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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing June 7-15, 2025 as Invasive Species Action Week in Solano County and recognizing Solano County Agriculture Department staff for their continued efforts to protect Solano County’s agricultural and natural resources from invasive species (Chair Mashburn)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Agricultural Commissioner recommends the Board of Supervisors adopt and present a resolution recognizing the week of June 7-15, 2025 as Invasive Species Action Week in Solano County and recognizing Solano County Agriculture Department staff for their continued efforts to protect Solano County’s agricultural and natural resources from invasive species.
SUMMARY:
California Invasive Species Action Week, June 7-15, 2025, seeks to increase awareness of the threats and impacts non-native invasive species pose to the State’s natural environments, biodiversity, agricultural systems, waterways, commerce and human health and safety. The Agriculture Department and many other agencies, natural resource managers, land owners and agricultural producers work to prevent the introduction of detrimental invasive species and manage established pests.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Solano County’s diverse geography, multiple agricultural regions and heavily trafficked transportation corridors make the county susceptible to the unintentional or accidental introduction of invasive species that can cause economic and/or environmental damage. Various local, State and federal agencies along with farmers, ranchers and land stewards work to prevent introduction of harmful invasives and manage established pests to ensure robust agricultural production, functioning natural systems and waterways, conservation of native plants and animals, reduction of wildfire dangers, and protection of human health and safety. A significant exotic pest infestation can impact county citizens in the form of loss of agricultural commodity markets, increased pesticide usage and production costs. Statewide, the collective cost of invasive species management is estimated to total $3 billion annually.
Examples of local monitoring, control and eradication projects highlight the extensive scope and involvement necessary to mitigate invasive species impacts. Current local projects include the County Agriculture Department’s partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to eradicate the glassy-winged sharpshooter in Vacaville, California; Department of Fish and Wildlife surveys for nutria; Department of Boating and Waterways control of water hyacinth and alligator weed in Delta waterways; the Coastal Conservancy’s sponsored invasive Spartina eradication project in San Pablo, Grizzly and Honker Bays; Solano and Yolo Resource Conservation District collaboration to control Arundo in the Putah Creek watershed and early identification and rapid response efforts by tomato growers to prevent Egyptian broomrape induced crop losses.
Further, the Agriculture Department works extensively year-round on pest exclusion, early detection, eradication and management programs protective of local agricultural resources. County biologists maintain a network of approximately 2,300 invasive insect detection traps and inspect over 9,000 incoming plant shipments for pests of concern and have intercepted over 80 pest interceptions in the past 12 months. These programs provide multiple lines of defense against the introduction of invasives and allow for pest-free certification of agricultural commodities destined for intra-and-interstate shipment and international export. Other notable current Agriculture Department projects aim to eradicate one of only two known infestations in the U.S. of the noxious weed false yellowhead from the county and work with area grape growers to control tree of heaven, another weed species, favored by spotted lanternfly, a troublesome pest of grapes. To date, the Department has treated over 1,227 tree of heaven trees at 21 Solano County locations.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to not adopt and present the resolution recognizing Invasive Species Action Week; however, this is not recommended because this is an opportunity to recognize and promote invasive species awareness and the staff that support these efforts.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Solano County Agriculture Department and other local agencies including the Dixon, Solano and Suisun Resource Conservation Districts cooperate with county residents, farmers and ranchers, the U.S. Department of Food & Agriculture, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, State departments of Food and Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife, Boating and Waterways, Water Resources and Pesticide Regulation, and non-profit groups like Plant Right and the California Invasive Plant Council on invasive species management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION