It is widely held that addressing the riparian invasive plant issue in the United States will require a multi-faceted, collaborative approach across the West that includes: using a watershed approach; starting control projects at the headwaters and working downstream; and working with partners in all levels of government and private landowners. Creating the Coalition was a major step in that direction for the Missouri River headwaters states.
As a coalition of states, the MRWC is able to develop and deliver regional programs efficiently, aggregate state-based data and information sources, and effectively share experience and expertise at the watershed level. By taking a watershed approach to management and pooling limited state resources, the Coalition provides an ideal model for other states to use for regional coordination of invasive species efforts.
From the beginning, Coalition members acknowledged the need to consolidate resources, share information and avoid duplication of efforts in the Missouri River Watershed. The makeup of the MRWC is a demonstration of the strength that can be built by seating local and state agencies, concerned citizens groups, tribal nations, and federal regulatory agencies as collaborative managers, investigators, and decision makers. Further, having many of the highly-invested parties charged with invasive plant management and regulation of river resources represented in the Coalition membership has helped to promote inter-state and regional communication and will streamline projects, research, and outreach efforts at the watershed level. Finally, bringing managers, academics, and policy makers to the table will also ensure that research conducted by the Coalition will have practical management application, and the results of research conducted and management activities undertaken by the Coalition will be shared with other concerned parties throughout the Watershed, and beyond.
The MRWC has steadily grown in partner cooperation and membership over the past few years. At present, the MRWC has more than 115 active members, including federal, state, and local agencies, Tribes, businesses, universities, conservation groups, and private landowners.
MRWC members communicate via the MRWC electronic mailing list (headwaters_tamarisk@listserv.montana.edu), MRWC website, within special workgroups, and at semi-annual meetings, which allow for conducting Coalition business, collaborative project development, the discussion of invasive species issues on a regional level, and for the exchange of management, outreach, and research ideas.
The MRWC has an established and well-used member electronic mailing list of 120 individuals, which is maintained and updated on a weekly basis by the Center for Invasive Plant Management (CIPM). Between semi-annual meetings, the MRWC communicates via this listserv.
The Coalition also has a well maintained website, which is hosted and managed by CIPM. CIPM oversees the posting of data to the site as well as maintaining the links, graphics, and MRWC program information on the site.
On September 15, 2008, Coalition members voted to approve a new Constitution and Bylaws, which formalized their purpose, structure, and leadership roles. Through this action, they also formally established an Executive Committee, which governs the Coalition.
The MRWC Executive Committee supervises the business, programs, and policies approved by the Coalition membership, and appoints members to special workgroups as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Coalition. Authorized representatives from each state and an elected MRWC President and Vice President make up the Executive Committee. The Vice President assumes the duties of the President in his absence.