Pennsylvania Governor's Invasive Species Council

Chairperson: Sara Stahlman, PA Sea Grant (sng121@psu.edu)

The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Rapid Response Subcommittee meets throughout the year to support ongoing rapid response and early detection efforts from reports submitted through the PA AIS Field Guide app hosted by PA Sea Grant.

The group has created several rapid response case studies featuring real-world examples of state agencies and other groups rapidly responding to priority invasive species infestations, including:

• Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth 

• Invasive Carp

• European Water Chestnut

Subcommittee members are currently awaiting grant funding to support the development of six additional rapid response case studies. Each case study will be graphically designed, printed, and incorporated into the Rapid Response Plan & Procedures for Responding to Aquatic Invasive Species in Pennsylvania and used in invasive species rapid response training and mock exercises.

Chairperson: Andrew Rohrbaugh, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (anrohrbaug@pa.gov)

The Invasive Species Listing Subcommittee meets every 2-3 months and is currently completing several invasive plant assessments. The group also plans to revisit/review the list of plants originally voted on by PGISC as suggestions for inclusion on the Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Committee list. (Note: In 2020, the Listing Subcommittee recommended a "Top 25" List of Invasive Plants for consideration by the Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee to add to the Pennsylvania Noxious Weed List.)

In the past, committee members have also developed an invasive species list for Pennsylvania which includes about 300 plants, insects, fungi, pathogens, and animals. This list helps inform development of regulation, policy, and education to protect our agricultural and natural resources. Species included on the list were determined to have the greatest current or potential negative impacts on Pennsylvania. The committee also developed an assessment protocol to prioritize species on the list. 

Chairperson: Eve Adrian, PA Department of Agriculture (eadrian@pa.gov)

The Legislative Subcommittee meets monthly to develop policy and funding recommendations regarding invasive species in Pennsylvania. Current efforts are focused on developing and introducing legislation to:

• Preserve the Council in statute

• Include legislators and more industry membership on the Council 

• Create a mechanism for the Council to spend money it receives

The Legislative Subcommittee is also working on a proposal to create a Center for Excellence for Invasive Species Management which would provide grants to support efforts related to control of invasive species in Pennsylvania. In the past, this subcommittee has organized and hosted legislative hearings as well as field tours and group forums.

Chairperson: Kris Abell, PA Department of Agriculture (krabell@pa.gov)

The Round Goby Network Group meets twice a year to share updates on research, surveys, management actions, and education and outreach efforts, all in relation to the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), an invasive fish impacting parts of Pennsylvania and nearby areas. The group consists of managers, researchers, and other interested individuals.

Coordinators:  

• Emily Shosh, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (eshosh@pa.gov)

• Katie Sasala, Potter County Conservation District (k.sasala@pottercd.com)

Management Plan: 2022-2027 APIPMA Strategic Plan

Focus Area: The Allegheny Plateau Invasive Plant Management Area (APIPMA) focuses its efforts in Warren, Forest, McKean, Potter and Elk counties

Mission: The mission of the APIPMA is to implement a comprehensive, cooperative approach across boundaries to address the threats of invasive species to the lands and watersheds within the boundaries of the APIMPA.

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Coordinators: 

• Jim Zoschg, Cameron County Conservation District (jzoschg@cameroncd.org)

• Jon-Marc Burdick, Cameron County Conservation District (jmburdick@cameroncd.org) 

Overview: The Sinnemahoning Invasive Plant Management Area (SIPMA) is a cooperative weed management area (CWMA) formed in 2010-2011 by the collaboration of diverse partners—private landowners, non-profit conservation organizations, government organizations, state agencies, commercial landowners, and forest resource companies—in order to work together to address the short- and long-term effects of non-native invasive plants within the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed.  

SIPMA partners agree that it is to their mutual interest and benefit to work cooperatively in inventorying, monitoring, controlling, and preventing the spread of non-native invasive plants across jurisdictional boundaries within the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed. The spread of invasive plant populations does not adhere to property boundary lines even though traditional invasive plant control efforts are often confined to one property. However, through the CWMA, SIPMA can partner with landowners—private, commercial, and governmental—to address invasive plant populations across property boundaries in a watershed approach to the issue.

SIPMA also serves as a forum to share information regarding the control of invasive plants and to cooperatively seek funding for this work. Currently, SIPMA partners meet virtually twice a year, one in the spring and once in the fall, to share information and coordinate work. Each of the coordinators focuses on a specific component of the CWMA’s operations. Jon-Marc manages the CWMA’s grants and Jim works with contractors and engages in field-based activities.

Management Plan: None at present

Focus Area: The SIPMA covers the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed, which encompasses portions of Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter counties, accounting for 1,011 square miles. 

Mission: The mission of the SIPMA is to protect and restore habitat through the cooperative identification and management (i.e., suppression, control, or eradication) of noxious and exotic invasive plants in the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed.

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Contact: Heather Fowler, Fayette County Conservation District (heatherdfowler@yahoo.com)

Management Plan: Members of the Southern Laurel Highlands Plant & Pest Management Partnership (SLHPPMP) are required to have their own management plans for invasive species management activities conducted on their property. Contact Heather Fowler for more details on each of the respective plans.

Focus Area: The SLHPPMP focuses its efforts on parts of Westmoreland, Somerset, and Fayette counties in Southwest Pennsylvania. Members of the partnership conduct invasive species management activities on properties located within the Southern Laurel Highlands. For reference, a map of member properties is provided below.

Mission: The mission of the SLHPPMP is to protect the unique and diverse natural resources of the Southern Laurel Highlands by reducing the impact of invasive species. The SLHPPMP seeks to foster a coordinated and cooperative approach to regional invasive plant and pest management and to educate the public about the benefits of Pennsylvania’s native species. 

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Almost 60 invasive aquatic animals are identified as of greatest concern for Pennsylvania, from highly impactful emerging species, like zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and northern snakehead, to not-yet-present but potential major concerns, including silver carp and bighead carp. These must be prevented from being introduced.
 

Five bird and mammal species are of concern, including feral swine, which have limited distribution to date in Pennsylvania but considerable potential for negative impacts, and the rodent nutria, which hasn’t been detected yet but is potentially a significant problem.
 

There are 21 introduced fungi of greatest concern that are pathogens of plants and animals, that threaten native fungal biodiversity, or are poisonous to humans. This list includes saprotrophic and mycorrhizal mushrooms as well as pathogenic microscopic fungi.
 

There are 25 non-fungal pathogens of greatest concern that impact plants and animals in Pennsylvania.
 

• Member: Jessica Shirley, Secretary

• Designee: James L. Grazio, PhD, Great Lakes Biologist

• Member: Michael Carroll, Secretary

• Designee: Raymond Boronyak, Roadside Manager

• Member: Dr. Debra L. Bogen, Secretary

• Designee: Dr. Betsy Schroeder, Public Health Veterinarian

• Member: Timothy D. Schaeffer, Executive Director

• Designee: Sean Hartzell, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator

• Member: Stephen Smith, Executive Director

• Designee: Scott Bearer, Chief, Wildlife Recovery Division

• Member: Piper Sherburne, South East Region Director

• Member: Andrew L. Ernst, Owner, Ernst Conservation Seeds

• Alternate: Grant Gulibon, Regulatory Affairs and Communications Division, PA Farm Bureau

• Member: Kate Harms, Executive Director, PALMS

• Alternate: Brian Pilarcik, Watershed Specialist, Crawford County Conservation District

• Member: Claire Zuidervliet, Owner & Grower, Octoraro Native Plant Nursery

• Alternate: Gregg Robertson, Government Relations Advocate, PLNA

• Member: Sarah Whitney, Director

• Alternate: Sara Stahlman, Extension Leader

• Member: Brian Harris, Warwick Township Manager, Lancaster County

• Member: Deah Lieurance, PhD, Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management

• Member: Harold Brecht, PennAg Member

• Member: Jocelyn Behm, PhD, Associate Professor, Integrative Ecology Lab

• Alternate: Matthew Helmus, PhD, Associate Professor, Integrative Ecology Lab

• Member: Sean E. Mahoney, Senior Director of Marketing, Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

• Member: Lisa A. Murphy, VMD, DABT, Professor of Toxicology

• Member: Jeff Wagner, Director, PA Natural Heritage Program, WPC/PNHP

• Alternate: Amy Jewitt, Senior Coordinator, PA iMapInvasives Program, WPC/PNHP

Wildlife Diseases

• Hotline: 1-833-PGC-WILD  |  (1-833-742-9453)

The mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission is to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations.

Plants, Animals, Insects, and Noxious Weeds

• Public Report - (no login account required)

• Online Database - (requires free login account)

• Mobile App - (requires free login account)

iMapInvasives is an online reporting and data management tool used to track invasive species. The goal of the iMapInvasives program in Pennsylvania is to assist natural resource professionals and community scientists by advancing their knowledge of species distributions across the Commonwealth and provide a tool which stores both location and management details. 

The Pennsylvania iMapInvasives Program offers an email alert capability that allows state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public to receive notifications for priority and novel invasive species findings of recently reported invasive species.

Aquatic Invasive Species

• Mobile App

The mission of Pennsylvania Sea Grant is to enhance the use and conservation of Pennsylvania's coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resources to create a healthy environment, resilient and inclusive communities, and a strong and sustainable economy.