1. Nisqually River Knotweed Control Project Update Renee R. Mitchell Pierce Conservation District 5430 66th Avenue East Puyallup, WA 98371 (253) 845-9770 reneem@piercecountycd.org

3. Stems are thick & hollow, resembling bamboo, green to reddish in color

4. Leaves are alternate, and bright green in color

5. Can reach up to 15 feet in height within a single growing season

7. Giant

8. Bohemian (*Hybrid of Giant & Japanese)

10. Increases Erosion

11. Reduces Seedling Recruitment of Native Trees

12. Degrades Fish and Wildlife Habitat

13. Alters Soil Nutrient Cycling

15. How does knotweed spread primarily? Root fragment sprout Stem fragment rooted in cobble at nodes

16. Mineral Creek

17. Knotweed = Persistence

18. 2010 Major Project Changes *April of 2010: Nisqually Knotweed Control Project transferred from Pierce County Noxious Weed Board to the Pierce Conservation District Pierce County

19. Nels Parvi

20. New Project Manager

21. Project Partners

22. Project Partner Collaboration *Float surveys conducted from LaGrande Dam to Nisqually Estuary with: Florian Leischner: Rick Johnson: Restoration Biologist Noxious Weed Control Coordinator Nisqually Tribe Thurston County Jesse Barham: Bret Forrester: Restoration Biologist Wildlife & Recreation Coordinator U.S. Fish & Wildlife Tacoma Power

24. Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRF Board)* In October 2010, the WSDA Grant was pulled from the Nisqually Knotweed Control Project

26. Thurston County Noxious Weed Control Board provided educational brochures on knotweed control strategies during the Water Festival held at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

28. AlternativeControl Methods Cutting - remove stems, bag them up & take to garbage Mowing - pick up every fragment, bag them up & take to garbage Dig up roots - must try and remove as much root system as possible Cover – spread heavy duty geo-textile fabric/black plastic *These methods stimulate shoot growth which helps deplete energy from the roots/rhizomes ****Warning: Do not add root & stem fragments to compost/mulch piles

30. Re-treated and mapped 100% of all re-sprouts and new infestations found

32. 2010 Lower Watershed Treatment

34. Re-treatments were made along the old Nisqually River channel, Copper Creek, spot treatments for various concerned landowners, and Gifford-Pinchot National Forest parcels

36. 2010 Upper Watershed New Areas Treated

37. 2010 Upper Watershed End of Treatment 2010 End of Treatment

40. 47 private & public-owned parcels surveyed and treated

41. 180 acres of knotweed infestations treated * Treatment estimated at a 90% mortality rate

42. Knotweed Treatment as of 2010

43. Rare Finds Along the Nisqually Floodplains Western Toad (Bufo boreas) Wooden Buffalo Carving * Species of concern in WA & OR

45. Continue annual main stem rafting floats with project partners

46. Continue survey, retreatment , and treatment of new areas within the upper watershed

47. Increase Knotweed awareness among private landowners through knotweed workshops and community meetings

48. Continue to request land owners cooperation in the project

51. More knotweed technicians

52. Stronger partner collaboration efforts