Noxious weed risk assessment direction

Prepared by: _________________________________ Date: ________________

Approved by: ________________________________ Date: ________________


NOXIOUS WEED RISK ASSESSMENT DIRECTION

The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFP) outlines the direction for completing a noxious weed risk assessment (SNFP Appendix L). In addition, the Forest Service Manual 2080 Noxious Weed Management (effective 11/29/1995) includes a policy statement calling for a risk assessment for noxious weeds to be completed for every project. Specifically, the manual states:

2. Second Priority: Conduct early treatment of new infestations, and

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) noxious weed list (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/ ) divides noxious weeds into categories A, B, and C. A-listed weeds are those for which eradication or containment is required at the state or county level. With B-listed weeds, eradication or containment is at the discretion of the County Agricultural Commissioner. C-listed weeds require eradication or containment only when found in a nursery or at the discretion of the County Agricultural Commissioner. Q-listed weeds require temporary “A” action pending determination of a permanent rating.

Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) (http://agri.nv.gov/nwac/PLANT_NoxWeedList.htm divides) divides noxious weeds into categories A, B, and C. Category “A”: Weeds not found or limited in distribution throughout the state; actively excluded from the state and actively eradicated wherever found; actively eradicated from nursery stock dealer premises; control required by the state in all infestations. Category "B": Weeds established in scattered populations in some counties of the state; actively excluded where possible, actively eradicated from nursery stock dealer premises; control required by the state in areas where populations are not well established or previously unknown to occur. Category "C": Weeds currently established and generally widespread in many counties of the state; actively eradicated from nursery stock dealer premises; abatement at the discretion of the state quarantine officer.

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA) part 3.6 defines noxious weeds as: those plant species designated as noxious weeds by Federal or State law. Noxious weeds generally possess one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage, poisonous, toxic, parasitic, a carrier or host of serious insects or disease, and generally non-native.

D. Habitat Alteration Expected as a Result of the Project:

E. Increased Vectors as a Result of Project Implementation:

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  All off-road equipment used on this project shall be washed before moving into the project area to ensure that the equipment is free of soil, seeds, vegetative material, or other debris that could contain or hold seeds of noxious weeds. “Off-road equipment” includes all logging and construction equipment and such brushing equipment as brush hogs, masticators, and chippers; it does not include log trucks, chip vans, service vehicles, water trucks, pickup trucks, and similar vehicles not intended for off-road use. However, it is recommended that all vehicles, especially large vehicles, are cleaned when they come into the Basin or come from a known weed infested area. Equipment will be considered clean when visual inspection does not reveal soil, seeds, plant material, or other such debris. When working in known weed infested areas equipment shall then be cleaned at a washing station before moving to other Forest Service system lands which do not contain noxious weeds.
  

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  All earth-moving equipment, gravel, fill, or other materials are required to be weed-free. Use onsite sand, gravel, rock, or organic matter when possible. Otherwise, obtain weed-free materials from gravel pits and fill sources that have been surveyed and approved by Nevada Department of Agriculture or by a botanist or ecologist at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
  

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  Minimize the amount of ground and vegetation disturbance in the construction areas. Reestablish vegetation where feasible on disturbed bare ground to minimize weed establishment and infestation. Revegetation is especially important in staging areas.
  

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  Use weed-free mulches, and seed sources. Salvage topsoil from project area for use in onsite revegetation, unless contaminated with noxious weeds. All activities that require seeding or planting must utilize locally collected native seed sources when possible. Plant and seed material should be collected from or near the project area, from within the same watershed, and at a similar elevation when possible. Persistent non-natives such as Phleum pratense (cultivated timothy), Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass), or Lolium spp. (ryegrass) will not be used. This requirement is consistent with the USFS Region 5 policy that directs the use of native plant material for revegetation and restoration for maintaining “the overall national goal of conserving the biodiversity, health, productivity, and sustainable use of forest, rangeland, and aquatic ecosystems”. Seed mixes must be approved by a Forest Service botanist.
  

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  Staging areas for equipment, materials, or crews will not be sited in weed infested areas.
  

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  Weed infestations identified before project implementation that are within the project area or along travel routes near the project area will be hand treated or “flagged and avoided” according to the species present and project constraints.
  

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  After the project is completed the LTBMU Noxious Weed Coordinator must be notified so that the project area can be monitored for 3 years subsequent to project implementation to ensure additional weed species do not become established in the areas affected by the project and to ensure that known weeds do not spread.
  

7. 
   Anticipated Weed Response to Proposed Action:
   

2.