This document is contained within the Fire Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL: e. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.

Wilderness Fire Resource Advisor Training Invasive & Exotic Species Concerns By Patti Fenner Noxious Weed Program Manager Tonto National Forest SW Region

It’s our job to make sure the fire itself is the worst thing that happens during a Wilderness wildfire…

What is an invasive plant? What is a noxious weed? What is an exotic weed? Do they all mean the same thing?

A weed is:  A plant growing where it is not wanted. *  An invasive species that comes from outside the ecosystem, whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. ** * Gardeners ** Executive Order 13112

Noxious Weed: A plant species that has been designated by some governing agency as a regulated pest. Most noxious weeds are alien species. Bull thistle Field bindweed Camelthorn Hydrilla Field sandbur

What’s the big deal? It’s the law! Invasive plants cause resource damage: Reduction in biological diversity Deteriorated wildlife habitat Loss of scenic values Recreation resource impacts Increased erosion Change in ecological processes, such as increased fire frequency Toxic to livestock

Is this a place you’d want to bring your pack string?

What authorities do you have? – Federal Noxious Weed Act – Federal Land Policy and Management Act – Carson-Foley Act – Executive Order – Wilderness Act of 1964 – Federal Seed Act – Agency manual direction

Fire, setting the stage: Creates a disturbance – weeds colonize disturbed areas Reduced competition from native species Nutrient flush in soil Increase in light, needed by some invasive species to germinate And if that’s not enough, look at what happens during fire suppression……

Vehicles, equipment, people come in from all parts of the country

We cause increased disturbance sites near the fire. Camps in the wrong place can cost the agency for years to come!

Most likely you won’t have dozers working in the Wilderness. But they can work right up to the Wilderness boundary. Where did they originate? Were they clean when they got to the fire? What have they been driving through?

Some other vectors for weed invasions-- Pack stock may be packing weed seeds Use weed-free feed in the Wilderness and 48 hours prior

Select sites free of noxious weeds for helicopter operations Helicopters can spread a lot of weed seeds very quickly over long distances!

And invasive species aren’t only plants…. Quagga or Zebra mussels Western inland lobster

Contamination of uninfested waters can occur if helicopters replenish water sources used during the fire with water from sites infested with invasive species.

How to prepare yourself to effectively address invasive species during a Wilderness fire incident Learn how to identify the invasive species on your Forest and understand their adverse effects Ask your Invasive Species Program Manager where known locations are Carry photos of invasive species known to be in your area in your R.A. kit Carry list of sources for mobile vehicle washing stations, to provide to the fire team Ask your Forest Invasive Species Program Manager for sources for weed-free seed, mulch, and packable stock feed

Thanks.