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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 Weed Mgmt PlanWEED MANAGEMENT PLAN O\OLSSON ASSOCIATES URSA OPERATING COMPANY, LLC. BATTLEMENT MESA PUD PHASE II Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan Garfield County, Colorado Cover photo: View of habitat conditions near the proposed BMC F location. Prepared for: Ursa Operating Company, LLC. 792 Buckhorn Drive Rifle, Colorado 81650 Prepared by: WestWater Engineering 2516 Foresight Circle #1 Grand Junction, CO 81505 Nicholas Jaramillo, Biologit/Environmental Scientist April 2017 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Description At the request of Ursa Operating Company, LLC. (Ursa), WestWater Engineering (WestWater) has prepared an Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan for the proposed Battlement Mesa PUD Phase II project consisting of three well pads (BMC A, BMC F, BMC L) and associated access roads and pipelines (Figure 1). The project would be located on private lands in Garfield County, Colorado consisting of legal descriptions as follows: BMC A: Section 13, Township 7 South, Range 96 West; Section 18, Township 7 South, Range 95 West. BMC F: Sections 16 and 17, Township 7 South, Range 95 West. BMC L: Section 8, Township 7 South, Range 95 West. The current primary uses of the surrounding area include residential, agricultural, rangeland, natural gas development, and wildlife habitat. 1.2 General Survey Information Pedestrian surveys of the project area were conducted on September 12, 13, and 14, 2016. The survey occurred within the active growth period for most plants in the region. Identification of plant species was aided by using pertinent published field guides (Kershaw et al. 1998, Whitson et al. 2001, CWMA 2013, Weber and Wittmann 2012). Noxious weed locations were recorded with the aid of handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers using NAD83 map datum, with all coordinate locations based on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system in Zone 12. Mapped soil types, as published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), were reviewed to determine the soil types and vegetation characteristics at the project site (NRCS 2016). 2.0 LANDSCAPE SETTING 2.1 Terrain The terrain near the project consists of gently sloping terrain surrounding the town of Battlement Mesa that falls off to the Colorado River corridor. Elevation in the project area ranges from approximately 5,060 to 5,420 feet. 2.2 Vegetation The affected area covers a variety of habitat types consisting of native and disturbed rangelands as well as agricultural areas and a small amount of riparian or wetland communities. Common grasses include annual wheatgrass (Eremopyrum triticeum), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), timothy (Phleum subulatum), and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii). Shrub and woodland communities in the area are dominated by a mixture of basin and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata tridentata and A. t. wyomingensis ) and pinyon juniper (Pinus edulis — Juniperus osteosperma) woodlands with areas of greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus). Areas of riparian and wetland vegetation are dominated by broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), and three -leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata). WestWater Engineering Page 1 of 13 April2017 3.0 NOXIOUS WEEDS 3.1 Introduction to Noxious Weeds Most noxious weed species in Colorado were introduced from outside North America. These plants compete aggressively with native vegetation and tend to spread quickly because the environmental factors that normally control them are absent. Disturbed soils, altered native vegetation communities, and areas with increased soil moisture often create prime conditions for weed infestations. The primary vectors that spread noxious weeds include humans, animals, water, and wind. The Colorado Noxious Weed Act (State of Colorado 2005) requires local governing bodies to develop noxious weed management plans. Both the State of Colorado and Garfield County maintain a list of plants that are considered to be noxious weeds. The State of Colorado noxious weed list segregates noxious weed species based on priority for control: 1. List A species must be eradicated whenever detected. 2. List B species' spread should be halted; may be designated for eradication in some counties. 3. List C species are widespread and the State will assist local jurisdictions which choose to manage those weeds. The Garfield County Weed Advisory Board has compiled a list of 21 plants from the State list considered to be noxious weeds within the county (Garfield County 2013) (Appendix A). The Garfield County Weed Advisory Board has duties to: 1. Develop a noxious weed list; 2. Develop a weed management plan for designated noxious weeds; and, 3. Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that identified landowners submit an integrated weed management plan for their properties (Garfield County 2002). 3.2 Observations Noxious weed species listed by the State of Colorado (2005) detected in or near the project area included bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), cheatgrass (downy brome - Bromus tectorum), chicory (Cichorium intybus), common burdock (Arctium minus), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), Salt cedar (tamarisk — Tamarix ramosissima), Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthanium). Noxious weed locations, except widespread State C List species, are provided in Figures 1 through 4. An ARCGIS shapefile of noxious weed locations is available from WestWater upon request. Several unlisted nuisance weed species that are present in disturbed areas include flixweed (Descurania sophia), kochia (Bassia scoparia), Russian thistle (Salsola spp.), tall tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis). These plants can negatively influence revegetation efforts and cause financial losses due to decreased seeding success and associated costs of replanting. The presence of these plants creates increased competition for resources and can reduce the success of desirable native plant species. 3.3 Integrated Weed Management Control of invasive species is a difficult task and requires intensive on-going control measures. Care must be taken to avoid negatively impacting desirable plant communities and inviting infestation by other pioneer invaders. Weed management is best achieved by employing varied methods over several growing seasons, including inventory (surveys), direct treatments, prevention through best management practices, WestWater Engineering Page 2 of 13 April 2017 monitoring of treatment efficacy, and subsequent detection efforts. Weed management is often limited to controlling existing infestations and prevention of further infestations, rather than eradication, but through effective weed management practices eradication can be possible in small to medium sized weed populations. Assessment of the existence and extent of noxious weeds in an area is essential for the development of an integrated weed management plan. This report provides an initial assessment of the occurrence of noxious weeds for the project area. In order to continue effective management of noxious weeds, further inventory and analysis is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the past treatment strategies, modify the treatment plan as necessary, and detect new infestations early. This would result in more economical and effective treatments. 3.4 Prevention of Noxious Weed Infestations Weed management can be costly, and heavy infestations may exceed the economic threshold for practical treatment. Prevention is an especially valuable and economical strategy for noxious weed management. Several simple practices should be employed to prevent weed infestations. The following practices will prevent infestation and thereby reduce costs associated with noxious weed control: • Prior to delivery to the site, all equipment and vehicles, including maintenance vehicles, should be thoroughly cleaned of soils from previous sites which may be contaminated with noxious weeds. • If working in sites with weed -seed contaminated soil, equipment should be cleaned of potentially seed -bearing soils and vegetative debris at the infested area prior to moving to uncontaminated terrain. • Avoid driving vehicles through areas where weed infestations exist. • Use of weed free materials such as mulch and seed. 3.5 Treatment and Control of Noxious Weed Infestations Bare -ground weed management should be used on proposed developments with recurring vehicle use such as well pads, and selective weed control used within 100 feet around the pads and on linear features such as roadways and pipeline corridors in coordination with the landowner. Treatment methods and timing should be determined by the company and their contracted licensed pesticide applicators. The recommendations provided in this report should be considered when developing treatment plans. General control methods for the species detected in the project area are provided for reference in Table 2. Table 2. General noxious weed control methods for species in the nroiect area. Common Name Scientific Name State Listing Status Type* Control Methods Prevent seed production; deplete energy reserves in Bulbous bluegrass underground bulbs. Apply herbicide from fall to spring Poa bulbosa P to plants not more than 6" tall. Some herbicides can be State C List applied as a pre -emergent treatment in the fall. Tillage in the spring can be effective in some areas. Seed with competitive grasses. WestWater Engineering Page 3 of 13 April 2017 Table 2. General noxious weed control methods for species in the nroiect area. Common Name Scientific Name State Listing Status Type* Control Methods Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare State B List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal whenever plants are in the rosette stage. Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 2" below soil level Canada thistle Cirsium arvense State B List P Prevent seed production; deplete energy reserves in roots. Small infestations should be treated aggressively with herbicides that translocate to the root system. In large infestations, mow three times per growing season, followed by herbicide treatment in the fall. Biological control agents are available but ineffective in populations less than 5 acres in size or in wet areas. Tillage is not effective and will result in denser populations. Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum State C List A Prevent seed production. Apply herbicides in fall and spring in large monocultures where there are few if any desirable grasses. Till when plants are in the seedling stage followed by seeding with native cool -season grasses. Avoid overgrazing. Best management practices are most effective in preventing and controlling infestations. Chicory Cichorium intybus State C List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer. Sever root at least 2" below soil level. Remove seed or flower heads from plants that have bolted. Common burdock Arctium minus State C List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer. Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 2" below soil level. Common mullein Verbascum thapsus State C List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 2" below soil level. Common teasel Dipsacus fullonum State B List B, P Prevent seed production. Hand dig and remove entire root during rosette and bolting stages. Plants near flowering can be cut at ground level and bagged. Apply herbicide in rosette to bolting stages. Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis State B List P Deplete energy reserves in roots. Herbicide treatment when plants are beginning to flower. Biological controls are available and fairly effective for large populations growing in sunny dry conditions. Tillage is not effective and will result in denser populations. WestWater Engineering Page 4 of 13 April 2017 Table 2. General noxious weed control methods for species in the nroiect area. Common Name Scientific Name State Listing Status Type* Control Methods Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale State B List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer. Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 2" below soil level. Musk thistle Carduus nutans State B List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer. Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 2" below soil level. Biological control agents are available but ineffective in populations less than 5 acres in size. Redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium State C List A Prevent seed production. Apply herbicides in the fall or spring when plants are in rosette stage. Hand digging in the rosette stage when soil is moist can be effective for small, isolated populations. Preventing introduction of seeds through clean vehicles and careful management of soil stocks can help reduce introductions. Seeding with competitive grasses and avoiding creation of open, bare areas aids in control. Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens State B List P Prevent seed production, deplete energy reserves in roots. Use an herbicide that translocates to the root system. Apply herbicides in the fall for best results; spring treatment when flowers just start to open is also effective. Repeated mowing to stress plants followed by herbicide treatment in fall may be effective in some areas. Seed with competitive grasses and avoid overgrazing. Russian Olive Elaeagnus angustifolia State B List P Deplete energy reserves in roots. Cut mature trees and treat cut stump immediately with herbicide. Treat stump sprouts for at least 2 years. Mowing of large infestations can be effective; remove all cut material. Salt cedar (Tamarisk) Tamarix ramosissima State B List P Deplete energy reserves in roots. Cut mature trees and treat cut stump immediately with herbicide. Spray bark of smooth -barked immature trees with herbicide. Treat resprouts for at least 2 years. Biological agents available for large infestations Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthanium State B List B Prevent seed production. Herbicide application or mechanical removal when plants are in the rosette stage, spring or summer. Before spraying, remove and bag flower or seed heads from plants that have bolted. Sever root at least 3" below soil level. * Type: A = annual; B = biennial; P = perennial; Bold = Garfield County List WestWater Engineering Page 5of13 April 2017 3.6 Recommended Treatment Strategies The following treatment strategies are presented for reference. It is important to know whether the weed species being managed is an annual, biennial, or perennial to select strategies that effectively control and eliminate the target. Treatment strategies vary depending on plant type, which are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. Herbicides should not always be the first treatment of choice when other methods can be effectively employed. Table 3. Treatment Strategies for Annual and Biennial Noxious Weeds Target: Prevent Seed Production 1. Hand grub (pull), hoe, till, cultivate in rosette stage and before flowering or seed maturity. If flowers or seeds develop, cut and bag seed heads. 2. Cut roots with a spade 2"-3" below soil level. 3. Treat with herbicide in seedling, rosette or bolting stage, before flowering. 4. Mow biennials after bolting stage but before seed set. Mowing annuals will not prevent flowering but can reduce total seed production. (Sirota 2004) Table 4. Treatment Strategies for Perennials Target: Deplete nutrient reserves in root system, prevent seed production 1. Allow plants to expend as much energy from root system as possible. Do not treat when first emerging in spring but allow growth to bud/bloom stage. If seeds develop cut and bag if possible. 2. Herbicide treatment at bud to bloom stage or in the fall (recommended after August 15 when natural precipitation is present). In the fall plants draw nutrients into the roots for winter storage. Herbicides will be drawn down to the roots more efficiently at this time due to translocation of nutrients to roots rather than leaves. If the weed patch has been present for a long period of time another season of seed production is not as important as getting the herbicide into the root system. Spraying in fall (after middle August) will kill the following year's shoots, which are being formed on the roots at this time. 3. Mowing usually is not recommended because the plants will flower anyway, rather, seed production should be reduced. Many studies have shown that mowing perennials and spraying the regrowth is not as effective as spraying without mowing. Effect of mowing is species dependent therefore it is imperative to know the species and its basic biology. Timing of application must be done when biologically appropriate, which is not necessarily convenient. 4. Tillage may or may not be effective or practical. Most perennial roots can sprout from pieces only 0.5 inch — 1.0 inch long. Clean machinery thoroughly before leaving the weed patch. 5. Hand pulling is generally not recommended for perennial species unless you know the plants are seedlings and not established plants. Hand pulling can be effective on small patches but is very labor intensive because it must be done repeatedly. (Sirota 2004) Some weeds, particularly annuals and biennials, can develop resistance to herbicides. The ability to quickly develop immunity to herbicides, especially when they are used incorrectly, makes it imperative to use the proper chemicals at the correct time in the specified concentration according to the product label. Excessive application, either in frequency or concentration, can result in top kill without significantly affecting the root system. Repeated excessive applications may result in resistant phenotypes. WestWater Engineering Page 6 of 13 April2017 3.7 Noxious Weed Management — Best Management Practices Construction: The following practices should be adopted for any construction project to reduce the costs of noxious weed control and aid in prevention efforts. The following practices will help prevent spread of noxious weeds: • Prior to delivery to the site, equipment should be cleaned of soils remaining from previous construction sites which may be contaminated with noxious weeds. • Equipment and material handling should be done on established sites to reduce the area and extent of soil compaction. • In all cases, temporary disturbance should be kept to an absolute minimum. • Top soil, where present, should be segregated from deeper soils and replaced as top soil on the final grade, a process known as live topsoil handling. • If stored longer than one growing season, topsoil stockpiles should be seeded with non-invasive sterile hybrid grasses. • If working in weed infested sites, equipment should be cleaned of potentially seed -bearing soils and vegetative debris prior to moving to uncontaminated terrain. • After construction, disturbed areas outside the footprint of the development should be immediately reseeded with an appropriate seed mix. Herbicides: Many of the listed noxious weed species in Colorado can be controlled with commercially available herbicides. Annual and biennial weeds are best controlled at the pre -bud stage after germination or in the spring of the second year. Selective herbicides are recommended to minimize damage to desirable grass species. It is important that applicators adhere to concentrations specified on herbicide containers. Herbicides generally do not work better at higher concentrations. Herbicide failures are frequently related to high concentrations that result in top kill before the active ingredient can be transported to the roots through the nutrient translocation process. If directed on the herbicide label, a surfactant or other adjuvant should be added to the tank. Grazing: In the event grazing is allowed in the project area, it should be deferred in reclaimed areas until revegetation of desirable species has been successfully established and seeded plants have had the opportunity to reproduce. Monitoring: Areas where noxious weed infestations are identified and treated should be inspected over time to ensure that control methods are working to reduce and suppress the identified infestation. The sites should be monitored until the infestations are eliminated. These inspections can then be used to prioritize future weed control efforts. 3.8 Commercial Applicator Recommendations A certified commercial pesticide applicator licensed in rangeland and/or right-of-way/industrial weed control (depending on site characteristics) is a necessary choice for herbicide control efforts. An applicator has the full range of knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience desired when dealing with tough noxious weeds. In addition, the purchase and use of restricted use herbicides requires a Colorado pesticide applicator license. WestWater Engineering Page 7 of 13 April2017 4.0 REVEGETATION — RECLAMATION Soil Preparation Special soil preparation techniques may be needed as soil compaction may be an issue on the area of the proposed pads that will require interim reclamation. Compaction can reduce water infiltration and also hinder the penetration of the sprouting seed. Practices that will reduce compaction and prepare the seedbed include scarification, tillage, or harrowing (Colorado Natural Areas Program et al. 1998). Soil Amendments The addition of soil amendments in rangeland reclamation projects can sometimes create more optimal growing conditions for non-native or invasive plant species, with which native plants compete poorly (Perry et al. 2010). With proper topsoil handling, the project area soils should revegetate well. If the company determines the use of soil amendments to be beneficial, the type and rate should be based on lab analyses from soil samples collected near the individual reclamation sites. A generic starting point for choosing a fertilizer amendment for this area would be Sustane 4-6-4 which has been used successfully on reclaimed areas nearby. A potentially beneficial alternative method to enhance reclamation success, particularly where there is poor or destroyed topsoil, is the application of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi, mostly of the genus Glomus, are symbiotic with about 80 percent of all vegetation. Endo- mycorrhizal fungi are associated mostly with grasses and forbs and could be helpful in reclamation. In symbiosis, the fungi can increase water and nutrient transfer capacity of the host root system (Barrow and McCaslin 1995). Over-the-counter commercial products are available, and the best products should contain more than one fungi species. Seed Mixture On sites currently being used for agriculture, the landowner may request a specific seed mixture. The recommended seed mix presented in Table 5 is adapted from the Bureau of Land Management's Colorado River Valley Field Office seed menu recommendations (BLM 2012). This seed mix is well suited for pinyon and juniper woodlands and Wyoming big sagebrush shrublands typical of the foothill region of the Colorado River corridor and includes perennial native grasses and forbs that should establish well, protect topsoil, and provide a basis for rehabilitation for the site upon reclamation. Table 5. Pin yon- iuniner woodland and/or Wyoming big sagebrush shrubland. Common Name Scientific Name orm PLS lbs/acre* Plant Both of the Following (15% Each, 30% Total) Bottlebrush Squirreltail Elymus elymoides, Sitanion hystrix VNS Cool Bunch 2.0 Bluebunch Wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata, Agropyron spicatum Secar, P-7, Anatone, Goldar Cool Bunch 2.8 and Two of the Following (20% Each, 40% Total) Thickspike Wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus, Agropyron dasystachyum Critana, Bannock, Schwendimar Cool Sod- forming 3.4 Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus, Agropyron trachycaulum Revenue, Pryor Cool Bunch 3.3 Western Wheatgrass Pascopyrum [Agropyron] smithii Rosana, Arriba Cool Sod - forming 4.8 WestWater Engineering Page 8 of 13 April 2017 Table 5. Pin yon- iuniuer woodland and/or Wvominbig sagebrush shrubland. Common Name Scientific Name Variety Season Form PLS lbs/acre* and Three of the Following (10% Each, 30% Total) Indian Ricegrass Achnatherum [Oryzopsis] hymenoides Paloma, Rimrock Cool Bunch 1.9 Arizona Fescue Festuca arizonica Redondo Cool Bunch 0.5 Galleta Pleuraphis [Hilaria] jamesii Viva florets Warm Bunch/Sod- forming 1.7 Muttongrass Poa fendleriana VNS Cool Bunch 0.3 Sandberg Bluegrass Poa sandbergii, Poa secunda VNS Cool Bunch 0.3 Sand Dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus VNS Warm Bunch 0.1 OPTIONAL: Any combination from the following species may be substituted for up to 10% of the above grasses. Rocky Mountain Beeplant Cleome serrulata VNS Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus VNS Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata VNS Sulfur Flower Eriogonum umbellatum VNS Utah sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale VNS Scarlet Globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea VNS Four -Wing Saltbush Atriplex canescens VNS White Sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana VNS *Based on 60 pure live seeds (PLS) per square foot, drill -seeded. Double this rate (120 PLS per square foot) if broadcast or hydroseeded. Seeding Methods Drill seeding would be the most appropriate and economical method for seeding the majority of the project area. Hydroseeding or hand -broadcast seeding at twice the recommended drill seed rate is recommended for steep slopes or for smaller areas where drill seeding would be impractical or dangerous. Mulching Crimped straw mulch would be the most cost effective and practical method of mulching areas prone to erosion after drill seeding this site. No mulching is recommended for areas that are hydroseeded. Potential detrimental effects of mulching include the introduction of weed species and the establishment of non- native cereal grains. Use of a certified weed -free sterile wheat hybrid would limit these effects. BMPs Excelsior wattles or straw bales at the toe of steep slopes and water discharge points are appropriate to help control water velocity during storm runoff. Terracing slopes exceeding 3:1 will reduce erosion, benefitting topsoil and seed retention and thereby improving revegetation success. WestWater Engineering Page 9 of 13 April2017 5.0 REFERENCES Barrow, J. R., and B. D. McCaslin. 1995. Role of microbes in resource management in arid ecosystems. In: Barrow, J. R., E. D. McArthur, R. E. Sosebee, and Tausch, R. J., comps. 1996. Proceedings: shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment. General Technical Report, INT - GTR -338, Ogden, Utah: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Intermountain Resource Station, 275 pp. BLM. 2012. Revised Revegetation Seed Mix Menus, CRVFO Energy Team. U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado River Valley Field Office. Silt, Colorado. Colorado Natural Areas Program, Colorado State Parks, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. 1998. Native Plant Revegetation Guide for Colorado. Available online: http: //www.parks.state. co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Programs/CNAP/CNAPPublications/Re vegetationGuide/revegetation.pdf. Accessed February 4, 2014 CWMA. 2013. S. Anthony, T. D'Amato, A. Doran, S. Elzinga, J. Powell, I. Schonle, K. Uhing. Noxious Weeds of Colorado, 11th Ed.. Colorado Weed Management Association, Centennial. Garfield County. 2002. Garfield County Vegetation Management and Garfield County Weed Advisory Board. Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan, Resolution #2002-94, October 21. Garfield County. 2013. Vegetation Management Section — Noxious Weed List. Available online: http://www.garfield-county.com/vegetation-management/noxious-weed-list.aspx. Accessed Feburary 4, 2014 Kershaw, L., A. MacKinnon, and J. Pojar. 1998. Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone Pine Publishing, Auburn, Washington. NRCS. 2016. Web Soil Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, URL: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov Perry, L.G., D.M. Blumenthal, T.A. Monaco, M.W. Paschke, and E.F. Redente. 2010. Immobilizing nitrogen to control plan invasion. Oecologia: 163:12-24. Sirota, J. M. 2004. Best management practices for noxious weeds of Mesa County. Colorado State University, Cooperative Extension Tri River Area, Grand Junction, Colorado. URL: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/Weeds/weedmgmt.html State of Colorado. 2005. Rules pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, 35-5-1-119, C.R.S. 2003. Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division, Denver, 78 pp. Weber, W.A., and R.C. Wittmann. 2012. Colorado Flora, Western Slope. Fourth Edition, University Press of Colorado, Boulder. Whitson, T. D. (editor), L. C. Burrill, S. A. Dewey, D. W. Cudney, B. E. Nelson, R. D. Lee and R. Parker. 2001. Weeds of the West — 9th edition. Western Society of Weed Science in cooperation with Cooperative Extension Services, University of Wyoming, Laramie. WestWater Engineering Page 10 of 13 April2017 4 :1* • I • • Legend img Russian knapweed • Bull thistle E Canada thistle Common burdock Common mullein # Common teasel Q Field bindweed ▪ Houndstongue Musk thistle * Russian knapweed Scotch thistle • Tamarisk Q Weeds Survey Area ® Weeds Not Surveyed Access Road - Pipeline - Phase 2 Pipeline n Pad County Road ^M— Streams Figure 1 Ursa Operating Company Battlement Mesa PUD Phase II BMC A Pad Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weeds Management Plan AWestWater Engineering Consulting Engineers & Scientists 0 190 380 570 Feet April 2017 aneous EnvironmentailUrsa Operattng CompanylBattkment Mesa PUD Phase 11\20171GIS\IVN WMP Figure 1 4-4-17.r d 4/4/2017 rbb • :{ tlif° ,t 171 C 16 BMC F Pad C Legend K Russian knapweed Q Weeds Survey Area ■ Bull thistle ® Weeds Not Surveyed • Canada thistle Access Road Common burdock Pipeline 0 Common mullein Phase 2 Pipeline + Common teasel n Pad Field bindweed County Road • Houndstongue ^"uStreams 0 Musk thistle * Russian knapweed ❑ Scotch thistle Tamarisk 21 • Figure 2 Ursa Operating Company Battlement Mesa PUD Phase II BMC F Pad Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weeds Management Plan AWestWater Engineering Consulting Engineers & Scientists 0 290 490 600 Feet April 2017 Map 0 urce, Z: Miscellaneous EnvironmentaillLrsa Operating Company5sattiemenl Mesa PUD Phase Mal 71GIS\IVN WMP Figure 2 4-4-17.mxd 4/42017 rbb F - PARACHUTE A Detail Area w Qo_n ar.ekce viird c? .: ir i,. .- -• rY' Trr1 ..1% ," 4:�'+(,• Legend 0 Common mullein ❑ Musk thistle Q Wteeds Survey Area ® Weeds Not Surveyed Access Road Pipeline Phase 2 Pipeline Pad County Road Streams Figure 3 Ursa Operating Company Battlement Mesa PUD Phase II BMC L Pad Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weeds Management Plan AWestWater Engineering Consulting Engineers & Scientists 0 500 1000 Feet April 2017 Map Source, Z_ Miscellaneous Envi onmentahUrsa Operating Cempany5Ba0tement Mesa PUD Phase EI'20171GIS\IVN WMP Figure 3 4-4-17.mxd 4/42017 rbb Appendix A Garfield County Noxious Weed List Species Common name Species Code Growth Form Life History State Listing Acroptilon re ens p p Russian knapweed ACRE3 Forb Perennial B Aegilops cylindrica Jointed goatgrass AECY Grass Annual B Arctium minus Common (Lesser) burdock ARMI2 Forb Biennial C Cardaria draba Hoary cress, Whitetop CADR Forb Perennial B Carduus acanthoides Spiny plumeless thistle CAAC Forb Biennial / Winter Annual B Carduus nutans Musk (Nodding plumeless) thistle CANU4 Forb Biennial B Centaurea diffusa Diffuse knapweed CEDI3 Forb Perennial B Centaurea maculosa Spotted knapweed CEMA4 Forb Perennial B Centaurea solstitialis Yellow starthistle CESO3 Forb Annual A Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye daisy CHLE80 Forb Perennial B Cichorium intybus Chicory CIIN Forb Perennial C Cirsium arvense Canada thistle CIAR4 Forb Perennial B Cynoglossum officinale Houndstongue, Gypsyflower CYOF Forb Biennial B Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive ELAN Tree Perennial B Euphorbia esula Leafy spurge EUES Forb Perennial B Linaria dalmatica Dalmatian toadflax, broad- leaved LIDA Forb Perennial B Linaria vulgaris Yellow toadflax LIVU2 Forb Perennial B Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife LYSA2 Forb Perennial A Onopordum acanthium Scotch thistle ONAC Forb Biennial B Tamarix parviflora Smallflower tamarisk TAPA4 Tree Perennial B Tamarix ramosissima Salt cedar, Tamarisk TARA Tree Perennial B WestWater Engineering Appendix A October 2016