Austin Passes Invasive Species Resolution The Austin City Council recently approved a resolution directing the City Manager to develop an Invasive Species Management Plan for city owned land. The resolution encourages community collaboration and innovation in protecting and restoring the city’s natural resources, and will mitigate the negative impacts invasive species have on Austin greenspaces. Austin may be first city in Texas to create an invasive species resolution – View Resolution. TPWD Launches Attack on Invasives The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently launched a public awareness campaign asking people to help control one of the most dangerous invasive aquatic species the state has ever known, giant salvinia. TPWD has been working with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing on the campaign, which will communicate the message "Hello Giant Salvinia, Goodbye Texas Lakes". The campaign includes floating buoys, gas station pump toppers and billboards at or near four targeted lakes: Caddo, Toledo Bend, Lake Conroe and Sam Rayburn. The campaign drives traffic to TexasInvasives.org, where visitors can find a wealth of information about giant salvinia and other invasives. The 2010 salvinia campaign marks the start of an umbrella effort that will feature other invasive plants and animals in the future – View News Release.   The Texas Forest Service Wants Your Feedback The Texas Forest Service, the agency responsible for conserving trees and forests and for protecting the lives, property and natural resources of the Lone Star State, are conducting a survey of customers who have requested services or information in recent years. If you are a recipient of any resource provided by the Texas Forest Service, please take a moment to fill out this quick online survey by May 5, 2010. If you have questions about the survey, please contact TFScustomersurvey@tfs.tamu.edu. Invasive Spotlight: Field Brome (Bromus arvensis) Field brome is a winter annual producing dense, low leafy growth in the fall. Culms are erect and solitary and the inflorecence is panicle. It has 1-8 spikelets on each lower branch producing seedheads in late spring or early summer. This plant displaces desirable vegetation if not properly managed. It grows vigorously under high fertility and growth usually starts earlier than most native Spring grasses often smothering native grasses and forbs. It is an excellent seed producer and can maintain itself as a reseeding annual. Field brome usually occurs in dry habitats, such as roadsides, waste places on sandy or rocky soils. Learn more about field brome and other Texas Invasives. More News 2010 Request for Proposals for Pulling Together Initiative More information 2010 Request for Proposals for Biological Control of Invasive Native and Non-Native Plants More information First joint meeting between the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council and the Southeast Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration International May 11-13, 2010 More information Weeds Across Borders 2010 June 1-4, 2010 More information If you would like your invasive species event or news listed in the next iWire, please send the details to iwire@texasinvasives.org.   Citizen Scientist of the Month: Lonnie Shockley Lonnie Shockley of the newly formed Balcones Invaders satellite is our citizen scientist of the month. Lonnie has been with the Invaders of Texas program for a few years working with the San Antonio Invaders satellite. He was the first in his training class to reach the goal of 50 observations to earn a new GPS. Congratulations, Lonnie. Lonnie has gone above and beyond the call of duty by becoming the satellite leader of the Balcones Invaders. With fellow citizen scientists, Judith Shockley and Cheryl Hamilton, they conduct their own citizen scientist training workshops. Lonnie is a classic example of the Invaders of Texas citizen scientist model, becoming familiar enough with the program to train others. Keep up the great work, Lonnie! Invaders of Texas Citizen Science Workshops 2010 Workshop dates are filling up fast! To sign up or request a new workshop, please visit our Workshop Page. Saturday May 1, 2010 9:00am-4:00pm Austin, TX, Austin Nature and Science Center Saturday May 15, 2010 9:00am-4:00pm Houston, TX, Harris County AgriLife Extension Office Saturday May 22, 2010 9:00am-4:00pm Kerrville, TX