Invasive Plant Management in Kenai Fjords National Park: 2017 Summary Report

Geier, Geoffrey; Kriedeman, Christina

Invasive plant species have been documented and controlled in Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) since the inception of the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team (EMPT) program in 2004. In 2017, all known invasive plant infestations were revisited, mapped, and treated, with the exception of a common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) population located on a nunatak near Petrof Glacier. In total, 58.72 acres were surveyed for invasive plants with 1.64 acres either chemically or manually treated. A total of 44.08 gallons of Milestone herbicide solution and 4.31 gallons of AquaMaster herbicide solution were used to chemically treat invasive plants in the Exit Glacier area, Maintenance Facility, and coastal fjords in 2017. Twelve invasive plant species were documented in KEFJ in 2017 with seven new invasive plant infestations found in the Exit Glacier area. A survey for the aquatic invasive plant Elodea (Elodea spp.) was performed on Desire Lake. Both a surface visual survey and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling were completed. No Elodea was detected during the visual survey and eDNA sampling results have not been received yet. The park continued to participate in the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) monitoring program sponsored by the Alaska Division of Agriculture with no gypsy moths detected. In 2016, nearly one-mile of the park’s segment of the Herman Leirer Road was reconstructed and this year, three sections of the roadside were reseeded. The KEFJ EMPT continued outreach and education efforts utilizing a variety of tools including community events, informative talks, social media posts, and interpretive displays. Continued efforts should be made to perform surveys for invasive plants, return to and treat known invasive plant infestations, identify areas that need restoration, monitor gypsy moths and Elodea, and provide outreach and education to the general public and park staff.