department of Water Resources,
Office of Water Resources, Urbana,
Illinois. Available at
Moise, G. W. 2002. Riparian vegetation of the
San Joaquin River. Prepared by Department of Water Resources, San Joaquin
District, Fresno, CA. Prepared for U. S.
Bureau of Reclamation, Fresno, CA.
Ondricek-Fallscheer, R., K. Stendell, S.
Schoenig and P. E. F. Buck. 2003. Red
alert! Scarlet wisteria (Sesbani punicea): a
new threat to California’s low-elevation
riparian areas. Page 241 in Abstracts
CALFED Science Conference 2003:
Advances in science and restoration in the
Bay, Delta and watershed. CALFED,
Sacramento, CA.
Oswald, V. H. and L. Ahart. 1994. Manual of
the vascular plants of Butte County,
California. California Native Plant Society,
Sacramento.

Lake Tahoe B
asin Weed Coor
Basin
Coordinating
Grroup:
dinating G

Fighting Weeds in the Tahoe Basin
together to form the Lake Tahoe Basin
Weed Coordinating Group. The group is
establishing a cooperative effort to
identify, map, and control invasive weeds.
Lake Tahoe is frequently featured in
Representation is broad, from agencies to
news reports lamenting the loss of the
land managers to residents (listed below).
lake’s famed water clarity. What you’ll
The group is also dedicated to raising
rarely read, however, is that the basin is
levels of awareness about the problem,
being rapidly infested by a number of
and working together to ensure weed
invasive weeds.
management is seamless and effective.
At one time, for instance, we thought
At the initial meeting held in January
perennial pepperweed (Lepidium
2002, participants determined the status
latifolium) infestations were limited to
of weeds within the basin. Fifteen weed
riparian habitats at lower elevation. Not
species were prioritized for detection and
true! In 1998, after locating a plant
growing on a roadside in Incline Village, a management (see table). We have since
added hoary cress (Cardaria draba) to our
public campaign to identify other
populations yielded 35 verified infestalist.
tions, with the largest spanning about ¼
By the end of 2002, after our first
acre. As of the summer of 2003, 93 sites
season of organized mapping, we had
have been documented, and the majority
documented infestations of 13 of the 15
have been treated (with herbicides after
priority weeds. Eurasian watermilfoil was
agencies and regulators agreed that the
not mapped by the group, although
danger posed by this weed justified
infestations are known to occur at most
chemical applications despite concerns
marinas ringing the lake. While we knew
raised by Lahontan Regional Water
the potential existed for invasion by all
Quality Control Board [LRWQCB]).
the priority species, we found significant
Last year, in recognition of the
infestations of spotted knapweed and the
growing threat posed by invasive weeds
toadflaxes, and the first known incidence
within the basin, various interests banded
of yellow starthistle in the basin.
Efforts this
summer will focus
on continuing our
Priority weeds in Tahoe basin
mapping efforts,
Species
No. IInfestations
nfestations
and working with
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgar
vulgaree )
154
LRWQCB to
Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
105
achieve consensus
ea maculosa)
Spotted knapweed (Centaur
Centaurea
30
on the appropriate
Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)
30
use of herbicides.
foratum)
Klamathweed (Hypericum per
perforatum
22
Our major push
ea diffusa)
Diffuse knapweed (Centaur
Centaurea
18
will be an attempt
ysanthemum leucanthemum)
Oxeye daisy (Chr
Chrysanthemum
10
to find and
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)
8
eradicate spotted
Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
8
knapweed.
ea rrepens
epens)
Russian knapweed (Centaur
Centaurea
3
You’ll have an
Canada thistle (Cirsium ar
arvvense)
2
opportunity to
ea solstitialis)
Yellow starthistle (Centaur
Centaurea
2
view some of the
duus nutans)
Musk thistle (Car
Carduus
1
weed control
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum
spicatum) many
projects this
Scotch thistle (Onopor
nopordum
?
dum acanthium)
October at the
2003 Symposium,

By SSue
ue D
onaldson, U
niv
ersity of N
ev
ada
Donaldson,
Univ
niversity
Nev
evada
xtension, L
TB
Cooperativee E
Extension,
LTB
TBW
Cooperativ
WCC Chair

which is being held in Kings Beach.
Below are the groups that will sign the
Coordinating Committee MOU (the
Committee also has resident volunteers
from Incline Village and the west shore):
El Dorado County Dept. of Agriculture;
Placer County Dept. of Agriculture;
Washoe County, NV Public Works Dept;
Douglas County, NV Parks & Recreation
Weed District; U.S. Forest Service;
Natural Resource Conservation Service;
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency;
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control
Board; CA Tahoe Conservancy; NV State
Parks; CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture;
NV Department of Agriculture; CA
Dept. of Parks and Recreation; NV
Division of Forestry; CA Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection; NV Department of Transportation; CalTrans; City of
South Lake Tahoe; U.C. Cooperative
Extension; University of Nevada Cooperative Extension; Sierra Pacific Power Co.

Email Sue at

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

Dia to
Pathways
invasion

We apologize, Pathways to invasion is not available in PDF format.

[One of three diagrams from a “pathways team”
comprising representatives from the Invasive Species
Advisory Council, the National Invasive Species
Council, and federal agencies.]

Home D
epot follo
ws suit,
Depot
follows
dumps pampas grass

Letters
In reply to your general query
regarding invasive Californian plantsthese are examples of three that are a
problem in specific New Zealand
environments:
Tree lupin (Lupinus arboreus) is a
problem in braided river beds, roadsides
and on sand-dunes/beach foreshores.
Californian poppy (Eschscholzia
californica) is a problem in braided
riverbeds and roadsides.
Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is a
problem in our high country
tussocklands, sand dunes, scree slopes and
disturbed and open forest.

Anna Paltridge, Weed Surveillance Officer,
Canterbury Conservancy, Christchurch

8 CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

I just skimmed thru the “Weed
warning from downunder” article in the
Spring 2003 CalEPPC News, and was
interested to see that Psoralea pinnata was
highlighted as a potential pest in California. I had this plant growing for several
years in my yard in Berkeley, and then
removed it in part because the numerous
seedlings that volunteered indicated to me
a serious pest plant potential. Same story,
by the way, for Dorycnium hirsutum. It
made me wonder if CalEPPC could serve
as a clearinghouse for similar yellow-flag
observations of horticultural novelties,
before they escape into the wild…
Keep up the good work!

Barbara Ertter, Research Botanist and
Collections Manager, Jepson Herbarium,
UC Berkeley

Chris Hopkins, regional nursery
buyer for Home Depot, has removed
pampas grass from the list of items that
California Home Depot stores can buy
for resale. After current stock runs out,
there should be no more pampas grass
for sale at Home Depot.
CalEPPC members have also
reported pampas grass seed (from
“Plantation Products”) for sale. Both
Chris and Linda Prendergast of
WalMart have said they will get rid of
those, too. Thanks to all who are
helping your local retailers weed out the
irinvasives on their shelves.
To write a thank-you note to Chris
Hopkins, mail to 3800 W. Chapman
St., Orange, CA, 92868. Thanks for
your notes to Linda Prendergast. In a
recent email she said, “I have received
so many kind cards and letters from
your people. It has really made me feel I
have done something significant.”

Ornamental, yyes
es—but inv
asiv
e, too
invasiv
asive,
Many members spotted this ad in the Sunday Parade section of their newspapers. It could almost make a humorous parody if it weren’t real—.and all too
common.
Earlier this year, the Yolo County RCD received a mail order catalog from
Van Bourgondien nursery in New York, advertising “Pink Cascade” Tamarix
ramosissima. Vegetation Intern Denee Caterson organized information to send
to the supplier. In their reply, the company’s president wrote, “We were totally
unaware of the problem with Tamarisk in the western part of the United States.
We will not accept any more orders from the six states mentioned, nor will we
ship those orders we have received.” That’s a job well done. But we need more.
CalEPPC has formed a Nurseries Committee to stem the flow of invasive
plants through the horticultural industry. Researcher and CalEPPC Board
President Joe DiTomaso estimates that of the approximately 450 invasive plant
species for which we know the route of initial introduction, 73% came into
California as ornamentals. Many highly invasive species continue to be sold, so
this is a top priority pathway to stop.
The committee focuses on making allies out of gardeners, nurseries, and
commercial growers. We are working to support members engaged in dialogue
about invasive plants with their local nurseries, and at the same time we
ourselves have begun a dialogue with industry associations. We hope that this
combined top-down and bottom-up approach will convince producers and
consumers that it is in their best interest to avoid using invasive plants.
A brochure of landscaping alternatives is in the works, and more materials
will be available soon. If you would like to get involved or to get updates on the
committee’s projects, please email Doug Johnson at .

New and Contributing Members
Thank yyou
ou for yyour
our gener
ous suppor
t! This list reflects membership
generous
support!
renewals and new members since the last newsletter. Let us know if we
forgot you or got your information wrong! All personal contact
information is kept confidential.

Sustaining Members
arbara P
eugh (Friends of Famosa Slough, San Diego) · Ralph
Barbara
Peugh
Jim & B
Way
cott, Jr
yl Wilson (Tower Indoor Garden,
aycott,
Jr.. (Los Angeles) · Daniel & Cher
Cheryl
tallings (Life Science, Inc., Woodland)
Fresno) · Lisa SStallings

New Members
nsminger (Syngenta Crop Protection, Visalia) · Devin Wix
on K
eller
Ensminger
ixon
Keller
Mike E
amas (City of Boulder Open Space, Colorado) · Mike
(Albion) · Kathy D
Damas
Daily (Santa Cruz) · Sarah E
gan (ECORP Consulting, Roseville) · Jeff
Egan
kpatrick
Crooks (Tijuana River Reserve, Imperial Beach) · Stephen Kir
Kirkpatrick
ella (Cal. Dept. of Fish & Game,
(Cal Poly SLO, Morro Bay) · Sarah Estr
Estrella
echt (UC Santa Cruz, Environmental Studies) ·
Stockton) · Susan Lambr
Lambrecht
Mario A. A
br
eu (Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Albion) · Kathy
Abr
breu
Kramer (San Pablo) · Barbara K
ossy (San Mateo County Resource ConKossy
mith (San Luis Obispo) · Brendan
servation District, Moss Beach) · Bailey SSmith
O’N
eil (Sebastapol) gift from Peter Warner (Little River) · Kristina F
instad
O’Neil
Finstad
onr
oe (San Anselmo) · Ina SSylv
ylv
er
wood (Sylver
(Newport Beach) · Jud M
Monr
onroe
ylver
erwood
elz
er (Merritt College, Oakland) · Erin
Trees, Potter Valley) · Ron F
Felz
elzer
McD
ermott (Berkeley) · Gerrit P
latenkamp (Jones & Stokes, Sacramento)
cDermott
Platenkamp
ulls (Star Creek Ranch, Belmont)
· Pete P
Pulls

Contributing Members
Valerie Thomas (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Juneau, Alaska, on deployment in
imms (UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley) · John M
essina
Kuwait) · Ellen SSimms
Messina
(EDAW, Inc, San Diego) · Stan Weider
eidertt (Shingletown)
Rober
ilber
latter-Rieger (John Rieger & Associates,
obertt E. G
Gilber
ilbertt (Soquel) · Mar
aryy P
Platter-Rieger
San Diego) · Andr
Andreew Werner (Santa Cruz)

Contributions to Cape ivy Biocontrols Development
Los Angeles/S
anta M
onica M
ountain Chapter of CNPS ·
Angeles/Santa
Monica
Mountain
San D
iego Chapter of CNPS · Jean Conner (San Francisco) ·
Diego
Alan B
igg (San Francisco) ·
Brr ubaker (Kenwood) · Jake SSigg

Family Members
udley & Carla D’Antonio (Reno, NV) · David & E
dna Vollmer
Dudley
Edna
Tom D
cP
herson (Santa Barbara) · Ray & N
ada Carr
uthers
(Santa Cruz) · Duke M
McP
cPherson
Nada
Carruthers
ichael Allen (Riverside)
(Albany) · Edith & M
Michael
Contributing Institutional Members
nc. (Roseville)
ECORP Consulting, IInc.
Institutional Renewals
ay R
egional P
ar
ks D
istrict (Oakland) · Monsanto (Phoenix, AZ)
Bay
Regional
Par
arks
District
East B
Filoli Center (Woodside) · Quail Botanical G
ar
dens (Encinitas)
Gar
ardens

Elizabeth C
rispin (Mt. Shasta)
Crispin

CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

Readings &
Resources
MAKE IT A POLICY
Exotic P
ests & D
iseases: B
iology and
Pests
Diseases:
Biology
Economics for B
iosecurity
Biosecurity

Daniel A. Sumner, Editor
Iowa State Press, 2003. 276 pages. $80

BACK TO SCHOOL
Weed E
cology in N
atural and AgriculEcology
Natural
tural SSystems
ystems
B. D. Booth and C.J. Swanton, Dept. of
Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph,
Canada; S.D. Murphy, Dept. of Environment and Resource Studies, University of
Waterloo, Canada
CABI Publishing 2003. 288 pages, $60.

This new textbook links ecological theory
to our understanding of natural and
agricultural weeds – providing a bridge
between basic and applied ecology. It
includes examples from weed and invasive
species literature to illustrate the ecological principles discussed.
MAPPING THE RIVER
Russian Riv
er Watershed GIS
River
NOAA Fisheries and Circuit Rider
Productions, Inc.

10 CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

This new volume analyzes policy measures designed to protect against the
introduction and spread of exotic pests
and diseases. and provides needed
analysis of the policies on this important
topic. The book grew out of an interdisciplinary project at the University of
California Agricultural Issues Center, and
includes ten case studies that focus on
specific pests or diseases that represent a
range of threats to U.S. agriculture, wild
lands and the urban landscape, as well as
possible government responses to these
threats. In one of the case studies, Karen
Klonsky and Karen Jetter of U.C. Davis
discuss biocontrol of Yellow starthistle.

Weed R
eaper
Reaper

ISLANDS AND INVASIVES

This compilation of standardized spatial
data was designed to support recovery
planning for threatened salmonid species
in the Russian River basin, but it is an
excellent mapping resource for anyone
doing weed work in the watershed.

Turning the Tide: The E
radication of
Eradication
Inv
asiv
pecies
nvasiv
asivee SSpecies

RUNNING WILD
Feral F
utur
e: The U
ntold SStor
tor
Futur
uture:
Untold
toryy of
Australia’s E
nv
aders
Exxotic IInv
nvaders
Tim Low
University of Chicago Press, 2001.
394 pgs. $35.
A comprehensive and passionate look at
Australia’s struggles with invasive species,
such as feral cattle and pond apple.
Examining the history of these invasions
uncovers ecological implications for
Australia as well as for other invaded
ecosystems around the world. The book
also looks at many Australian species that
have invaded elsewhere.

Dick Veitch and Mick Clout, Eds.
IUCN Publications
424 pages, $37.

Contains 52 papers from presentations at
the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives held at the
University of Auckland, February 2001.
Contents are listed at . In
the context of the conference, “islands”
were taken to be many things, including
an isolated or fragmented habitat.
SALT CEDAR SOCIETY

From Colorado, an organization pooling
information on tamarisk removal and
other habitat issues in arid land riparian
areas.

The WILDLAND WEED CALENDAR
California Weed A
war
eness Week
Awar
wareness

Natural Ar
eas Confer
ence
Areas
Conference

July 20-26, 2003

September 24-27, 2003
Madison, Wisconsin

A week to plan local weed tours, newspaper articles and other outreach events.
For ideas from WMAs that sponsored
events last year, contact Steve Schoenig at

Western R
egional P
quatic
Regional
Panel
Aquatic
anel on A
pecies
Nuisance SSpecies
September 9-10, 2003
San Diego
Caluerpa response, Spartina control,
ballast water, ANS issues in Mexico,
updates from western states, non-profits,
industry and federal efforts.

Nor
th American Weed M
orth
Management
anagement
Association (NA
WMA)
(NAWMA)
September 9-11, 2003
Park City, UT
“Improving the Pro in Professional Weed
Management.” Certification courses
available.

Western SSection
ection of The Wildlife SSociety
ociety
October 14-16, 2003
Sacramento
Invasive species symposium on accidental
and purposeful introductions of animals,
investigating species interactions across
trophic levels.

Exploring landscape ecology, river systems,
fire ecology, and private lands protection,
arbara County WMA
Barbara
WMA’’s 2003
Santa B
with a full day workshop on invasive
N
xious
W
eeds
S
eminar
Seminar
o
plants.
November 3, 2003

SER
CAL
SERCAL
September 28-October 1, 2003
Asilomar Conference Center (Monterey)
“Restoration: What’s working, What’s
not, and How do we know?” covers onthe-ground and philosophical restoration
topics, with trainings available. Dunes
field trip.

CalEPPC SSymposium
ymposium 2003
October 2-4, 2003
North Tahoe Conference Center
Don’t miss it! Our annual meeting, with
eight sessions, field trips, and a dinner
banquet. See registration materials on
newsletter insert.

Quotable:

“funding] efforts increase Federal spending is not as serious
The fact that such [invasive species

a concern as that Federal jurisdiction is being established
for a practically infinite list of plants and animals. The
looming danger is that a sharp environmental lawyer from
Defenders of Wildlife or the Sierra Club…will get a
sympathetic judge to agree that since eliminating nonnatives is the Federal responsibility, the goal for the
Federal responsibility must be the re-establishment of preColumbian ecosystems… Will not there be takings
“necessary” to stop reinfestations? Will not there be a
need to acquire biologically “sensitive” corridors? Will not
it be necessary to tell private property owners what they
must do and what they cannot do in order to control X or
stop the reinfestation of X? …Will not the interest groups
that want to stop hunting, fishing, trapping, logging, and
even grazing and ranching have a field day with this?

”

Jim Beers, retired BLM, from Invasive Species Update #4,
April 15, 2003 at
Mr. Beers also testified at the April 29, 2003 Joint Oversight
Hearing on the Growing Oversight of Invasive Species.

“Invasive ornamentals–The problem and
alternatives” will explore the invasive
ornamental problem, the impact of
Cortaderia on California landscapes, and
native plant landscaping.

IP
INAMS/EMAP
I7
IPINAMS/EMAP
INAMS/EMAPI7
November 3-7, 2003
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Two conferences in one: “Invasive Plants
in Natural and Managed Systems: Linking
Science and Management” and the “7th
International Conference on the Ecology
and Management of Alien Plant Invasions.”

Invasive plants and animals pose an
“extremely
serious problem for agriculture… Invasive species also
exact a heavy environmental toll. Many invasive species threaten
plant, animal or human health… Invasive species are especially a
problem in my home state of California. California is extremely
diverse in terms of land uses and ecosystems. As a result, we
produce an extremely wide array of crops that include most of
the crops grown in the United States. We also experience most
of the problems with different types of invasive species that are
encountered elsewhere across the country… Farm Bureau
strongly supports an aggressive program at the local, state and
federal levels to prevent the introduction of invasive species into
the United States, and to control or eradicate invasive species
that are already here. The management plan developed by the
National Invasive Species Council (NISC) titled “Meeting the
Invasive Species Challenge” provides a framework for addressing
these issues.

”

Bill Pauli, President of the California Farm Bureau Federation,
from testimony given at the April 29, 2003 Joint Oversight Hearing
on the Growing Oversight of Invasive Species, House Subcommittee
on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, and House
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
CalEPPC News

Summer 2003

CalEPPC Membership Form
We’re wor
king to pr
otect California
om inv
asiv
working
protect
California’’s wildlands fr
from
invasiv
asivee plants—join us!
CalEPPC’s effectiveness comes from a strong membership, including scientists, land managers, policy makers, and concerned citizens.
Please photocopy the form below, complete, and mail with your payment. Additional donations are always welcome to support our
projects; we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and donations beyond regular membership rates are tax deductible.
Individual
Student/low income
$15
Regular
$30
Family
$40
Contributing
$50
Sustaining
$100
Life
$1,000

Institutional
Regular
$100
Contributing
$250
Patron
$500
Sustaining
$1,000

Name
Affiliation

Additional donations for:
Nursery outreach and education
International Broom Initiative
Cape ivy biocontrols research
Cal-EPPC News and operating costs

$
$
$
$

Please mail check (to “Cal-EPPC”) and this form to:
Cal-EPPC M
embership
Membership
1442-A Walnut SStr
tr
eet #462
treet
Ber
keley CA 94709
erkeley

Address
City, State & Zip

Work Phone

Home Phone

Fax

E-mail

California
Exotic Pest Plant
Council
1442-A Walnut Street, #462
Berkeley, CA 94709
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Hot off the pr
esses! Now available, co-authored
presses!
by CalEPPC Board President Joe DiTomaso.
With 560 color photos of 170 species of
submerged, floating leaf, and emergent aquatic
weeds. Order at

Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Berkeley, CA
Permit No. 1435