Alaska

A member of the Alaska Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT) surveys for Elodea spp. in Katmai National Park and Preserve.

NPS photo.

Alaska's short growing season allows for invasive species to take hold in much shorter amounts of time.

For example, as harmless as they seem in the lower 48, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) can completely take over a habitat in Alaska’s short growing season, by continuously reproducing and blocking native species’ ability to grow in fields and meadows. Dandelions are also potent because of their ability to drift from one location to another far away location in the backcountry, where it is much harder to reach and manage.

Early detection and rapid response takes a priority in Alaska.

Early detection and rapid response (EDRR), or the process of finding an invasive species early on and quickly taking action to prevent further spread or impact, is employed heavily in Alaska in order to prevent massive impacts on much larger landscapes and protected areas. This requires collaboration and work with partners within the state to prevent larger scale invasions.

Alaska Invasive Plant Management Team

The Alaska region takes a collaborative approach to invasive plants. The majority of the field work done in the Alaska parks in regard to invasive plants is done by park staff and internes working with and under the purview of the Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT). The Alaska IPMT provides invasive plant management assistance to each of the 16 parks in Alaska, covering over 52 million acres of pristine natural areas and wilderness, including coastal fjords, glacial valleys, tundra, and boreal forests. The majority of parks in Alaska contain healthy, intact native ecosystems with very low levels of infestation by invasive plants. Each season, interns, crews, and park staff under the purview of the IMPT work across Alaskan parks, mapping thousands of invasive plant infestations, eradicating small patches, and organizing volunteer events to control larger ones.

Alaska utilizes the Alaska Exotic Plants Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC) as a statewide database and mapping application for the known invasive plants that have the potential to impact Alaska. AKEPIC also houses a ranking system in which a collaboration of biologists, land managers, and weed scientist have taken the list of invasive plants and utilized a matrix to assign a number to the species to help evaluate the potential invasiveness and impact of these plants to natural areas in Alaska. So far 170 of the little over 400 plants have a rank assigned to them. Altogether, the Alaska IPMT makes the most of its support through an integrated, collaborative approach to maintain Alaska's unique position: ahead of the invasive species risk

A member of the Alaska Invasive Plant Management Team sprays for sweetclover at the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve. NPS Photo

Targeted Plant Species Watchlist for Alaska

• Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
• Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
• Perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
• Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
• Orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)
• Bird vetch (Vicia cracca)
• White and Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)
• Elodea - “Canadian waterweed” (Elodea canadensis)
  

Case Study of Invasive Species Projects in Alaska: Control Effort Successes in the Backcountry at KEFJ & KATM

The Outwash Plain site is located east of the terminus of Exit Glacier and south of Exit Creek in Kenai Fjords National Park and Preserve (KEFJ). Here, nearly 18 gross infested acres of Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion) were first treated in 2011. Getting to the site can be very challenging, requiring wading through braided creek channels, hiking over glacial moraines and bushwhacking through thick alder, willow and cottonwood. Swift water and changing channelization can create dangerous crossing situations that have prohibited accessing the site in some years, leaving the plants untreated. In spite of these challenges, the crew has reduced the overall infestation density to 99 percent since the site was first treated. The parks are now on maintenance of these sites and are able to keep the few plants that come back annually at a level where minimal effort is required.

The Fure’s Cabin site is located within the Bay of Islands in Katmai National Park and Preserve’s backcountry. It is very remote and can only be accessed by boat or floatplane. The crew’s ability to conduct several retreatments throughout the season for the last two years has contributed to the successful control of common dandelion at this site. Overall density of the infestation has been reduced by 99 percent since treatments began in 2011. The parks are now on maintenance of these sites and are able to keep the few plants that come back annually at a level where minimal effort is required.

Partners & Resources

Partners

Alaska Invasive Species Partnership 

Alaska Exotic Plants Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC) 

University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service- Insects and Invasives 

Alaska Department of Natural Resources- Invasive Plants  

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities-Invasive Species 

Alaska Association for Conservation Districts  

Bureau of Land Management Alaska - Weeds and Invasives Program 

US Fish and Wildlife Services Alaska- Invasive Species 

US Forest Service Alaska- Invasive Plants  

Resources

Identification Book- 2019 Identification of non-native plants in Alaska-UAA 

Identification Book- 2007 Selected Invasive Plants of Alaska-USFS  

Identification Book- 2014 Terrestrial Weed Identification Field Guide-AK Plant Materials Center 

Contacts for Further Information

Anna O'Brien
Alaska IPMT Liaison
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