Project Page

Invasive Plant Removal at Gulf Islands National Seashore

Implementing Organization

US Department of the Interior

Overview

DWH Project Funding

$875,765

Known Leveraged Funding

$0

Funding Organization

Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)

Funding Program

Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA

Details

Project Category

Environmental

Project Actions

Habitat Restoration and Enhancement

Targeted Resources

Other

Project Description

This project will treat five of the most problematic invasive plant species in the Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa, and Perdido Key areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS) more comprehensively and aggressively than they are currently treated. The project will help to gradually restore coastal habitats and native plant species in these areas, which will likely allow native animal populations that depend on these coastal habitats and plants to also improve. The project will last for five years. Activities include: 1) locate and map cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), torpedo grass (Panicum repens), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum), Cuban bulrush (Oxycaryum cubense), and beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia); 2) evaluate past and current treatment methods, research new treatment methods, and develop a Treatment Action Plan (TAP); 3) treat these species in accordance with the TAP for five years and reduce their populations to sizes that can be more easily managed in the future; both chemical and mechanical treatment methods will be used, as appropriate; 4) monitor treatment success regularly to determine the treatment plan for the following year; 5) prepare a project completion report that describes the work done, but also includes recommendations for future treatments; and 6) use information gathered and knowledge gained to provide the basis for an Exotic Plant Management Plan for GUIS, should the park wish to prepare one.

Contact

Mark Van Mouwerik
(970) 420-4734
mark_vanmouwerik@nps.gov
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

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