Cal-IPC 2020 Lightning Talk: Deja Malone-Persha, Floodplains restoration

First observed at Kelly Bar in 1997, Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe, =c. maculosa) had already quickly spread in a recent flood throughout the riparian zone of the North Fork Salmon River. Treatments on the Class-A species commenced soon thereafter, but not prior to significant deliberation. The community-driven Cooperative Noxious Weeds Program had recently formed in an effort to mitigate the negative consequences of herbicide application. Community members were determined to demonstrate the efficacy of manual treatments and have successfully done so. Within 10 years the program reduced the population at Kelly Bar, the origin site of spotted knapweed in the watershed, over 99%. Since its discovery spotted knapweed has been significantly reduced or eliminated from over 260 sites throughout the watershed through this persistent grassroots effort.

Once recognized as the site of the largest infestation of spotted knapweed in California, the Salmon River watershed is also home to world-renowned biodiversity. In 2006 a riparian habitat assessment identified Kelly Bar as a priority reach for in-stream restoration to improve habitat for threatened salmonids. After substantial analysis and planning the Salmon River Restoration Council undertook the implementation of an in-stream habitat restoration project at Kelly Bar. Initial results indicate that actions taken during construction have activated the historic seedbed and effectively mitigated the introduction of additional high-priority noxious weeds. After more than 22 years of consistent manual treatments, some ground disturbance, and active revegetation, the process of restoring habitat at Kelly Bar on the North Fork Salmon River is well underway.