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Peaceful Valley Irrigation and Landscaping-Vegetation Management Division <br /> Evaluation/Conclusions of Spring Inspection Whirlwind mine complex 2023 <br /> The mine facility exists in a mature Pinyon/Juniper woodland. The understory is composed of <br /> common native plant species. Common warm season grass species found in within the area <br /> include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and other species of grama grass (B. curtipendula, B. <br /> hirsuta, B. eriopoda),New Mexico muhly (Muhlenbergia pauciflora), curlyleaf muhly <br /> (Muhlenbergia setifolia), and needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa spp.) <br /> Typical shrub species found within the project site include big sage (Artemisia tridentata) <br /> antelope bitterbrush(Purshia tridentata), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp. <br /> and Ericameria spp.), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), and snakeweed <br /> (Gutierrezia spp.) <br /> Common herbaceous species include Mule's ear (Wyethia amplexicaulis), curly-cup gumweed <br /> (Grindelia squarrosa), Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp) and larkspur (Delphinium spp) among <br /> others. <br /> Few weeds and healthy native plant communities are typically found within the Whirlwind <br /> project site. It is important to note that it is most effective to control weeds early before they <br /> become well established and develop seed banks making it difficult for long term control. This <br /> approach is referred to in weed management as early detection rapid response. Peaceful Valley <br /> performed early detection and control by treating all individual plants that were found during the <br /> Whirlwind Mine site survey. Every noxious weed plant encountered on the site within the 50 <br /> foot buffer either side of the road was treated along with the parking area at the mine site <br /> Noxious weeds that are widespread common problems at the Mine site although not well <br /> established are Kochia(Bassia scoparia), Canada Thistle (Circium arvense) and Houndstongue <br /> (Cynoglossum officionale). The three species named above are the biggest threat to the <br /> Whirlwind mine and lands adjacent to the site. Thistle (Circium spp) will persist along some of <br /> the existing two track roads and livestock/game trails. This species is a high priority for <br /> treatment mainly because it is able to colonize and compete with native native plants very well in <br /> natural areas. All thistles encountered on the access road and within the 50 ft butter were treated. <br /> Kochia weed (Bassia scoparia) was treated in 2023 at the entrance to the fenced mine facility and <br /> on parking areas adjacent to the main facility. These annual weed species display a wide variety <br /> of production from year to year with 2023 being a very "good" Kochia year. <br /> There was approximately 250 gallons of spray applied over approximately 12 acres of the project <br /> area including the mine office site and roadside from mine site to the intersection of 4.4 road. <br /> The mine office site was sprayed to cover all working/parking areas and roadside was sprayed <br /> 25' to 50' from the edge of the road where weeds were visible from roadside observation. There <br /> was an inventory using Google Earth on weed locations for the fall follow-up inspection for <br /> reference both to see how spray interacted with native forbes and effectiveness of spring <br /> application. <br />