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Colorado Water Conservation Board Tamarisk and Russian Olive Control Cost Sharing Grant Program Application Form ADDllcatlon Part I. Provide a one page description of the proposed project in sufficient detail to serve' as the Scope of Work for a grant contract if your project is selected for funding. Describe all esuential project activities and accomplishments, with particular focus on demonstrated benefits to be achieved. Refer to the attached statement of the existing ecological condition. The "TRO Removal, Wildlife Approval" Project will have three important results: TRO control with natural revegetation, a quantifiable aquatic assessment, and presentations of the documented results (aquatic assessment, photo journaling, and educated observations) for local fairs and shows. We have several sites along the South Platte River that we have chosen for this project (see attached map). According to a Colorado Natural Heritage map in the Platte Invasives Endeavor Plan (PIE Plan) for the South Platte Watershed, this area of the river has a "very high biodiversity significance" and thus should be a priority for TRO control. Of our chosen sites, roughly half is private land and half is land in Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easements. We have been given permission, either by the landowner or by Natural Resources Conservation Service (see attached letters) to remove TRO and monitor the wildlife for seven years. Tracy Kizer, the manager of the Sedgwick County Weed Control District, estimated that the Russian olive population is about 5 trees per acre and the tamarisk occurs less frequently, but in dense patches. Mr. Kizer felt that these sites are a good representation of our TRO problem along the river. We will base our treatment of TRO in these areas on an integrated pest management plan written by Ron Schierer, NRCS Area Agronomist, and follow the recommendations in the PIE Plan. We will also have consultation from Noe Marymor, a biologist with the NRCS and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory who has participated in several TRO projects, and Gary Price, the SCCD Treasurer and Certified Commercial Applicator for herbicides. The project will initiate with site observation and documentation by our District Conservation Technician, Jerry Miller, a conservation forester and Leopold Education Project teacher. He will guide and oversee the field operations of the project. He will also be responsible for creating a photo journal of our project and keeping a log of his observations of how the ecosystem is affected through the years. These will be used in our presentations at local fairs and shows. The TRO removal and treatment will be done through the Sedgwick County Weed Control District because they have the knowledge and equipment. The work will be performed by Tracy Kizer, the manager, and an assistant that will be hired solely for the project. An additional chainsaw and protective gear will be purchased for the assistant. All TRO removal will be completed in the first two years and revegetation will be allowed to happen naturally. Our budget includes funding each year for any additional control measures that will need to be taken. All wildlife will be affected by our TRO removal, but the aquatic life and water quality will have the most obvious and quantifiable changes in seven years. That is why we have recruited Ryan Fitzgerald, a biologist with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to do an aquatic assessment. He will do it once before the project begins and then return each year of the project to repeat the assessment and compare results. An administrative assistant. also hired solely for this project. will oversee the use of funds, write reports. and create presentations based on the project. The assistant and Sedgwick County Conservation District Bo~rd members will take the presentation to local fairs and shows each year. 3 . . .