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years or until revegetation with desirable species is verified to be successful, whichever is long- <br />er. Monitoring visits should be timed to occur at the height of the growing season, e.g., July, <br />and towards the end of the growing season to determine the optimum control measures to be <br />implemented the following autumn. <br />On the remainder of the site, managers should bear in mind that the establishment of nonnative <br />(i.e., non-noxious weedy) species such as Russian thistle in the early phases of "desirable" <br />community succession is not necessarily to be avoided or eliminated. Russian thistle is one <br />nonnative species that some specialists considered an effective "nursery" plant that colonizes <br />easily and facilitates growing conditions, e.g., shaded microsites and soil organic matter, for <br />other desirable species. The rapid vegetation of disturbed soils by certain non-noxious weeds <br />such as Russian thistle helps initiate the soil development processes required by many native <br />species. These observations are from extensive experience revegetating heavily disturbed <br />mine soils in the Mojave Desert, where Russian thistle is instrumental in initiating successful re- <br />vegetation processes. Bear in mind that the above statements assume a reclamation plan is in <br />effect and that this only works in association with seeding of desirable species and other recla- <br />mation practices. <br />Obviously, prevention of weed infestation such as described in Section 3.5 is the ideal approach <br />to controlling any undesirable species. These measures indeed should be observed to prevent <br />further spread of Russian knapweed and Canada thistle at Mesita Hill. <br />14