Agmt 2008 California State Coastal Conservancy

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(Phase I of the Invasive Spartina Control Program), and 3) from 2005 through 2007 implementation of region-wide treatment, monitoring, and adaptive management at 23 sites (covering 139 sub-sites) utilizing a mix of control methods at all known infested sites (Phase II of the Control Program). Overall, since 2000 the Conservancy has expended $9,995,682 for the Invasive Spartina Project. Out of this total, $7,805,825 came to the Conservancy from three CALFED grants (one federal- and two state-funded), a National Wildlife Foundation grant, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service grant, and a Wildlife Conservation Board grant. The remainder of $2,189,857 was funded by the Coastal Conservancy. Most recently, in March 2007, the Conservancy authorized disbursement of funding for treatment of the Invasive Spartina Project (ISP) Control Program through the 2007 treatment season, and management through spring 2008. 2007 Project Accomplishments Having established control over the invasive Spartina populations Bay-wide in 2006 by realizing a significant overall reduction in acreage as well as halting seed production and dispersal over the majority of the Estuary, the Conservancy's Invasive Spartina Project (ISP) continued in 2007 to advance towards its goal of eradication. The ISP Control Program was able to simultaneously expand treatment to more of the known sites around the Bay while reducing the acreage treated due to the success of previous years: 139 Spartina sub-areas covering 1,050 acres were treated, representing 99% of the estimated Spartina acreage in the Estuary (an increase from 107 sites in 2006 representing 94% of the Bay-wide acreage). Also, the 2007 Treatment Season stretched from May 9 to October 29, continuing the expansion of the treatment window that began in 2006, and shifting towards earlier control work where efficacy tends to be higher and -seed production precluded. Pre-September treatments continue to represent the majority of acres treated, when efficacy tends to be higher because the plants are actively growing and circulate the herbicide down to the roots. There were a number of notable "firsts" for the Control Program in 2007: • The entire 100-acre Colma Creek complex was treated, with about 40% receiving a lower concentration of the herbicide imazapyr to "chemically mow" the Spartina. The purpose of this sub-lethal treatment is to stop seed production and dispersal from this large infestation while preserving the above-ground Spartina biomass to ease the impacts to the large population of endangered California clapper rails known to live on the site. • An important East Bay complex including Oakland Inner Harbor, Coast Guard Island, and all of the Port of Oakland properties were treated. • All 19 sub-areas of the West San Francisco Bay complex were treated, including the heavily infested area around San Francisco International Airport. • All remaining 13 sub-areas of the Marin Outliers complex were treated, a complex of smaller invasive Spartina populations. Treatment of these sites is important because of their location in the North Bay that allows them to disperse the infestation to new vulnerable locations.