Invasive plant management for Kenai Fjords National Park: 2013 summary report
Frank PA. 2014. Invasive plant management for Kenai Fjords National Park: 2013 summary report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/KEFJ/NRDS—2014/636. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report describes the work performed by the Exotic Plant Management Team (EPMT) at Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) during the 2013 field season. This summer marked the tenth consecutive year that KEFJ staff have monitored and controlled invasive plants in accordance with the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team protocol. In 2013 the KEFJ EPMT focused on two primary objectives. The first objective was to control all existing infestations found within the park in order to reduce their overall extent and prevent their further spread. The second objective was to accurately document the distribution and abundance of invasive species found within the park to facilitate future management decision making. The 2013 KEFJ EPMT staff, which consisted of one Biological Science Technician, one Student Conservation Association intern, one Biological Aid and one Youth Conservation Corps intern, devoted approximately 1,394 hours toward managing invasive species found in and around the park. EPMT staff surveyed a total of 13.4 acres during the 2013 field season, of which a total of 3.4 acres were found to be infested. This marked the lowest overall infested acreage documented in KEFJ in three years, suggesting that focused and diligent control work may be beginning to show its effectiveness. Of the 3.4 acres found to be infested, a total of 3.2 acres were treated by means of manual and chemical control. Survey and control work in KEFJ was focused in the Exit Glacier area, with particular emphasis put on the trail system, campground, employee housing area and the parking lot. In total, 14 invasive species were documented, within the park in 2013. No new species were documented but one reoccurring species, meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), was documented and controlled in the park for the first time since 2010. Additionally, two multiday trips to the coastal regions of KEFJ allowed EPMT staff to survey a total of 14 coastal sites, treat three known infestations, and document and control two infestations found for the first time in 2013. Future EPMT staff at KEFJ should continue to monitor and control all infestations found in the park, focusing on the eradication of infestations of high priority species found in areas of limited disturbance.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Frank, Peter
- Date of Issue
- 2014-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- KEFJ , NRSS
- Keywords
- Alaska, Alaska EPMT, alsike clover, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, common dandelion, common plantain, common sheep sorrel, Common Timothy, Curly Dock, EDRR, EPMT, Exotic, exotic plant management, Flora, foxtail barley, Gypsy Moth, Invasive, KEFJ, Kenai Fjords, meadow foxtail, Mouse-ear Chickweed, oxeye daisy, pineapple weed, Plants, Prostrate Knotweed, red clover, Sheep Sorrel, shepherd’s purse, Vegetation, Vegetation Management, white clover, Yellow toadflax
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants