Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership
a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) within southern Missouri
What is the SRISP?
The Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership (SRISP) was developed in 2018 to establish a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) within southern Missouri. A CISMA is partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals, and various interested groups that manage invasive species (or weeds) in a defined area. A Memorandum of Understanding was implemented by over twenty federal and state agencies, Non-Government Organizations, landowners and others to recognize the importance of working together across boundaries to address the threats invasive species pose to Missouri’s native ecosystems. In 2022, the SRISP became an officially registered 501(c)3 non-profit in Missouri.
Invasive plants pose serious threats to Missouri’s natural ecosystems, competing with native plants and animals, degrading habitats, soil and water quality, and threatening facets of the state’s economy that rely on healthy systems, including cattle and timber production. Invasive plants also impact many aspects of outdoor recreation, including fishing, hunting, tourism, water sports and other activities that are significant to the regional recreation economy. Each year, invasive species have over a $120 billion impact on the U.S. economy. The mission of the Scenic River Invasive Species Partnership (SRISP) is establishing a strong, cross-boundary public-private partnership that inventories, monitors, controls, and prevents the spread of invasive species for a nine-county area in the Southern Ozarks.
What are the SRISP Goals?
Partnerships
Develop and maintain diverse partnerships that represent private landowners, concerned citizens, federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, outdoor recreation groups, agricultural industry, universities, local businesses and government.
Impacts
Decrease the impacts of invasive species to native plant and animal communities, public and private lands and other natural communities, agricultural lands, and local economies.
Awareness
Increase awareness through outreach, education, and training.
Where is the SRISP?
The SRISP covers the three Nationally designated Wild and Scenic Riverways found in Missouri: The Eleven Point, Jack’s Ford, and Current Rivers. The SRISP covers nine counties that these river’s watersheds fall in, including Butler, Carter, Dent, Shannon, Reynolds, Ripley, Oregon, Howell & Texas.
Who is involved in this partnership?
- Missouri Quail and Pheasants Forever
- The Nature Conservancy
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- U.S. Forest Service – Mark Twain National Forest
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- L-A-D Foundation
- National Park Service – Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Missouri Invasive Plant Council
- Private Landowners
- Missouri Department of Transportation
Accomplishments and Projects
SRISP Coordinator Valarie Repp treated almost 25 miles of county road right-of-way in the Mahan’s Creek Area near Eminence, Missouri. Spot spraying invasive plants found along roadsides leaves intact native plants, seen here in this small roadside glade, to fill in behind after the invasive plants die off.
- Installed a NAISMA and PlayCleanGo® Boot Brush station at the Camp Five Trailhead for the Irish Wilderness on the Mark Twain National Forest. The partnership is currently seeking funding to provide more stations throughout the SRISP area.
- Successfully treated nearly 25 miles of county road rights-of-way for invasive plants. Read more about this successful partnership with MDC and how important treating invasives found on roadsides is by reading this article. These treatments supplemented treatments performed by the Missouri Department of Transportation Invasive Plant Strike Team in the Southeast Road District. Some major highways that the Strike Team treated include highways 60, 63, 65, 5, 19, and 160. The team also treated numerous lettered highways in the scenic rivers region that lead directly to river access points.
- Educating partners on the use of The Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDSMapS) to record invasive species populations. All data is accessible to anyone, making the creation of target areas easier with multiple partners. The public is also able to use EDDMapS, making public bio-blitz days a huge asset for recording invasive populations.
- Attending numerous outreach events across the state, including the Missouri State Fair.
- Hosting educational talks and webinars with partners, including the Wild Turkey Federation and Missouri Quail and Pheasants Forever, to educate the public on invasive plant impacts, identification, and treatment.
- Working with private landowners to assist with invasive plant treatments through grants provided by partners.
How to get involved
Follow our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/SRISPCISMA
If you are interested in participating in volunteer events, please contact Valarie Repp at vrepp@quailforever.org. Some activities may include: pulling/cutting invasive species, conducting invasive species surveys, and assisting with other invasive efforts sponsored by SRISP partners. Groups such as Master Naturalists, Girl/Boy Scout Troops, Backcountry horsemen chapters, and more are welcome to contact Valarie to organize an event.
If you are a landowner and want to know more about how the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership can help you with invasive plants found on your property, please contact Valarie Repp, SRISP coordinator, at vrepp@quailforever.org.
Please feel free to contact Valarie with any questions regarding invasive species or invasive species removal from your property. There are several cost share options available, depending on property type and size. You can also contact your local NRCS office for information on these cost share programs, found here.