[APWG] LEGISLATION: Weeds are not the issue, ecosystem health is.

[Sandee_Dingman at nps.gov]

Since this dialogue is continuing, I thought I'd share a little background
on the subject....

Folks might want to take a closer look at the 100th Meridian Initiative
(www.100thmeridian.org) and you'll see that it is focused on aquatic
nuisance species. The Reid legislation is primarily in response to the
western invasion of the non-native quagga mussel (close relative of zebra
mussel) into the Lower Colorado River system discovered last winter at Lake
Mead. The issue was, and continues to be, that while there are some federal
funds available to help deal with the situation there are legal and
administrative difficulties in getting those funds to the state agencies
that are vital links in the regional containment strategy which focuses on
public education and law enforcement contact with at-risk vessels. Once
those boats leave federal lands, it is critical that state agencies have
the funding to carry out the containment strategy as most of the federal
agencies don't have law enforcement jurisdiction beyond federal lands.

This is a legally and biologically complicated situation and probably far
beyond the interest of a plant-oriented list serve, so I'll just leave it
at that. If you do have a deeper interest, start with the 100th meridian
initiative website and from there you can find links tomany other
resources.

Sandee Dingman
702-298-1070
sandee_dingman at nps.gov


                                                                                                                                        
                      Craig Dremann                                                                                                     
                      <craig at astreet.com>                  To:       Olivia Kwong <plant at plantconservation.org>                         
                      Sent by:                             cc:       apwg at lists.plantconservation.org, (bcc: Sandee Dingman/LAME/NPS)   
                      apwg-bounces at lists.plantconse        Subject:  Re: [APWG] LEGISLATION: Weeds are not the issue,      ecosystem    
                      rvation.org                           health is.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                        
                      09/12/2007 06:24 PM MST                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                        




Dear Bob, Olivia and All,

The paradox of the legislation to spray weeds with the new "100th
Meridian Invasive Species" fund, is that weeds like cheatgrass are
moving into the empty spaces between the shrubs that were formerly
occupied by perennial native grasses 100-150 years ago.

So spray all you wish, and all will be accomplished in many of those
arid western states, is create more open space for more weeds to move
into.

You can see the conversion of solid native grasslands into desert
shrubland, creating lots of empty spaces for weeds to move into,
pictures from two of the states covered by this new fund, at
http://www.ecoseeds.com/desertgrass.html

Basic ecosystem concepts and Ecological Restoration concepts absolutely
must be incorporated into any roadside, rangeland  or wildland weed
management program, or fund.

When you have ecosystem understories nation-wide in tatters, the weeds
are not the problem--the health and integrity of the ecosystems are the
issue.

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann, Redwood City, CA (650) 325-7333


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