2:00 pm, Tuesday July 10, 2018
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT
Council members present: William Hyatt, Paul Larson, Richard McAvoy, John Silander
Others present: Donna Ellis, Brad Weeks
1. R. McAvoy called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes from February 13, 2018 were distributed and reviewed. The minutes were not approved due to lack of a quorum.
3. Updates
a. Legislative: No report from IPC
b. CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Update:
Hydrilla in Coventry Lake and the CT River: W. Hyatt provided an update on continuing efforts to manage Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) in Coventry Lake, which was confirmed in 2015. Endothall, a contact herbicide provided successful knockdown of this aquatic invasive in the 380-acre lake, but additional control was needed following a survey conducted by George Knoecklein with Northeast Aquatic Research. Turions (dormant buds) and Hydrilla fragments are spreading through the entire lake. A whole lake treatment of low-dosage Sonar herbicide is planned for July 2018. Native plants should be unaffected by the application.
Hyatt stated that additional funds will be needed to continue with Hydrilla management beyond this season, as it will take six or more years of continual treatment to significantly impact the population. Presently, funding is being provided by CT DEEP, federal aquatic nuisance species money, municipal funds, and other sources. Meetings with town officials and a public hearing occurred prior to the upcoming herbicide treatment. Additional signage is planned for areas where Hydrilla has been found, and mulching stations are being installed for people to add weeds removed from their boats. Hyatt commented that Hydrilla and the expenses required to control it are getting the attention of legislators and municipalities. If this invasive were to establish in larger water bodies such as Bantam Lake, control efforts would increase significantly.
The group discussed strategies for September and getting the interest of the environmental community. A letter could be sent to the Environment Committee, as legislators need to be informed. The November elections will change the membership of the Environment Committee.
Hyatt also told the members that he received approval to fill the position vacated by former DEEP botanist Nelson DeBarros as well as three foresters. DEEP staff is down 40% from previous levels.
c. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station: No report from IPC members.
d. UConn: McAvoy told the group about the sterile Japanese barberry cultivars that Dr. Mark Brand has developed and licensed. Four of the lines will have limited releases in 2018, with more available in the next two years. A 5-grower consortium called Syn-RG, including Prides Corner Farms in Lebanon and producers in NJ, OH, VA and Ontario will grow and distribute the new cultivars. One of the cultivars called Crimson Cutie produces 0.3 seeds per plant per year. Other cultivars do not produce any seeds at all.
McAvoy informed the members that Donna Ellis will be retiring next year, which will leave openings with the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG), for which Ellis serves as Co-chair. Additional discussions will be forthcoming to determine an orderly transition of CIPWG duties and maintain connections with the IPC and CIPWG.
4. Old Business:
a. Developing BMP’s to limit the Spread of Invasive Species via Fill, Top Soil, and Mulch: McAvoy and D. Ellis led a discussion on options to reduce the spread of invasive plant species via fill, top soil, and mulch. McAvoy distributed copies of BMP documents from CA, NH, and WY, and the group talked about a plan for Connecticut. McAvoy will prepare a draft BMP document for the next IPC meeting in September.
b. Master Gardener Invasive Plant Needs Assessment Survey: Ellis shared the results of a Qualtrics online survey for UConn Extension Master Gardeners to find out which invasive plant issues they felt were more important in the state, prioritize a list of invasive plant activities to occur in the next 5 to 10 years, and whether they were currently involved in activities. More than 200 Master Gardeners completed the survey, and 109 respondents were interested in becoming involved with invasive plant educational outreach and/or management. Ellis will follow up with Sarah Bailey, the Master Gardener Program Coordinator, and Bonnie Burr, UConn Extension Department Head, to discuss survey results and future steps.
c. CIPWG Symposium: Ellis informed the group about the October 4 CIPWG symposium, to be held at the UConn Student Union in Previous symposia have sold out with 500 attendees, and another large crowd is expected.
d. Department of Agriculture IPC Representative: McAvoy contacted the CT Department of Agriculture on several occasions to find out who the replacement would be for Katherine Winslow, who He has not received a response to date.
5. New Business:
The members present were unable to discuss New Business without a quorum.
6. Next Regularly Scheduled Meetings for 2018: November 13 at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 3:11 p.m.