Presentations from the 2022 Invasive Species Summit
Day 1: October 25, 2022
Welcome from MISC and Agency Partners: MISC framework and our shared priorities, listening session feedback, work plan process.
Bryce Christians - Montana Invasive Species Council Chair
Work Session #1: Top 10 Invasive Species to Watch
Question: What are Montana's top invasive species and what is their impact?
Outcome: List 10 invasive species that are important to Montana.
Update: Eastern Heath Snail
Gary Adams - USDA, APHIS PPQ - State Plant Health Director
Work Session #2: Quantify the Impacts of Invasive Species
Question: What invasive species issues would benefit from clearly quantifying the impacts?
Outcome: Identify the top three topics to support with research or review.
Success Story: Dyers Woad Task Force
Amber Burch - Beaverhead County Weed District
Ngaio Richards: Working Dogs for Conservation
Legislative Panel
Senator Mike Cuffe
Representative Marilyn Marler
Representative Neil Duram
Representative Willis Curdy
Success Story: Invasive Bullfrog and Turtle Removal - A Partnership Project
Kristina Smucker - Fish, Wildlife and Parks WP Nongame Program Supervisor
Panel: Recognize the Values of Managing Invasive Species
Jennifer Mohler - Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
Virgil Dupuis - Salish Kootenai College Extension
Diane Medler - Discover Kalispell
Clayton Elliot - Montana Trout Unlimited
Reports from Partners
Steve Tyrrel - CEMIST
Pam Schwind - Montana Weed Control Association
Jasmine Chaffee - Department of Agriculture
Dan Rostad - Salt Cedar
Kate Wilson - UC3
Day 2: October 26, 2022
Update: Firewood Science Advisory Panel
Amy Gannon - DNRC Forest Pest Management Program Coordinator
Work Session #3: Science Advisory Panels
Question: What topics would benefit from a Science Advisory Panel review?
Outcome: List of three topics that should be developed over the next three years.
Update: Feral Swine
Tahnee Szymanski - Department of Livestock, Assistant State Veterinarian
Work Session #4: Focused Efforts to Improve Programs and Increase Capacity
Question: What invasive species issues or initiatives should MISC support with focused effort including trainings, jurisdictional review, workshops, tabletop exercises, or outreach?
Outcome: List of four topic areas that would benefit from focused support.
Reports from Partners
Michelle Cox - U.S. Forest Service
Tom Woolf - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Jason Allen - Montana Department of Transportation
Success Story: Invasive Clam Removal at Lake Elmo
Craig McLane - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, AIS Early Detection & Monitoring Coordinator
Panel: Regional Neighbors - Outlook, Reports, and Current Concerns
Megan Evans - Alberta Invasive Species Council
Steven Hayward - Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
Richard Weisz - North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Lloyd Knight - Idaho State Department of Agriculture
Josh Shorb - Wyoming's Park County Weed and Pest District
Jacob Bradford - Regional Invasive Species Coordinator, Bureau of Reclamation
Montana Institution for Tourism and Recreation Research
Megan Schultz - ITRR Project Manager and Research Associate
Melissa Weddell - ITRR Director and Research Faculty
Panel: Sharing Your Message - Coordinated Communications, Messages, and Methods that are Better Adapted to a Changing Population
Cassidy Bender - UC3 / Clean, Drain, Dry
Jennifer Riddle - ISAN / Don't Let it Loose
Leigh Greenwood - The Nature Conservancy / Don't Move Firewood