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Valco Gravel Pit Noxious Weed Management Plan <br /> Introduction <br /> Noxious weeds are invasive plants that are not native to North America and as a consequence have <br /> inadequate or absent insect predators or plant pathogens to keep them controlled. They pose a serious <br /> threat to native plant populations, agriculture, wildlife, and property values. The State of Colorado and <br /> Otero County require noxious weed management on public and private land. <br /> In order to be in compliance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act the terms and conditions of the gravel <br /> mining permit for this property, the following named plants must be controlled. Any weeds on the State <br /> Noxious weed lists not named below but detected after this plan is written shall also be controlled. (See <br /> appendix A.) List A species are designated by the Commissioner for eradication. List B species are <br /> species for which the Commissioner, in consultation with the state noxious weed advisory committee, <br /> local governments, and other interested parties, develops and implements state noxious weed management <br /> plans designed to stop the continued spread of these species. List C species are species for which the <br /> Commissioner, in consultation with the state noxious weed advisory committee, local governments, and <br /> other interested parties, will develop and implement state noxious weed management plans designed to <br /> support the efforts of local governing bodies to facilitate more effective integrated weed management on <br /> private and public lands. The goal of such plans will not be to stop the continued spread of these species <br /> but to provide additional education, research, and biological control resources to jurisdictions that choose <br /> to require management of List C species. Watch list species have been determined to pose a potential <br /> threat to the agricultural productivity and environmental values of the lands of the state. The Watch List is <br /> intended-to serve advisory and educational purposes only. Its purpose is to encourage the identification <br /> and reporting of these species to the Commissioner in order to facilitate the collection of information to <br /> assist the Commissioner in determining which species should be designated as noxious weeds. <br /> The following noxious weeds, from the State Weed list were found on the property in question and are <br /> subject to management requirements, Colorado noxious weed act. <br /> _white top (Curdaria draba) <br /> saltcedar (Tamarix pari,,Ilora & ramosissima) (Tamarisk) <br /> Both are List B species and therefore the plan is needed to prevent their continued spread. Fact sheets for <br /> both species are attached (Appendix B and C.) <br /> Management Recommendations <br /> Gravel pits are unique sites with special weed management considerations. They are continually disturbed <br /> and material is regularly hauled off-site. This necessitates different weed management goals than on other <br /> types of property. It is essential that weeds, including weed seeds, are not spread from this quarry to <br /> other areas, and that is the primary goal of good weed control at this site. This requires an aggressive <br /> weed control program. <br /> There are four main stages to weed control at this quarry: detection, prevention, treatment, and <br /> monitoring. <br /> Detection of noxious weed species begins with a survey of the site prior to disturbance. Further detection <br /> of new weed species is essential, and the property owner shall continually monitor the property for them. <br /> Of particular concern are those weeds on the County and the State noxious weed lists. <br /> Prevention is a key component of this plan. Those areas that are being reclaimed shall be re-seeded as <br /> soon as possible (and in accordance with any other permits) with a weed-free mix composed primarily of <br />