“Invasive species" means a species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction to the ecosystem causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health. Humans, domestic livestock, and non-harmful exotic organisms are not invasive species." -HB 865

The Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee (TISCC) was established by House Bill 865 in the 81st Legislature. Members of this committee include representatives from the following agencies; The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Texas Department of  Agriculture, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Forest Service, and the Texas Water Development Board.  

The committee is administratively attached the State Soil and Water Conservation Board. The committee meets 3-4 times per year in Austin. The goal of the committee is to collectively seek funding opportunities and to facilitate governmental efforts to prevent and manage statewide invasive species. There are opportunities for the creation of Sub-Committees and Advisory Groups under the TISCC.

• Next TISCC Meeting is TBD at the Capitol in Austin, Room TBA

The TISCC Website is http://www.tiscc.texas.gov/

Minutes:

January 27, 2010 Meeting

July 16, 2010 Meeting

September 24, 2010 Meeting

January 10, 2011 Meeting

You can view the Texas Department of Agriculture's Official Noxious and Invasive Species List of Texas .

Texas Parks and Wildlife's maintains the list of Invasive, Prohibited and Exotic Species that are fish, shellfish and aquatic plants.

What are some examples of Invasive Species in Texas?

Giant Salvinia

Giant Salvinia is found in quiet water of lakes and ponds, oxbows, ditches; slow flowing streams and rivers, backwater swamps, marshes and rice fields. The majority of the infestation is located in East Texas.

Rapidly expanding populations can overgrow and replace native plants which create dense surface cover preventing light and atmospheric oxygen from entering the water.  Meanwhile, decomposing material drops to the bottom, greatly consuming dissolved oxygen needed by fish and other aquatic life. Giant Salvinia clogs water intakes interfering with agricultural irrigation and electrical generation. Many infested farm ponds in Texas lie on creeks that drain tributaries heavily depended on for agricultural irrigation.

Information on how to prevent the spread of Giant Salvinia and other Invasive Aquatics: Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!

Check out this humorous TV spot created by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to address this very serious issue.

Feral Hogs

Texas is home to nearly 2 million feral hogs, the largest feral hog population in the U.S.  Their numbers are continuing to increase because of their high reproductive potential and the lack of natural predators.  Feral hogs wreak havoc on property, livestock, crops and pastures across the state and frustrate landowners because of their destructive nature.

Landowners have reported extensive damage to crops, fences, roads, ponds, fields and feed loss.  Texas AgriLife Extension Service estimates that the statewide annual economic damage caused by feral hogs is $51.7 million.  Unless aggressive control measures are undertaken, the feral hog problem is expected to worsen in the years ahead.

The TSSWCB and Texas AgriLife Extension Service put on a Feral Hog Management Workshop on February 23, 2010 in Luling to implement portions of the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan, which is a voluntary and holistic management plan for restoring water quality in this creek as it flows through Caldwell and Hays Counties. This workshop was made possible through the Clean Water Act §319(h) nonpoint source grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Click here to read the press release.

The Plum Creek Watershed Partnership, the TSSWCB and Texas AgriLife Extension Service created an informational brochure about pollution from Feral Hogs in the Plum Creek Watershed. Click here to read/download it (PDF).

Here is the website for the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership - Feral Hog Abatement

Texas AgriLife Extension Service has more information available about Feral Hog Management: http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/

Saltcedar

Saltcedar can quickly become a monoculture along lakes and waterways. A single plant has been reported to transpire over 200 gallons of water per day. In the early morning and evening moisture with high salt content is exuded from the foliage, causing the soil to become saline. Saltcedar can choke waterways and has even dried up entire lakes.

Native riparian species are quickly displaced by saltcedar, which in turn causes displacement of native birds and animals that generally do not feed on the leaves or eat the saltcedar seeds. Saltcedar, even in the seedling stage, will tolerate short-term flooding and can establish away from waterways when seeds are washed in during flooding. Once established the plants can become so thick cattle will not graze the area. (Rodney G. Lym, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences)

Carrizo Cane

Growing up to 20 feet tall, it uses large amounts of water and will crowd out other plant species and affect wildlife. Cane drains precious water from agricultural areas and destroys aquatic habitats. Because it is thick and tall enough to hide a pickup truck, it provides a potentially life-threatening hazard to border patrol officers performing their duty.

  - Chinese Tallow

  - Hydrilla

Latest Invasive Species News

• Lakes Gonzales and Wood Lowered To Freeze Invasive Plants (February 1, 2011)

• No Oink About It, Feral Pig Problem Spreading (February 7, 2011)

• Never-ending battle with feral hogs takes to the air (January 26, 2011)

• Effort by Legislature to stop invasive plants shrivels (January 26, 2011)

• Infected Feral Hogs Found In 2 Local Counties (January 24, 2011)

• Need for water could bring unwanted guest, Zebra Mussels, to Lake Lavon (December 6, 2010)

• Feral-hog control workshop held Nov. 30 in Mt. Pleasant (November 22, 2010)

• TDA Announces Statewide County Challenge to Tackle Costly Feral Hog Program (October 4, 2010)

• Texas Targets Feral Hog Problem (October 5, 2010)

• Invasive Tallowtree Spreading Rapidly Across Gulf Coast (October 6, 2010)

• Rasberry crazy ants confirmed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (September 16, 2010)

• Burning Invasive Juniper Trees Boosts Perennial Grass Recovery (August 27, 2010)

• Boaters and Anglers Urged to Help Curb Spread of Zebra Mussels from Lake Texoma (May 27, 2010)

• Using Remote Sensing to Track Invasive Trees (May 21, 2010)

• Scientists Release Biocontrol for Waterhyacinth (May 18, 2010)

• Texas Launches New Front in War on Invasive Species (April 1, 2010)

• Eliminating Widespread Exotic Invasive Weeds Could Put More Cows on the Pasture (April 28, 2010)

• Ranchers team up with feds to clear cedar, boost water supply (March 9, 2010)

• Feral Hog Numbers Rising (February 15, 2010)