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1 <br /> Weed Control Methods <br /> Monitoring/Evaluating/Reporting. Monitoring of weed populations is an integral part of <br /> the weed control program. This work will consist of examining all parts of the permit area and <br /> identifying areas where weed control is needed. This information will be used to develop an <br /> annual weed control plan that will describe what needs to be done, where different types of <br /> control will be implemented, when different control measures will be accomplished and how the <br /> program will be conducted. Decisions on the annual program(based on site reconnaissance)will <br /> be made in late spring in order to make sure that weed control plans can be developed. <br /> Additional site visits during the year may be necessary to evaluate the success of the control <br /> measures and to prepare recommendations for any late season weed control that may be <br /> necessary. <br /> After each year of treatment,the success of the various programs will be evaluated. This <br /> process will consist of examining the treatment areas as well as keeping records of what <br /> treatments were applied in each area. <br /> Herbicide implication. A wide range of herbicides is available for control of weed <br /> species. Herbicide application will be used primarily for perennial forb species like Canada <br /> thistle, field bindweed,white top and perennial peppergrass. All of these species spread by <br /> underground stems (rhizomes)and are difficult to control without the use of herbicides. Mowing <br /> may reduce their viability during a growing season,however it is not an effective approach to <br /> reducing their abundance. These species occur throughout the permit area, but may be of greatest <br /> concern on areas that will not be mined and on reclaimed areas. Control on these sites will need <br /> to focus on the use of herbicides. On areas that will be mined, mowing could be used as the <br /> primary method of control, since the sites will be destroyed during the mining process. Herbicide <br /> applications may also be used on stands of pernicious annual species like diffuse knapweed after <br /> they have been mowed. <br /> Mowing. Mowing can be an effective means for reducing populations of annual weed <br /> species. Even when mowed,annual species can still produce flowers and seeds, however the <br /> number of flowers is greatly reduced. The effectiveness of this approach can be enhanced by <br /> mowing when the weeds are just beginning to flower. At this time, most of the overall plant <br /> height has been attained and the impact of mowing can be maximized Annual weed species do <br /> best on sites with limited amounts of vegetation and open bare soil. These conditions exist on <br /> newly reclaimed areas,on disturbed roadsides and in operations areas. Mowing will be <br /> conducted using a rotarylbrush hog type mower. <br /> Temporary Seeding. Temporary seeding will be used for topsoil stockpiles as means of <br /> creating a stable vegetation cover composed of perennial species rather than allowing these sites <br /> to develop populations of weedy species. The seed mix for areas of this type(areas that will be <br /> left undisturbed for more than one growing season)will consist primarily of native species. For <br /> stockpiles or sites that will be re-disturbed within six months,a cover crop,such as wintergraze, <br /> will be planted in order to reduce the abundance of weedy species. To the extent possible,topsoil <br /> stockpiles will be mowed to reduce the cover by annual weed species. <br /> Rapid Turnover of Stockpiles. Product stockpiles can serve as sites for some annual <br /> plant species. The configuration of these stockpiles is such that it is not possible to use a mower, <br /> and it is not desirable to treat weeds on these sites with herbicides. The most practical way to <br /> control weeds is to plan for a rapid turnover of the various product stockpiles. <br />