Items
of Interest:
State
Launches Firewood Campaign to Reduce Invasive
Species (PDF | 41 KB) (Jul 16, 2010)
Washington
State Recreation and Conservation Office.
In
a joint effort with the states of Idaho and
Oregon, the Washington
Invasive Species Council is launching
its "Buy it Where You Burn It
Campaign," which
encourages people to obtain their firewood
as close as possible to the place where it
will be burned. The tri-state campaign, will
spread the word about the potential dangers
of transporting firewood carrying live invasive
insects and diseases, using billboards and
radio spots and other advertising. The campaign
has been made possible with grant funding
from the 2010 Farm Bill. Outreach programs
have been launched in most states, and a
national Web site, Don't
Move Firewood informs the public how
to prevent the destruction of trees by transporting
firewood.
Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife Conducting
Boat Checks to Stop Aquatic Invasive Species (Jun
15, 2010)
Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
People hauling boats to and from
Washington waterways this summer may be stopped
by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW) officers conducting mandatory checks
of boats, trailers and gear for aquatic invasive
species. The annual check stations and emphasis-patrol
program has begun in several parts of the
state and will continue through the boating
season. The aim is to keep tiny zebra
mussels, quagga
mussels and other aquatic nuisance species
out of Washington to protect native fish,
wildlife and water systems. Last year, WDFW
enforcement officers seized a 24-foot boat
in Spokane contaminated with quagga mussels
from Lake Mead, Nevada. A multi-state tracking
effort and tips from alert citizens led to
the seizure by WDFW enforcement officers.
As a result there are random road stops of
people hauling any size boat. Importation
of aquatic
invasive species is a gross misdemeanor
punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up
to a year in jail. Knowingly bringing such
species into Washington is a felony and can
result in even greater fines and jail time.
Washington
Invasive Species Council: Annual Report
- 2009 (PDF | 3.5 MB)
Washington Invasive Species Council.
This report to the Legislature describes recent significant progress of
the Washington State Invasive Species Council in implementing the top five recommendations
from its strategic plan. See the top
priorities for invasive species in Washington.
Agencies
seek public's help in curtailing spread
of invasive snails in Capitol Lake (Nov
24, 2009)
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
First known discovery of New Zealand mud
snails in Puget Sound. See a fact
sheet (PDF | 571 KB) for more information.
Report
invasive weed sightings through new hotline,
Web site (Oct 13, 2009)
Issaquah Press.
The Washington Invasive Species Council
recently launched a hotline and Web
site for
people to report sightings of invasive species.
People are encouraged to call the hotline (1-877-9-INFEST)
or report
sightings if they see a new plant,
insect or animal in their neighborhood or know
of someone smuggling plants into the country
or releasing pets, such as snakes or aquarium
fish, into a stream or park.
Sea
Lampreys Jettison One-fifth of Their Genome (Jul
20, 2009)
University of Washington.
Researchers have
discovered that the sea
lamprey dramatically remodels its genome.
Shortly after a fertilized lamprey egg
divides into several cells, the growing
embryo discards millions of units of its
DNA. These findings are believed to be
the first recorded observation of a vertebrate
-- an animal with a spinal column -- extensively
reorganizing its genome as a normal part
of development.
Aquatic Invasive Species Enforcement
2008 Report
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has completed its AIS Enforcement
Report for 2008. Accomplishments included establishment of the first-ever mandatory
inspection station for watercraft, development of a combined vessel safety and
AIS inspection form, ticket writing for aquatic weed transport on watercraft,
a summary of mussel interdictions, marketplace enforcement actions, education
and outreach activities, a certified Marine Yard program, and other activities.
Invasive
Species Council Issues Call to Action:
Council unveils statewide strategic plan (Jun
5, 2008)
Washington Invasive Species Council.
After two years of
work, the Washington Invasive Species Council
today released its statewide
strategic plan (PDF | 2.1 MB), which
provides recommendations on actions to battle
a variety of pests and plants invading Washington.
Garden
Wise: Non-Invasive Plants for Your Garden -
2008
Eastern Version (PDF | 2.9 MB) and 2008
Western Version (PDF | 3.5 MB)
Washington Invasive Species Coalition.
This booklet is available to
help gardeners and nursery staff
make sound planting decisions. Many
of our noxious weeds began as garden
ornamentals that out-grew their confines
and spread beyond where they were
intentionally planted. This book
lists many of the noxious or known
invasive ornamental plants and alternative
garden choices that have similar
stature and color characteristics,
without the negative invasive qualities. |
