Chippewa Flowage Invasive Species Education and Management (CFISEM) Steering Committee

Minutes from the meeting of May 4, 2006

(Minutes taken by Deb Anderson and typed/edited by Erik Olson .)(Minutes were taken in shorthand.)

In Attendance: Erik Olson , Dara Olson , Craig Roesler, Douglas Kurtzweil, Chuck Block , Dennis Clagget, Deb Anderson , Neal Kephart, Kristy Maki , Dawn White , Tracey Mofle , Steven Spickerman, and Chris Jeffords

Erik- Welcomed everyone and reviewed agenda. 

Erik- 2005 Research Report is available online

Erik- Did a quick review of Eurasian Watermilfoil Survey for 2005 (Info found in report).

Erik- Did a quick review of Purple Loosestrife Survey for 2005 (Info found in report)

Erik- There will be some changes to the methods for 2006 surveys.  Like filtering out water depths of over 20 ft, shoreline type added, etc.

Erik- Training for student interns is about to happen and setting up some trainings with agencies present will happen outside of meeting (i.e. boaters safety, aquatic plant identification, GIS/GPS, etc.)

Erik- Volunteer training will also need to be set up later and volunteers for both East and West sides of the Chippewa Flowage hopefully will be recruited. 

Erik- Aquatic Plant Management Addition Outline discussed. 

Kristy and Craig- Ask for a clarification of language used in IV. D., and suggest switching AIS in that section to Regional AIS or Potential AIS in Chippewa Flowage.”

Erik- Explains the rest of the outline.

Erik- Presents the Chippewa Flowage AIS Control Options Report-Purple Loosestrife and provides time for members to review.  

Erik- Initiates discussion of PL Control Options and hopes the committee can work towards some recommendations for PL Control. 

Chris and Doug- Question the extent of seed dormancy for PL.

Craig- Most say about 10 years.

Craig- DNR plans to raise a batch of beetles with some to be released on the Chippewa Flowage. 

Neal- DNR has asked for control/management ideas to be submitted and could be funded in future.

Kristy- You shouldn’t limit any future control, all options should be left open.

Chris- Get a volunteer group to do things that don’t take as much funding.  A letter from this committee asking for volunteers would be a good idea.

Doug- Volunteers is a good idea, the only expense would be gas, and could get a core group of volunteers.  Not much training required and could maybe get a 5 year commitment to actively participate as a volunteer.  How would you focus the attack.  

Neal- Should start with a good educational focus to educate the Property Owners. 

Erik- My grant could cover some of the educational materials, etc.

Neal- Might be able to cover some of it.

Doug- The Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association has members 2 miles from the high water mark, so you may want to get a property listing from the Court house.

Kristy- Asked about money from Property Owners Association for herbicide costs. 

Doug- This might be a possibility.

Dara- Not sure if beetles are available through GLIFWC, or if GLIFWC can has any plans for PL control on the Flowage.  Will check.

Chuck- Volunteer retention and safety could be an issue.  Volunteers on floating bogs could be a safety issue. 

Erik- Special consideration for floating bogs should be taken since PL was abundant there and they can be a mode of transportation.

Craig- Suggests using beetles on bogs.  They seem to work well and are easy to release.  They released beetles on some of the bogs last year.  The state also has a program to assist anyone interested in raising beetles.

Chris- Perhaps after a letter is sent educating the property owners and asking for volunteers, you could then ask if anyone would want to raise beetles.

Craig- Basically to late to raise beetles this year.  Need plants to raise the beetles on.  So you need to collect the plants first and pot them. 

Erik- Discuss certain areas of attack, Discussed using beetles, volunteers, and herbicides.  The West side is still an unknown. 

Deb- Adopt a shoreline.  Assign certain bogs that a group could help implement control on.  Would need a volunteer coordinator to manage efforts. 

Kristy- Recommends on bogs and areas of > 1000 plants to use beetles.  Recommends areas of <50 plants to be mixture of volunteer removal and cut and dab herbicide application.  If funding is available spot treatment could be used on areas of 50-1000 plants.

Doug- What about permits?

Kristy- Permit for over water application required, volunteers applying herbicides would most likely be under the guidance of an agency. 

Tracey- Get recommendations and add them on to the Joint Agency Management Plan, to be signed on by agencies and tribe.

Erik- Summary of recommendations so far: More education to Property Owners.  Use beetles on bogs and sites with >1000 plants.  Use Volunteer hand removal on sites with <50 plants and if funding cut and dab as well.  Use (if funding) spot treatment for sites with 50-1000 plants and perhaps some beetles and some volunteer removal.  Call for a volunteer coordinator. 

Chris- Need someone in charge of outlining steps. Focus on an annual basis.  Process to ID key responsibilities.

Deb- Definite need for a volunteer coordinator/point person.

Doug- Someone at driving the effort.

Neal- Also, need someone to coordinate with the agencies. 

Tracey- College could help facilitate.

Erik- I could help with facilitation of various agencies.

Kristy- New Sawyer County AIS Coordinator through county funded position.  That person could facilitate with the agencies.

Erik- Asks for committee agreement on recommended control options.

Doug- The “shot-gun” approach is good.

Tracey- Think the options should stay open so different agencies can adapt it to their BMP’s. 

Craig- I would probably not suggest any broadcast spray.  Have wording to not recommend broadcast spray. 

Steven- Miles may have a better idea on what chemicals to recommend.

Craig- Conceptually- a broad-leaf herbicide- something that would restrict what is being killed.  Recommend use of a highly selective herbicide.

Kristy- Word is so it allows newly developed herbicides that are better to be used.

Dawn- Asked about approval of recommendations.

Erik- Committee will review the recommendations and make a decision on them at next meeting (by discussion or vote.)

Erik- Thank you all.  Next meeting will be scheduled for sometime in July - August.

Erik- The next meeting we will be very similar to this; we will review and pass the recommendations for PL control, we will discuss control options report for EWM, and we will work towards making control recommendations for EWM. 

 

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