Exotic Vegetation Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2006

Akerson, James

Fiscal year 2006 was the fourth year of operations for the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team and its overarching Mid-Atlantic Cooperative of parks. Housed at Shenandoah National Park, the Mid-Atlantic Team serves national parks in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Fourteen (14) park units participated in the Cooperative. A Steering Committee made up of representatives from each park provides overarching management leadership as well as individual park direction. The Team Liaison provides daily operations leadership and coordinates activities with individual parks. He also oversees work by non-NPS work groups and volunteers and serves as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative for contract work. The Crew Leader provides direction for on-the-ground activity and oversees matters of safety, equipment maintenance, data management, and staff training. Field work was accomplished with Team crewmembers, park staffs, student interns, volunteers, and private contractors. Partnerships are increasing the effectiveness of treatments while broadening the organizational capacity to successfully manage invasive plants into the future.