Invasive and exotic species management in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: 2011 Summary report
Goodrich Z. 2011. Invasive and exotic species management in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: 2011 Summary report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/KLGO/NRDS—2011/224. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2011 the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park worked with the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team to control existing invasive plant infestations and prevent their spread through the park and into the surrounding undeveloped wildlands. The approach to invasive plant management focuses on early detection and eradication in backcountry and undeveloped front country areas and containment on road systems and in the town of Skagway. 2011 was the eighth year of the program and program crewmembers, park staff, and volunteers devoted approximately 1,120 hours to managing invasive species found in and around Skagway and Dyea. The infestations treated in the park this year totaled just over 3 acres. Acres treated outside of park land totaled 8.6 acres. The program dedicates considerable effort to prevent high priority invasive species from spreading from non-NPS lands onto park lands. Ten surveys were conducted in and around the park, along with survey and monitoring efforts in Dyea and Skagway throughout the season. A total of 148.4 acres were surveyed, 49.7 of which were inside park boundaries. A total of 62 infested acres were mapped during the 2011 season, of which 11 were in the park. Discoveries of particular concern include the detection of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) along the Pullen Creek restoration site in Skagway, and at Sheep Camp on the Chilkoot Trail. Another new discovery of concern was the spread of ornamental jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera) into a municipal park. In past years ornamental jewelweed was found only as planted ornamentals at four locations in Skagway. The infestation of white sweetclover (Melilotus albus) at the airport was again found, though diminished from last year. All white sweetclover plants found at the airport were pulled before going to seed. Seventeen volunteers participated in the Skagway Community Weed Pull, removing 118 pounds of invasive plants from the airport medians.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Goodrich, Zachary
- Date of Issue
- 2011-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- KLGO , NRSS
- Keywords
- Alaska EPMT, EDRR, Exotic, exotic plant management team, Invasive, KLGO, Non-Native