SWCD fighting forest invasives through Good Neighbor Authority

SWCD FIGHTING FOREST INVASIVES THROUGH GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY

April 29, 2020

The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is working with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and the U.S. Forest Service to manage invasive species through Good Neighbor Authority (GNA).

The district has five shovel-ready projects identified and hopes to begin prioritizing efforts in May, Madison County SWCD Director Tyler Ross said .

“The only way we’re going to get this stuff done for the future is for all of us to come together,” he said . “It’s a great partnership. Once we get the green light, we’ll develop a plan of attack.”

Madison County SWCD is working with the Appalachian Ranger District ranger and botanist and NEPA officer to develop projects that fall under the GNA agreement. Each will focus on invasive species eradication on federally managed lands, on the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. Ross and Soil Conservationist Brandon Young have earned chainsaw certification for the Forest Service and licensure for public pesticide operations. They also have the ability to assist with prescribed burns.

Under the GNA agreement, Ross and Young are able to use best management practices that they already plan and oversee for the projects.

“It’s giving us an opportunity to expand our knowledge locally and do research with the Forest Service on eradicating nonnative species,” Ross said .

GNA allows the Forest Service to enter into agreements with state forestry agencies to do critical management work to keep forests healthy and productive. Few conservation districts have been directly involved in GNA agreements since the program rollout; Madison County SWCD is working with the NCDA&CS Division of Soil and Water Conservation on these projects.

“It fits into the directive of the district from a water quality standpoint,” Ross said .

Madison County is the driest in the state, but the area has had multiple storm events that resemble 500-year storms. The result is stream degradation and erosion, which has opened areas for invasive plants, such as Japanese knotweed, to replace natives like red twig dogwood and black willow in disturbed areas.

“We’re in a diverse area,” Ross said . “Non-native invasives really upsets the diversity and mosaics of the landscape. This can lead to issues for wildlife and the overall health of the landscape.”

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MUSHROOM WORKSHOPS HELP ENGAGE LANDOWNERS

Forester Nia Becker (pictured) with the Clare Conservation District (CD) in Harrison, Mich., is using her expertise in cultivating mushrooms to increase landowner interest in land management and district programs in Michigan.

Earlier this year, Becker presented “The Magic of Mushrooms: Engaging Landowners with Their Passions” at the American Forest Foundation (AFF) National Leadership Community Conference, focusing on engaging landowners by using topics they are passionate about and the importance of partnerships to on-the-ground conservation through mushroom workshops.

“One of my goals was to help other forest and Tree Farm community members in building their toolbox of programs and finding ways to get landowners engaged,” Becker said . “If they’re not going to apply for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and get a forest management plan, maybe we can get them to engage in their property through mushrooms.”

“They might not come to you to sign up for the larger things right away,” she said . “But if you can get them into a workshop and get them engaged, you can build trust, and it’s a good way to introduce your organization and what you have to offer.”

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Washington

District receives grant

to maintain riparian forest buffer

The Snohomish Conservation District received a $44,967 grant for the Woods Creek Riparian Forest Maintenance Project. The district will use the award to maintain a 32-acre riparian forest buffer to improve dissolved oxygen levels, water temperatures and water quality at a core salmon spawning reach in Woods Creek. The district will also remove invasive plant species to protect the health of young trees planted along the creek.

Minnesota

SWCDs help coordinate volunteer EAB

inspector program

Maureen Graber and Linda G. Tenneson volunteer as lookouts for the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), identifying ash trees and inspecting them for signs of woodpecker activity that would indicate the presence of emerald ash borers. The program is a joint venture between the University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Maine

Landowners eligible

for free invasive

plant survey

Farm and woodland owners and operators in five Maine counties may be eligible to receive a free invasive plant survey and management plan, prepared by a natural resource professional from the local soil and water conservation district (SWCD). Staff of SWCDs serving Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Somerset and Waldo counties are looking for landowners or operators who would like to learn more about the invasive plants on their farms and woodlands.

FORESTRY NEWS

Ash dieback is less severe in isolated ash trees

Amazon invests $10 million to help conserve forests as part of climate change plan

The urban forest of the future: how to turn our cities into Treetopias

Scientists uncover a 60,000-year-old forest underwater and think its preserved trees may help pioneer new medicines

CALENDAR

June 15-18 – NACD Forestry RPG Summer Meeting l Virtual Meeting

Sept. 21-24 – NASF Annual Meeting l Pittsburgh, Pa.

Oct. 28-Nov. 1 – SAF National Convention l Virtual Meeting

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