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