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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReclamation, Revegetaion and Noxious Weed Managment PlanCAERUS OPERATING, LLC NPM M33 496 PIPELINE RECLAMATION, REVEGETATION, AND NOXIOUS WEED MANAGEMENT PLÄN Cover photo: View of the proposed pipeline alignment. Prepared for: Caerus Operatingo LLC Parachute, CO Prepared by: WestWater Engineering, Inc. 2516 Foresight Cr. #1 Grand Junction, CO 81505 fi*rfur Amie Wilsey, Principal Environmental ScientislBiologist July 2023 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Description At the request of Caerus Operating, LLC (Caerus), WestWater Engineering (WestWater) has prepared this reclamation, revegetation, and noxious weed management plan for the proposed NPM M33 496 pipeline project that would be located on privately owned lands in Garfield County, Colorado. This document reports the results and analysis of the findings that are pertinent to Sections 9-102-L and9-102- M of the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code (as amended) as it applies to this project. Caerus proposes to construct a new pipeline in Sections 33 and 34, Township 4 South, Range 96 West (Figure l). This reclamation, revegetation, and noxious weed management plan applies to the proposed pipeline project. The current land uses include rangeland and wildlife habitat. 1.2 General Survey Information Pedestrian surveys of the project area were conducted by WestliVater biologists on June 9,2023 along the proposed pipeline alignment and within 30 meters of the project (Figure l). Identification of plant species was aided by using pertinent published field guides (Ackerfield 2015, Kershaw et al. 1998, Whitson et al. 2001, CWM A2007, 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 inZone 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 2023). 2.0 LANDSCAPE SETTING 2.L Terrain The pipeline alignment is located along the rolling ridges of the Roan Plateau near the dividing ridge between Parachute Creek and Piceance Creek at an elevation of approximately 8,200 feet. Several intermittent and ephemeral drainages are present in the project vicinity that drain south towards Parachute Creek and north towards Piceance Creek. 2.2 Soils The pipeline alignment passes through 3 mapped soil types as described below in Table l. Soils in the survey area are typically well drained and occur along ridges, mountain flanks, and mountain sides (Table l) (Natural Resources Conservation Service INRCS] 2023). All of the soils within the project area are well-drained and with a high to very high runoff classification. Table 1. Soil Types within the Project Area. Soil Map Unit Symbol SoÍl Series Description 52 Parachute loam,25 to 65 percent slopes Occurs on mountainsides at elevations from 7,500 feet to 8,700 feet. Parent material is residuum weathered from sandstone. WestWater Engineering Page I of 14 Jnly 2023 Soil Map Unit Svmbol Soíl Series Description 53 Parachute-Rhone loams, 5 to 30 percent slopes Occurs on mountain slopes at elevations from 7,600 feet to 8,600 feet. Parent material is colluvium over residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. 55 Parachute-Irigul complex, 5 to 30 percent slopes Occurs on mountain slopes at elevations from 7,600 feet to 8,800 feet. Parent material is colluvium over residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. 2.3 Vegetation The proposed pipeline alignment would be located adjacent to existing pipeline alignments and access roads that have been reclaimed with native and non-native grass and forb species. The surrounding vegetation consists of mountain sagebrush shrublands and mountain shrublands immediately adjacent to the pipeline alignment, while aspen woodlands are present along hillsides and draws in the general vicinity. Native forbs and grasses dominate the understory in all vegetation communities present. Common plants observed in the project area are described in Table 2. Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. Common Name Scíentific Nøme Abundance*Ilabitat Type Grasses and Grass-like plants Bluebunch wheatgrass Ps eudoroegneria spicata XX Reclaimed/disfurbed area, sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides x Reclaimed/disturbed area, saeebrush shrublands Intermediate wheatgrass Thìnopyrum íntermedìum xx Reclaimed/disturbed area Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis xx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Muttongrass Poa fendleriana xx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha xx Sagebrush shrublands Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda xxx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Forbs Arrowleaf balsamroot B al s amorhiza s agittata XXX Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Blue-eyed Mary Collinsia partiflora xxx Sagebrush shrubland Brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis XX Sagebrush shrubland WestWater Engineering Page2 of 14 Iúy 2023 Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. Taraxacum fficinale x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubCommon dandelion Common yaffow Achillea millefolium xx Reclaimed/disturbed areao sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub xxx Reclaimed/disturbed area sasebrush shrublandDesert madwort Alyssum desertorum xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Fineleaf h'rmenoDappus Hy me nop appus /ì I iþ lius x Sagebrush shrublandHollyleaf clover Triþlium gymnocarpon x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Lesser rushy milkvetch As tr agølus c onv a I I ørius Linum lewisii xx Reclaimed/disturbed area, sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Lewis flax Phlox longifolia xx Sagebrush shrublandLongleaf phlox Artemisia ludoviciana xx Sagebrush shrublandLouisiana sagewort Lupinus sp.xx Sagebrush, mountain shrubLupine Zigadenus elegans x Sagebrush shrublandMountain deathcamas Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Northwestern Indian paintbrush Castillejø chromosa xx xx Reclaimed/disturbed areaPrickly Russian thistle Sølsola. tragus x Sagebrush shrublandPlains pricklypear Opuntia polyøcøntha xx Sagebrush shrublandRocþ Mountain sorinsþarsley Cymopterus planosus xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubRosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea xxx Sagebrush shrublandSagebrush buttercup Ranunculus glaberrirnos xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubShortstyle bluebells Mertensia brevistyla xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Spearleaf buckwheat Erio gonum I onchophy llum xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubSpiny phlox Phlox hoodii xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubStinging nettle Urtíca dioica xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Sulphur flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum x Mountain shrubWoods'Rose Rosa woodsii x Sagebrush shrublandWyoming Indian paintbrush C as tillej a linariiþlia WestWater Engineering Page 3 of 14 Jluly2023 Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. 3.0 REVEGETATTON, RECLAMATTON, & SOrLS RECOMMENDATIONS Successful reclamation of the project area is dependent upon soil type and texture, slope gradient and aspect, proper weed control, available water, and revegetation with suitable plant species. Reclamation services using multiple seed bin range drills and specialized equipment are available and should be used for reclamation seeding projects. 3.1 Soil Preparation 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. The proposed pipeline alignment would be installed in an area of gentle slopes where high runoff potential is unlikely. In areas with slopes greater than three percent or where laminar flows from runoff could affect reseeding success, imprinting of the seed bed is recommended. Imprinting can be in the form of dozer tracks or furrows perpendicular to the direction of slope. When utilizing hydro-seeding followed by mulching, imprinting should be done prior to seeding unless the mulch is to be crimped into the soil surface. If broadcast seeding and harowing, imprinting should be done as part of the harrowing. Furrowing can be done by several methods, the simplest of which is to drill seed perpendicular to the direction of slope in a prepared bed. Other simple imprinting methods include deep hand raking and harrowing, always perpendicular to the direction of slope. Shrubs/Trees xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentøta x Mountain shrubChokecherryPrunus vírginiana X)(Mountain shrubGambel's oak Quercus gambelii xx Mountain shrubMountain mahoganv Cercocarpus montanus xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus x Mountain shrubQuaking aspen Populus tremuloides xxx Mountain shrubUtah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis xxx Sagebrush shrublandWyoming sasebrush Ar t e rní s a tri d entata ssp. wyorningensis Chrysothamnus viscidflorus x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrubYellow rabbitbrush * x: uncommon in project area. xx: moderate frequency throughout project area. xxx = common frequency throughout project area. Non-native species in bold WestWater Engineering Page 4 of 14 JtuIy2023 3.2 Soil Amendments The addition of soil amendments in rangeland reclamation projects can create more optimal growing conditions for non-native or invasive plant species, with which native plants compete poorly. There is potential that the use of soil amendments (fertilizer) containing nitrogen will disproportionately benefit undesirable annual plants (Perry et al. 2010). If the company determines the use of soil amendments to be beneficial, the type and rate should be based on results from lab analysis of soil samples collected at the site. 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, afe symbiotic with about 80 percent of all vegetation. Endo- mycorrhizal fungi are associated mostly with grasses and forbs and could be helpful in reclamation. ln 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 fungus species. Compacted soils respond well to fossilized humic substances and by-products called humates. These humates, including humic and fulvic acids and humin were formed from pre-historic plant and animal deposits and can benefit reclamation efforts on compacted soils when applied as directed. 3.3 Seed Mixture The primary vegetation communities that would be disturbed by the pipeline alignment include reclaimed areas, sagebrush shrublands, and mountain shrublands. The recommended seed mix below (Table 3) is adapted from the Bureau of Land Management's Colorado River Valley Field Office seed menu recommendations (BLM 2017). The seed mix is well suited for the vegetation communities present along the pipeline alignment. The mix includes perennial native gfasses and forbs that should establish well, protect topsoil, and provide a basis for rehabilitation of the site upon reclamation. Portions of the project area that are privately owned may be subject to landowner-requested modifications to the seed mixture. Table 3. Recommended seed menu for mixed mountain oakbrush. Form PLS lbs/acre*Scientilic Name Variety SeasonComrnon Name Plant Both of the Following (20Vo E,ach, 40o/o Total) 'úNS Cool Bunch 2.7Bottlebrush Squineltail Elymus elymoides, Sitanion hystrix Cool Bunch J.t Pseudoroegneria spicata, Agropyron spicatum Secar, P-7, Anatone, Goldar Bluebunch Wheatgrass and Two of the Followine (15% Each,307o Total) Cool Sod- forming 2.5 Elymus lanceoløtus ssp. lanceolatus, Agropyron dasystqchyum Cntana, Bannock, Schwendimar Thickspike Wheatgrass San Luis Cool Bunch 2.5Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus, Agropyron trachycaulum Arriba, Rosana Cool Sod- forming 3.6Western Wheatsrass Pascopyrum fAsronyronl smithii and One of the Followine (1070 Total) Poa ampla Sherman Cool Bunch 0.3Bie Bluesrass WestWater Engineering Page 5 of 14 Iuly2023 Table 3. Recommended seed menu for mixed mountain oakbrush. *Based on 60 pure live seeds (PLS) per square foot, drill-seeded. Double this rate (120 PLS per square foot) ifbroadcast or hydroseeded For best results and successo reseeding should be done in late autumn. The seed application rate should be doubled for broadcast applications such as hydroseeding or hand broadcasting of seed (CNHP I 998). Seeding Methods Typically, the preferred seeding method would be with a multiple-seed-bin range drill with no soil preparation other than simple grading to slope and imprinting and water bars where applicable. This method would likely be the most economical method. Hydroseeding or hand-broadcast seeding at twice the recommended drill seed rate will be required for steep slopes or for smaller areas where drill seeding would be impractical or dangerous. Alternative seeding methods include, but are not limited to: Cool Bunch 0.3Poa canbvi. P. secunda CanbarCanbv Bluegass Bunch 0.3'\rNs CoolMuttongrassPoø fendleriana and One of the Followlns (107o Total) 1.7VNSCoolBunchLetterman Needleerass Achnatherum [StipaJ Iettermanü VNS Cool Bunch 1.7 Achnatherum [StþaJ nelsonii, Stipø columbiana Columbia Needlegrass Lodorm, Cucharas Cool Bunch 1.4Green Needlegrass Nassella fStipa| viridula and One of the tr'ollowins (10% Total) Nezpar, Paloma, Rimrock Cool Bunch 1.9Indian Ricegrass Achnatherum IOryzopsßJ hymenoides Cool Bunch 0.1Koelería macrantha, K. cristata VNS (North American oriein) Junegrass OPTIONAL: Any combination from the following specles may be substituted for up to l0o/o of the above grasses. Luoinus arsenteus VNSSilverv Lupine B al s a mo rhiz e s agittata '\/NSArrowleaf Balsamroot Eriosonum umbelløtum I\rNSSulfur Flower VNSYarrowAchillea millifolium '\/NSUtah Sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale T\rNSRocþ Mountain Beeplant Cleome serrulata \TNSUtah Serviceberrv Amelanchior utøhensis VNSMountain Snowberry Symphoricarpus oreophilus VNSRosa woodsii'Wood's Rose Artemisia ludoviciana \TNSIVhite Saee 'West'Water Engineering Page 6 of l4 July2023 harrow with just enough soil moisture to create a rough surface, broadcast seed and re-harrow, preferably at a 9O-degree angle to the first harrow; o hydroseeding; and o hand raking and broadcast followed by re-raking at a 9O-degree angle to the first raking. These are not the only means of replanting the site. However, these methods have been observed to be effective in similar landscapes. After desired grasses are established and control of target weed species is successful, then shrubs, forbs, and trees can be planted without concern for herbicide damage. Few native forb seeds are available commercially as cultivars. Most are collected from natural populations. Native shrubs and forbs often do not establish well from seed, particularly when mixed with grasses. Past experience has shown that stabilizing the soil with grasses, accomplishing weed control, and then coming back to plant live, containerized woody species in copses has been the most cost-effective method for establishing the woody species component of the plant community. For sites where soil disturbance will be temporary, grasses should be seeded after construction activities cease and the equipment is removed from the site. After two years of controlling weeds (with herbicides) and allowing the grasses to become established, forbs and woody species should be inter-seeded or hand- planted to increase the diversity and value of the reclamation plantings. 3.4 Mulching Crimped straw mulch is 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 straw mulch would limit these effects. On steeper slopes where crimping is impractical, wood straw mulch would be an alternative to crimped straw mulch that might stand up better to wind and rain that could blow or wash uncrimped straw mulch off of seeded areas. 4.0 NOXIOUSWEEDS 4.1 Introduction to Noxious Weeds Most noxious weed species in Colorado were introduced, mostly from Eurasia, either unintentionally or as omamentals that established wild populations. 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 (Garfield County 2021). 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 40 plants considered to be noxious weeds within the county. The Garfield County Weed Advisory Board has duties to: a WestWater Engineering Page7 ofL4 Iuly 2023 l. 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 2016). 4.2 Observations Several weed species listed by the State of Colorado (2005) were detected during surveys including: common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgøre), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), and spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe). Noxious weeds were observed in scattered infestations primarily along previously disturbed areas (Figure 2). Other non-native weedy species, not listed by the State of Colorado, were also observed which included: Russian thistle (Salsola tragus),knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum), and herb sophia (Descuraina sophia). 4.3 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, monitoring of treatment effrcacy, and subsequent detection efforts. Weed management is often limited to controlling existing infestations and prevention of further infestationso 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. ln order to continue effective management of noxious weeds, further inventory and analysis is necessary to l) determine the effectiveness of the past treatment strategies; 2) modifu the treatment plan, if necessary; and 3) detect new infestations early, which would result in more economical and effective treatrnents. 4.4 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. o Avoid driving vehicles through areas where weed infestations exist. o Use of weed-seed-free reclamation materials such as mulch and seed. WestWater Engineering Page I of 14 July 2023 4.5 Treatment and Control of Noxious Weed Infestations The treatment method and timing will be determined by the project proponent and their contracted licensed pesticide applicators. The recommendations provided in this report will be considered when developing annual treatment plans. General control methods for the species detected in the project area are provided for reference in Table 4. Table 4. General noxious weed control methods for Ín the ect area. Bold: Garfield County List, *State List A, B, or C 4.6 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 5 and 6. Herbicides should not always be the first treatment of choice when other methods can be effectively employed. Table 5. Treatment Strategies for Annual and Biennial Noxious Weeds Prevent Seed Production (Sirota 2004) Spotted knapweedB Centaurea stoebe Perennial Hand pullingo hoeing, or digging can be effective for small infestations. The plants should be removed in early bolt stage before flowering. Herbicide application during the fall . Common mulleinc Verbascum thapsus Biennial Tillage, mowing, cutting, hand grubbing prior to bolting. Herbicide treatment during rosette stage or bolting stage before flowering. Musk thistleB Carduus nutøns Biennial Tillage or hand grubbing in the rosette to pre-flowering stages. Repeated mowing at bolting or early flowering. Seed head and rosette weevils, leaf feeding beetles. Herbicides in rosette stage. Bull thistleB Cìrsíum vulgare Biennial Tillage or hand grubbing in the rosette to pre-flowering stages. Repeated mowing at bolting or early flowering. Herbicides in rosette stage. Tillage or hand grubbing in the rosette to pre-flowering stages. Repeated mowing at bolting or early flowering. Herbicides in rosette stage. Scotch thistteB Onopordum acønthium Biennial 1. Hand grub þull), hoe, till, cultivate in rosette stage and before flowering or seed maturity. If flowers or seeds develop, cut and bag seed heads. 2. Cttt 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. West'Water Engineering Page 9 of 14 Iúy2023 Table 6. Treatment Strategies for Perennials nutrìent reserves ín root seed (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. 4.7 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 practices include: o 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. ¡ [n 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. o If stored longer than one growing season, topsoil stocþiles should be seeded with non-invasive sterile hybrid grasses. o Wetland vegetation, if encountered, should be live handled like sod, temporarily watered if necessary, and placed over excavated sub-soil relative to the position from which the wetland sod was removed. ¡ Cut-off collars should be placed on all wetland and stream crossings to prevent back washing (seed vector) and to ensure that soil moisture conditions are not impacted after construction so that native plants can re-establish from the existing seed bank. L 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 pererurials 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. Vy'estWater Engineering Page l0 of 14 July 2023 ¡ If working in weed infested sites, equipment should be cleaned of potentially seed-bearing soils and vegetative debris prior to moving to uncontaminated terrain. o 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. Ifdirected on the herbicide label, a surfactant or other adjuvant should be added to the tank. Grazing: In the event grazingis 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 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. 4.8 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 forherbicide control efforts. An applicator has the full range of knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience desired when dealing with tough noxious weeds. ln addition, the purchase and use of restricted use herbicides requires a Colorado pesticide applicator license. 4.0 REFERENCES Ackerfield, J. 2015. Flora of Colorado. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas. Barrow, J. R., and Bobby D. McCaslin. 1995. Role of microbes in resource management in arid ecosystems. ln: 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. BLMr.2017. Revised Revegetation Seed Mix Menus, CRVFO Energy Team. U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado River Valley Field Offlrce. Silt, Colorado. CWMA. 2007.5. Anthony, T. D'Amato, A. Doran, S. Elzinga, J. Powell,I. Schonle, K. Uhing. Noxious Weeds of Colorado, Ninth Edition. Colorado Weed Management Association, Centennial. Garfield County. 2016. Garfield County Vegetation Management and Garfield County Weed Advisory Board. Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan, Adopted by Board of County Commissioners Feb. 16, 2016. WestWater Engineering Page 11 of14 July2023 Garfield County. 2Ù2L.Yegetation Management Section -Noxious \Veed List. Available online: htþ://www.garfield-county.com/vegetation-management/noxious-weed-list.aspx. Rifle, CO. Kershaw, L., A. MacKinnon, and J. Pojar. 1998. Plants of the Rocþ Mountains. Lone Pine Publishing, Auburn, Washington. NRCS. 2023. Web Soil Survey, U.S. Department of Agricultureo Natural Resource Conservation Service, URL: http:/ ¡iebsoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov Perry, L.G., D.M. Blumenthal, T.A. Monaco, M.W. Paschke, and E.F. Redente. 2010. Immobilizing nitrogen to control plant invasion. Oecologia : 1 63 :12-24. Sirota, Judith 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. colost¿te. edu/TItA"/Weeds/weedmgmt.html State of Colorado. 2005. Rules pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the Colorado Noxious 'Weed Act, 35-5-1-l19, C.R.S. 2003. Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division, Denver,78 pp. Weber, William 4., and Ronald 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 l|test - 9'h edition Western Society of Weed Science in cooperation with Cooperative Extension Services, University of Wyoming, Laramie. 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