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 & 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
• Gary Adams - USDA, APHIS, PPQ

Success Story: Invasive Clam Removal at Lake Elmo

• Craig McLane - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, AIS Early Detection & Monitoring Coordinator
• Lake Elmo Success Video

Panel: Regional Neighbors - Outlook, Reports, & 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, & 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