2023-01-09_REVISION - M2021052 (26)

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Weed Management Plan March 2021 4.0 Noxious Weed Management Recommendations To meet the requirements of the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and Garfield County guidance, Scott shall conduct prescribed management techniques for noxious weeds included on one of three State weed lists: List A—designated for statewide eradication; List B— managed to prevent further spread and, for selected species, designated for eradication in large areas; and List C—of more localized concern, but for which the State will provide education, research, and biological control assistance to jurisdictions that choose to manage the species. The current State list is available in Appendix A. In summary, weed control will be achieved by: • A weed survey of the permit area will be completed every spring. • Infestations will be treated using approved chemicals and will be sprayed by the landowner or a certified applicator. • After reclamation, weed surveys and treatment will continue until the perennial cover and production of the site have met Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) requirements and bond release has been obtained. There are no List A species present in the project area. To stop the spread of List B species (refer to Table 1), populations of every species designated for eradication shall be eliminated prior to seed development. Control of invasive species is a difficult task and requires on-going control measures. Care must be taken to avoid negatively impacting desirable plant communities and inviting infestation by other pioneer invaders. Weed management is best achieved by employing aggressive control early on, and persistent control efforts over several growing seasons, including direct treatments, prevention through best management practices, monitoring of treatment efficacy, and subsequent detection efforts. Weed management is often limited to controlling existing infestations and prevention of further infestations, rather than eradication, but through effective weed management practices and eradication can be possible in small to medium sized weed populations. Scott will address the treatment of all noxious weeds on a biannual basis, with an herbicide application in the spring (late May) and late summer (late August). Gravel storage piles will also be treated with a bare ground herbicide if the piles are expected to remain for more than one season. Scott will use a Colorado-certified herbicide applicator. All work equipment will be sanitized and have any existing dirt, vegetation, or seeds from landscaping and operational work removed before leaving the work area. Prior to bond release, Scott will conduct a noxious weed inventory and bond release reports developed by third parties for submittal to DRMS and Garfield County. The weed inventory will also include a timetable for Russian-olive and tamarisk removal for non-reclaimed areas as part of their Weed Management Plan, if needed. Additionally, to meet reclamation objectives, Scott should eliminate or minimize those noxious and invasive weeds designated as "undesirable species". Undesirable species include common reed (aka phragmites, a "watch list" species), redstem filaree, and all List C species (e.g., cheatgrass), and invasive species that commonly colonize disturbed or reclaimed land and impede or prevent establishment of desirable species (e.g., kochia [Kochia sieversiana, K. iranica, K. scoparia] and Russian thistle [Salsola australis, S. iberica, S. kahl). 7