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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Research Needs
TITLE: Evaluation of Chemical
and Biological Control Efforts of Noxious Weeds on the Lake Andes
National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District Complex
SUBMITTING BUREAU: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Originating Offices: Region 6
DATE SUBMITTED: July 25, 1997
BIN NUMBER: FWS14CR98
BRD REGION: Central
DESCRIPTION OF NEED: South Dakota state law requires that noxious weeds must be controlled by the landowner. This State law has been interpreted to include Federal landholders. Considerable political and public pressure is exerted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to control weeds. Consequently, the Service has been actively attempting control of noxious weeds for over two decades. Most efforts have centered on Canada and musk thistle. Results have been mixed. Little or no effort has been placed on evaluating application techniques, habitat conditions, or the effectiveness of the treatment. Research is needed in order to identify specific conditions that affect control efforts. The result of such research will be to reduce total chemical output to the environment, identify conditions best suited for release of biological control agents, and assist the refuge with a more cost effective approach to weed control.
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WITH NEED: The Lake Andes Complex spends roughly $35,000 or 6% of their entire budget on chemical and biological control activities. Some efforts are more successful than others. However, little is known about the causative conditions or reasons for success or failure. By identifying habitat, environmental and other conditions that are required for successful control, the Complex can more productively address weed control issues. The South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture, and the Charles Mix County Weed Board are active partners in weed control issues, and have pledged their partnership in any evaluation efforts.
Coordination meetings between land management agencies in South Dakota for the past several years have identified weed control issues as a top priority.
BUREAU CONTACT: Charles Pelizza, USFWS, Lake Andes NWR, 38672 291st. Street, Lake Andes, South Dakota, 57356 (605)487-7603; Internet Pelizza, Charlie@FWS.GOV
BRD PRIMARY CENTER: MESC
BRD CENTER CONTACT: Murray Laubhan
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY99): This BIN was received from Region 6, FWS, after the meeting to establish priorities. Telephone conversations with Charles Pelizza (09/18/97; 10/02/97) indicate that current management efforts on Lake Andes NWR are directed toward control of noxious weeds using chemicals with little effort being devoted to understanding the ecology of thistle or evaluating the consequences of using large amounts of herbicides. Beginning in FY 1998, BRD/MESC will initiate a study designed to develop integrated strategies for weed control in riparian and wetland systems. A portion of this study will include determining the germination requirements of invasive weeds. Although tall whitetop and saltcedar will be the primary focus, seeds of Canada thistle and purple loosestrife will be incorporated into the study design to the extent possible. In addition, Dave Hamilton (MESC) is developing an information system for wetland management, based on a synthesis of literature, that will include known strategies for control of thistle species. Based on a conversation with Diane Larson (10/17/97), thistle species will be mapped in Wind Cave National Park beginning next year, but this and other studies currently being conducted by NPWRC do not directly address the research need on Lake Andes NWR.
May 15, 1998: Recent communications with Dave Hamilton (BRD/MESC) indicate that progress has been made on developing a computer-based information system for wetland management that will include invasive weed control strategies. The study being conducted by BRD/MESC to develop integrated weed management strategies has been initiated, but experiments on Canada thistle germination will not begin until viable seed can be collected (August 1998). In addition, Diane Larson (BRD/NPWRC) has submitted a study plan to investigate the efficacy of using biocontrol agents to control Canada thistle and leafy spurge on refuges in North Dakota and South Dakota. The results from this study will provide insights into the potential for using biocontrol agents rather than herbicides to control some invasive plants that occur on Lake Andes NWR.
November 19, 1998: Progress continues on the computer-based information system for wetland management being developed by Dave Hamilton (BRD/MESC). The study being conducted by BRD/MESC to develop integrated weed management strategies has been initiated; Canada thistle seed has been collected from four refuges in Region 6, FWS and is being processed prior to beginning germination trials. Diane Larson (BRD/NPWRC) has completed a study plan to investigate the efficacy of using biocontrol agents to control Canada thistle.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: October 24, 1997
PREPARED BY: Murray Laubhan, Landscape and Habitat Analysis Section, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort collins, CO; (970)226-9411; email: Murray_Laubhan@usgs.gov
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY98): This BIN was received from Region 6, FWS, after the meeting to establish priorities. Telephone conversations with Charles Pelizza (09/18/97; 10/02/97) indicate that current management efforts on Lake Andes NWR are directed toward control of noxious weeds using chemicals with little effort being devoted to understanding the ecology of thistle or evaluating the consequences of using large amounts of herbicides. Beginning in FY 1998, BRD/MESC will initiate a study designed to develop integrated strategies for weed control in riparian and wetland systems. A portion of this study will include determining the germination requirements of invasive weeds. Although tall whitetop and saltcedar will be the primary focus, seeds of Canada thistle and purple loosestrife will be incorporated into the study design to the extent possible. In addition, Dave Hamilton (MESC) is developing an information system for wetland management, based on a synthesis of literature, that will include known strategies for control of thistle species. Based on a conversation with Diane Larson (10/17/97), thistle species will be mapped in Wind Cave National Park beginning next year, but this and other studies currently being conducted by NPWRC do not directly address the research need on Lake Andes NWR.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: October 31, 1997
PREPARED BY: Murray Laubhan, Landscape and Habitat Analysis Section, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO; (970)226-9411; email: Murray_Laubhan@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/98fws-14.htm
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