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2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
The Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference is a professional level meeting including keynotes, concurrent sessions, posters, and symposia designed to serve scientists, land managers, state and federal agencies, local governments, and other professionals with an interest in Texas' invasive species. The conference will be held at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas November 8-10, 2011.
About the Conference
This year's conference will feature over forty oral and poster presentations in the following categories: Leadership and Coordination/Public Policy, Early Detection and Rapid Response, Control and Management, Research, Information Management, and Education and Public Awareness. The conference will also include a Legislative Update by State Representatives Jimmie Don Aycock and Donna Howard, keynote address by Chuck Bargeron, author of EDDMapS, a Caddo Lake Case Study hosted by the Caddo Lake Institute and an update on the City of Austin's Invasive Species Management Plan. On the final day, participants can choose between an EDRR workshop, an Arundo donax field trip on Lady Bird Lake or participate in a Weed Risk Assessment discussion.
Click here to view Conference Schedule.
Click here to view Presentation Schedule.
Click here to view Presentation Abstracts.
Click here to view Speaker Profiles.
Click here to view Poster Instructions.
Registration
Saturday November 5, 2011 - Online Registration Closed.
Please register in person at the conference from 8:00-8:45 AM on Tuesday November 08, 2011 and from 8:00-8:30AM on Wednsday November 9, 2011.
Early Registration (on or before November 1, 2011) is $125 Regular, $50 Student. Late Registration (on or after November 2, 2011) is $175 Regular, $60 Student.
Who should attend? This conference is designed for land management specialists from local, state, and federal agencies, including municipal, regional, state and federal parks; environmental; researchers and students from state university systems and private colleges; companies servicing restoration and weed removal projects including equipment manufacturers, GPS providers, herbicide producers, and landscape architects; and anyone who has an interest in invasive species in Texas.
2011 Workshops and Field Trip
On the final day, participants can choose between an EDRR workshop, an Arundo donax field trip on Lady Bird Lake or participate in a Weed Risk Assessment discussion.
Invaders Citizen Science EDRR Workshop
The Invaders of Texas program is an innovative campaign whereby volunteer citizen scientists are trained to detect the arrival and dispersal of invasive species in their area and report them into a statewide detection and mapping database. The idea is simple. The more boots on the ground and trained eyes watching for invasive species, the better our chances of responding to new and existing threats thereby lessening or avoiding economic and ecological damage invasive species can cause to native ecosystems. Since its inception in 2005, the Invaders program has hosted 59 workshops and trained over 1,300 citizen scientists. These citizen scientists have logged over 4,300 hours in the field and collected over 13,000 species observations. This workshop will give a broad overview of the Invaders program and provide information about Recruitment, Workshop Structure, Online Training, and introducing the program to Schools.
Arundo donax field trip on Lady Bird Lake
As part of a larger riparian restoration project on Lady Bird Lake, the City of Austin is working to remove invasive species along the lake shoreline. Initial efforts have focused on Arundo donax (giant cane) and volunteers with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Citizen Scientists program mapped the plants in 2010, documenting over 3.5 acres (~8,000 linear ft) along the five mile shoreline. The plants grow primarily on steep slopes, from the water's edge to upland areas, either in monoculture or mixed with native vegetation. While the most effective control option is herbicide application on mature plants (up to 20 ft in height), proximity to the lake's popular hike and bike trail and adjacent desired vegetation required a more targeted approach. A majority of the plants were cut and allowed to re-grow prior to a mid-October herbicide application, thus minimizing the impacts to non-target areas with native vegetation or public trails.
The tour will show a variety of treatment areas, including some patches that were sprayed as mature plants, as well as the other 'cut and re-grow' areas. Two treatment regimes will also be shown, those treated with imazamox alone (very selective, used in areas of mixed vegetation) and those treated with a mix of glyphosate and imazamox (used in monoculture stands).
In addition to the Arundo work, the field trip will showcase the City's efforts (in conjunction with the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility) to establish native macrophytes on the lake. Participants will view sites where founder colonies of native plants have been established within a variety of herbivore exclosures, as well as areas of the lake where these plants have spread well beyond the original protection.
Weed Risk Assessment Roundtable
At the 2009 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Council the Weed Risk Assessment committee chose to adapt the California Invasive Plant and Pest Council’s Criteria for Categorizing Non-native Invasive Plants that Threaten Wildlands and use the adapted version as a Weed Risk Assessment tool for Texas. Since then, the Criteria have been adapted to fit Texas parameters and approximately 25 species have been assessed. Recently a desire to expand the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weeds List has been shown by state agencies, resource managers, and environmental groups across the state. This roundtable discussion will discuss the adaptations made to the Cal-IPPC Criteria, the species that have been assessed, and how new species can be added to TDA’s noxious weed list.
Lodging
A block of rooms has been reserved for conference participants at a cost of $109.00 per night ($89.00 Government Rate). The room blocks are available until 11/17/2011. IMPORTANT: Please give conference code TI-1 (Holiday Inn) or TIPPC (La Quinta). To make reservations, please call or visit:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Austin Southwest at Mopac
4424 South Mopac Expwy
Austin, TX 78735
Phone: 512-899-3000
Fax: 512-899-3885
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Austin
4892 US Highway 290 West, Austin, TX 78735
Phone: 512-891-9500 or 877-863-4780
Fax:
512-891-9570
Student Travel Grants
For the first time ever, Student Travel Grants are being awarded to help defray expenses students may incur presenting at the Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference. In addition to a $100 travel stipend, recipients will receive complimentary conference registration. Click here to apply.
Sponsors & Exhibitors
To sponsor or exhibit at the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant & Pest Conference, please fill out a Sponsorship or Exhibitor application and send the completed form along with your check. You can also send in the form and use the donate now button below to pay for your sponsorship using a credit card through our secure payment system.
Gold Level Sponsors ($2,500)
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University is part of the Texas State University System and includes researchers specializing on several groups of invasive species. These researchers now collectively form the Center for Invasive Species, with its center of operations at the Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies in Huntsville, Texas. Our researchers contribute to the management of invasive species with expertise in taxonomic identifications, biological and ecological research, early detection, and education.
National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams
One of the many ways the NPS is combating invasive plants is through the Exotic Plant Management Program. The program assists parks in preventing introductions of new species, reducing existing infestations, and restoring native plant communities and ecosystem functions. In 2000 the NPS created the Exotic Plant Management Program that now supports 16 teams working in over 225 park units..
Silver Level Sponsors ($1000)
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provides outdoor recreational opportunities by managing and protecting fish and wildlife and their habitat and by acquiring and managing parks, historic sites, and wildlife areas. Its mission is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Texas Forest Service
The Texas Forest Service was created in 1915 as an integral part of The Texas A&M University System. Its mission is to provide statewide leadership and professional assistance to assure that the state's forest, tree, and related natural resources are wisely used, nurtured, protected, and perpetuated for the benefit of all.
Capital Cruises of Austin
Capital Cruises, established in 1991 is the only all-electric boat fleet on the Highland Lakes chain in Central Texas. Nestled on the shores of beautiful Lady Bird Lake at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin, Texas, Capital Cruises offers lunch and dinner cruises, wedding events, internationally famous bat watching excursions, party boat services and the ultimate alternative for group and corporate outings. Capital Cruises has donated their time and services for the Arundo donax field trip on Lady Bird Lake.
Bronze Level Sponsors ($500)
Caddo Lake Institute
The Caddo Lake Institute (CLI) is a non-profit scientific and educational organization with the mission of protecting the ecological, cultural and economic integrity of Caddo Lake, its associated wetlands, and surrounding plant and wildlife habitats.
Texas Nursery & Landscape Association
The Texas Nursery and Landscape Association's Mission is to Enhance Members' Business Success Through Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy, Education, Networking, and Promotion of Professionalism.
Exhibitors
Natural Texas - Trees Unlimited
Texas Aquatic Plant Management Society and Sprayco
Invasive Species Art Show by Emily Bryant
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Conference Committee
Program Co-Chairs: Scott Walker and Forrest Smith
Local Host, Sponsors and Exhibitors: Damon Waitt
Registration: Alexander Mathes
Communications: Travis Gallo
Field Trips and Continuing Ed: Jim Houser
Past Conferences
2005 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2007 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2009 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2014 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2016 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
2018 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
