# Invasive Plant Management Plan (2026)

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Asitka%3A04ca3207e25b1634

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

Invasive Plant Management Plan

Sitka Tribe of Alaska
February 18, 2026

Kayaaní Commission & Resource Protection Department
Prepared by Sienna Reid, Kayaaní Commission Coordinator

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STA Invasive Plant Management Plan

Acknowledgements
Atlein Gunalchéesh
This project would not have been successful without the assistance of Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s
Kayaaní Commission and Resource Protection Department, funding from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, and technical support from the U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region, including the
State, Private, and Tribal Forestry branch, the Tongass National Forest, and the Sitka Ranger
District. Many others contributed to the creation of this Invasive Plant Management Plan
directly and indirectly. Special thanks to Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Alaska State Parks, City & Borough of Sitka
Public Works Department, Sitka Trail Works, Sitka Conservation Society, Sitka Sound Science
Center, Sitka School District, and Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

Funding
This project was funded by the USDA Southeast Sustainability Strategy.

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Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 4
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Inventory ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Data Review to Establish a Baseline......................................................................................................... 6
Identifying Priority Species....................................................................................................................... 6
Itadori ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Roadside Inventory and Infestation Mapping ......................................................................................... 8
Prevention through Outreach and Education............................................................................................. 11
Education and Community Outreach ..................................................................................................... 12
Collaborative Planning with Partners..................................................................................................... 14
Reporting New Infestations ................................................................................................................... 15
Eradication and Control .............................................................................................................................. 16
Biological ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Mechanical.............................................................................................................................................. 17
Chemical ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 19
References................................................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix A: Priority Invasive Plant Species for Inventory and Control Efforts ......................................... 22

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STA Invasive Plant Management Plan

Introduction
Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA) is the federally recognized tribal government for Sheet’ká (Sitka,
Alaska) with over 4,881 Tribal citizens. As a tribal government, STA is responsible for the
health, safety, welfare, and cultural preservation of its tribal citizens.

Figure 1. Map of Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Customary and Traditional Use Area.

Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s jurisdiction includes “all lands constituting the Native Village of Sitka
and the areas formerly known as ‘Indian Possessions’ and ‘Cottage Settlement’, and to all
surrounding areas of Indian Country, if any, including all customary and traditional use and
access areas in the vicinity of Baranof Island, Chichagof and surrounding islands, and all fee
lands and allotments and lands owned by Sealaska, Inc. or Shee-Atika, Inc. located therein (the
Native corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (Pub. L. 924
STA Invasive Plant Management Plan

203) as amended to hold the land and other benefits provided by Congress in partial
compensation for the extinguishment of the Tribe’s aboriginal land rights), to the fullest extent
permitted by federal and tribal law” (Sitka Tribe of Alaska 2021). See Figure 1. above for a map
of the Customary and Traditional Use Area (i.e. Traditional Territory).
STA’s Kayaaní Commission (Plants Commission), established in 1998, is a group of Tribal Elders
and experienced plant harvesters working together to protect the native plants of Sheet’ká
Kwáan Territory and to preserve Tlingit plant knowledge. Haa kayaaní (our plants) provide for
us in the form of foods, medicines, and materials for cultural arts, tools, and technologies. The
STA Invasive Plant Management Plan arose from concerns of Sitka Tribal citizens about the
presence of invasive plants on the Sitka road system, and their impacts on the local
environment and subsistence harvesting activities.

Purpose
The vibrant rainforests that were once described as “pristine” and “untouched” by Western
explorers have always been known to the Tlingit people as respectfully managed and tended-to
ecosystems. Tlingit people have been transporting distant plant materials for thousands of
years; we have oral histories of our ancestors bringing red cedar, potatoes, bamboo, and a
variety of other plants to Sheet’ká through travel and trade. However, through colonization,
urbanization, and global climate change, our resilient lands and waters have faced rapid change
with little time to adapt. As settlers from different regions of the world have made their way to
Sheet’ká, so have exotic plants. Some of these exotic plants exhibit traits that make them
excellent competitors against the native flora; these we call invasive plants.
Invasive plants are species that are non-native to a region and cause harm to the ecosystem, the
economy, and/or human health. They possess certain biological advantages that help them
dominate local habitats and can be difficult to control once a population is established. Invasive
plants, at one time limited to their native ranges, now spread more easily in a globalized world.
Ports and terminals where boats, ships, and planes arrive in Southeast Alaska’s isolated island
communities are typically hotspots for new invasive species, as are roadside corridors where
ornamental garden escapees make their first jump into the wild.
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Kayaaní Commission is tasked with protecting native plants and
their traditional teachings. Invasive plants have become a greater threat to native flora over the
past several years as tribal citizens have noticed them displacing local subsistence species. To
track and control these invasive species in Sheet’ká, STA’s Kayaaní Commission and Resource
Protection Department have developed an Invasive Plant Management Plan with support from
the U.S. Forest Service and many regional and community partners. This plan outlines the role
of Sitka Tribe in continuing to defend our Traditional Territory against invasive plants through
inventory, prevention, and control measures.

Inventory
As settlers moved to Sitka, they brought exotic garden ornamentals and stowaway seeds and
weeds which increased Sitka’s non-native plant populations. The goal of inventory work in Sitka
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is to document which invasive plants are present in Sitka, where they are found, and the
qualities of their infestations.

Data Review to Establish a Baseline
Sitka’s invasive species monitoring has been sporadic with inventories being carried out by
several different agencies and organizations, each with varying survey areas, methods, and
goals. Staff at STA compiled and reviewed previous efforts to document invasive plants in Sitka
(Table 1.). These reports and maps created a starting point for staff to target specific species and
their locations.
Date
2004
2004-2012
2007
2014
2022

Invasive Plant Work
Final Report on Invasive Plants in Southeast Alaska
Exotic plant inventories, removal, and control within
the Sitka National Historical Park
Non-Native Plant Inventory of the Sitka/Hoonah Area
Invasive Plants Management Plan for Sitka
(Unpublished)
Jozef Slowik Knotweed Inventory

Agency or Organization
Sitka Conservation Society
National Park Service
USDA Forest Service
Southeast Soil & Water
Conservation District; USDA
Forest Service
UAF Cooperative Extension
Service

Table 1. Details of known invasive plant projects in Sitka, Alaska, 2004-present.

Platforms such as iNaturalist are also utilized in reviewing Sitka’s invasive plant infestations.
iNaturalist is an online platform which allows users to act as citizen scientists and upload
observations of plants, fungi, and animals. An iNaturalist project called “Introduced Plant
Species of Alaska” automatically gathers observations of non-native plant species within the
state, which facilitates locating invasive plants.
Additionally, University of Alaska Anchorage’s Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS)
hosts a statewide database for invasive plants called the Alaska Exotic Plants Information
Clearinghouse (AKEPIC). This database stores invasive plant data from partner agencies and
organizations within an interactive ArcGIS map. ACCS has also developed an invasive plant
ranking system specific to Alaska which considers ecological impacts, biological characteristics,
and effort required to control or eradicate, among other factors.
By utilizing local invasive species reports, iNaturalist observations, the AKEPIC database, and
reports made by Tribal citizens and community members, STA staff developed a list of Sitka’s
known invasive plant species and their locations to inform inventory work.

Identifying Priority Species
Sitka Tribe of Alaska staff developed a ranked list of invasive plant species (see Appendix A) to
determine which species would be prioritized in initial inventory field work. Invasive plants that
had been documented in the Sitka area by the time of plan development were included on the
list. Priority species were determined by considering each species’ prevalence on the Sitka road
system, impact on ecology and subsistence, and AKEPIC invasiveness rankings.
Invasive plants designated as high priority are those recommended for immediate
documentation and monitoring, community education and prevention efforts, treatment plan
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developments, and control or removal efforts. Lower priority invasive plants are those with
lower AKEPIC invasiveness rankings and comparatively less impact on local plants and
ecosystems. Some of these lower priority weeds have a high prevalence in Sitka (i.e. Ranunculus
spp., Taraxacum spp., Digitalis purpurea, etc. are effectively naturalized), yet their environmental
and tribal impact are minimal.
Through the review and ranking of Sitka’s invasive plants, STA staff identified Itadori as the
highest-priority exotic plant in Sitka. According to AKEPIC’s non-native plant species list,
Itadori ranks 87 on the invasiveness scale from 0 to 100; an extremely high ranking, second only
to Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) in Alaska. In fact, Itadori has been listed as
invasive or noxious in ten states (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, n.d.) and other
countries such as the United Kingdom.

Itadori
Itadori, or knotweed (Reynoutria japonica Houtt., synonyms Fallopia japonica, Polygonum
cuspidatum), is a perennial shrub native to East Asia which was first documented in Southeast
Alaska in 1981 (Alaska Center for Conservation Science 2024). The large, leafy plant can be
identified by its broad, spade-shaped leaves, its hollow, zigzagging reddish-brown stems and
twigs, and small white flowers. Itadori can grow up to 10 feet tall, forming dense thickets. Its
underground growth is similarly extensive, with thick rhizomes able to sprawl nearly 20 feet
(Klein 2011). In Alaska, Itadori primarily reproduces vegetatively from rhizomes, with small
fragments (as little as 700mg) able to produce new plants (Klein 2011).
The plant’s affinity for riparian, wetland, and disturbed roadside habitats has enabled it to
thrive in the Tongass, using a variety of competitive characteristics to displace native plants and
continue to spread. Rhizomes grow quickly, utilizing allelopathy (biochemicals released by an
organism) to slow and stop growth in surrounding vegetation and stems grow in high density
clusters forming monocultures. Furthermore, Itadori’s height makes it resistant to trampling,
and smaller plants are shaded by the tall, broad leaves in the growing season. In autumn, small
plants are smothered by falling leaf litter.
Tribal citizens, many of which rely on roadside berry patches for their summer harvesting, have
noted the impact of Itadori on native species such as anáanáx tléiḵw (salmonberry, Rubus
spectabilis), ch’eix’ (thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus), and shaax (gray currant, Ribes bracteosum).
These berry species feed Tribal citizens as well as wildlife from birds and deer to bears. When
native plant populations cannot stand up to invasive plant infestations, the delicate balance in
our rainforest ecosystem is threatened. In addition to impacts on plants, Itadori’s tendency to
grow near freshwater sources has been known to degrade vital habitat for anadromous fish by
choking out streams and rivers (Figure 2) and damage infrastructure by breaking through
pavement and building foundations.

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Figure 2. Invasive Reynoutria japonica encroaches on a culvert adjacent to Halibut Point Road in Sitka, Alaska.
Photo by Sienna Reid, STA (2024).

For the duration of STA’s Invasive Plant Management planning phase, staff have focused their
time on inventory, prevention, and control of invasive Itadori in Sitka. As a result, Itadori will
be highlighted as an example of current inventory, prevention, and eradication efforts in the
Invasive Plant Management Plan. The intention is that STA’s Itadori management work will
serve as a framework that can be adapted to include other high priority species (Appendix A) in
subsequent phases of the project.

Roadside Inventory and Infestation Mapping
The goal for the initial 2024 field season was to carry out invasive plant inventories across the
Sitka road system, focusing primarily on revisiting known infestations and identifying new sites
of high concern. STA staff were trained by project manager Joni Johnson (Invasive Plant and
Pesticide Use Coordinator with Forest Health Protection; State, Private, and Tribal Forestry, U.S.
Forest Service) in USFS invasive plant inventory techniques.
Together, USFS and STA surveyed sections of town important to Tribal citizens, including
accessible subsistence harvest spots, critical ecological habitats, residential areas, and cultural
sites along roads and trails. The inventory spanned a large portion of Sitka’s main highways
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(Halibut Point Road and Sawmill Creek Road), transportation hubs (ferry terminal and airport),
industrial zones, and core downtown area. Many previously recorded sites were ground-truthed
and updated to include more detailed information, and new sites were logged (Figure 3). Data
collected from the infestations is described in Table 2.
Data Type
Date and time
Plant species, using USDA plant symbol
Infestation ID

Polygon shape󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼

Percent coverage

Count

Distribution
Priority

Notes

Photo

Description
Date and time of observation are crucial for tracking
changes over time.
Species are identified by USDA Plant Symbol (e.g.
Polygonum cuspidatum = POCU6), making records
compatible with USFS database.
Individual infestations are given IDs for tracking over time.
If the site has been previously mapped by a partner
organization, STA collects data under the original
infestation ID and notes that the site is a revisit.
e.g. STA-POCU6-025 refers to STA’s 25th Polygonum
cuspidatum observation.
Through the Field Maps app, observers can plot the
perimeter of each infestation by manually placing points to
create a polygon, or by livestreaming their location as they
walk around the infestation. Polygons help track changes in
the severity of each infestation over time.
Percent coverage refers to the percent coverage of the
invasive plant within the plotted polygon. This value can
range from 0 to 100, depending on the plant’s spread and
presence or absence of other species.
Count refers to the number of invasive individuals within
the larger infestation. This can be determined by counting
individual stems, estimating, or describing as “too many to
count.”
The infestation’s distribution can be described as
grouped/clumped, linear, even, or variable.
Priority rankings (low, medium, high, very high) are
decided by the observer and informed by factors such as
invasiveness ranking, impacts (current and potential), and
perceived difficulty in control and/or eradication efforts.
The observer may make notes on the infestation, including
impacts to surrounding vegetation, habitat, subsistence
users, and infrastructure; landowner; and control
strategies.
Photos linked with each observation can aid land managers
in identifying the site and tracking changes over time.

Table 2. Descriptions of invasive plant field data collected to the USFS Invasive Species Mobile group.

STA staff recorded inventory data through the ArcGIS Field Maps app which was regularly
synced to the USFS Invasive Species Mobile (ISM) group hosted on ArcGIS Online. ISM compiles
USFS and partner invasive species records into a single nationwide map. USFS Alaska Region
staff periodically sync their records to AKEPIC for public viewing. New ISM records from the
2024 season, as well as older documented infestations in Sitka, were made available to STA.
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Using the ArcGIS Online interface provided by the National Tribal Geographic Information
Support Center (Tribal GIS®), STA staff have developed internal maps for STA records.

Figure 3. 2024 Invasive Knotweed Inventory Map displaying new and revisited Reynoutria japonica sites on the
Sitka road system. Map prepared by Sienna Reid, STA (2025).

Points on the online maps are linked with the field data gathered throughout the inventory
process. In 2026 and onward, STA staff will maintain internal invasive plant maps, including the
invasive knotweed map, as a resource for the community, share maps and inventory findings
with collaborators and the community, and continue to grow mapping capabilities and data
sovereignty by developing an STA-owned field data collection application.
Inventory Goal 1: Maintain up-to-date invasive plant inventory maps
Timeframe: Annual
Actions:
• Revisit known high-priority plant infestations to document status (spread or control
successes)
• Expand on-the-ground documentation by conducting roadside invasive plant inventories
on previously unmapped roads
• Pull new infestations from public data sources mentioned above
• Recruit community partners and/or the public to cover more areas and species
Inventory Goal 2: Develop STA-owned data collection application for data sovereignty
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Timeframe: ~1 year
Actions:
• STA staff request technical assistance from partners (Tribal GIS, USFS, Southeast Alaska
Watershed Coalition, etc.) in creation of a Field Maps app for data collection
• STA project staff train additional STA staff and partners in data collection techniques to
increase mapping capacity

Prevention through Outreach and Education
As stated in our project narrative, one of the main goals of the Invasive Plant Management Plan
is to increase public awareness of invasive plants. Early intervention can make a world of
difference when it comes to preventing the spread of invasive species. The longer invasive plants
go untreated, the more extreme the eradication measures become.

Figure 4. Stages of Biological Invasion & Levels of Control. Graphic by Jacqueline Foss, USFS (2025).

Staff at Sitka Tribe of Alaska developed outreach and education opportunities to increase
invasive plant awareness in Sitka. These materials and programs will continue to be used and
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developed to increase awareness and engagement and will be adapted to include priority species
(See Appendix A). Staff strengthened partnerships with land managers and local environmental
and recreation organizations, leading to collaborative and community-centered work and
resource sharing.

Education and Community Outreach
Sitka Tribe began initial invasive plant education efforts in spring 2024 with support from USFS
(Table 3). STA led Sitka High School’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge class through an activity
which explored the impacts of invasive plants on vegetation density and biodiversity. Each class
visit involved development of classroom plans and educational materials such as worksheets,
plant identification guides, presentations, and activity guides; they provide a starting point for
consistent collaboration with Sitka schools and the potential to evolve into annual STA
education projects such as Herring Camp and Clam Camp.
Date

School

Description

Spring 2024

Sitka High School

Staff led an activity exploring invasive plant impacts on
local vegetation, and relationships between density and
biodiversity with the SHS Traditional Ecological
Knowledge class.
Fall 2024
Blatchley Middle School
STA staff spent three days with the BMS Get Outside and
Forest Exploration classes, covering southeast Alaska
ecology, native and invasive plant identi󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼
invasive plant prevention and control methods.
Spring 2025
Sitka High School
STA staff led SHS Biology students through an activity
exploring invasive plant impacts on local ecosystems
and presented on STA’s 󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼
next steps.
Fall 2025
Mt. Edgecumbe High School
STA staff visited MEHS Biology and Environmental
Science classes to share their work in the Resource
Protection Department, including the importance of
native plants to people and place, and the impacts of
invasive species.
Fall 2025
Sitka High School
STA staff coordinated with local USFS staff and the
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities to lead SHS Biology students through Sitka’s
󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼
state managed Right-of-Way (ROW). Students learned
about the effects of invasive species and participated in
the tarping of four knotweed infested sites.
Table 3. Descriptions of the invasive plant education efforts carried out in Sitka schools facilitated by STA staff.

In addition to youth education, broader community outreach was done in the form of
community events and shared online resources. In September 2024, STA staff co-hosted
“Invasive Plants of Sitka: A Community Information Session” in partnership with the U.S. Forest
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Service and the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC). The purpose of the meeting was
to provide information on the Kayaaní Commission’s invasive plant project and discuss invasive
plant concerns in the community.
Following the presentation, attendees had a chance to ask questions and discuss invasive plant
needs in the community. Overwhelmingly, citizens Sitka want to help; many attendees voiced the
need to not only educate on invasive species but instruct on what people can do to aid control
efforts. One idea was for STA to develop treatment prescriptions for the infestations identified
in the field season and communicate them with the landowner/land manager of the sites.
Another idea was to create a publication or social media campaign teaching Sitkans how to
identify invasive plants, evaluate treatment options, and manage yard waste responsibly.

Figure 5. E. Reed, Regional Invasive Plant Coordinator at SAWC, presents the impacts of invasive knotweed at the
2024 Invasive Plants of Sitka talk. Photo by Sienna Reid.

Taking community feedback into account, staff have continued to provide invasive plant project
updates at monthly Kayaaní Commission meetings and share invasive plant identification
guides, treatment recommendations, and prevention measures through flyers, emails, website
and social media posts, and community events.
Outreach Goal 1: Keep Sitkans informed on STA’s invasive plant management work
Timeframe: Ongoing
Actions:
• Make inventory maps available to community and regional partners
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•
•

Present maps, field findings, and other invasive plant resources at community events
Maintain and expand relationships with Sitka teachers to continue youth education in
the classroom

Outreach Goal 2: Promote prevention of invasive species
Timeframe: Ongoing
Actions:
• Familiarize community members with highly invasive plant species (priority species list)
• Create and share PSAs and social media content regarding invasive plants management
on the individual level (e.g. plant ID guides, responsible handling of yard waste, etc.)
• Respond to invasive plant reports by advising Sitkans on invasive plant management,
assisting in treatment planning, and connecting them with invasive plant experts

Collaborative Planning with Partners
Another facet of outreach efforts includes work to strengthen partnerships with relevant
government agencies and local organizations. In March 2025 the Sitka Tribe of Alaska hosted a
Collaborative Knotweed Planning Meeting to bring land managers, outdoor maintenance
workers, and environmental and recreation organizations together to discuss and plan for the
control of invasive plants, especially invasive knotweed, in Sitka. Meeting attendees included
representatives on the federal (U.S. Forest Service), state (AK Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities, AK State Parks), and local (City & Borough of Sitka Public Works Department)
levels. Local organizations were represented by executive directors of both Sitka Trail Works
and Sitka Conservation Society.
STA staff made a presentation which shared background on the STA Kayaaní Commission, the
Invasive Plant Management Plan, field work findings, and an overview of eradication options.
USFS staff facilitated a guided round-table discussion covering topics such as prevention and
control of invasive plant species, inventory and outreach ideas, and promoting creative uses of
invasive plants in foods, medicines, and dyes. The group then shared community resources that
they could contribute from their respective agencies and organizations. Overall, there was a
strong interest in collaborating for effective invasive plant management, with the limited factors
being funding and staff capacity.
The meeting concluded with the formation of a list of action items to keep up the momentum.
Several of the items were completed within the year including:
•
•
•
•
•

Producing flyers and social media posts regarding plant ID, reporting resources, regional
contacts, etc.
Releasing a PSA detailing responsible yard waste disposal around the time of the annual
City-wide spring clean up
Collaborating with Sitka Trail Works on an Invasive Plant Hike as part of their summer
hike series
Connecting partners with Alaska Certified Applicator training opportunities (for use of
herbicide)
Continuing to lead invasive plant education in Sitka High School science classes
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Action items from the Collaborative Knotweed Planning Meeting that have not been completed
at time of Plan completion, but should guide future project directions include:
•

•

•

Designing a variety of informational one-pagers tailored to different demographics (e.g.
contractors, gardeners, hikers, Tribal citizens), emphasizing the risks that invasive plants
pose to foods, lands, culture, and infrastructure
Assessing potential for formal management agreements through MOUs between
landowners or establishment of a Community Integrated Species Management Area
(CISMA)
Discussing opportunities for expanding focus to more invasive species

Collaborative Goal 1: Strengthen working group of community partners to address invasive plant
inventory, outreach, and control
Timeframe: ~1 year
Actions:
• Facilitate Planning Group meeting(s) to stay tuned into current goals and projects
• Share PSAs and social media content (Outreach Goal 2) directly with Planning Group
partners to expand the reach
• Invite Planning Group to cohost and participate in outreach events such as presentations
or panel discussions, to better address needs of the community
• Encourage, support, and assist in invasive plant control efforts on land managed by
Planning Group partners
• Publicize or expand reach by invitation to grow Planning Group, especially targeting
grounds-workers (currently underrepresented) such as contractors and property
maintenance staff
• Seek funding opportunities that can fund positions across partner organizations

Reporting New Infestations
One simple way for members of the community to get involved with STA’s invasive plant work is
by reporting invasive plants to the STA Kayaaní Commission Coordinator. Infestations of highpriority invasive plants or unfamiliar plants can be reported for identification, documentation,
and in some cases, treatment recommendations. Concerned citizens may reach out to the
Kayaaní Commission Coordinator. Reports should include the plant’s location (e.g. addresses,
landmarks, or GPS locations), impact, and photo(s). STA is especially interested in invasive plant
infestations that are impacting Tribal citizens and their customary and traditional resources.
Many of these reporting options are promoted within STA’s community outreach materials.
For invasive plant identification, reporting, advising, and questions in Sitka:
•

•

Sienna Reid, Kayaaní Commission Coordinator
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
sienna.reid@sitkatribe-nsn.gov; (907) 747-7111
Jacqueline Foss, Soil, Ecology, Botany Program Manager
Tongass National Forest, USDA Forest Service
jacqueline.foss@usda.gov; (907) 747-4246

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Through the planning process, STA has partnered with many invasive plant experts across the
region to offer the most accurate and helpful information to those wanting to learn more about
invasive plants or perhaps seek help in controlling invasives on their property.
For invasive plant identification, reporting, advising, and questions in Southeast Alaska:
•

E.M. Reed, Regional Invasive Plant Coordinator
Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition
reed@sawcak.org

For treatment and control on state, private, and Tribal lands (statewide):
•

Joni Johnson, Invasive Plant and Pesticide Use Coordinator
Forest Health Protection; State, Private, and Tribal Forestry
USDA Forest Service
joni.m.johnson@usda.gov; (907) 772-5884

For state lands (state-maintained highways, Alaska State Parks):
•

•

Tammy Davis, Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Invasive Species Hotline: 1-877-468-2748
Jess Parks, Statewide Environmental Analyst/Integrated Pest Management
Alaska Department of Transportation

Eradication and Control
As discussed in the prevention section above, as invasive plant infestations establish and spread,
control and removal interventions become more drastic. Each invasive plant species has
different physical characteristics and biological traits to survive and spread, and thus each
species will vary in the methods needed to eradicate them. In invasive species management,
there are three main types of control strategies: biological, mechanical, and chemical control. A
fourth category – cultural control – refers to prevention and mitigation tactics discussed in the
previous section.
During the roadside inventory process, STA staff were involved in treatment planning for
various invasive plant infestations. Treatment plans are recommendations to the landowner or
land manager on how to best eradicate or control invasive plants on their property. Treatments
must be made specific to each individual site and depend on the species present, how well
established the infestation is (how long it has been there), and the goals of the landowner and/or
manager. Additionally, many government landowners have regulations on types of control (such
as restrictions on herbicide application), further complicating management planning and
execution.

Biological
One factor that makes invasive species so difficult to remove is that they often have no natural
predators in the new habitat that they have colonized. Biological control refers to the use of
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natural enemies to suppress an invasive species population. A large risk of biological control is
that the introduced predator, parasite, or pathogen may become an invasive species itself
without ecological checks and balances. At this time, there are no biocontrol agents approved
for use on invasive plants in the state of Alaska (Graziano et al. 2019).

Mechanical
Mechanical control refers to the removal or control of invasive plants through physical means,
such as mowing, cutting, hand-pulling, digging, burning, and shading, among others.
Mechanical treatments are the preferred strategy of STA whenever possible and effective.
In October 2025, STA implemented a mechanical treatment on four Itadori infestations in
partnership with AK DOT&PF, USFS Sitka Ranger District and Sitka School District. The sites
were identified in roadside inventories, determined to be suitable candidates for control through
tarping, and approved for control by AK DOT&PF. The tarps were installed as part of Sitka High
School biology classes’ ecology unit, where students learned the impact of Itadori on their local
ecosystem and participated in the first known active control of invasive knotweed on the statemanaged road.

Figure 6: Students in Sitka High School’s biology class cover an invasive knotweed patch with a tarp along Sawmill
Creek Road. Photo by Naomi Paulson, STA (2025).

The first tarps laid on the ROW marked a huge success for collaborative management of our
shared resources. Students were encouraged to check on the tarps that they installed, which will
be in place for at least the next several growing seasons. Maintaining the tarps will be a
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community-effort, led by STA. Following the installation, the work was featured in a Daily Sitka
Sentinel article, further increasing community awareness, and STA social media posts.
Not all mechanical strategies are effective on all species, so it is critical to ensure that the
methods used will have the intended effect. For example, soil and habitat disturbance created
from mowing or digging up Itadori can inadvertently increase the size and density of the
infestations and spread rhizome fragments to uninfested areas. Therefore, these approaches are
not the preferred method of control and require high levels of caution and diligence. The
effectiveness of these methods are mixed and likely inappropriate on their own for large or wellestablished populations. However, tarping can be effective on small, less-established patches of
invasive knotweed if diligently maintained over multiple growing seasons (several years).
In future control efforts, STA hopes to continue strengthening its partnerships and community
involvement opportunities to grow capacity and area covered. Itadori will remain a priority
species until it is functionally eradicated; however, the Tribe also aims to target more of a
variety of invasive plants in coming years in response to Tribal citizen observations and
concerns.
Control Goal 1: Maintain and expand Itadori tarping control sites
Timeframe: Ongoing
Actions:
• Monitor and maintain tarp sites installed in 2025 through at least 2028
• Post informational signage at tarp sites about the project, including contact information
• Work with AK DOT&PF to install more Itadori tarp sites on the Sitka road system
• Expand tarping sites by
• Use tarp installation as a learning opportunity by involving youth, Planning Group
partners, Tribal citizens, and community members.
• Evaluate effectiveness of the initial four SMC Itadori tarp sites annually, and at the
three-year mark determine if tarping will continue
Control Goal 2: Explore mechanical control options for other high-priority invasive plants
Timeframe: ~1 year
Actions:
• Hold listening sessions or surveys to document impact of high-priority invasives on
Tribal citizens, community members, and culturally important resources
• Research and discuss the locations of high-priority invasive plant species in Sitka (e.g.
Phalaris arundinacea L., Impatiens glandulifera, Hieracium aurantiacum, etc.) and their
removal with Planning Group partners

Chemical
Chemical treatment of invasive plants with herbicides or other compounds is another common
control and eradication method. For infestations occurring on Right-of-Ways herbicides may
only be applied by certified applicators. In other cases, a supervising certified applicator must be
present for others to assist. There are currently no certified applicators in Sitka, which makes
chemical control unrealistic and unsustainable for management efforts at present. There has
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been some interest and initiative by partner agencies and organizations to obtain herbicide
applicator training and certification in the near future.
In chemical control, timing is a key factor. For Itadori, herbicides are most effective when
applied at the end of the growing season. As perennial plants die back in the fall, their energy
stores move from leaves, flowers, and stem back into the roots and rhizomes for winter.
Herbicides applied above ground at this stage get transported into the roots, injuring and/or
killing the plant. UAF Cooperative Extension Service, AK DOT&PF, and USFS Alaska Region
published Best Management Practices: Controlling The Spread of Invasive Plants During Road
Maintenance which describes the most effective herbicides and application methods (when
mechanical removal is not practical) for a variety of invasive plants found in Alaska.
Chemical treatment has not been and will not be implemented by STA due to concerns about the
impact on the surrounding environment; however, STA acknowledges that under severe
circumstances chemical control can be the most effective strategy for invasive plant removal. At
the core of STA’s management approach is a strong desire to protect native environments,
organisms, and tribal citizens’ access to our traditional lands and resources.
If community partners decide to move forward with chemical control of invasive plants, STA
will recommend and assist with implementing alternative methods (mechanical if possible). If all
other options have been exhausted and it is determined that chemical treatment will be the only
effective technique for invasive plant removal at a specific site, STA urges those implementing
the chemical treatment to move forward with extreme caution, carefully following all label
instructions. At minimum, we ask on behalf of our tribal citizens for full transparency about the
chemicals used, application methods, and plans to minimize impact on non-target species. It is
critical to present adequate notice and signage on-site of herbicide use to maintain a respectful
and safe relationship with the citizens of Sitka.

Conclusion
STA is interested in continuing to lead invasive plant inventory, prevention, and control work in
Sheet’ká. The active management of Itadori has been a powerful learning tool to develop STA’s
ability to manage invasive plants in Sitka. Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned in the
planning process is that management is not possible without the support and collaboration of
our many partners. STA will continue to maintain and grow these relationships for the
maximum benefit of our tribal citizens and the protection of our lands, waters, natural
resources, and cultural heritage for future generations.
A simple budget for one year of Invasive Plant Management Plan implementation is below:
Implementation Needs

Cost estimate (1 year):

Personnel
Kayaaní Commission Coordinator (25%) - wages
Kayaaní Commission Coordinator - fringe
Travel

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$20,059.95
$1,735.19

Conference attendance (e.g. Alaska Invasive Species
Workshop) for KCC and Commissioner

$2,500.00

Supplies
Office supplies

$500.00

Program supplies (󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼󹀼

$1,000.00

Indirect Costs
STA Indirect (49.06% for 2026)

$12,655.09

Grand Total

$38,450.23

While limited funding has been secured for implementation over the next five years (2026-2031),
it falls short of meeting project needs in terms of staff time and supply needs. STA staff and
Kayaaní Commission will continue to search for funding sources to support invasive plant work,
ensuring the Invasive Plant Management Plan may be implemented for years to come.

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STA Invasive Plant Management Plan

References
Alaska Center for Conservation Science. 2024. “Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse
Database.” University of Alaska Anchorage. https://akepic.accs.axds.co.
Borneman, Elizabeth. 2022. Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan. Sitka Tribe of
Alaska.
Graziano, Gino, Steven Seefeldt, and Lydia Clayton. 2019. Best Management Practices: Controlling
the Spread of Invasive Plants during Road Maintenance. UAF Cooperative Extension Service;
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities; U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region.
https://www.uaf.edu/ces/publications/database/agriculture-livestock/best-managementpractices.php.
Klein, Helen. 2011. “Fallopia Japonica.” University of Alaska Anchorage, February 7.
http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu.
Lamb, Melinda, and Michael Shephard. 2007. A Snapshot of Spread: Locations of Invasive Plants in
Southeast Alaska. U.S. Forest Service.
Pohl, Catherine, and Koren Bosworth. 2008. Non-Native Plant Inventory of the Sitka/Hoonah Area:
Summary of 2007 Roadside Surveys on Baranof, Chichagof, and Kruzof Islands, SE Alaska. U.S.
Forest Service.
Rapp, Whitney. 2006. Exotic Plant Management in Sitka National Historical Park Sitka, Alaska
Summer 2006 Field Season Report. U.S. National Park Service.
Sitka Tribe of Alaska. 2021. Sitka Tribe of Alaska Constitution. https://sitkatribe.org/ourgovernment/governance-documents/.
Slowik, Jozef, Jasmine Shaw, and Gino Graziano. 2020. Assessment of Potential Knotweed
Biocontrol Sites in Southeast Alaska, 17-21 August 2020. UAF Cooperative Extension Service.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. n.d. “Polygonum Cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.”
PLANTS Database. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://plants.usda.gov/plantprofile/POCU6.
Valverde, Kimberly, and Brian Maupin. 2019. Invasive Plants Management Plan for Sitka
(Unpublished draft). Southeast Soil & Water Conservation District.
Wilson, Carl N. 1965. Grass Seeding for Erosion Control in Southeast Alaska. U.S. Forest Service.
Winter, Genelle. 2022. Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Management Plan, Environmental
Assessment on Annette Islands Reserve 2017-2022. Metlakatla Indian Community.

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Appendix A: Priority Invasive Plant Species for Inventory and Control Efforts
Species

AKEPIC Invasiveness
Ranking

Common Name

Native Lookalikes

red = 1st priority
yellow = 2nd priority

Impacted Ecosystem

Fallopia japonica

itadori, Japanese knotweed

87/100

moist habitats, waste areas,
roadsides, old homesites,
neglected gardens

Phalaris arundinacea L.

reed canary grass

83/100

streambanks, wet meadows

Impatiens glandulifera

ornamental jewelweed

82/100

western touch-me-not
(Impatiens noli-tangere)

Riparian zone, wetlands,
beach meadows, neglected
gardens

orange agoseris (Agoseris
aurantiaca)

sub-alpine, meadows,
rangelands, pastures, forest
borders, roadsides,
disturbed areas

Hieracium aurantiacum

orange hawkweed

79/100

Cirsium arvense

Canada thistle, creeping thistle

76/100

Vicia cracca

bird vetch

73/100

Sonchus arvensis

field sowthistle

73/100

roadsides, forest edges,
forest openings
giant vetch (Vicia gigantea),
American vetch (Vicia
americana), marsh pea
(Lathyrus palustris), beach
pea (Lathyrus japonicus),
alpine sweetvetch
(Hedysarum alpinum)
Taraxacum ceratophorum, T.
alaskanum, T.
kamtschaticum, T.
phymatocarpum, T.
trigonolobum

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roadsides, forest edges and
openings, thickets

roadsides, disturbed sites,
old home sites, coves and
beaches

Linaria vulgaris

yellow toadflax, butter and eggs

69/100

roadsides, waste places

Cytisus scoparius

Scotch broom, common broom

69/100

urban, roadsides

Geranium robertianum

herb Robert, Robert’s geranium

67/100

roadsides, yards

Leucanthemum vulgare

oxeye daisy

61/100

Tanacetum vulgare

common tansy

60/100

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roadsides, meadows,
clearcuts, disturbed sites
roadsides, ditches, streams,
beach meadows

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Asitka%3A04ca3207e25b1634. Public record. Not legal advice.