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Weed Control Plan ' ~ Pueblo East Pit ' - Continental Materials ' (Transit Mix of Pneblo) Permit M-19$6-015 July 27, 2004 ~iECEIVED JUL 2 7 2904 llivisiprl Of 1Nirlerdls & 1aE01Dgy Background: A weed control plan is now required for all Reclamation Pe[mits. It has bear found that although the zeclamation plan frn this operation contains various wording that addresses weeds that wording dogs not conskitute a formal weed coarol plan. This weed control plea updates that reguiremeot in the pcirnit. Weeds Present on the Site: A £ew noxious wceds and a few non-noxious weeds are present on this site. The weed of most concern is Hoary cress, also known as Whitetop (Cardarfa drabs). Also present, but of somewhat Icss concern is the ubiquitous species of Tamarix and Russian Olive, Tn a few locations very small steads of Caaada 'Thistle caa be found but this species appears to be quite sparse and not showing much sign of increasing significantly. As reclamation proceeds this latter species could become a problem The two most troublesome non-noxious species ate Kochia and Russian Thistle, both of which are conanon nunbleweeds that can present problems if growing at very high densities in favorable sites. Weed Controls: Whitetop will be controlled by spraying with herbicides as mechanical controls aze usually ineffective and otter make the problem worse. Tg/narix is well established along the Arkansas River and in adjacent wetlands. Invasion of this species in reclatnatioa areas will be controlled by rncchanical means, primarily cutting, plus herbicide treataunt Hof stumps. Russian Olive is also cotxan:on in trsich of the same habitat es the Tmriarix, These two are often found growing next to each other, although this species also occurs in higher elevation riparian forest where Tamarix is generally not present. Control methods are the same for this species as for Tamartx, but generally cutting is a bit more effective with Russian Olive than with 2'amarix and olden herbicide treatment of tlu: stumps is not necessary. Resprouting can occur, but continued mechanical removal of new sprouts&osn the sturt~ usually kills the plant. Tumbleweeds tend to be locally abundant in the okl pastures and probably there is a large seed bank in-ttie salvaged topsoil Moderate density popuations of these species can oftarbe ofbenefit ro revegctation by acting as a kind of cover crop, but high density populations usually prohibit the establishiiieztt of more desirable growth. It is generally a judganent call as ro whether control is requited a~ul that judgement depends on many factors. When control is implemented it is usually done by mowing rather than spraying herbicides, although the latter can also be used effectively. OSen two mowtngs sire needed for populations on very favorable sites, but high density populations on less favorable sites are often killed by one spring mowing. Eventually khe population declines if the soil is sot ro-disturbed or sufficient mowing is hone to reduce seed prodttcrion to a low level. These species tend to have seed dormaacy periods of onq~to,fof[r years and if seed production can be reduced for a ftw years is a row the prominence of these specins can,~bc reduced Also, redisturbance of the soil tends to "reset the clock" and often generates strong gl'owths of ratese species for a couple of years. Thezefore, zedistutbance of the soil, if possible, shouldbe avoided until the desirable vege[ation is established. East Pit M-198&015 07127/04 pages