Invasive species management in Katmai National Park & Preserve: 2011 Summary report
Frank P and Woods A. 2011. Invasive species management in Katmai National Park & Preserve: 2011 Summary report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/KATM/NRDS—2011/222. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This year marks the second season that the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team protocol for surveying and controlling invasive plants was followed throughout the growing season. A total of 13 non-native species have been documented in the park, with 10 more present in King Salmon. The majority of monitoring and manual control efforts occurred at Brooks Camp, Lake Camp, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road and at Fure’s Cabin. Herbicide was applied for the first time in the park to control the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) infestation at Fure’s Cabin as well as bird vetch (Vicia cracca) along the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road. Continued treatment at heavily infested sites, such as the Brooks Camp cultural site, has significantly reduced the extent and density of infestations in these areas. Expanding the areas surveyed within the park was a high priority this season, thus inventories were conducted in the Katmai National Preserve at Funnel and Moraine Creeks and Crosswind Lake, Geographic Harbor, Takli and Little Takli Islands, in the Bay of Islands and at Idavain and Margot Creeks. New species documented in 2011 include: common mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum), common chickweed (Stellaria media) and European forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) in the park and narrowleaf hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) and Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) in King Salmon. New infestations were discovered at Moraine Creek, Idavain Creek, Fure’s Cabin and lodges in Kukak and Kaguyak Bays. Invasive plant infestations in Katmai are relatively narrow in extent and severity due in part to the park’s remote location; therefore, continued monitoring and control can reduce infestations and prevent their spread beyond areas of high disturbance. Finally, ongoing and planned construction and relocation projects at Brooks Camp will disturb existing vegetation, exposing new areas to colonization by non-native plants. Development of revegetation plans will help to minimize disturbance and restore the landscape post-construction.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Frank, Peter; Woods, Airelle
- Date of Issue
- 2011-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- KATM , NRSS
- Keywords
- Alaska EPMT, EDRR, Exotic, exotic plant management team, Invasive, KATM, Non-Native