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REPORT: The small knapweed population in the vicinity of the plant was sprayed in <br />fall of 2004. It appeazs that spraying at least reduced the number of new <br />plants and has contained the population. As the soil contains seed that can <br />remain dormant for some time continued treatment is needed and will be <br />applied until the knapweed is eradicated. <br />Leafy spurge and thistle along the road were sprayed from the <br />entrance gate to the scale house. However, further treatment was delayed <br />at the request of Melissa Farmer of the Land Board Offices. Melissa <br />desired a better coordination with Weed Wranglers, the contractor that has <br />done spraying for the Land Board. Melissa indicated a desire to hold a <br />meeting between Schmidt and Weed Wranglers regazdinl; weed control, <br />but, to date, no date has been set for that coordination effort. SchmidYs <br />consultant contacted Weed Wranglers and discussed at length the weed <br />situation and the various options for control. Schmidt and Weed Wranglers <br />seem to have good agreement as to what is needed, but until the actual <br />work can be coordinated, Schmidt will be delaying any treatment of weeds <br />along roadways as requested by Melissa. This delay does not affect weed <br />control efforts within the mining areas away from the road corridor. <br />K. A description of the weed status within those azeas for which the operator is responsible. <br />(Primarily affected land and adjacent unaffected land, where applicable and as defined in <br />the mining and reclamation plans contained in the Reclamation Permit issued by the <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology and the Colorado Mined Lz.nd Reclamation <br />Board.) <br />REPORT: At the end of June a complete report was provided, as required by the <br />Operation Plan, that describes the extent and dynamics of the weed <br />population on this property. That report provides ample details regarding <br />the weed populations and how they persist and expand on the site. It also <br />discusses some control measures and where control measures are most <br />needed. In summary, the leafy spurge exists throughout the site, but <br />primarily on the land along Coal Creek and its tributaries. <br />It also exists at high density in a unique upland environment where <br />an overlying layer of sandy soil allows the development of a moist zone at <br />its base and in contact with a underlying clay soil. In effect, this unique <br />upland environment creates a moisture regime similar to what occurs <br />along the stream channels. Elsewhere in the uplands, spurge maybe <br />present, but only at low density and low vigor. <br />It appears from the distribution pattern that the primary vector for <br />spread is cattle with vehicles being a distant secondary vf;etor. It appears <br />that the spurge population is either at or near its maximum extent with <br />spurge already occurring with an appropriate density and vigor consistent <br />with the compatibility of the local moisture environment and the moisture <br />tolerance curve for the species. In other words, for the most part anyplace <br />where the spurge can live it is already there. On the positive side, the vast <br />majority of the land on this site is bazely suitable for the establishment of <br />spurge and a significant amount of land is unsuited for spurge due to the <br />local environment being beyond primarily the moisture tolerance curve for <br />the species. <br />Annual Status Report - 2005 for State Land Board July 15, 2005 Page 6 of 10 <br />