Download Economic Impacts of Invasive Species on Annette island Reserve, Alaska

Economic Impacts of Invasive Species
on Annette Island Reserve, AK
Photo by Mark Dundas
Annette Islands Reserve (AIR) is
the southernmost community in
Alaska and the only Native
Reserve in the State of Alaska.
The Metlakatla Indian
Community (MIC) is the
population center and
governing body of AIR. There
are approximately 1450 people
living on this 130 square mile
island, some 83,200 acres of
land.
12,472 acres have been
surveyed for invasive species.
To date, we have 339.25 acres of
known invasive weeds. This is just
under 3 acres, less than previous
years, thanks to the efforts of our
Metlakatla Landscape and
Maintenance crew (MLM), who have
removed hundreds of pounds of
weeds in the last six years!
Photo by Genelle Winter
Weeds of Concern
Bull Thistle-Cirsium vulgare
Canada Thistle-Cirsium arvense
Sow Thistle-Sonchus arvensis
Himalayan Knotweed-Persicaria wallichii or Polygonum polystachyum
Japanese Knotweed-Polygonum cuspidatum
Tansy Ragwort-Senecio jacobaea
Orange Hawkweed- Hieracium aurantiacum
Reed Canary Grass-Phalaris arundinacea
Pictured- Himalayan knotweed,
pushing back native salmonberry bushes
Photo by: Genelle Winter
To date, the
MLM of MIC
has spent over
13,000
combined
hours and just
under
$100,000 each
year treating,
surveying and
performing
inventory on
invasive plants
on AIR.
This slide shows locations of Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare on
Annette Island
We expect to maintain a consistent level of funding
in the on-going fight to prevent and control invasive
species on Annette Islands Reserve.
As we observe changes in our climate, our
responses to the presence of invasive species
must change as well.
Tamgas Hatchery, 2011
Photo by Genelle Winter
Economic impacts to
traditional foods from
invasive species cannot be
under emphasized and yet
is very difficult to put into
hard numbers. Local
subsistence foods include,
but are not limited to both
low and high bush cultivars:
Blueberry
Huckleberry
Salmonberry
Thimbleberry
Example of potential economic factors
• A jar of raspberry jam ( comparable to
salmonberry preserves) costs- $6.69 for an 18
oz jar
• A bag of frozen blueberries costs- $6.29 for a
16oz bag
• Our family for example, harvests a minimum
of 4 gallons of berries each season. If we had
to purchase those fruits it would cost our
family over $200.00 for the blueberries alone.
Here is an example of Himalayan Knotweed
pushing Thimble berry back from where it
used to be just a few years ago.
These items such as berries
in particular, are commonly
supplemented by
harvesting, freezing or
preserving wild berries
instead of purchasing them.
If these wild berries were to
be eradicated by invasive
species such as Himalayan
Knotweed (Persicaria
wallichii or Polygonum
polystachyum) or Reed
Canary Grass (Phalaris
arundinacea)it would cause
a financial hardship on
many families.
Medicinal and Cultural plants
Pressure from invasive plants also affects traditionally harvested medicinal and
culturally significant plants some examples are:
Devils Club (Oplopanax horridus )- used for
medicinal tea, salves, poultices and many other
uses
Yew Wood (Taxus brevifolia )- used for its
beautiful, tough, durable wood for a variety of
uses as well as tea from the bark thought to be
good for cancer and other diseases
Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum ) makes a
tasty tea full of antioxidants.
Photo from alaskastock.com
Cedar bark, and maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum )
are used for weaving baskets and regalia
Photo by Genelle Winter, Mask by Avery Winter
Both Red Cedar(Thuja plicata)
and
Yellow Cedar(Chamaecyparis
nootkatensis )
and
Alder (Alnus rubra ) are used for
carving
Baskets on display in Museum of Natural History in New York
City Photo by Genelle Winter
Alder (Alnus rubra ) is the most
versatile for carving, the art of
carving is still taught to the youth in
Metlakatla, carrying on this art form
for future generations.
This spoon was made by Avery
Winter, 18 years old, a senior at
Metlakatla High School
Photo by Genelle Winter
Alder remains the most common wood to smoke fish with
Photo from SalmonMarket.com
A can of Pink Salmon at the local store costs- $6.69
A case of 12= $80.28 for pink salmon
The average family harvests 10 cases, approximately $802.80 per family.
Local families harvest and process their own fish for consumption.
Allowing spawning beds to be impacted negatively in any way would cause financial
hardship for these families that harvest and process subsistence gathered salmon.
Photo by Genelle Winter
Other subsistence foods at risk are Dungeness
Crab, Shellfish such as butter clams and
cockles, seaweed and sea asparagus.
A 6 oz can of crab at the market
costs $3.59
A 6.5 oz can of clams at the market
costs $2.25
These foods are at risk from aquatic invaders
like Tunicates and Botryloids, Zebra and
Quagga mussels, European Green Crab and
Atlantic Salmon invading their feeding
grounds, degrading their spawning grounds
and changing the ecosystem in ways we still
don't know or can’t predict.
Photo by Genelle Winter
The commercial costs are staggering.
• Annually on Annette Island Reserve approximately
$2 million flows into the local economy from commercial
salmon fishing alone.
• Any risk to this sustainable and responsibly managed
harvest would be unacceptable.
• As a result, we are aggressively researching all we can
about the potential threats to these important food and
commercial revenue sources.
Photo by Genelle Winter
One of weeds of great concern is a newly
identified Reed Canary Grass (RCG)
•
•
•
•
Published materials (RCG) growth and
seed mechanisms as follows:
reproduces by seed or creeping rhizomes.
It spreads aggressively.
The plant produces leaves and flower
stalks for 5 to 7 weeks after germination in
early spring, then spreads laterally.
Seeds may be dispersed from one wetland
to another by waterways, animals,
humans, or machines.”
Cited from : Invasive Plants of Alaska, produced in
cooperation with the US Department of the Interior; the US
Department of Agriculture; the Alaska Soils and Water
Conservation District; the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Cooperative Extension Service and the Alaska Natural Heritage
Program
RCG on the road to Tamgas Creek
Fish Hatchery, September 2010,
Photo by Genelle Winter
Here in SE AK our experience is that RCG starts growing
much sooner than in other areas in the State.
Due to its aggressive propagation habit this weed is our #1
invader to watch for and to treat outside of the established
areas in the city limits.
We have surveyed and identified 7 acres to date, but we
know there is more that hasn’t been documented yet. We
estimate the number is closer to 20 acres.
Based on current research
most, if not all, invasive
plants prefer disturbed areas
such as road construction and
maintenance sites.
A major vector of
introduction that we are
putting great effort into
education and manual
prevention is the Alaska
Marine Highway System
(AMHS).
Photo by Genelle Winter
Our isolated island can only be accessed by vehicle via the AMHS or by
Barge. To prevent spread and introduction of weed seed and plant
particles we are working with the AMHS to install a vehicle wash system at
the vehicle exit on our new, currently weed free Walden Point Road.
The goal is to prevent this pristine road from being impacted
by serious invaders from other parts of Alaska and British
Columbia.
Photo by Genelle Winter
From British Columbia you might
ask?
We are the southernmost
community in SE AK, but we are
only a six hour ferry ride from
Prince Rupert BC and a 36 hour
ride from Bellingham WA
Both those locations have their
own invasive species, which we
do not want!
Installing the vehicle wash
system will help prevent
species such as Giant
Hogweed, Bohemian
Knotweed, Scotch Broom and
others from becoming
established on our island.
Map from AMHS website
Here is the system set up downtown for our
demonstration that was held for the community. It is
designed to be Portable we towed it down here with the
truck and were all set up within the hour.
Here we see a vehicle being driven over the
system. It takes between 35-50 seconds to
drive a car over the mat. We do not
anticipate any slow down in the offloading
process from the ferry as cars are already
driving slowly as they exit the ramp.
Please watch the following short video
Our apparently isolated island can potentially be harmed by invasive species from
British Columbia, Washington, and the rest of the State of Alaska. We must
carefully monitor the entry vectors to the island, the AMHS, the Barge system,
commercial fishing vessels and recreational boaters and campers.
This applies to all taxa of invasive species, terrestrial, aquatic, mammals, birds or
insects!
If we are not applying Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) the impacts
could become very costly, both economically and environmentally.
Photo by Genelle Winter
In Conclusion, the costs to our subsistence foods is
difficult to quantify but to say the least, it would be
a tragic end to a rich cultural heritage that should
be preserved and respected.
Bog Candle – a fragile native
species. Photo by Genelle Winter
Photo by Genelle Winter
Acknowledgements and Thanks
This is presentation is possible due
to the support of
The Metlakatla Indian Community
The Bureau of Indian Affairs,
FICMNEW
And the people of the community of
Metlakatla, Alaska.
Reference material was taken from
Invasive Plants of Alaska, produced in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior; the U.S.
Department of Agriculture; the Alaska Soils and Water
Conservation District; the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Cooperative Extension Service and the Alaska Natural Heritage
Program
Unless otherwise noted photos
were taken by Mark Dundas of the
MLM.
Thanks also to the Landscape Crew
and all our willing volunteers!
Photo by Genelle Winter