March 28-30, 2000 Bozeman, Montana

With the holidays bearing down on us, the new year and our annual WAPMS meeting will quickly be upon us. Make plans now to attend the meeting in Bozeman, MT. The meeting will be more memorable for you and all attendees if you make the effort to present a paper. Encourage a colleague or friend to attend. Those of you with employees or perhaps graduate students, make sure they are aware of the meeting and the opportunity to network with others involved in Aquatics, Weed Control, and related topics. Encourage them to present a paper as well.

Barb Mullin has identified a great place to meet in Bozeman with some attractive rates for rooms and meeting spaces. The meeting will be held at the Grantree Inn (406)- 587-5261. Rates for single occupancy are $50.00 plus tax. Call now to make your reservations. The hotel is located downtown within easy walking distance of shops, and restaurants. Bozeman is the home of Montana State University and the campus is a short distance from downtown.

If possible, plan to spend a few extra days in the Bozeman area. The cold winter chill will be gone, but not the opportunity for some great recreational opportunities. Bridger Bowl ski area is within a short drive of Bozeman. Just south of Bozeman lies the Gallatin River and outstanding late winter fly fishing, along with incredible skiing at Big Sky. You’ve heard about the snow and the runs, and you’ll be surprised you don’t have to wait in lift lines to ski. Big Sky is famous for no lift lines and they mean it. If snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing are your favorites, the wonders of Yellowstone Park in the winter may be just what you’d enjoy. Snowmobile, skis, and snowshoes rentals can be found in West Yellowstone, MT, as well as access to "the Park". Bring your camera or camcorder since you’ll discover up close and personal buffalo, geysers, elk, moose, mountain sheep, and other wildlife (no bears this time of year though….).

If for no other reason, come and enjoy time well spent with other society members and get energized by their enthusiasm. We expect to have a number of sponsors that will have information to share during breaks.

I look forward to seeing you in Bozeman. Come and enjoy Montana's famous western hospitality.

Ron P. Crockett, Vice President and Program Chair.

The meeting will be held at the Best Western Grantree Inn in Bozeman, Montana. Room rates will be $50.00 + tax (single). Call the Grantree to make your reservations, 406-587-5261, and Fax 406-587-9437.

Send this form to:

Ron P. Crockett
Vice President WAPMS
17004 N.E. 37^th Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682-8616
or by e-mail to ron.p.crockett@monsanto.com

For additional information on accommodations or the program connect with Ron @ 360-892-9884, Fax @ 360-892-7724, or Email ron.p.crockett@monsanto.com.

Title: ________________________________________________

Author(s):_____________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

Type of audio visual equipment you require:

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On a separate paper, type a brief (150 words or less) abstract using this format:

Scottie Pippen, THE IMPACT OF SALVINIA MOLESTA ON FALL RUNS OF CHINOOK SALMON ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER. P.O. Box 1000, Rose Garden, Portland, OR 97208

The floating exotic macrophyte, Salvinia molesta, is spreading quickly throughout waterways across the United States. Salvinia has been found…………..

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Please Don’t Delay. Make plans to attend, present, and participate in this conference. Invite those you associate with to submit an abstract as well. Get Scottie’s autograph!

WAPMS Web Site Almost Ready to Go!

The WAPMS web site is taking shape rapidly, but I could use some input and photographs from members. We are still deciding where the site will be hosted, but have narrowed the choice to a few possibilities. I have divided the site into a number of categories: home page, officers and directors, by-laws, sponsors, newsletters, conference (annual meeting), scholarships, problem plants in the western states, and management. If anybody has electronic copies of the abstracts of previous meetings, I would love to have them to post at the site. I am "borrowing" from Washington's home page to post photographs and descriptions of plants that are problems in Washington (and elsewhere in the west). I would love articles or information from other states to post there too. I don't mean to exclude anybody, I just don't have the information directly at hand. I am doing this as an after hours volunteer project so my time is somewhat limited. If anybody has photographs of plants or management methods, articles, or other information that they would like to see on the web site, please let me know. My home e-mail is foxsable@home.com.

• Kathy Hamel

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A recently convened Science Advisory Panel (SAP) has recommended the eradication of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) from the Lower Colorado River Basin area. Scientists from the University of Florida (Dr. William Huller), University of Arizona (Dr. Ed Glen), United States Army Corp of Engineers (Dr. Al Cofrancesco), United States Department of Agriculture (Dr. Lars Anderson) and Texas Parks and Wildlife (Dr. Earl Chilton) surveyed the infested area during the week of October 12, 1999. Members agreed the current infestation is in a very incipient stage and if action is taken quickly, eradication efforts will be successful. The SAP members emphasized the need to first remove giant salvinia from the Palo Verde Irrigation District (PVID) drain which empties into the Colorado River.

In response to the SAP recommendations, PVID has initiated operations to physically remove salvinia where ever possible and to apply RewardÒ where removal is not feasible or practical. California Department of Food and Agriculture is providing financial and technical support to the PVID. Eradication operations are scheduled to start on December 6, 1999. In addition, representatives from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), United States Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Bureau of Land Management are developing an action plan to eradicate salvinia from the Colorado River. USFWS has agreed to be the lead agency for this effort.

- Nate Dechoretz

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Correction to Information on Salvinia molesta from the Summer Newsletter

(thanks to alert reader Judy Shearer!)

It is not good news that Salvinia molesta is showing up in so many new places. I am concerned about a few errors in the section on information about giant salvinia from the Summer 1999 newsletter. Since this plant is such a threat I believe the information that is presented through newsletters such as the WAPMS need to be as accurate as possible because the news media may use them as a reference and potentially misinform the public. These may be picky points but S. molesta does not have roots. It does produce a submerged rootlike frond up to 25 cm in length or so that resembles and functions as a root. I believe the 3 feet is greatly exaggerated. The matted plants have been reported to reach up to 1 meter thick. Salvinia molesta and S. minima can be distinguished by the hairs on the aerial fronds not by the root hairs. The hairs of S. molesta divide and then unite at the apex to form a "cagelike" structure while those of S. minima divide and terminate in 4 branches that do not unite.

• Judy Shearer

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Upcoming Conference - ERADICATION OF ISLAND INVASIVES

PRACTICAL ACTIONS AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

The Invasive Species Specialist Group of IUCN will be holding an international conference on this subject at the University of Auckland, New

Zealand from 19 to 23 February 2001.

Papers presented and discussion sessions will be strictly limited to thesubject of: "Methods of eradicating invasive species from islands and the results achieved." The term 'eradicating' may include work to remove invasive species where completion of eradication is some, or many, years away but the methods used to date are achieving positive results or providing a significant learning experience. Preference will be given to papers which provide detail of the techniques used or of the ecosystem response to the work. Significant learning experiences may include methods which failed.

All papers and abstracts for poster papers will be published. A call for papers (with advice of indicative registration costs) is planned for January 2000 and registrations will be accepted after June 2000 by which time registration costs will be known. New and updated information will be posted to our web page as it comes to hand. Look at http://www.issg.org

Conference Director: Dr Mick Clout, Chair, Invasive Species Specialist Group.

Conference Manager: Mr Dick Veitch, 48 Manse Road, Papakura, New Zealand. Ph & Fax +64-9-298 5775, email dveitch@kiwilink.co.nz

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Calendar

WESTERN AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE. March 28-30, 2000. Grantree Hotel, Bozeman MT. See notice and call for papers in this newsletter for additional information.

40th ANNUAL AND INTERNATION MEETING, AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT SOCIETY. July 16-20, 2000. Handerly Hotel and Resort, San Diego, CA. Check the APMS website for a registration form and updates http://www.apms.org.

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New Books of Interest

PLANT IDENTIFICATION DECK

For wetlands and wildlife managers, naturalists and outdoorspeople, waterfront homeowners and science teachers, this is the Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Wetlands Identification Deck. The small-format book is for in-the-field identification of 84 species (including 11 non-native species) of grasses, sedges and rushes of wetlands, with notes about their use by wildlife such as ducks, cranes, geese, rabbits and deer. Each plant is illustrated by color photographs, line drawings and plain-English identification text.

Each 3" X 4" page of the book is laminated for water resistance, the pages being held together by two rings, allowing for quick and easy comparisons between the ID pages and the plants needing identification. A unique inflorescence key enables non-botanists to narrow the possibilities. Scientific and common name indexes are included.

The Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Wetlands ID Deck may be purchased for $12.00, plus tax and shipping and handling, from IFAS Publications, PO Box 110011, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0011, 352-392-1764. The IFAS Catalog number of the wetland grasses ID deck is Publication Number SP-255.

Visa and MasterCard orders only, call 1-800-226-1764

For additional information and pictures of the deck see the web page at http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/idcargr2.html

STONEWORTS--Valuable for Water Management, by M.S. Van den Berg and H. Coops. 1999. 40 pp.
(Order from Harry Hosper, RIZA, POB 17, NL-8200 AA Lelystad, The Netherlands.)

It is well known that water plants make water clear. Even in very nutrient rich lakes, where the water is generally murky green with free-floating algae, the water may be crystal clear within and above submersed plant beds. In this book, Dutch researchers compare the underwater stoneworts, such as Chara species, with other species to identify plants which might keep the water clear, but which at the same time would cause relatively little nuisance to swimmers, skiers and boaters. They found that the stoneworts have a "particularly great effect on the surrounding waters", having "a major influence on the clarity of the water." Stoneworts also benefit animals, especially birds, fish and amphibians. The message: selectively manage for stoneworts.

MICHIGAN RELEASES AQUATIC NUISANCE GUIDE

[Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 1999. For full text and graphics visit: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/nov99/1999L-11-15-09.html] - MI Governor John Engler announced the release of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Handbook for Government Officials. The purpose of the handbook is to educate local, county and state government officials about problems and solutions relating to the on-going invasion and spread of aquatic nuisance species, such as the zebra mussel, Eurasian milfoil, purple loosestrife and round goby. This handbook identifies many aquatic nuisance species, as well as their current distribution, and also illustrates effective techniques that can be used by boaters and fishermen to help prevent and control the spread of exotics into other lakes and rivers. Copies of the handbook can be obtained from the Office of the Great Lakes, Tel: 517-335-4056; Fax: 517-335-4053. It is also available online at: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/ogl/an.pdf

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Questions about this website?
Contact Kathy Hamel at kham461@ecy.wa.gov