Vale DistrictVale DistrictPublic Scoping Public Scoping

MeetingsMeetingsVegetation Treatments Using Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM Lands in Herbicides on BLM Lands in

OregonOregonEnvironmental Impact StatementEnvironmental Impact Statement

Baker City 7/7/08Baker City 7/7/08Vale 7/8/08Vale 7/8/08

DistrictDistrict MapMap

Major Invasive Species Major Invasive Species OccurrencesOccurrences

Major Species in District:Major Species in District: Rush skeletonweed: 500,000 acres infested; 1,100 net acresRush skeletonweed: 500,000 acres infested; 1,100 net acres Leafy spurge: 60,000 acres infested; 200 net acresLeafy spurge: 60,000 acres infested; 200 net acres Dalmatian toadflax: 7,000 acres infested; 100 net acres Dalmatian toadflax: 7,000 acres infested; 100 net acres Yellow starthistle: 6,000 acres infested; 250 net acresYellow starthistle: 6,000 acres infested; 250 net acres Whitetop: 2,000,000 acres infested; 7,500 net acresWhitetop: 2,000,000 acres infested; 7,500 net acres Diffuse knapweedDiffuse knapweed Spotted KnapweedSpotted Knapweed Scotch thistleScotch thistle Yellow/Meadow Hawkweed not known to be on BLM – yetYellow/Meadow Hawkweed not known to be on BLM – yet

Major Species Baker RAMajor Species Baker RA

Rush SkeletonweedRush Skeletonweed

Leafy Spurge – Alder Leafy Spurge – Alder CreekCreek

Yellow Starthistle - Yellow Starthistle - KeatingKeating

Dalmatian ToadflaxDalmatian Toadflax

Integrated Vegetation Integrated Vegetation ManagementManagement

An overview of Vale District Integrated Vegetation Management An overview of Vale District Integrated Vegetation Management ProgramProgram

Prevention & education efforts: Emphasis on Early Prevention & education efforts: Emphasis on Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR).Detection Rapid Response (EDRR).

Coordination with ODA, ODFW, ODOT, Counties and Coordination with ODA, ODFW, ODOT, Counties and County Weed Boards, Tri-County and Jordan Valley County Weed Boards, Tri-County and Jordan Valley Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs).Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs).

Treatment methods: see following slides. Treatment methods: see following slides. Projects are planned and prioritized based on biggest Projects are planned and prioritized based on biggest

threat to resources considering species aggressiveness threat to resources considering species aggressiveness size of infestation, treatment options and effectiveness. size of infestation, treatment options and effectiveness.

Public and adjacent landowner notification and Public and adjacent landowner notification and coordination – normally do not due to remote sites and coordination – normally do not due to remote sites and small spot treatments. small spot treatments.

Manual & Mechanical Manual & Mechanical TreatmentsTreatments

The Vale District treats approximately 50 The Vale District treats approximately 50 total acres each year using manual and total acres each year using manual and mechanical methods. These are numerous mechanical methods. These are numerous small sites widely scattered over the small sites widely scattered over the district.district.

Examples are: 1. hand pulling diffuse Examples are: 1. hand pulling diffuse knapweed at pull outs and camp sites along knapweed at pull outs and camp sites along the Grande Ronde River by the River the Grande Ronde River by the River Rangers. 2. Many employees will stop and Rangers. 2. Many employees will stop and shovel Scotch thistle before the plant bolts.shovel Scotch thistle before the plant bolts.

Biological AgentsBiological Agents ThisThis district is working closely with district is working closely with

APHIS and Oregon Department Ag in APHIS and Oregon Department Ag in bio-control work on yellow starthistle, bio-control work on yellow starthistle, salt cedar, knapweeds, leafy spurge, etc. salt cedar, knapweeds, leafy spurge, etc.

Approximately 55,000 acres now have Approximately 55,000 acres now have bio-control agents established to one bio-control agents established to one degree or another. May take several degree or another. May take several years to build up sufficient populations years to build up sufficient populations to be effective.to be effective.

Bio-ControlBio-ControlNew Releases on approximately 50 New Releases on approximately 50

acresacreseach yeareach year

Bio-Control Bio-Control on knapweedon knapweed

Biocontrol Biocontrol AphthonaAphthona beetles on Leafy beetles on Leafy

SpurgeSpurge

Aerial TreatmentsAerial TreatmentsRush Skeletonweed in Rush Skeletonweed in Snake River CanyonSnake River Canyon

Keating StarthistleKeating Starthistle

Toadflax Treatments with Toadflax Treatments with horses below Promise horses below Promise

(Wallowa County)(Wallowa County)

Herbicide TreatmentsHerbicide Treatments

2007 District Acres Treated : 1,378 net acres2007 District Acres Treated : 1,378 net acres Malheur/Jordan Resource Areas: 462 acres – Malheur/Jordan Resource Areas: 462 acres –

all groundall ground Baker Resource Area : 841 acres ground + 75 Baker Resource Area : 841 acres ground + 75

aerial = 916 totalaerial = 916 total Applications are made by commercial Applications are made by commercial

contractors, county weed personnel, ODA, Tri-contractors, county weed personnel, ODA, Tri-County CWMA, ODOT, licensed and certified County CWMA, ODOT, licensed and certified BLM employees.BLM employees.

All applications are covered under approved All applications are covered under approved Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs).Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs).

How Vegetation How Vegetation TreatmentTreatment EIS EIS Would HelpWould Help

Having a broader array of herbicides to choose from resulting Having a broader array of herbicides to choose from resulting from this EIS would help our integrated vegetation management from this EIS would help our integrated vegetation management program by:program by:

Noxious weeds - examples: 1) Whitetop - cannot use Telar Noxious weeds - examples: 1) Whitetop - cannot use Telar or Escort at this time due to the injunction. Have lost or Escort at this time due to the injunction. Have lost 1,000s of acres to whitetop as a result. 2) The use Habitat 1,000s of acres to whitetop as a result. 2) The use Habitat on salt cedar has been very effective on private land. on salt cedar has been very effective on private land.

Invasive species - example: Plateau on Cheatgrass and Invasive species - example: Plateau on Cheatgrass and medusaheadmedusahead

Weeds in rights of ways, admin. sites, and recreation sites Weeds in rights of ways, admin. sites, and recreation sites (i.e., changes from mowing to treatment with herbicides or (i.e., changes from mowing to treatment with herbicides or use of residuals).use of residuals).

Vegetation to promote landscape health objectives - Vegetation to promote landscape health objectives - example: using Spike to alter age structure of sagebrush to example: using Spike to alter age structure of sagebrush to promote habitat for sage grousepromote habitat for sage grouse

Keating WhitetopKeating Whitetop

Non-noxious SpeciesNon-noxious Species

Having the ability to use herbicides on Having the ability to use herbicides on other than officially listed noxious other than officially listed noxious weeds would improve some treatment weeds would improve some treatment options in our program (cost, options in our program (cost, efficiencies, landscape health, improve efficiencies, landscape health, improve coordination with other agencies and coordination with other agencies and private landowners). Example: Being private landowners). Example: Being able to use herbicides on poison ivy in able to use herbicides on poison ivy in campgrounds along the Snake River, campgrounds along the Snake River, etc. etc.

District Level AnalysisDistrict Level Analysis Once the statewide Vegetation Treatment Once the statewide Vegetation Treatment

EIS is finalized, additional National EIS is finalized, additional National Environmental Policy Act analysis would be Environmental Policy Act analysis would be required at the District or Resource Area required at the District or Resource Area level. A draft district programmatic EA has level. A draft district programmatic EA has been written but has been on hold. It will be been written but has been on hold. It will be revised now that the Record of Decision revised now that the Record of Decision (ROD) has been issued for the 17 Western (ROD) has been issued for the 17 Western States Vegetation Management EIS - AND States Vegetation Management EIS - AND once the state EIS is final . once the state EIS is final .