HOMER,
Mayor
RESOLUTION 10-24
A RESOLUTION OF THE
WHEREAS, Invasive species have proven worldwide to be a threat to natural resources and the local environment; and
WHEREAS, Plants, animals, and fish introduced into an environment devoid of their natural predators can irreversibly destroy a local ecosystem such as Kachemak Bay, thereby impacting the natural environment and such industries as mariculture, tourism, and the commercial and sport fisheries upon which the local economy of Homer depends upon; and
WHEREAS, Alaska suffers the effects of invasive Atlantic salmon, northern pike, reed canary grass, Japanese knotweed, Canadian thistle, orange hawkweed, spotted knapweed and garlic mustard among others; and
WHEREAS, Managing invasive species when they are in small incipient populations is the most cost effective way to prevent damage to resources and the economy; and
WHEREAS, Alaska is not isolated as it receives significant amounts of air, sea, and land traffic, all of which are potential means of transporting invasive species; and
WHEREAS, Other states have established Invasive Species Councils to provide a cooperative, comprehensive, and integrated means of communicating, prioritizing, planning, and coordinating efforts with the federal government and stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, States with invasive species councils are likely to be more successful in securing federal funding; and
WHEREAS, Money spent on a council today will pay dividends in the future by preventing the introduction and spread of foreign weeds, pests, and aquatic invaders.
PASSED
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JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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JO JOHNSON,
Fiscal Note: N/A