2026 Columbia Gorge Invasive Species and Pest Workshop

Thank you, everyone!

On February 26th the Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) hosted its 15th Annual Columbia Gorge Invasive Species and Exotic Pest Workshop! And what a workshop it was! Together we learned about the latest updates to Washington and Oregon listings, learned new techniques, and had loads of fun. Thank you to all of the presenters and attendees that made this event possible! 

AGENDA

2026 Invasive Species and Exotic Pest Workshop

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:00am – 4:00pm

Hegewald Center

710 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA, 98648

9:00 – 9:10 Welcome

Hannah Brause, WSU Extension

9:10 – 9:20 Columbia Gorge CWMA Update

Courtney Comer, Columbia Gorge CWMA

9:20 – 9:30 Invasives Hotline Update

Jacob Rose, Portland State University

9:30 – 10:00 Protecting the Sacred Wiwnu from a new threat – the Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)

Ilene Goudy, Confederated Bands of the Yakama Nation

10:00 – 10:15 Morning Break

10:15 – 10:45 State Noxious Weed Board Updates

Mary Burrows, Washington State NWCB, Troy Abercrombie, ODA

Troy Abercrombie, ODA

10:45 – 11:15 The Story of Palmer Amaranth’s Discovery as a Bird Seed Contaminant 

Thurman Johnson, Spokane County NWCB

11:15 – 11:45 Mental Health in Weed Control

Susan Bird, Yakima County NWCB

11:45-12:00 Lightning Talks-Round 1

  1. Tongs of Death – Ethan Coggins, DNR
  2. Identification of Celastrus orbiculatus – Abigail Luiten, WA DNR
  3. Yellow Floating Heart EDRR in Hood River – Beth Myers-Shenai, ODA

12:00 – 1:30 Break for Lunch

1:30 – 2:00 Invasive Species Quiz

Kimberly Quayle, Washington DNR

2:00 – 2:15 Lightning Talks- Round 2

  1. Lower Deschutes CWMA – Dean Dark, Lower Deschutes CWMA Coordinator
  2. Stinkwort – Courtney Comer, Skamania County Noxious Weed Control Program
  3. False Brome in the Upper Hood River Valley – Matt Jordan, Hood River County

2:15 – 2:45 Introducing Orobanche cumana, Sunflower Broomrape, 1st find in North America

Susan Bird, Yakima County NWCB

2:45 – 3:15 Afternoon Break

3:15 – 3:45 New and Exciting Biocontrol Agents Coming to a Weed Near You

Jenn Andreas, WSU

3:45 – 4:00 Closing Remarks

Hannah Brause, WSU Extension

Detailed Agenda

For a more detailed agenda, including summaries of presentations, download the PDF here!

Event Pictures!