How To Start A Project

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How To Start A Project
Whitehall Project Teachers Todd Breitenfeldt
And Mike Battaiola
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Subject of Talk

• Overview of Whitehall Project
• Strategies to start
• Replicable
• Other Similar Programs
• Benefits

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Projects Do Not Appear Out Of No Where!
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Overview of Whitehall/WHE

• Start Small, K.I.S!
• knapweed insectary
• Bio-agent collection
• Bio-agent release/augmentation
• Release site location, monitoring mapping
• Land owner relations are GREAT!
• Public collection days are FUN!
• Education teachers landowners

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Start Small, K.I.S.!

• Pick 2-3 weeds, 5-6 bio-agents of focus
• Choose area of focus, plan budget
• Locate teachers/groups in it for the long term
• One person in charge
• Be patient, plan for expansion.

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Be Patient!
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Yearly Cycle
-Winter Talk to students about job next summer,
plan of work, MWCA Annual Meeting, present
grants -Spring Hire students, order needed
supplies, begin articles -Late Spring Train
students, clean up insectaries, transplant
replacement plants, plan release site monitoring
schedule -Early Summer finish insectaries, call
all land owners, begin monitoring at correct
times for bio-agents, begin field
collections -Summer Maintain insectaries,
continue monitoring, collections, hold public
collection days, plan for future funding/write
grants -Mid/Late Summer Make sure insectary
flashing/netting is secure, begin Cyphocleonus
collections, update records -Early Fall students
collect weevils -Fall winterize equipment and
insectaries, turn in grants..sit back and smile
at a job well done!
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Too Many Cooks
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Insectary mass rear knapweed insects

• Produce 1000-3000 Cyphocleonus achates weevils
  and 500-1,600 Agapeta zoegana moths each year
• Insectary gardens on school grounds great ed.
  opportunity students collect, help maintain
  tours
• Quite labor intensive school, crews
• Our problem
  we
  are out of pullable knapweed
  in So. Jefferson Co.!

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Whitehall Insectary Views
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Other Insectaries
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Bio-Agent Collection

• Different method for each bio-agent know the
  label!
• Sweep nets, hand pick, vac., accelerator,
  aspirator or pump
• Contact all landowners w/ bio-release sites
  educate monitor
• GPS map and monitor bio-release sites
• Hold public bio-agent collection (net) days.

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Pay Attention to the weather and timing of insect
populations
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Collection Views
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Bio-Agent Release/Augmentation

• Plan release sites
• Release at proper time and in good habitat
• Augment till well established.

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Release Site Location, Mapping Monitoring
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Land Owners Relations -Are GREAT!!!

• Each year call every land owner and ask them
  what they want us to do nothing, monitor,
  redistribute, augment and/or public collection
  day
• Great way to educate about IPM!
• Land Owners come to expect this service
• Good PR for County, School and all weed fighters
• Find and utilize useful bursts of insects!

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Public Collection Days Are FUN!!

• Land owners have ownership
• Great education opportunity
• PR Value!

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Education

• Teachers educating students about weeds
• Whitehall Project Summer Classes
• Noxious Weed Curriculum
• Educate local land owners