Dear Karen,

Thank you so much for your report of blackberries at Lost Park. This is very valuable. You are right that this is a very invasive species that has already shown the major damage it can do to our parks and ecosystems. I will forward this report to the Parks and Rec.,

Unfortunately blackberry is already so widespread it would be impossible to really make any kind of dent on the population. Faced with limited resources, land managers have to make tough choices about what to focus time and funding on. Often blackberries get second priority to other invasive species that are not established yet and there is a chance to actually completely remove it. On the other hand, sometimes we do control blackberry when there is a special place like a park or nature preserve we want to protect. Again, I will forward your report to the appropriate person so they can be aware of the situation.

Thanks so much for your concern about invasive species! I would encourage you to keep on reporting!

If you want to learn more about the new high priority invasive species you can be looking for, there will be a workshop in Portland on May 15th. See this site for more info and to register. http://www.wmswcd.org/content.cfm/Calendar/View-Event?EventID=104&catids=

Thanks again, and keep on reporting!

Tania
Tania Siemens
Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response Coordinator
The Nature Conservancy
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701

Tania Siemens
March 8, 2010, 2:51 a.m.