Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network (WAIN)

WAIN is a network of people that began organizing in December 2014 as part of the Western Invasives Network (WIN). WAIN is comprised of natural resource and conservation professionals who work for diverse government agencies, universities, soil and water conservation districts, watershed councils, non-profits, and other organizations throughout the Willamette Basin. 

The purpose of the Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network is to:

   1) Foster collaboration to share information, expertise,
        technologies, scientific data, and best management practices;
   2) Develop strategies to protect aquatic resources; and
   3) Restore riparian habitat in the Willamette River Basin.

The Willamette River Basin is Oregon’s largest watershed as it covers over 11,500 square miles and includes over 13 major tributaries.  Tackling the invasives over such a large area involves an extensive collaborative effort. 

During the summer of 2014 several WAIN members including the Willamette Riverkeeper's volunteers (above) and Integrated Resource Management's restoration crew (right), participated in a number of projects along the Willamette River to control Ludwigia, a highly invasive aquatic non-native species.  

If you would like to join the WAIN Network please email Troy Abercrombie 

For a list of members you can download the WAIN Directory.

Wapato Revival

The purpose of Wapato Revival is to galvanize collaboration in implementing strategic actions aimed at protecting and restoring aquatic and riparian ecosystems and water quality in the Willamette Basin. 

Wapato Revival Strategic Plan - This Wapato Revival Plan provides guidance on addressing the growing threat of aquatic invasive species (AIS) for aquatic ecosystem health throughout the Willamette Basin. It is intended for use by atural resource managers, scientists, funders, and other stakeholders in the community. The plan emphasizes AIS prevention and early detection and rapid response (EDRR), promotes a prioritized approach for management actions, incorporates restoration, implements education and outreach efforts, and identifies data gaps that point to research needs. Further, it demonstrates the need for coordinated efforts across the Willamette Basin. Wapato Revival projects focus on restoring and protecting aquatic habitats within the Willamette Basin.

Willamette AIS Information Maps

• Willamette River Watershed Map
• Project Overview Map
• Coast Fork and Middle Fork
• Coast Fork/Middle Fork Confluence to Long Tom
• Long Tom to Santiam
• Santiam to Yamhill
• Yamhill to Upper Willamette Falls
• Willamette Falls to Columbia Confluence
• Multnomah Channel

Priority Aquatic Invasive Species

There are many invasives species threatening the Willamette Basin. The Willamette Aquatic Invasives Network has elected to focus on developing a priority Aquatic Invasive Plant list for the Willamette that focuses on aquatic as well as a limited number of priority terrestrial weeds. There was some consensus around developing a list that broke the aquatic invasive species present in the Willamette down into 3 general categories; 1) Identify specific plants to prioritize for survey and treatment; 2) a watch list with EDRR species and; 3) other invasives that are present but too widespread to focus on treatment.

Priority Aquatics (emergent and submersed)
• Common reed grass (Phragmites australis)
• Water primroses (Ludwigia hexapetala, L. peploides ssp. peploides,and L. peploides ssp. montevidensis)
• Flowering rush (Botomus umbellatus)
• Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata)
• Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
• Fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)
• Yellow flag iris (Iris psuedacorus)
• Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
• Knotweeds (Polygonum cuspidatum, P. sachalinese, P. x bohemicum, and P. polystachyum)

Watch List
• Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
• European water chestnut (Trapa natans)
• Eurasian and variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum and M. heterophyllum)
• Garden loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris)
• Giant reed grass (Arundo donax)
• Delta and grassy arrowhead (Sagittaria platyphylla and S. graminea)

Other Invasive Species (present but too widespread to address)
• Nutsedges (Cyperus ssp.)
• Pennyroyal (Mentha pulgium)
• Curly pondweed (Potomogeton crispus)
• Brazilian waterweed (Elodea densa)
• Reed canarygrass (Phramites arundinacea)

Aquatic Invasive Species Management Information and Resource List

In efforts to meet the goal of WAIN several members have developed an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Resource list to provide references and information for land managers working with aquatic invasive species.

The AIS Resource List is a summary of resources concerning the management of AIS. This list includes hyperlinks and information about: species of concern; control methods; impacts; management plans; survey and monitoring protocols; reporting databases; permitting and regulations. For easy reference the list is organized by the topics listed below.

• Aquatic Species Information
• General AIS Impacts
• General AIS Management Plans
• General AIS Control Methods
• General AIS Survey & Monitoring Protocols
• Permitting & Regulations

The AIS Resource List will be updated as more information becomes available.

Data Sharing Protocols

The WAIN group prioritized improving both our GIS and non-GIS digital information sharing and created a subcommittee to facilitate this. This group identified some initial steps we can all take to improve our aquatic invasive species GIS data sharing in the Willamette Basin. In its most simple form the goal here is to realize additional, collective value from all of our individual, programmatic invasive species data collection efforts occurring in the WAIN project area in an efficient manner. Please support our data sharing goals by following the Data Sharing Protocol.

Willamette Basin Projects

On the ground projects are beginning to take place throughout the Willamette Basin to address infestation of aquatic invasive plants. 

For project planning please refer to the map of the Willamette River Basin which includes all of the county lines, and water bodies.

Please see the List of Current and Proposed Projects for 2015 and beyond.

If you are working on developing a new project to address aquatic invasives, please email the details to Troy Abercrombie so this can be added to the comprehensive planning list.

Past Workshop Resources

An Aquatic Weed Workshop and Meeting was held on April 24, 2014. at the Salem BLM District Office with over 60 people in attendance from Oregon and Washington. The Agenda, Minutes and Presentations can be downloaded below.
Agenda
Workshop Minutes
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, Glenn Dolphin, OMB AIS Coordinator
Ludwigia Presentation, Matt Mellenthin, Integrated Resource Management; and Laurie Holts, City of Eugene
Milfoil and Permitting presentations, Vanessa Morgan, PSU
Water Weeds presentation, Mark Sytsma, PSU
Ludwigia Presentation, Alex Staunch, PSU