Category Archives: invasive species

Sea Grant invasives report cited in Oregonian story

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Oregonians are getting serious about invasive species, according to a story in yesterday’s Oregonian about state efforts to fend off the arrival and proliferation of zebra mussels and other non-native plants and animals.

The newspaper reports that the state Marine Board is focusing its efforts this summer on recreational boaters at popular places like Detroit Lake, where a new Clean Boater program is giving a free clean boating kit to any registered boat owners who fill out an environmental questionnaire and pledge. Several invasive species, including the voracious and fast-spreading zebra mussel, can be spread by boats being transported from infested waters to new locations.

The article cites a Sea Grant report released earlier this year, The Economics of Invasive Species, which found that cleaning and maintenance costs should zebra mussels find their way into the Columbia River hydropower dams could read $25.5 million a year, not including lost power-generation revenue.

Sea Grant offers free downloads of recent publications on invasive species, including:

  • The Economics of Invasive Species – [.pdf][HTML]
  • You Can Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invaders (teacher information brochure) – [.pdf] [HTML]

These and other titles are also available for purchase from our secure on-line store.

Read more about Sea Grant’s efforts to educate Oregonians about aquatic invaders.

HMSC featured on Travel Oregon show

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This week’s episode of “Grant’s Getaways,” a Travel Oregon video blog by Oregon broadcast journalist Grant McOmie, features OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center in Newport, where Sea Grant Extension educator Bill Hanshumaker talks about how the center connects fun with learning:

View the video at Travel Oregon’s Vimeo site).

Register now for Yamhill Water School

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The Oregon Sea Grant Watershed Extension Team will present its first Oregon Water School April 17-18 in McMinnville. Programming includes a “Watersheds 101” introduction to core concepts, and a two-track series of classes on the topics of Water Quality and Watershed Stewardship, and Gardening and Landscape Practices. Students may register for an entire track, or choose sessions a la carte. Participants are eligible for certification credits toward the OSU Master Watershed Steward program, as well.

Friday’s Watershed 101 session will take place at the Church on the Hill, 700 North Hill Road, and Saturday’s at Linfield College. Costs range from $35 for a two-class half-day session to $80 for the entire two-day school. Preregistration is required for Watershed 101; single-day registrations will be available at the door, space permitting, for Saturday’s courses.

For more information and registration, visit: http://oregonstate.edu/conferences/waterschool2009/

OPB-OSG invasives program wins major broadcast award

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CORVALLIS – Columbia University has awarded Oregon Public Broadcasting a 2009 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for its Oregon Field Guide special, “The Silent Invasion.”

The documentary illustrates how invasive species are changing the environment in Oregon. It was produced by OPB in partnership with Oregon Sea Grant, which is based at Oregon State University, and by other organizations.

The award is considered the broadcast journalism equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize.

(Read more …)

New publication examines the costs associated with invasive species

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Economics of Invasive SpeciesA new publication from Oregon Sea Grant, The Economics of Invasive Species, examines the costs associated with invasive species and shows how economics can help us understand the invasive species problem and the costs and benefits of different control measures. This publication is intended for members of the public, government agencies, industry, and nongovernmental organizations who are interested in enhancing their education about or increasing their involvement in preventing, eradicating, and controlling invasive species.

For more information about invasive species in general and this publication in particular, visit http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/themes/invasives/index.html

OPB invasive species documentary previews in Corvallis, Newport

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Logo of statewide campaign to teach Oregonians about invasive speciesScotch broom, Japanese eelgrass, Quagga mussels, and Oregonians: How are they related? The first three are non-native, invasive species of plants and animals –  and  Oregonians often unknowingly spread these and a growing number of other invaders. But they can also stop invasive species before they spread.

A year-long educational effort to prevent the spread of invasive species in Oregon ramps up this month, with the premiere of a new documentary film produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The hour-long documentary, “The Silent Invasion,” has its OPB broadcast premiere on Earth Day, April 22 at 8 p.m.

But Oregon Sea Grant’s contributions of time and expertise to the production is bringing special advance screenings to Corvallis, on April 9, and Nweport, on April 17.

Read more …

Visit our new Marine Invaders page for more tools to aid in the fight to identify and control the spread of invasive animals and plants.

Invasion of New Beach Grass Could Weaken Shoreline Protection

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American beach grass (brighter green) infiltrates a dune at Cape KiwandaCORVALLIS, Ore. (Sept. 12, 2007)- An invasion of American beach grass is under way along the Oregon coast, threatening to change dune ecology and reduce the ability of dunes to protect roads, property and towns from coastal storms.

Sea Grant-funded scientists at Oregon State University have documented a slow but steady takeover by this beach grass, an invasive species. They found that protective “foredunes” covered by the new grass species are only about half as high as those created by the European species of grass that were formerly dominant.

(Read more …)

OMSI Science Pub: Invasive Species in Oregon

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The exotic plant in your garden, the unusual crab on the beach, the grasses choking a river or creek : If they aren’t from around here, they may be poised to wreak havoc with the local environment – and cost you and your neighbors money.

Oregon’s natural communities and the urban, suburban, rural communities we reside in are increasingly threatened by invasive species, a silent form of biological pollution that often goes undetected until it is too late to treat. Controlling invasive species and the problems they cause cost Oregonians tens of millions of dollars annually and over a billion dollars in the United States.

Sam Chan, Sea Grant Extension’s aquatic ecosystems health educator, will speak in Eugene on Aug. 9 as part of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s “Science Pub” series, which brings scientists and the public together in a casual pub environment to discuss developments in science and technology – while enjoying food and drinks. Adults only, no science background required.

What: OMSI Science Pub, The Invader in My Backyard: Invasive Species in Oregon
When: Thursday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Luna, 30 E. Broadway, Eugene
More information

Oregon-China connection: Free presentation at the HMSC

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Chinese laborers set out into coastal mangrove forests (Photo by Sam Chan)NEWPORT – Sea Grant Extension’s Sam Chan and Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Ed Jahn team up on Monday, Aug. 20 for “Scenes of a Changing Coastal China: How Oregon and China are connected through a desire to control invasive plants and animals,” a presentation that starts at 12:30 p.m. in the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Hennings Auditorium.

The presentation is based on a recent trip Chan led to China’s Fujien Province, where he and other invasive species and natural resource education and communications specialists from Oregon, Washington, and Florida got a first-hand look at how the Chinese are dealing with invasive marine grasses that threaten vital coastal mangrove forests.

The presentation is free and open to the public.