2016-07-14_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (4)

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CORE Noxious Weed Management Plan Hitch Rack Ranch Aggregate Quarry Development Project CONSULTANTS El Paso County, Colorado The Act was amended in 2002 to require counties to establish individual management plans relevant to local municipalities. El Paso County developed the El Paso County Noxious Weed Management Plan in 2003 (updated 2014) to identify county-level noxious weed management practices that would preserve the economic and environmental value of County lands (EPC, 2014). Disturbed areas are vulnerable to infestation from noxious weeds due to the aggressive nature by which noxious weeds can spread. Quarry sites have been found to be particularly vulnerable following disturbance (Polster, 2003). Construction activities including clearing, grading, and excavation promote the establishment of noxious weed species before native vegetation can reestablish within the cleared area.As such,the EPC Noxious Weed Management Plan requires integrated management plans for any activities requiring dirt moving activities within the County (EPC, 2014). Project-specific integrated management plans should include methods to prevent, control, and monitor the spread of noxious weeds and should take into account the multiple methods by which noxious weeds germinate. Annuals typically reproduce through seed which can easily attach to equipment during construction activities. Perennials often propagate through an extensive root system. Ground disturbing activities have the potential to redistribute root sections that could quickly propagate in other areas. Because of the multiple methods by which noxious weeds spread and propagate, integrated management plans should outline education and native revegetation methods in addition to chemical control methods (EPC, 2014). 3.0 NOXIOUS WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN 3.1 Purpose and Goals The proposed Project would occur in phases over multiple decades.As such, this integrated management plan will include pre-construction, construction, and reclamation methods to prevent, control, and monitor the spread of identified noxious weed populations within the Project area. Integrated management methods should include the following: • Surveys to inventory and map established noxious weed populations; • Sharing of data with the County to aid in County level inventory; • County coordination to determine appropriate chemical and cultural control methods for individual noxious weed populations; • Ensuring the education and awareness of quarry personnel for noxious weed-related issues on the Project site; • Revegetation and rehabilitation of disturbed lands. PAGE 3 OF 11 1950 W LITTLETON BLVD I SUITE 109 1 LITTLETON CO 80120 1303.703.4444