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In
the rocky shoals of many Atlantic coast estuaries, a cord-grass
known as Spartina is a prized plant for wildlife habitat.
'It's sacred stuff there,' according to WSU extension horticulturist
Kim Patten. 'It has evolved over a million years and it's
long been
a part of their established habitat.'
But, in the sprawling tide flats found in geologically young west
coast estuaries like Willapa Bay on the Washington coast, Spartina
is a fast moving and tenacious invader.
'We have more open-flat tidal areas here that are very susceptible
to invasive plant species,' Patten says.
As it colonizes tide flats, Spartina displaces native plants and
animals. It is voraciously gobbling up wildlife habitat at Willapa
Bay and other estuaries, threatening the state's $58 million oyster
industry, the salmon fishery and even recreational use.
Dense Spartina stands already cover 15,000 acres of the 40,000-acre
Willapa Bay tide flats. In some areas it spreads up to a half
mile
farther into the shallow bay every year.
The
National Audubon Society ranks the Willapa Bay Spartina invasion
the nation's second largest threat to shorebird habitat. It's considered
such a threat that Washington State law mandates its removal and
the restoration of inter-tidal lands.
Patten is on the front lines in the Spartina battle, researching
both the impacts of the invader and techniques for its control from
the WSU Long Beach Research and Extension Unit.
With
the help of a team of volunteers and remote cameras set up in the
Willapa Bay tidelands, Patten has observed the feeding habits of
hundreds of thousands of shorebirds. His research has documented
what has anecdotally been observed for some time, that spartina
is destroying feeding areas used by a variety of migrating shorebirds.
That's
crucial information because the bay is the home of the Willapa National
Wildlife Refuge, established in 1937 specifically to preserve habitat
for migrating birds.
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A volunteer watches and records data on feeding habits of migratory shorebirds from an observation platform on Willapa Bay. With the help of volunteer observers and a series of remote cameras, WSU extension horticulturist Kim Patten was able to collect data on the feeding patterns of 30,000 shorebirds. |
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Patten's research on improving the effectiveness
of both mechanical and chemical controls for Spartina is being
applied in a major push at controlling the weed. He has helped
develop and test a nozzle that precisely targets Spartina
with herbicide, and
he's researched optimal timing for chemical and mechanical control
efforts. 'It's a huge effort, with three state agencies,
the federal government and private oyster growers all participating,' Patten
said. 'We're throwing about $1.5 million at control this
year. we're
learning by doing and we're getting better, more cost effective.'
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| During
thousands of hours of observations of shorebird feeding
habits at Willapa Bay, WSU horticulturist Kim Patten
says not a single shorebird was observed using a Spartina
meadow. |
Patten's research on improving the effectiveness
of both mechanical and chemical controls for Spartina is being
applied in a major
push at controlling the weed. He has helped develop and test
a nozzle that precisely targets Spartina with herbicide, and
he's
researched optimal timing for chemical and mechanical control
efforts.
"It's
a huge effort, with three state agencies, the federal government
and private oyster growers all participating, "Pattern said.
"We're throwing about $1.5 million at control this year.
We're learning by doing and we're getting better, more cost effective."
Although
the effort has been deemed the first successful large-scale Spartina
control effort in the United States, Patten says the legally mandated
goal of eradication will be a long and hard-fought battle.
'There has never been a successful eradication of this scale
of any aquatic weed,' he said. 'There's not much research
on how
to get rid of it; most of the resources have gone to on-the-ground
control.
'The
agencies fighting Spartina may have a new weapon added to their
arsenal next year. A new herbicide is winding its way through
the federal and state registration process, and Patten's research
indicates it may be the tool that allows for successful Spartina
control.
'It
works much better under the brief dry times found in tidal
conditions
than what's currently available, and presents less ecological
risk,' he said.
Meanwhile,
when he's not on the tide flats or analyzing data in the lab,
Patten is fighting the battle against Spartina on another front.
He's working with U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Representatives
Norm Dicks and Brian Baird to win additional federal funding
to
continue and enhance the Spartina control effort.
Denny
Fleenor,
Information Department
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