HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.08 Noxious Weed ReportGrass Mesa Telecommunication Tower July, 2017
Garfield County Limited Impact Review
Noxious Weed Report
Grass Mesa Telecommunications Tower
Garfield County, Colorado
Noxious Weed Survey Report
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1
2.0 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................................ 1
3.0 Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Policies ............................................................................... 1
4.0 Site Characteristics .................................................................................................................... 2
4.1 Topography ............................................................................................................................ 2
4.2 Noxious Weeds ...................................................................................................................... 2
5.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 2
6.0 References ................................................................................................................................ 3
Appendix A – Noxious Weed Survey Map
Appendix B – Colorado Noxious Weed List
Appendix C – Garfield County Noxious Weed List
Noxious Weed Survey Report
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1.0 Introduction
HRL Compliance Solutions, Inc. (HRL) was contracted by Mountain Radio Systems (MRS) on behalf
of David Hatch, the private landowner, to conduct a noxious weed survey and prepare a survey
report to be included in the Grass Mesa Tower LIR application packet. The survey was conducted
on a portion of the 35-acre property located at 1885 County Road 319, Rifle, Colorado (Township
6 South, Range 93 West, in the NW¼SW¼ of Section 23). The Noxious Weed Survey Map in
Appendix A depicts the location of the subject property and the area surveyed.
This document reports the findings of the desktop and field assessments conducted on April 24,
25, and 26 of 2017, and provides descriptions of Colorado and Garfield County listed noxious
weeds observed within the survey area.
2.0 Survey Methods
A preliminary desktop review of the project area was conducted using satellite imagery and
topographical maps to familiarize HRL’s environmental scientists with the project area and to
help determine the potential presence of noxious weed species. The desktop survey included
review of state and County noxious weed species lists provided by the Colorado Department of
Agriculture (CDA) and Garfield County Vegetation Management. Review of plant species was
assisted through occurrence records collected by SEINet Specimen Records (SEINet).
On April 26, HRL environmental scientists Brackett Mays and Kaiti Dillion collected a site-specific
inventory of noxious weed species and their extents within the project’s boundaries. Additionally,
a list of all vascular plant species observed onsite was compiled. Field data was collected with the
aid of a Trimble GeoXT GPS unit utilizing NAD83 map datum, with all coordinate locations based
on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system in Zone 13.
3.0 Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Policies
The CDA has officially designated 82 plant species as noxious, which are separated into three (3)
lists. List A species are noxious weed species that are not common to the state and are subject
to eradication wherever detected to protect neighboring lands and the state as a whole. List B
species are noxious weed species with discrete statewide distributions, for which the
Commissioner, in consultation with the state noxious weed advisory committee, local
governments, and other interested parties, develops and implements state noxious weed
management plans to stop the continued spread of the species. List C species are generally
widespread and well-established species for which control is recommended but not required by
the state. State noxious weed management plans support local governing bodies to provide
education, research, and biological control resources to jurisdictions that choose to require
management to List C species. An additional watch list was created for species that have been
determined to pose a potential threat to the agricultural and environmental values of the state.
Noxious Weed Survey Report
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The watch list is provided for advisory and educational purposes only. Appendix B contains the
Colorado Noxious Weed List (including the watch list), effective March 31, 2017.
The Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan was adopted by the Board of County
Commissioners on May 1, 2000. The Garfield County Weed Advisory Board has specified certain
plants as noxious weeds of concern in Garfield County. The purpose of the plan is to provide
guidelines for managing designated noxious weeds which represent a threat to the economic,
environmental, and agricultural value of lands in Garfield County. Refer to Appendix C for the
Garfield County Designated Noxious Weed List. The Garfield County Noxious Weed Management
Plan can be accessed at: https://www.garfield-county.com/vegetation-management/
documents/weed_management_plan_adopted_.pdf.
4.0 Site Characteristics
4.1 Topography
The proposed tower location is positioned at the latitude and longitude of 39.511671811°N, -
107.749799813°W and at an elevation of 6,175 feet above mean sea level (AMSL). The western
half of the subject property is comprised of relatively flat, dry, non-irrigated grasslands sitting
atop Grass Mesa. The eastern and southern portions of the survey area in the property are
comprised of rocky, moderate slopes supporting a pinyon pine-juniper woodland ecotype. For
further information on the site’s natural resources, please refer to the Biological Assessment
Report completed for the survey area on the subject property.
4.2 Noxious Weeds
The field survey took place prior to the predominate flowering period for many plant species in
the area. Detection and identification remained effective due to identification of plant species
based on active and remnant growth stages, basal rosettes, and residual flower remains. Two (2)
noxious weed species were identified within the survey area: Downy brome (Bromus tectorum)
and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). The small patches of noxious weeds were observed in low
densities solely within the dry, non-irrigated grassland vegetation community on the
northwestern portion of the property. The noxious weed locations were concentrated along the
roadsides, roadside ditches, and within the low-lying swale on the northwest side of the property.
Refer to the Noxious Weed Survey Map in Appendix A for noxious weed locations.
5.0 Conclusion
The small patches of noxious weeds observed within the survey area were insignificant, with low
densities of the two noxious species found. Based on the small footprint needed for the project
and the minimal amount of temporary land disturbance, noxious weed species introduction and
propogation is expected to be minimal. Noxious weed control will be managed by the private
landowner and noxious weeds should be controlled using an integrated approach according to
Garfield County’s Noxious Weed Management Plan.
Noxious Weed Survey Report
Grass Mesa Telecommunications Tower
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6.0 References
CDA. 2017. Colorado Department of Agriculture. Noxious Weed Species.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservaiton/noxious-weed-species.
Accessed April 21, 2017.
Garfield County Vegetation Management. 2017. Noxious Weed List.
https://garfield-county.com/vegetation-management/noxious-weed-list.aspx
Accessed April 21, 2017.
Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan. 2000. https://www.garfield-county.com/
vegetation-management/documents/weed_management_plan_adopted_.pdf.
Accessed June 27, 2017.
"SEINet” - Arizona Chapter Collections. <http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/list.php>.
Accessed April 21, 2017.
Appendix A – Noxious Weed Survey Map
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Author: E. Fought
Revision: 2
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Date: 7/13/2017
0 1 2Miles#*±
0 100 200Feet
N o x i o u s W e e d N o x i o u s W e e d S u r v e y M a pSurvey M a p
G r a s s M e s aGrass M e s aTowerTower
39.511671 -107.749799Section 23, Township 6 South, Range 93 West
USGS Quads:and RifleSilt
Quick Silver Way
#*44'25'
40'
56'
36'
Pole
Diagram not to scale
Quick Silver Way
Map Features
Noxious Weeds
Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)
Survey Area
Parcel Boundary
40' x 36' Tower Site
#*160' Tower
8' x 20' Building
Driveway Boundary
Overhead Powerline
Local Road
Appendix B – Colorado Noxious Weed List
Colorado Noxious Weeds (including Watch List), effective March 31, 2017
List A Species (25)
Common Scientific
African rue (Peganum harmala)
Bohemian knotweed (Polygonum x bohemicum)
Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum)
Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris)
Cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
Dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Elongated mustard (Brassica elongata)
Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
Giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense)
Giant reed (Arundo donax)
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Hairy willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Meadow knapweed (Centaurea nigrescens)
Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopis)
Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput‐medusae)
Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites)
Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)
Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)
Squarrose knapweed (Centaurea virgata)
Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
List B Species (40)
Common Scientific
Absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Bouncingbet (Saponaria officinalis)
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Chinese clematis (Clematis orientalis)
Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis)
Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
Dalmatian toadflax, broad-leaved (Linaria dalmatica)
Dalmatian toadflax, narrow-leaved (Linaria genistifolia)
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)
List B Species (40) continued
Common Scientific
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Hoary cress (Cardaria draba)
Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)
Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
Mayweed chamomile (Anthemis cotula)
Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria)
Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)
Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides)
Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens)
Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis, T. parviflora, and T. ramosissima)
Scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum perforata)
Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium, O. tauricum)
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
Spotted x diffuse knapweed hybrid (Centaurea x psammogena = C. stoebe x C. diffusa)
Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
Wild caraway (Carum carvi)
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
Yellow x Dalmatian toadflax hybrid (Linaria vulgaris x L. dalmatica)
List C Species (16)
Common Scientific
Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Common burdock (Arctium minus)
Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)
Downy brome (Bromus tectorum)
Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus)
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)
Quackgrass (Elymus repens)
Redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium)
Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
Wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceum)
Watch List Species (24)
Common Scientific
Asian mustard (Brassica tournefortii)
Baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Bathurst burr, Spiney cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum)
Brazilian egeria, Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
Common bugloss (Anchusa officinalis)
Common reed (Phragmites australis)
Garden loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris)
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus)
Hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana L.)
Japanese blood grass/cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)
Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum)
Onionweed (Asphodelus fistulosus)
Purple pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata)
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
Swainsonpea (Sphaerophysa salsula)
Syrian beancaper (Zygophyllum fabago)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
White bryony (Bryonia alba)
Woolly distaff thistle (Carthamus lanatus)
Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Yellow floatingheart (Nymphoides peltata)
Appendix C – Garfield County Noxious Weed List
GARFIELD COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED LIST
Common name Scientific name
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula
Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens
Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitalis
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides
Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale
Common burdock Arctium minus
Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense
Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica
Yellow toadflax Linaria vulgaris
Hoary cress Cardaria draba
Saltcedar Tamarix parviflora
Saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima
Oxeye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucantheum
Jointed Goatgrass Aegilops cylindrica
Chicory Cichorium intybus
Musk thistle Carduus nutans
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia