About the Council
Established by the legislature in 2006 and then extended in 2011, the council was tasked with providing policy level direction, planning, and coordination for combating harmful invasive species throughout the state and preventing the introduction of others that may be potentially harmful. Printable fact sheet about the council.
Vision Statement
Sustain Washington's human, plant, and animal communities and our thriving economy by preventing the introduction and spread of harmful invasive species.
Mission Statement
The council provides policy level direction, planning, and coordination that will:
- Empower those engaged in the prevention, detection, and eradication of invasive species.
- Include a strategic plan designed to build upon local, state,
and regional efforts, while serving as a forum for invasive
species education and communication.
Priority Recommendationss
In its strategic plan, the council ranked the five, short-term recommendations as its highest priorities. Implementation of each of these recommendations is underway and will provide the foundation necessary for the council to meet its legislative mandate of facilitating more effective and efficient invasive species management in the state.
Recommendation 1
Compile existing information and conduct a baseline assessment of invasive species information and programs in Washington. This baseline would serve as an initial step towards coordinating a statewide, strategic response to the threat of invasive species.
The baseline will:
- Provide analysis of the worst invasive species, locations of the areas most affected, pathways, and resources most at risk.
- Identify public and private efforts to prevent, control, or eradicate invasive species.
- Inform public and private entities as it improves the state’s ability to coordinate resources.
Action 1.1
Develop council budget package, in coordination with partners, to compile existing information on species locations and programs in place.Action 1.2
Work with partners to compile existing data.Action 1.3
Perform functional gap analysis on state’s capacity to address problem.Action 1.4
Report back to council on necessary steps to address gaps.Action 1.5
Develop a system and process to measure results of initial baseline assessment and update data to ensure invasive species programs and progress related to infestations can be analyzed.
Recommendation 2
Develop a Web-based information clearinghouse as the interchange for all existing invasive species information statewide.Action 2.1
Develop a council budget package to support the development of the Web-based infrastructure necessary to house the clearinghouse.Action 2.2
Form a team to implement consistent, basic reporting format and standards for data input and review all information for technical accuracy before launching the Web site.Action 2.3
Working with partners, identify information and links to populate the clearinghouse.Action 2.4
Create the framework for the Web site, including existing resource lists.Action 2.5
Publicize clearinghouse and adaptively manage content.
Recommendation 3
Support targeted outreach campaigns to educate both public and private sectors on the damage caused by invasive species.Action 3.1
Develop common message and speaking points for council members to use when discussing invasive species.Action 3.2
Inventory and identify partners’ most effective educational tools and dissemination tactics. Coordinate educational programs that are successful in the state and region.Action 3.3
Encourage and leverage the participation of those in the private sector, academia, and the public to help with education.Action 3.4
Coordinate with Oregon in interpreting results of Oregon Public Opinion Surveys and invasive species focus group work*.
Recommendation 4
Increase and enhance communication across all entities to ensure coordinated approaches are supported and tools are accessible to address invasive species issues.Action 4.1
Build capacity to address the threat of invasive species in the Puget Sound ecosystem by ensuring that the council’s key strategies are integrated with the Puget Sound Partnership’s 2020 Action Agenda and into the science strategy that the Puget Sound Science Panel is developing.Action 4.2
Ensure that new permits are available and processes expedited to enable quick responses for all likely control actions.Action 4.3
Clarify jurisdiction and authority between federal, county, and state agencies to support coordination across boundaries.Action 4.4
Bring together tribal and environmental protection entities, and state and local coordinators to develop a process for coordination.
Recommendation 5
Enhance capacity to respond to invasive species by improving agencies’ access to emergency funding and building on existing efforts to develop an interagency early detection and rapid response network.Outreach and Educational Materials AvailableAction 5.1
Establish a protocol and flowchart to support an early detection and rapid response network. Conduct tabletop exercises to enhance communications of the most efficient processes.Action 5.2
Establish a state fund for emergency, rapid response.Action 5.3
Identify existing emergency funds and enhance access to them.Action 5.4
Use existing early detection and rapid response network models to build a functioning, statewide system with enhanced capacity for detection, verification, assessment, planning, and response.
