Green Swamp Lygodium Prevention Meeting Notes

December 9, 2008

1. Attendance: Brian Nelson (SWFWMD), Michael Terry (SWFWMD), Ken Smith (SWFWMD), Paul Elliott (SWFWMD), Colleen Werner (DOF), Kathy Johnson (DOF), Caroline Eckert (DEP), Scott Spaulding (DEP), Cheryl Millett (TNC), Tabitha Biehl-Gabbard (Polk County), Gaye Sharpe (Polk County), Cheryl Millett (TNC), Kris Serbesoff-King (TNC), Rosalind Rowe (TNC), Don Robinson (Pasco County)

2. State of spread – what we know about where Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern or OWCF) is showing up in the Green Swamp watershed.

• Used Central Florida Lygodium Strategy (CFLS) map to show known areas (most already worked) and some potential points from earlier aerials not yet checked on the ground.
• In Green Swamp, the Colt Creek and Richloam are the latest infestations found; both have been treated at least once. No other new observations of OWCF have been found by conservation land managers, as reported by the people in this meeting.
• OWCF found in Cypress Creek SWFWMD property; treated.
• Possibly an infestation near Deen Still Rd – maybe Combee property? (Could also be old report?)

3. Brief review of the CFLS project purpose and work to date. Two flyers were distributed, one explaining the CFLS program and one helping homeowners identify and control the plant. Rosalind offered to serve as central clearinghouse data, inviting all information on infestations found, and also asking that people give her “absence” data, too. If someone has recently worked or surveyed an area in GS and not found any OWCF, she will record that, as it gives us a more complete story on the extent of OWCF migration/infestation. She will be working to maintain a central map, though all infestations on public lands still need to be reported to FNAI.

4. Current agency efforts, and what others are doing already that could be incorporated:

• SWFWMD flies every year over southern GS area & adjacent private lands; use 2km transects
• Lake Wales Ridge had flyovers 2005, 2006, 2008; in 2008, used 1km transects
• DOF flies 2-3x per week looking for wildfires in Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, Lake Polk counties; could train to look for OWCF, make this part of fire-training academy
• Other potential aerial resources: Anyone doing aerial burns; Army guard flights; county helicopters, sheriff’s office; Progress Energy flies 1/month, especially right-of-ways and access areas; could ask about looking for OWCF?
• Mike Terry reported having success with 3% glyph
• BIPM has crew and herbicide for infestations of less than or equal to 10 acres; also have herbicide bank available without crew.
• Colt Creek has treated its find and is “on the watch”; has control/eradication already as part of LMP
• Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP) has matrix for private land incentives
• Polk County and FDOT grant got GPS points and 2 treatments on all ROWs for cogongrass and OWCF
• FNAI surveyed GW in Fall 2008
• Colleen has started raising awareness in her DOF office; made Wanted poster, distributed flyers
• DOF has “across-the-fenceline” agreement/waiver for agency to treat on private lands adj to fenceline
• CFLS has waiver form for working on private properties

5. Agreed on shared goal: to establish an early detection and rapid response effort to stop the spread of OWCF in greater Green Swamp area (that is, treating all OWCF infestations on all ownerships).

Challenges discussed:

• Early detection, especially systematic surveys on the ground
• Ownership differences
• Gaps for treating – lands not conservation areas, but not private lands
• Equipment moving between properties – not just contractors doing treatment work, but truckers and other transportation going between places, especially between sand mines; decontamination protocols/info needed
• Sand mine tailings; gametophyte heaven – and 3% glyph not enough!
• Locating plant data
• Getting funds for helicopter surveys
• Good communication
• Making sure re-treatment is as important as initial treatment
• Raising awareness, education; getting other folks involved
• Working across job roles as well as across fencelines
• Setting up reliable rapid response; e.g. someone tells CFLS they saw OWCF, how to get someone on the spot right away to confirm, treat.
• Separating “detection network” from the “management network”

Opportunities discussed:

• Colleen can use Cheryl’s flyover training information for DOF Burn Council flights
• Hunters’ check stations: provide plant information, with call-in information to report sightings; could also provide map with grease pencil – ask to mark sightings (Avon Park Bombing Range may have such a kiosk as an example?)
• Other kiosks – poster for “if you spot this, call” with a phone number
• Dept of State Lands could include for monitoring of conservation easements
• Progress Energy could be asked to watch for OWCF during their flights & other surveys
• High priority for public land managers in this area
• CFLS willing to be clearinghouse for data and for “dispatching” on-the-ground follow-ups
• Sample waivers for crossing fence lines do exist – don’t have to re-invent
• Poster at the Webster cattle auction

Others to get involved:

• IFAS Extension
• Cattlemen’s Association
• Lake County
• FDOT
• FFWCC
• Fire Council
• DSL easements consultants
• Sand Mine Association
• FDOF
• FPS
• Counties: Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Polk Pasco, - and Hillsborough County?
• To include county roadway maintenance, foresters, environmental depts.
• Timber companies

6. Best ways to detect new infestations and to document and share the information:

• Frequent, regular aerial surveys, especially by helicopter, quickly followed up with on-the-ground confirmations/surveys.
• Push re-treatment; this keeps us looking for new growth.
• Share treatment data, findings
• Alert system to notify right people of infestation found
• One map – EDDMap?

7. Ways to insure we are ready and have the ability to treat any new finds on short notice:

• Steps to use BIPM crew and/or herbicide known by all public land managers in GS
• Tech crews have CFLS program flyer to hand to private landowners when infestations noted from fencelines; could put TNC waiver form on back?
• Alert system to notify right people of infestation found; the “One map – EDDMap?” issue relates here as well.

8. Ways to get the word out so private and public land owners and managers are aware of the problem and know who to call: Get word out about website,

• IFAS - Extension agents
• Feedstores
• Hunt stations
• County foresters
• Set up a subcommittee to look into ways to use media; if we do a media event, need to be ready with a number to call or an action.

9. Geographic boundaries for this group suggested:

• South: I-4 as southern boundary, or possibly to 92?
• East: 27
• North: 50
• West: 301/98, or possibly I-75.

10. Possible advantages of forming a CISMA, and steps in the meantime:

• Kris explained the concepts related to forming a Cooperative Weed/Invasive Species Management Area (CWMA/CISMA), and showed where some cooperative efforts were already happening around the state. She went over the 5 basic characteristics of a CISMA, how they improve invasive species management, and how this group’s goal to control Lygodium fits perfectly into this kind of cooperative program.
• The general agreement was that this could be a good way to keep pulling together, but that the priority right now was to initiate the actions that will put us ahead of an OWCF infestation. Brian is willing to chair this effort.

ACTION ITEMS:

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Last updated on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 11:59 AM