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• Noxious weed dominance shifted fromplumeless thistle to Canada thistle. <br />• The goal of establishing a desirable and effective vegetation cover does not appear to have been <br />achieved; vegetation cover was only 28% in 2001, with 43% bare ground. Non - noxiousforbs have <br />been heavily impacted by the control program, declining from 37.2% cover in 1998 to 5.2 %cover in <br />2001. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />• Collect cover and density sample data in 2002, evaluate appropriate frequency for future data <br />collection based on 2002 results. Conduct sampling to late May /early June if warranted to <br />accommodate control efforts (e.g. spring goat grazing). <br />• Perform visual reconnaissance late May or early June 2002 to evaluate apparent success of 2000 <br />revegetation effort, and determine if reseeding is warranted in 2002. Visually assess nature and extent <br />of noxious weed presence and finalize annual weed control plan. Perform similar evaluation annually. <br />• Consider shifting herbicide application to fall only, concentrating only on patches of Canada thistle <br />with backpack sprayer or wick type applicator, to minimize impact to non - target vegetation. <br />• Consider goat grazing early to mid June, in combination with seeding (employing goats to defoliate <br />weeds and prepare seedbed). <br />• Consider continued mechanical control to prevent seed production of remnant noxious plants by <br />chopping with weed whip or other appropriate hand tools annually in late June /early July, possibly as <br />part of an organized group activity. <br />• Document control efforts annually. <br />Reference Area No.3 and Adjacent Areas Along Belt -line Corridor <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />• Control program objectives appear to have been met. Within the reference area, noxious weed density <br />declined by over 80% between 1998 and 2001, with a decline in thistle density of approximately 95 %. <br />Noxious species cover was reduced from 16.5% in 1999 to 2.5% in 2001. <br />• A relatively diverse and effective stand of desirable vegetation appears to have become established. A <br />satisfactory vegetation cover of 46.8% was estimated within the reference area in 2001, with balanced <br />representation of a number of perennial grasses and forbs. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />• Suspend formal monitoring unless conditions change. Perform informal visual reconnaissance <br />monitoring late May /early June each year. <br />• Suspend control efforts unless conditions change, or specific problem areas are noted in annual visual <br />inspections. <br />• Document any control efforts. <br />9 <br />