Collaborative Network Activities & Relationships

In order to combat invasive species, former Governor Ed Rendell, in 2004 established the Governor’s Invasive Species Council. The Council is chaired by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and individuals representing numerous organizations, local government, environmental advocacy, and other industries serve on the Council.

The Council provides a forum for members to meet with a common purpose of identifying invasive species of concern that currently or could potentially threaten this Commonwealth’s natural and agricultural resources and the industries they support. The Council advises the Governor about threats, direct the development and implementation of a State invasive species management plan, provide guidance on prevention, control and rapid response initiatives, and facilitate coordination among Federal, regional, State and local efforts, and other duties.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is a member of Council and works with many partners in the water and on the land to identify, survey, and control invasive species. Outreach specialists also provide training for resource managers on invasive species identification and remediation, develop educational tools and resources for a variety of audiences, and host in person and virtual events, workshops, and presentations.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant staff participate in two panels of the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANS) – the Great Lakes Panel and the Mid-Atlantic Panel. Director, Sarah Whitney, chaired the Mid-Atlantic panel from 2011-2014. The ANS Task Force is co-chaired by NOAA and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

These panels include representatives from Sea Grant program, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to share management and research activities on aquatic invasive species issues. Sea Grant programs from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois-Indiana, Ohio, New YOrk, Maryland, Delawre, and North Carolina also participate in these panels.

For more than ten years, staff have worked to bring meaningful watershed education expereinces to teachers and students in both the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watersheds with funding from the NOAA B-WET program.

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Chester City Shade Tree Commission
Chester City Parks and Open Space Master Plan Committee, Advisor
Chester Creek Trail Planning Commmitte, Member
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Pennsylvania Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, Member
Pennsylvania Coastal Resources Management Program, Lake Erie Advisory Board, Assistant Chair
Pennsylvania Department of Enviornmental Protection Water Resources Advisory Committee, Member
Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council, Member
Pennsylvania Meaningful Watershed Education Task Force, Member
Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center External Advisory Committee, Member

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