[cobirds] Re: Grant application to remove most of the Russian Olive trees in the Black Hole at Two Buttes in Baca County

Se Etta -

   The CPW probably knows about this, but:  the US Fish and Wildlife Service has delineated the breeding bird season as April 1 - July 15.  This is a time that nesting is most likely, and under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act disturbing or destroying the nests, eggs and young of migratory birds is illegal.  So the restoration work ought to avoid that breeding bird season, 4/1 to 7/15, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 10:59:34 PM UTC-7, SeEtta wrote:

I am asking for feedback about a grant application to remove most of the Russian Olive trees and all of the more sparse Tamarisk in the wildlife area east of the Two Buttes Dam in Baca County including the Black Hole area that is much coveted by birders.  I am in a position as a member of the executive committee of the Arkansas Basin Roundtable (we do water planning for the Arkansas Basin) to give feedback about this grant proposal and any potential deleterious impacts it may have on birds and other native species.  I expect that the timing of the vegetation removal is critical so please provide what time period you believe should be off-limits and why and especially any documentation to back up the need to not allow vegetation disturbance.   I am copying the grant proposal below.  I need the feedback by Sunday night so I have time to prepare for a meeting in which this will be discussed next Wednesday.

Thanks in advance.

SeEtta Moss

Canon City

http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com

<<"Estimated Completion Date:    June 30, 2018
Brief description of project:
    The Two Buttes Dam and Wildlife Area is listed on the State Register of Historic Places.  It is Colorado Parks & Wildlife property, with the Two Buttes Wildlife Area extending between cliffs below the dam.  Russian olive has taken over the understory of the wildlife area below the dam.  For this project and timeline, the goal of this project is to suppress the infestation of Russian olive to 10% - 20% of the understory from the current estimate of 30% to 40% of the existing understory with some dense pockets.  Some tamarisk is present, which we will eradicate.  A bare-dirt area above the Black Hole is eroding into the Black Hole.  Colorado Parks & Wildlife is currently using this area as part of a canal restoration project.  They intend to grade this area when they are done.  Native shrubs, and grasses will need to be planted near the top of the cliffs to prevent further erosion into the Black Hole.
Management Goals   
    This project seeks to improve water quality and quantity, improve wildlife habitat, and enhance recreational opportunity in the Two Buttes Reservoir and Wildlife Area through:
(1)  The eradication of tamarisk and suppression Russian olive from the 30 acres of wildlife area east of the Two Buttes Dam;
(2)  The introduction of different native species to the riparian ecosystem;
(3)  The suppression of erosion into the Black Hole;
(4)  The eradication of other List B and List C noxious weed species west of Two Buttes Dam.
Management Objectives   
    Suppress Russian olive understory from the current estimated 30% - 40% to 10% - 20% of understory area by June 2018.
    Eradicate tamarisk from wildlife area downstream from the dam to private land by June 2017.
    Reintroduce native willow cover in and around the Black Hole to help prevent tamarisk reestablishment by June 2018.
    Plant grass, and native shrubs above the west cliffs to suppress erosion into the Black Hole.  These erosion controls are to be completed by June 2018.
    Eradicate common mullein and other List B and List C weeds as agreed upon by CPW around Two Buttes Reservoir.
Integrated Pest Management   
Biological
    Planting grass and native shrubs above the west cliffs will help prevent invasive weed seeds from washing down into the Black Hole.
    Planting willows where tamarisk currently resides will prevent the high-light environment which allowed tamarisk to establish itself.
Mechanical
    A tractor with "jaws" will pull out small- to medium-sized Russian olive trees and mature tamarisk plants.
    Mulching may be necessary to economically dispose of the plant material.
    Department of Corrections manual labor may be used to pull small Russian olive saplings.
    Manual collection of common mullein seed heads will take place as plants mature or recover.
Chemical
    'Hack and squirt' with aquatic-approved herbicide will be used to kill the large Russian olive trees.  Because the cottonwood canopy is well established, cut stump treatment could be used.  However, hack-and-squirt will kill the trees in place, reducing the risk of damaging the cottonwoods during removal of the Russian olives, and retaining the structure of the Russian olives for habitat use in the near future.
    Foliar spray will be used to control tamarisk recovery.
    Cut stump or foliar spray will be used on Russian olive undergrowth as it recovers from the biological and/or mechanical controls. 
    Spot (foliar) spraying will occur on List B and List C weeds found west of the dam.
Secondary/Subsequent Weed Control
    Quarterly control of new sprouts for tamarisk and Russian olive will take place.  This may be mechanical control (pull the sprouts) or chemical control (foliar spray).  Revegetation in the Black Hole area should occur passively as Russian olive undergrowth is diminished.  Revegetation in this area will be evaluated on each quarterly visit.  Above the Black Hole on the west side, revegetation is required due to the massive dirt-work done in the last few years.  The east edge (next to the cliffs on the west side of the Black Hole) will be planted with native shrubs and grass to prevent runoff into the Black Hole.  Willows will be planted where tamarisk was present to prevent the high-light environment that allowed tamarisk to establish itself.  Scouting and control of List weeds west of the dam will continue semiannually until June of 2018.

Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance   
    Monitoring of project effectiveness will continue at least annually after June 2018 as part of BCCD's Weed Management Program.  However, due to the extensive nature of the infestation, the plan for this project is not eradication of Russian olive, but suppression.  In order to prevent re-infestation of Russian olive, eradication must be the long-term goal.  Therefore, BCCD anticipates the need for additional control beyond the scope of this project.  This will require more than annual monitoring.  We will continue the work of Russian olive control in the Two Buttes Wildlife Area beyond the time-frame of this project as needed, but only if CPW permission is granted.  CPW, at this time, doesn't want eradication.  Getting CPW onboard with total eradication will require significant results from this project that may not be apparent for several years.
    An annual monitoring report, using the recommended monitoring protocols and datasheets, will be provided to the CWCB from BCCD during the years 2019 – 2024.">>>

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