2016-11-04_PERMIT FILE - M2016009 (7)

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1. Introduction A.Context of Weed Management There has been a tremendous expansion of invasive alien plant species across the US, including Colorado. New problem weed species arrive in Colorado every year. Weeds create large economic losses for agriculture in both cropland and rangeland situations. Noxious weeds often provide poorer habitat for wildlife than native vegetation. Proliferation of alien plant species alters ecosystem processes and threatens certain native species with extirpation. Thus, unchecked weeds threaten our economic livelihood and our biological heritage. In recognition of the economic and ecological impacts of weeds,the General Assembly of the State of Colorado passed the Colorado Weed Management Act,also known as the Colorado Noxious Weed Act,in 1996. The act requires landowners and managers to manage noxious weeds if they are likely to damage neighboring lands. This act provides that each county in Colorado shall adopt a noxious weed management plan for the unincorporated portions of the county. This plan provides framework to control those plant species that are listed as noxious in Pueblo County. Weeds are rapidly becoming one of the most pressing issues for natural managers. Unfortunately, most natural areas contain many alien plant species. In the vast majority of cases, there is not enough labor and money to control all the species of weeds that occur in a natural area. Thus, managers are forc3d to choose which weed species they will control and which they will not, at least initially. B. Overview of Approach to Weed Management Weed control is part of property management. This plan is based on the desired plant species and communities, rather than on simply eliminating weeds. Preventive programs are implemented to keep the management area free of species that are not yet established there but which are known to be pests elsewhere in the area. Priorities are set to reduce or eradicate weeds that have already established on the property,according to their actual and potential impacts on the land management goals for the property,and according to the ability to control them no versus later. Actions will be taken only when careful consideration indicates leaving the weed unchecked would result in more damage than controlling it with best available methods. The plan follows the adaptive management approach. First,weed species are identified through inventory of the property and by gathering information from other sources. Second, land management goals and weed management objectives are established and recorded for the property. Third, priorities are assigned to the weed species and weed patches based on the severity of their impacts,while considering the ability to control them. Fourth, methods are considered for controlling them or otherwise diminishing their impacts and, if necessary, re-order priorities based on likely impacts on target and non-target species. Fifth, Integrated Weed Management(IWM) plans are developed based on this information. Sixth,the IWM plans are implanted. Seventh,the results of management actions are monitored and evaluated in light of weed management l objectives for the management area. Finally,this information is used to modify and improve weed Page 1 of 5