Invasive species billboard-on-wheels gets a facelift, Aug. 4

You will see it at this summer’s Oregon State Fair. It will also be on display at this week’s Deschutes County Fair and the one next week in Crook County. It’s possible you might notice it traveling down the highway­ as a kind of billboard on wheels. The Invasive Species Information Station is the new name given to a new look trailer that is literally a vehicle for outreach and education. “This is something that is certainly attention-getting,” says Tim Butler, manager of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Control Program. “It will help answer the public’s questions about invasive species, their impact on our resources, and what role people can play to be part of the solution and help stop the spread of invasive species.” Used for outreach and education over the past several years, the trailer had an exterior in need of a facelift. It also became increasingly clear that its old name, the Educational Weed Wagon, was becoming a bit misunderstood. With the legalization of marijuana in Oregon, the old trailer and its name generated some odd questions and confusion about its purpose. Deschutes County Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor Jon Valley says the new name is helpful. “The one comment we are no longer getting about the trailer is, ‘Weed wagon! Got any free samples?’” The trailer is the property of Deschutes County but it is being made available free of charge to other counties and agencies around the state. Since invasive species are a big problem all across Oregon, the information station will have great value no matter where it goes. “It’s designed for statewide invasive species educational opportunities and loaded with materials,” says Valley. Valley and ODA’s Butler sat down for lunch last fall to discuss the trailer’s future. It needed repainting and the county commissioners suggested selecting a new name since Oregon’s marijuana laws had changed. Both men agreed that the trailer should encompass all invasive species, not just noxious weeds, and be relevant to all 36 counties of the state. A small team was formed to make it happen. The next step was to come up an exterior design that would catch attention and invite people into the trailer. Through the graphic design efforts of ODA’s Liz Beeles, a colorful display now wraps the trailer. A picturesque view of the Cascades and Smith Rock, a Central Oregon geologic icon, is the centerpiece. The new name, Invasive Species Education Station, makes the trailer’s function clear to the public. Examples of key invasive species are featured on the sides of the trailer, including Asian gypsy moth, yellow starthistle, zebra mussel, and spotted knapweed. The invasive species hotline number is displayed. Any motorists following the trailer will also see a message targeted to outdoor recreationists. “On the back of the trailer is the theme ‘Come clean, leave clean’ which reminds people of the role they can play in keeping our natural resources safe from invasive species,” says Tristen Berg, a grant coordinator and special projects facilitator for ODA’s Noxious Weed Program. Berg, Valley, Butler, Beeles, and ODA’s Beth Myers-Shenai formed the team that created the new exterior. Those exterior messages are reinforced by what is inside the trailer. “Step inside, and you get more information,” says Berg. “There are brochures, posters, and displays to help people identify noxious weeds and other invasive species. Outside the trailer, we will have interactive games for kids to teach them how to recreate safely without spreading noxious weeds in our state.” Those kinds of messages aren’t just aimed at youngsters. Adults will see visual tips– clean your hiking boots so as to not spread weed seeds, make sure you check your bike tires for the same reason, transport and use clean firewood. All the static messaging will be fortified by live bodies– experts from ODA or county weed programs are eager to have conversations with the public and to answer questions. “People are noticing the trailer more with the new graphics and it seems to draw them in to find out what’s inside,” says Valley. The new look trailer has been to three events prior to this week– the Central Oregon Home and Garden Show, a local weed pull event in La Pine, and the Bend Summer Fest downtown. Later this month, ODA will bring the trailer to Salem for the State Fair, where the Invasive Species Education Station will get its biggest reception yet. “This kind of outreach is something we continue to do to educate the public about the importance of dealing with invasive species as a whole and the impact they have on Oregon’s natural resources and economy,” says Butler. “The trailer is another vehicle to accomplish that. The trailer has received a lot of attention over the years, allowing us the opportunity to talk with many Oregonians about invasive noxious weeds and insects. The retooled and fresh look trailer acts as a rolling billboard and will get more people’s attention, which is good.” In the US, it’s estimated that invasive species are responsible for more than $137 billion each year in crop damage, fisheries reduction, forest health impacts, and land management. In Oregon, an economic impact study shows that 25 of Oregon’s most significant invasive weeds cause an estimated annual loss of about $83.5 million to the state’s economy– a figure that could be well over a billion dollars without control efforts by state, county, and federal weed programs. Exotic insect pests and aquatic species only add to the costs, which is why public outreach and education is so important. “Overall, the public is getting tuned in to the issue and has a better understanding of invasive species issues as a whole,” says Butler. “But our efforts need to take place 12 months a year and in all areas of the state.” Now agencies and organizations can literally drive home the message throughout Oregon by putting the Invasive Species Information Station in action.