About the Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area

The Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (TC CISMA), which includes northern Palm Beach County, and all of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties, had its first year anniversary this past November 2008. During this first year, we met 10 times, and had 14 active participants with representation from:

• Florida Park Service,
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
• Habitat Specialists, Inc.,
• Indian River County,
• Martin County,
• Natural Resources Conservation Service,
• Palm Beach County,
• Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority,
• South Florida Water Management District,
• St. Lucie County,
• The Nature Conservancy,
• Treasure Coast Resource Conservation and Development,
• US Fish and Wildlife Service,
• University of Florida/IFAS.

During our first year we:

• created our name,
• wrote our mission statement and five goals,
• determined our boundaries and created a GIS map,
• submitted a FLEPPC 2008 Poster,
• wrote a justification statement,
• expanded and extended our previous cooperative partnership workday MOU within Martin County,
• submitted and received a $64,000 USFWS Coastal Program Cooperative Agreement for Scaevola taccada removal on both public and private lands,
• held a Treasure Coast Regional Invasive Plant Management Workshop,
• submitted and received a USFWS $46,000 Challenge Cost Share Agreement for invasive plant removal and restoration on conservation lands in Martin County,
• coordinated the $33,000 SFWMD Indian River Lagoon License Plate grants for invasive plant and restoration work on coastal conservation lands in Martin and Palm Beach Counties,
and drafted a five year strategic plan.

Our Mission: to implement a comprehensive, cooperative approach across boundaries to address the threats of invasive species within the Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area

Our Goals:

1. Reduce and control the spread of existing invasive species
2. Prevent the extablishment and spread of new invasive species
3. Build working relationships between public and private stakeholders to foster cost-effective control of invasive species
4. Provide education and information exchange about invasive species among stakeholders
5. Promote applied research in invasive species management

Counties: Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, N. Palm Beach

Strategic Plan: Treasure Coast Strategic Plan, Draft 6-01-09 (pdf)

Treasure Coast CISMA Coastal Program Agreement 2008-09: Agreement Summary