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Weeds of Medford District of the BLM

Of the 357 non-native plants documented here, there are over 30 listed noxious weeds that are present on the district… more are coming, especially up I-5 out of California. Medford is one of the major gateways for weed spread into Oregon

The top ten species are: Yellow starthistle Scotch broom Puncture vine Himalayan blackberry Rush skeleton weed Dyers woad Purple loosestrife Japanese knotweed Canada thistle Meadow knapweed Etc…

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Weed “Hot Spots”

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Prevention and educationPrevention and educationVehicle washingVehicle washingUse weed-free seed and hay Use weed-free seed and hay Education outreach – brochures, fairs, Education outreach – brochures, fairs, presentations to clubs etc…presentations to clubs etc…

Coordination Coordination Membership in the Jackson and Josephine County Membership in the Jackson and Josephine County Weed Management Areas Weed Management Areas Working with Oregon Department of Agriculture Working with Oregon Department of Agriculture on specific projectson specific projectsPrivate land ownersPrivate land owners

Integrated Vegetation Management

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Weed Treatments Weed Treatments Manual Control: Hand pulling, good for small sites, sensitive areas, only effective for certain species: <250 acres a year

Mechanical Control: Tilling, mowing (limited use in woodlands and forest); mowing has some utility along roads for certain species (reduce seed load), but stimulates other species Biocontrol insects: Only effective for certain species, certain conditions ~ 20 releases per year

Integrated Vegetation Management

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Integrated Vegetation Management Treatments

Continued Herbicide

Spot spraying with backpack sprayers

Nearly all treatments use Glyphosate

Use non-ionic surfactants (even in the uplands)

Only allowed to treat federal, state, and county- listed “noxious” weeds

Currently ~ 3000 acres per year (5 year average) using local contractors

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Follow the 1994 Strategy, the 1996 BLM “Partners Follow the 1994 Strategy, the 1996 BLM “Partners Against Weeds” Action plan, and the 1998 Medford Against Weeds” Action plan, and the 1998 Medford Weed EA Weed EA

District Planning and Implementation

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District Planning and Implementation

Botanical surveys document weed Botanical surveys document weed populations as part of project planning on populations as part of project planning on federal landsfederal lands

Currently have documented > 10,000 Currently have documented > 10,000 acres for about 30 weed species on acres for about 30 weed species on federal landsfederal lands

Weed treatments may be part of other Weed treatments may be part of other management activities or as ‘stand alone’ management activities or as ‘stand alone’ projectsprojects

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Describes an array of new required Standard Operating Procedures and Mitigations to minimize risks to human and environmental health:

Water resources including wetlandsWater resources including wetlands

Vegetation including aquatic and rare plantsVegetation including aquatic and rare plants

Fish and wildlifeFish and wildlife

Livestock including wild horses and burrosLivestock including wild horses and burros

Human health and safetyHuman health and safety

How will Vegetation Treatment EIS Help?

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Currently nearly all chemical treatments used here Currently nearly all chemical treatments used here are with Glyphosate. We need a broader array of ‘tools are with Glyphosate. We need a broader array of ‘tools in the toolbox’ to improve ecosystem health and in the toolbox’ to improve ecosystem health and sustain biodiversitysustain biodiversity

For example there are new herbicides that only For example there are new herbicides that only target noxious annual grasses (e.g. downy brome and target noxious annual grasses (e.g. downy brome and medusa head) in grassland and oak woodland medusa head) in grassland and oak woodland restoration restoration

Ability to use the same herbicides as partners and cooperators (e.g. counties) in joint projects to improve efficiency

How will Vegetation Treatment EIS Help?

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Treat other invasive vegetation (not just officially Treat other invasive vegetation (not just officially listed noxious weeds)listed noxious weeds)

Along rights-of-way, especially in conjunction with partners (increase efficiency)

As part of a hazardous fuels reduction program (reduce costs)

Native ‘obnoxious’ species for example like poison oak in recreation areas, or non-listed non-native species that are affecting the environment

How will Vegetation Treatment EIS Help?

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Once the Statewide Vegetation Treatments EIS is Once the Statewide Vegetation Treatments EIS is finalized, additional NEPA analysis would occur at finalized, additional NEPA analysis would occur at the District levelthe District level

More site specificMore site specific

Would tier to the State and National EIS’sWould tier to the State and National EIS’s

Tailored to Medford BLM District’s weeds and Tailored to Medford BLM District’s weeds and local issueslocal issues

District level Analysis