WSP09248 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 002085 4.0 RESOURCE RISKS AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS The noxious weed survey for Williams Fork Project was conducted to aid in identifying and assessing potential resource risks associated with continued operation of the Williams Fork Project. As noted above, although the overall impression of the Williams Fork Project vegetation is that it is relatively pristine, noxious weeds and common weeds were encountered at disturbed areas including the project public access sites and in specific moist grassy areas and wet meadow habitat types at the project. Resource risks associated with these situations and other noxious weed issues specifically identified during scoping are discussed below, and summary weed management recommendations are provided, 4.1 Campgrounds/Boat Launches Two species of noxious weeds encountered at the Williams Fork Project (Canada thistle and yellow toadflax) are abundant at the two of the three campgroundlboat launch sites, including the east and west campgroundlboat launch sites discussed above, Two other noxious weed species (houndstongue and musk thistle) occur at these facilities at low frequencies, Both of these access sites also support a variety of common weeds. The occurrence of weeds at these recreation sites is related to removal of native vegetation and disturbance of soils associated with the high degree of pedestrian and vehicular use of these sites. The resource risk associated with the presence of these noxious weeds is primarily to the quality of these sites in terms of public enjoyment and aesthetics, An attendant resource risk is the potential for spread of these weeds by seed from these sites to other currently disturbed sites or to additional sites that may be disturbed in the future, It is recommended that noxious weeds be controlled at the east and west campgroundlboat launch public access sites. The Williams Fork caretaker staff has been or will be trained and certified to apply herbicides, Having certified applicators on site throughout the growing season will allow for noxious weed control activities to take place during the appropriate season, under appropriate weather conditions, and in a timely manner, Herbicide application protocols necessary to protect public health should to be implemented when treating these public access sites. Spot treatment with selective broad leaf herbicides is recommended for small infestations to preserve as much of the associated non-target vegetation, and thus soil cover, as possible, Heavily infested areas may need to be treated a number of times due to long-lived propagules of some species or due to large weed seed reservoirs in the soil. Likewise, large treated areas may need to undergo active reclamation/revegetation activities in order to minimize erosion of bare soils and to prevent reinvasion of these areas by the same or other weeds, Such areas will need to be evaluated through time. Decisions about also controlling common weeds at these sites will need to consider tradeoffs between making the sites as weed-free as possible and maintaining the soil Williams Fork Reservoir Hydroelectric Project January 2004 Steiger.; CorporatIOn Noxiou!o Weed Survey Report Page 9