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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.0 Weed Inventory and Control Plan 20091130SPRING VALLEY RANCH PROJECT GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO WEED INVENTORY AND CONTROL PLAN November 30, 2009 PREPARED FOR: Spring Valley Holdings, LLC. 4000 County Road 115 Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601 PREPARED BY: Gamba & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors 113 Ninth Street — Suite 214 Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601 Phone: (970) 945-2550 Fax: (970) 945-1410 Michael Gamba, P.E. & P.L.S. 28036 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION This report was prepared to meet the requirements of the Condition No. 13 of the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners Preliminary Plan Resolution 2008-56, regarding the requirement that a noxious weed inventory and control plan be included with any final plat application. Spring Valley Ranch PUD is located at the intersection of Garfield County Roads 114 and 115. WEED INVENTORY The Spring Valley Ranch P.U.D., contracted with Outdoor Services of Rifle, Colorado, a licensed and insured weed control company to perform an on-site inspection of the entire Phase 1 site. Outdoor Services was provided with a color map of the areas that are part of Phase 1. Outdoor Services was taken on a tour of the site, and shown the limits on the ground. Outdoor Services made a detailed inspection of the entire site, using ATV's to cover the area, and collected GPS data of all weed infested areas that were found within Phase 1. Then they mapped all weed infested areas on the base maps provided based on the GPS data collected. In some cases, the shape and size of areas with major weed concentrations were mapped, and in other cases, individual weed plants were located. Outdoor Services also prepared a report listing the major areas of weed infestation, and the specific types of weeds found within Phase 1. A total of twelve separate species of noxious weeds were found and identified in Phase 1. For two of those species, only a single plant was found. A copy of that report, and Outdoor Services letter proposal and qualifications are attached. The weed inventory was provided to Gamba and Assoicates, Inc. from which we prepared an AutoCAD drawing showing all of the weed infested areas found by Outdoor Services. A color copy of the Weed Inventory Map is included with the final plat application plan set. WEED CONTROL PLAN Outdoor Services has also prepared a proposed weed control plan to be implemented. A copy of that proposal is also attached hereto. Spring Valley Ranch PUD — Weed Inventory and Control November 30, 2009 Page 2 of 3 EROSION CONTROL, STABILIZATION AND REVEGETATION Construction specifications for erosion control, stabilization and revegetation are provided with the Soil Management Plan, which is included with the final plat submittal documents. All areas disturbed during the construction process are to be treated in accordance with these specifications. CONCLUSION The attached documents show the extent and types of weeds found within the area of Phase 1, Spring Valley Ranch P.U.D., and provide a systematic approach to their control. The erosion control, stabilization and revegetation specifications provide detailed procedures and specifications for insuring that all disturbed areas are properly stabilized and reclaimed. Spring Valley Ranch PUD - Weed Inventory and Control November 30, 2009 Page 3 of 3 Weed Inventory and Mapping Proposal Spring Valley Ranch Outdoor Services will assist Gamba & Associates with the weed inventory and mapping at the Spring Valley Ranch Subdivision at a total cost of $5500 for phase one. Areas to be included in the mapping for this phase are shaded green on the existing conditions map with weed inventory areas dated March 9, 2007. Outdoor Services will prepare a report that will identify what noxious weeds are present and provide GPS points of infestations to Gamba. Large infestations will be drawn on to the maps provided with at Least one GPS point in the center of the patch. Outdoor Services will recommend what herbicides to use for best control of the species of weeds found. We will also provide recommended timing and rates of herbicides to be used for herbicide treatments and how to control the weeds in areas that are revegetated. We will also provide Garfield County with records of our herbicide applications. This is done on developments to provide proof that the developer is controlling the weeds on the property. Outdoor Services is a licensed and insured weed control company that has extensive experience working with governments, non-profit agencies and developments for weed control. We have the time, equipment and manpower necessary to undertake an additional contract of this size. Outdoor Services staff consists of two full time people. This is a small company but through working together for several years we have developed very efficient methods and equipment for weed control. The herbicide application equipment we have includes a large truck mounted unit, with provisions for refilling the ATV's, two six wheel drive ATV's and backpack sprayers. The two six wheel ATV's are used for most of our work. These ATV's have a small bed and carry a spray rig very similar to those normally mounted on trucks. These spray rigs are powered by a separate gas engine and they carry fifty gallons of water. They also have an electric rewind hose reel with 175 feet of hose, and a boom setup to spray 35 feet wide swaths. We have delt with all of the commonly found noxious weeds on the western slope of Colorado as well as the less commonly found species. We have found and treated Absinth Wormwood, Purple Loosetrife, Cypress Spruge, Myrtle Spruge, Leafy Spruge, Teasel and Bouncingbet. We are also always on the look out for the entire list A species as well as the rest of the Colorado listed noxious weeds. Outdoor/Services can provide the herbicide application for Spring Valley Ranch on a time and materials schedule. Labor and equipment rates for 2007 are $ 120 per man hour. We will also provide an estimated cost or suggested annual budget for weed control for 2008. Please don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions. Thank you for your c.nsideration Barry Stahl G�� gape Curb, �� Olltdaar R Rifle Colorado A Se 970-625-1002 970-618-2800 Spring Valley Ranch Weed Inventory 2009 Spring Valley Ranch ranges in elevation from 6900 to 7200 feet in the inventoried area. The ranch is divided by County Road 115 with County Road 119 along part of the southwest boundary. The area between these two county roads is primarily irrigated and dry land hayfields with some wetlands areas and patches of oak brush and sage brush. The area to the north of County Road 115 is primarily oak brush and sage brush with some open meadows. Outdoor Services conducted the site visit for the weed inventory on November 30, 2009. The vegetation present was dormant and some of the areas have been mowed. We have found the following noxious weeds to be present; Canada Thistle, Plumeless Thistle, Musk Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Houndstounge, Burdock, Dalmatian Toadflax (one plant), The most abundant weed species found are Canada Thistle, Plumeless Thistle and Musk Thistle. Canada Thistle was found in most of the dry land hayfields and along the edges of the wetlands areas. Infestations range from lightly infested small patches to 1+ acre patches that are heavily infested. With 75% of a Canada Thistle plant underground it takes persistence to eliminate a Canada Thistle patch. Canada Thistle spreads primarily by root although the buried seeds may remain viable for 20 years. Plumeless Thistle was found throughout this area of the ranch in scattered patches. Most patches are small and light to medium densities. The key to successful management of Plumeless Thistle is to prevent seed production. Plumeless Thistle seeds are viable for 10 years and reproduces by seed. Musk Thistle was also found throughout this area of the ranch in scattered patches. Most patches are less than 50 feet in diameter with moderate densities. The key to managing Musk Thistle is to prevent seed production. Musk Thistle seeds are viable for up to 10 years, therefore these infestations need to be monitored and treated as needed for several years to be eliminated. Scotch Thistle was found in a few patches. The two largest patches are found in the dry land fields south of County Road 115. The goal for managing Scotch Thistle is preventing seed production. Houndstounge was found as single plants along the roadsides and patches found close to areas of oak brush along the edges of clearings. Most patches are less than 30 feet in diameter with 5-50 plants. Houndstoungue has a seed viability of 1-3 years and reproduces by seed. 7950 County Re 309 rifle CO 81650 BBB Burdock is found most heavily along the edge of one field on the south side of County Road 115. Burdock needs to be managed to prevent seed production. Dalmatian Toadflax was found as a single plant at 39 29.799' W, 107 13.718' N. Dalmatian Toadflax is very aggressive and can rapidly spread to native vegetation areas. It needs to be eliminated before it spreads. Spring Valley Ranch has many species of noxious weeds present and it will be very important to manage all of the current infestations as well as monitor the newly developed and revegetated areas to prevent new weed infestations from establishing and let the new vegetation establish a competitive cover. Outdoor Services recommends two herbicide applications per year on an annual basis for the duration of the project. The first application would be in June and the second in September. Herbicides for the June application would be Milestone at 6 oz per acre and Vanquish at 1pt per acre. Herbicides used in the fall application may include combinations of Tordon, Telar, Escort, Milestone, Vanquish or 2-4D depending upon areas and weeds to be treated. 7950 County Rr(309 Rifke CO 81650 970-625-1002 970-618-2800 BBB MEMBER MOUNTAIN STATES OtithsRif' cot San 970-625-1002 eed. Spivv 970-618-2800 Spring Valley Ranch Weed Spraying Budget Outdoor Services recommends two herbicide applications per year. The first application would be in June and the second in September. Herbicides for the June application would be Milestone at 6 oz per acre and Vanquish at 1pt per acre. Herbicides used in the fall application may include combinations of Tordon, Telar, Escort, Milestone, Vanquish or 2-4D depending upon areas to be treated and results of the spring application. The biggest challenge in weed control in developments is to keep the existing weeds from invading and taking over all of the new disturbed areas. Spring Valley Ranch has many species of noxious weeds on site. These weeds are more prevalent in the areas that have already been disturbed than in the non disturbed areas. Spring Valley Ranch has had limited development to this point. Weed control for 2008 should concentrate on the areas that have been disturbed in the past few years. The reseeded areas south of County Road 115 will need spot sprayed. The hayfields on the north side of 115 road have larger areas infested and will need boom sprayed. The boom spray should be limited to the spring application. During the fall application they should just need to be spot sprayed. The roadside areas will need to be sprayed. This will prevent the weeds from invading the brush areas and stop the travel of weed seeds from the vehicle traffic on the roads. The weed control program should be started for the entire ranch to start diminishing the current infestations so that when the other areas are developed there will be fewer new infestations to deal with. Outdoor Services will work on a time and material basis for Spring Valley Ranch. I would recommend a budget of $30,000 for 2008. The weed control would start in the areas that will be developed first and then branch out to the other areas. Treatment in subsequent years may vary in cost depending upon how fast the development process proceeds. The spring application would be about $20,000 and the fall about $10,000. Rates for 2008 will be $120 per man hour for labor and equipment plus chemical. Outdoor Services recommends a small scale application this fall with a cost of about $1500-$2000. This would need to be completed in the first two weeks of October. The areas I would recommend treating this fall would be the wetlands south of County Road 115 and the Diffuse Knapweed and Leafy Spurge patch, the single Absinth Wormwood and the single Dalmatian Toadflax. 7950 County 20309Rifk CO 81650 6 BBB MEMBER cape Cur OY Uthiar�,ifle CoCorado <CC/// )']I� ''j',�1, ll� l Z L Y 970-625-1002 eet[ Spry 970-618-2800 Weed Codes AW Absinth Wormwood B Burdock CT Canada Thistle DK Diffuse Knapweed DT Dalmation Toadflax PT Plumeless Thistle HT Houndstongue LS Leafy Spurge MT Musk Thistle RK Russian Knapweed ST Scotch Thistle YT Yellow Toadflax 7950 County 10 309 !ifk CO 81650 BBB NrR MOUNTAIN STATES