The Austin City Council passed a resolution on April 8, 2010 directing the City Manager to develop an Invasive Species Management Plan to guide efforts to minimize the harmful environmental and economic impacts of invasive plant species on city-managed properties. Subsequent to that resolution an agreement with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center led to creation of a working group with representatives from several City departments, Austin Parks Foundation, Keep Austin Beautiful, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Austin Invasive Species Coalition. Over the course of ten consensus-based meetings, the Working Group developed strategic five-year goals based on a central framework of prevention, early detection-rapid response and long-term control at prioritized sites. The plan also includes recommendations for implementation including staffing, funding sources, centralized mapping and monitoring, and education and outreach. To improve the plan’s success, the working group has developed a preliminary list of priority invasive species and an invasive species resource manual with identification fact sheets and best management practices to control priority species.
The City of Austin Invasive Species Management Plan was developed in collaboration with multiple non-profits and departments.
Austin Energy
Austin Invasive Species Coalition – represented by American Youthworks Environmental Corps
Austin Parks Foundation
Austin Water Utility
Keep Austin Beautiful
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Parks and Recreation Department
Planning and Development Review
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Watershed Protection Department
When a species ends up in a new ecosystem, it is considered "introduced". Often, invasive species are spread by humans who do not realize that these plants, animals and insects are highly destructive.
This may happen, for example, when people plant garden ornamentals, range forage plants for cattle, or plants used for erosion control and habitat enhancement for wildlife. This can also occur when animals and insects are introduced to be used to control other organisms (particularly in agriculture).
Other species are introduced accidentally on imported nursery stock, fruits, and in ship ballast waters, on vehicles, in packing materials and shipping containers, through human-built canals, and from human travel. Dumping aquarium exotic fish and unwanted exotics into the water or wild are other common ways invasive species spread.