[IMCWMA Partners] summary of responses

[Tara Athan]

Summary of Comments
Mechanisms for increase in invasive populations
1. out-of-area equipment is only one pathway, low probability but high 
consequence if a new invasive is introduced
2. existing populations or seedbanks that take this opportunity to expand
3. dispersal of local populations by equipment and personnel
4. mulch used for erosion controlon federal lands and on Calfire 
mitigated lines will be weed-free, either from local organic material
or weed-free straw- this is not a high risk source given the materials 
to be used

Species of concern
1. surveys should be floristic
2. need experienced personnel to find new invasives

High Priority Sites
1. While it would be preferable to survey all lines, but not possible due to
resource limitations, so prioritization on some basis is necessary
2. there is insufficient information to perform an ecologically-oriented
risk assessment
3. criteria that could reasonably be used are
  a. proximity to known invasive populations
  b. post-fire landslide areas
  c. value of resource (i.e. previously relatively weed-free)
  d. ease of access and cooperation of land owner
  e. surveys under our funding source should occur on the smaller, private
parcels, not on large commercial timber tracts or public lands.

Question: is there any value in analyzing the data on where equipment is
from, where it was deployed and what weeds are noxious there in order to 
guide
the surveys in any way?

Budget
1. risk assessment should not take a large portion of the budget
2. 3-5 miles a day is a more realistic estimate
3. estimate $150-$200 per mile

Outreach
1. persuading private landowners to participate will require some effort
2. education regarding revegetation alternatives would be useful
3. this funding source will not fund revegetation or education



Revegetation
The method of reveg; whether it is natural or assisted, whether it 
includes non-persistent non-natives,
non-local natives or locally-native seed, will depend on the values
and objectives of the land-owner.
Everyone agrees that revegetation with invasives is not a good idea.
Revegetation is a complex issue and we are just beginning to sort out
the options. I hope the discussion will continue.

Tara