Invasive plant management in Kenai Fjords National Park: 2011 Summary report

Fulton, Travis

This report describes the work performed by the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team in Kenai Fjords National Park during the 2011 field season. This is the eighth season that Kenai Fjords National Park has monitored and controlled for invasive plants following the management protocol established by the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team. The 2011 Kenai Fjords’ Exotic Plant Management team included one Biological Science Technician, one Student Conservation Association intern, and two Youth Conservation Corps crew members. Volunteers, community groups, and partner organizations also helped with invasive plant control efforts. As with previous seasons monitoring and control work was focused in the Exit Glacier area and along the Exit Glacier road. A number of other locations were surveyed or controlled in 2011 including sites in Nuka Bay, McCarty Fjord, Northwestern Fjord, and Aialik Bay. Control work was mostly performed manually, although herbicide was used for the first time at Kenai Fjord National Park in 2011 to treat an infestation of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale spp. officinale). Invasive plant infestations were mapped using a Trimble GeoXT GPS. Data was edited and analyzed using GPS Pathfinder Office and ArcGIS. The Kenai Fjords Exotic Plant Management Team surveyed 27.6 acres of park lands and 9.3 acres outside park boundaries for invasive species. A total of 8.3 acres of invasive plant infestations were mapped. The team treated 6.9 acres of invasive plant infestations, 3.1 of these acres were controlled with herbicide. Over 1,780 pounds of invasive plants were manually pulled and removed from the park. This season a number of new small infestations were discovered on the outskirts of known infestations, and one new population was discovered at Pedersen Beach in Aialik Bay. Monitoring and control efforts should continue at Kenai Fjords National Park to prevent the further spread or introduction of invasive plants within the park and to keep native ecosystems intact. For the first time in 2011, Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team staff conducted monitoring for invasive European and Asian Gypsy Moths (Lymantria dispar and L. dispar japonica). Traps were set at Exit Glacier due to the sites vulnerability to invasive introductions. After repeated checks throughout the season the traps were found to be free of Gypsy Moths. Monitoring for these species should continue as they pose a significant threat to the native vegetation of the area.

Invasive plant management in Kenai Fjords National Park: 2011 Summary report

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