Six informational meetings to be held statewide from March 18-27

PHOENIX – The Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council is hosting a series of meetings from March 18-27 to inform the public about invasive species management activities and seek input on the Comprehensive Statewide Invasive Species Management Plan.

The plan was developed by the 21-member council as a coordinated approach to preventing or controlling the spread of invasive species and their impacts in Arizona. A downloadable version is located at www.governor.state.az.us/AIS.

Public meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, March 18 – Yuma, Yuma Cooperative Extension, 2200 W. 28th St., Suite 102.
• Wednesday, March 19 – Tucson, University of Arizona Controlled Environment AG Complex, 1951 E. Roger Road.
• Thursday, March 20 – Phoenix, Arizona State Fairgrounds, Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Building, 1800 W. McDowell Road.
• Tuesday, March 25 – Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
• Wednesday, March 26 – Flagstaff, East Flagstaff Community Library, 3000 N. 4th St.
• Thursday, March 27 – Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.

For those who can’t attend one of the meetings, input can also be submitted online at www.governor.state.az.us/AIS by clicking on the “Submit Electronic Comments” link or by mail to Brian McGrew, Plant Services Division, Arizona Department of Agriculture, 1688 W. Adams, Phoenix, 85007.

The Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council was established in 2005 by executive order of Governor Janet Napolitano. It is under the joint leadership of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Council members include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Agriculture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona State Parks, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona State University, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Crop Protection Association, Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association, Arizona Nurserymen’s Association, Arizona Mining Association, Southwest Vegetation Management Association, Navajo Nation, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, USDA Forest Service, SRP, and PetSmart.