Invasive Species Field Day

What are Invasive Species?
Non-native invasive plants, typically transplants from distant places, that threaten native habitats in Iowa. There are a variety of non-native invasives that have been introduced into the United States and Iowa that are significant threats to the quality of many different ecosystems (i.e. prairies, forests, wetlands, rivers, and lakes).Why are they a problem? • They have a variety of survival strategies that enable them to out-compete and replace native species.• Insects and birds that rely on native species are also displaced as invasives take over.• They can alter entire ecosystems by changing soil chemistry or hydrological processes.• They cause a heavy economic toll. On a national level, invasive species are costing Americans approximately $140 billion annually in tax dollars spent on control, lost recreation, health hazards, and decreased land values.

Hawkeye Cooperative Weed Management Area Invasive Species Field Day June 11, 2009Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center 10260 Morris Hills Road Toddville, IA 52341Managed by the Linn County Conservation Board Field Day Brochure (includes map) <http://www.extension.iastate.edu/NR/rdonlyres/ABCE6DF3-724E-4752-962F-64BB1DEDF983/97257/InvasiveSpeciesBrochure_forPRINT.pdf>

Directions From I-380 northbound: go west on Blairs Ferry Road. Turn north (right) on Feather Ridge Road; From I-380 southbound: Exit west (right) on the E-34, Toddville/Robins exit, follow WHOLC signs through Toddville to Feather Ridge Road, turn south (left); go to Morris Hills Road, turn west.Proceed approx. 1.2 miles to Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center.

Agenda 8:30am –9:00am Registration 9:00am –9:10am

Welcome 9:15am –10:00am Potential Impacts of 2008 Floods on Iowa’s Natural Resources Keynote Speaker: John Pearson, Botanist/Plant Ecologist, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources

10:15am –11:10am (select session A or B)

session A - outdoors Woodland Management and the Use of Prescribed Fire in Woodlands Mark Vitosh & Ryan Schlater, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau

session B - indoors Wetland Beautification & Selecting Native Plants for your Home Landscape Howard Bright, Ion Exchange, Harpers Ferry

11:25am –12:20pm (select session A or B)

session A - outdoors Identification & Management of Invasive Plants in Prairies Rob Roman, Linn County Secondary Road Department (Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management)& Chris Taliga, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development

session B - indoors Water Infiltration & the Establishment of Backyard Rain Gardens Wayne Petersen, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship & Liz Maas, Transition Ecology, Iowa City

12:20pm –1:20pm Lunch & Learn provided by the Living Roadway Trust Fund at the Outdoor Learning Center1:00pm Weed Seed Free Forage & Mulch Certification Program Eileen Wuebker, Iowa Crop Improvement Association, Iowa State University

1:30pm –2:25pm (select session A or B)

session A - outdoors Identification and Management of Invasive Plants in Woodlands Dana Kellogg, Linn County Conservation Board & Dave Wehde, Johnson County Conservation Board

session B - indoors Got Goats? A conservationist’s exploration of browsing and grazing to restore natural areas Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation Board Field Day Reservations There is no charge for this program; however, lunch is provided, so please make reservations by Noon June 9th (Tuesday). Register online at http://www.linncountyparks.com/ <http://www.linncountyparks.com/> by clicking on the "Events" area or call (319) 892-6450.