Project Profile: Invasive Species Prevention at Critical Control Points in National Parks

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Invasive Species | FY24 $20,000

A boot brush mechanism in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks used to remove invasive species off of footwear.

NPS Photo

The National Park Service (NPS) will coordinate with and distribute funding to other Department of the Interior bureaus and Alaska Native Tribal partners for installation of boot cleaning stations at select locations including public use cabins, trailheads, camping areas, airstrips, and other public access points on DOI lands and in adjacent rural communities. These points are often referred to as Critical Control Points, where effective techniques can be applied to prevent, eliminate, or reduce invasive species entering an area.

Why? Preventing invasive species introductions is a serious challenge and is an especially urgent threat in Alaska because much of the lands and waters have little or no invasive organisms. An increase in the number of boot brushes at trail heads, cabins, airstrips, and other public areas would help decrease the spread of invasive species in these areas. Boot brushes allow park visitors to clean their boots and can minimize or avoid the introduction or spread of invasive species.

What else? Alaska does not have many invasive species, but with the rapid change in the ecosystem, the threat is growing. For example, a recent analysis on the economic impacts of the continued spread of invasive aquatic Elodea on Alaska’s commercial Sockeye Salmon fisheries, not including subsistence and recreational impacts, estimated a total mean annual loss of $159 million per year. By introducing more boot brushes to this area, the parks would be prepared for the threat.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes critical investments in the resilience and restoration of America’s lands, skies, and waters, and enhances conservation and recreation opportunities. Visitors will see tangible results such as repaired and upgraded trails and campgrounds, removal of invasive species, as well as healthy wetlands, grasslands, and forests.