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

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-,VIIIIIIIIII V*t CORE Noxious Weed Management Plan Hitch Rack Ranch Aggregate Quarry Development Project CONSULTANTS El Paso County, Colorado Additional pre-construction noxious weed management methods may be implemented as determined through coordination with the County over the life of the Project. 3.4 Construction Construction protocols and methods for noxious weed management will include ongoing treatment, prevention, and education and awareness. Education and awareness would include WEAP materials review and explicit signage that would identify flagged noxious weed populations, as necessary. Herein, construction refers to the active construction of roads, facilities, mining of each Phase of the Project, and any other ground disturbing activities.Treatment will occur seasonally throughout the construction of each Phase of the Project by selected herbicide application and/or avoidance. Prevention will occur though ongoing soil salvage. Education and awareness will occur by distribution and continual review and update of WEAP materials. Treatment of noxious weed populations will continue seasonally throughout construction, identified noxious weed infestations will be avoided as possible during construction. List A and B populations located in areas slated for ground disturbance will be chemically treated. List C populations located in areas not slated for ground disturbance will be avoided, as practicable. Avoidance is the preferred mechanism for control of List C noxious weeds since driving through the population to apply herbicide may trigger spreading of vegetative propagules. The final determination of identified List C populations to be avoided will be determined through coordination with the County. Signage will notify contractors of avoidance areas throughout construction and development phasing. The Process Plan will identify contractor coordination protocols to ensure that all site personnel are aware of required noxious weed management protocols within the Project area. A major concern during construction and development of an aggregate quarry is the salvage and maintenance of native-site top soil (Hargis et al., 1984). Soil piles should be created and protected during earth-moving activities. Disturbance of soil piles would be prevented by reseeding with native grasses via drill or hydroseeding methods immediately following establishment of the pile. Reseeding with native grasses would protect and stabilize the soil, thereby preventing erosion during storm events. A ditch would be dug around the soil pile to further prevent erosion. Explicit signage will be established around soil piles to prevent movement or disturbance by contractors. Since operation of the quarry is expected to occur over several decades, WEAP materials should be updated at the onset of each Project phase.The presentation of WEAP materials should impart worker awareness of noxious weed management protocols by presenting PAGE 6 OF 11 1950 W LITTLETON BLVD I SUITE 109 1 LITTLETON CO 80120 1303.703.4444