Montana Invasive Species Council meets Jan. 23

Press release

HELENA — The Montana Invasive Species Council will hold its next meeting Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Montana Conference Room, located at 1539 11th Ave. in Helena.

The meeting will focus on next steps for outcomes resulting from the 2018 Invasive Species Summit, which focused on the Council’s invasive species law review. Other agenda items include a review and discussion regarding invasive species draft legislation, project updates, and committee reports. The Council will also be briefed on the results of the invasive mussel economic impact analysis that MISC undertook in 2018.

The MISC is a statewide partnership working to protect Montana’s economy, natural resources and public health through a coordinated approach to combat invasive species. All MISC meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact Stephanie Hester, MISC Coordinator at 406-444-0547. Visit misc.mt.gov for more information.

A copy of the MISC meeting agenda for Jan. 23 follows:

10 to 10:10 a.m. Welcome and introductions

10:10 to 10:40 a.m. — Administrative business

• Roll call and confirm quorum

• Action Item: Oct. 3 meeting minutes

• Action:  Adding ex-officio member positions to MISC membership

• Budget update

• Meeting schedule

• MISC coordinator updates

10:40 to 11:10 a.m. — Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Dan McGowen

11:10 a.m. to noon — MISC project updates

• Law review, listening session, summit

Action item: Next steps

— Law review and Summit final report

— Launch coordinated “Squeal on Pigs” campaign with DOL

— Determine next steps for aquatic invasive plants with FWP as lead

— Develop species listing committee

— Develop invasive species act committee

Break for lunch

1 to 1:45 p.m. — MISC Project updates (continued)

• Missouri River Invasive Mussel Pilot Project

• Science Advisory Panel — Mogulones crucifers

Action: Appoint chair, co-chairs

• Interagency invasive species ICS training

• Action: adoption of all-taxa plan

1:45 to 2:15 p.m. — Committee updates

• Data management, Jed Little

• Tree pest, Stephanie

Emerald Ash Borer Task Force

• Firewood, Amy

• Invasive woody trees, Jasmine

  2:15 to 2:45 p.m. — Invasivespecies.mt.gov

• Education and Outreach Committee report

• Windfall presentation

2:45 to 3:15 p.m. — Invasive Mussel Economic Impact Report briefing

  3:15 to 3:30 p.m. — 2019 legislative session

• Invasive species rotunda day, March 1, 2019

• AIS program and funding update

3:30 to 4 p.m. — Wrap-up and adjourn

• Agency and partner updates

• New business

• Public comment.