540.80 Worksheet for Documenting an Environmental Evaluation of NRCS
Plant Releases

A. Introduction

This worksheet is used to conduct and document an Environmental
Evaluation of Plant Materials releases. Criteria relating to the
biological characteristics of a plant, the potential impact on species
interactions and ecosystems, the ease of managing the plant, and
conservation need are scored. These scores and their interpretation are
used with a decision flowchart to determine the appropriate course of
action for making a release. As with any such ranking system, it is
necessary to use sound judgment and experience when interpreting the
final results. What is appropriate for developed or agricultural areas
may not be appropriate for wildlands. Final judgment and restrictions
for use of releases should consider if the materials is intended for use
on wildlands and if the plant species occurs naturally at project sites.
Consider also if plant is likely to be used in proximity to ecological
or genetic reserves, wildlife corridors, or along roadways and riparian
habitats that connect fragmented wildlands.

B. Understanding this Worksheet

The primary purpose for this worksheet is to determine if the plant
release has the potential to adversely affect the environment or natural
surroundings. It is possible for a plant to rate low on Part 1 (Impact
on Habitats), and thus be released without further consideration, and
still have a high rating on Part 4 (Biological Characteristics)
indicating that the plant has the ability to propagate and maintain
itself naturally. Good conservation plants usually need to persist to be
able to solve the conservation problem or need for which they were
intended. This is even more important for plants used in critical areas,
i.e. severely eroding sites. In light of this fact, the most important
criteria being used in this worksheet to determine release include those
in Part 1 (Impact on Habitats) and Part 2 (Ease of Management). Parts 3
(Conservation Need) and 4 (Biological Characteristics) are used when the
decision is not so clear and there is the potential for a high impact on
habitats and control may be moderate to difficult.

C. Instructions

1\. Rate the plant or release based on the following criteria by
circling your assessment. If the criterion does not apply to the species
or release, then do not rate for that criteria. If you do not have
enough information on the species or plant release to complete at least
Parts 1, 2 and 4 in Section A, then additional data must be accumulated
through literature searches, cooperators, or studies to be able to
complete these sections. Lack of data does not allow choice of a
response. Positive responses under Section A shall only be used when
there is data in support of no impact. Additional notes which may be
used to clarify or interpret the ranking should be included in the
margins of this worksheet. For plant releases which may be considered
nearly unacceptable for release it may be helpful to have other PM staff
or cooperators complete copies of this worksheet to provide additional
documentation.

2\. All rating criteria must be completed for a plant material to be
approved for release, even if it is found in Section A, Part 1 that the
plant has a low impact on the environment. Evaluation of all criteria
will provide documentation that a thorough evaluation was completed for
the plant at the time of release. This documentation may be needed in
the future if questions are raised about the potential invasiveness or
control of the plant.

3\. When finished with ranking, interpretation, and decision making,
record the final decision on the next page of this worksheet. A
completed worksheet must be included with the release documentation and
a copy sent to the NPMC for filing.

  ---------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- -- ---------- ------------ ----------- ------- ------ ------------------------- ------ -- --------------
  **Environmental Evaluation                                                                                                                               
  of Plant Materials                                                                                                                                       
  Releases**                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                           

  **Name of person scoring:**                                                  **Date of                                                                   
                                                                               scoring:**                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                           

  **Scientific Name:**                                                         **Common                                                                    
                                                                               Name:**                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                           

  **Release Name:**                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                           

  **Is the plant native to the                                                                          **Yes                                              
  US?**                                                                                                 No**                                               

  **Is the plant native to the                                                                          **Yes                                              
  area of intended use?**                                                                               No**                                               

  **Authority used to                                                                                                                                      
  determine native status:**                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                           

  **What is the intended area                                                                                                                              
  of use for this plant?**                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                           

  **What is the intended use                                                                                                                               
  for this plant?**                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                           

  **Areas in which the release                                                                                                                             
  is known to be invasive or                                                                                                                               
  has a high probability of                                                                                                                                
  being invasive:**                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                           

  **[Summary of Criteria from                                                                                          **[Score]{.underline}**             
  Section A]{.underline}**                                                                                                                                 

  **Part 1. Impact on                                                                                                                                      
  Habitats, Ecosystems, and                                                                                                                                
  Land Use**                                                                                                                                               

  **Part 2. Ease of                                                                                                                                        
  Management**                                                                                                                                             

  **Part 3. Conservation Need                                                                                                                              
  and Plant Use**                                                                                                                                          

  **Part 4. Biological                                                                                                                                     
  Characteristics**                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                           

  **[Final Determination of                                                                                                                                
  Release Based on the                                                                                                                                     
  Environmental                                                                                                                                            
  Evaluation:]{.underline}**                                                                                                                               

                                    **OK to                                                                                                                
                                    Release**                                                                                                              

                                    **OK to                                                                                                                
                                    Release but                                                                                                            
                                    qualify use                                                                                                            
                                    and intended                                                                                                           
                                    area of                                                                                                                
                                    use\***                                                                                                                

                                    **Do Not                                                                                                               
                                    Release - NPL                                                                                                          
                                    determines if                                                                                                          
                                    release is                                                                                                             
                                    made\***                                                                                                               

                                    **Do Not                                                                                                               
                                    Release -                                                                                                              
                                    document and                                                                                                           
                                    destroy                                                                                                                
                                    materials**                                                                                                            

  I certify that this                                                                                                                                      
  Environmental Evaluation was                                                                                                                             
  conducted with the most                                                                                                                                  
  accurate and current                                                                                                                                     
  information possible.                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                            Signature                                                      
                                                                                            of Person                                                      
                                                                                            Scoring                                                        
                                                                                            Date                                                           

  **Signature of NPL                                                                                                                                       
  indicating that it is OK to                                                                                                                              
  make the release:**                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                           

  **National Program Leader,                                        **Date**                                                                               
  PM**                                                                                                                                                     

  \* An Environmental                                                                                                                                      
  Assessment (EA) and/or                                                                                                                                   
  Environmental Impact                                                                                                                                     
  Statement (EIS) may be                                                                                                                                   
  required prior to release.                                                                                                                               
  If required, attach the EA                                                                                                                               
  and/or EIS to this worksheet                                                                                                                             
  and to the release notice.                                                                                                                               
  ---------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- -- ---------- ------------ ----------- ------- ------ ------------------------- ------ -- --------------

+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **[Section A. Scoring of Criteria for Impact, Management, Need |     |
| and Biological Characteristics]{.underline}**                  |     |
|                                                                |     |
| Circle the appropriate number for each of the following        |     |
| criteria. Add up the scores for each part and record at the    |     |
| end of each part. Comments which clarify answers or provide    |     |
| supporting information may be included in the right margin of  |     |
| the worksheet or attached on a separate sheet of paper.        |     |
|                                                                |     |
| **[Part 1: Impact on Habitats, Ecosystems, and Land            |     |
| Use]{.underline}**                                             |     |
|                                                                |     |
| *This section assesses the ability of the species or release   |     |
| to [adversely]{.underline} affect habitats, ecosystems, and    |     |
| agricultural areas.*                                           |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 1)  **Ability to invade natural systems where the species does |     |
|     not naturally occur**                                      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Data show species not known to spread into natural areas   | 0   |
|     on its own                                                 |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Establishes only in areas where major disturbance has      | 3   |
|     occurred in the last 20 years (e.g., natural disasters,    |     |
|     highway corridors)                                         |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Establishes in mid- to late-successional natural areas     | 6   |
|     where minor disturbances occur (e.g., tree falls,          |     |
|     streambank erosion), but no major disturbance in last      |     |
|     20-75 years                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Often establishes in intact or otherwise healthy natural   | 10  |
|     areas with no major disturbance for at least 75 years      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 2)  **Negative impacts on ecosystem processes** (e.g.,         |     |
|     altering fire occurrence, rapid growth may alter           |     |
|     hydrology)                                                 |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No perceivable negative impacts                            | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Minor negative impacts to ecosystem processes              | 2   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Known significant negative impacts to ecosystems processes | 6   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Major, potentially irreversible, alteration or disruption  | 10  |
|     of ecosystem processes                                     |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 3)  **Impacts on the composition of plant communities where    |     |
|     the species does not naturally occur**                     |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No negative impact; causes no perceivable changes in       | 0   |
|     native populations                                         |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Noticeable changes in community composition that have      | 5   |
|     negative or unknown impacts on 1) biodiversity of natural  |     |
|     systems, or on 2) desirable agricultural/developed systems |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Causes major negative alterations in community composition | 10  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 4)  **Allelopathy**                                            |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No known allelopathic effects on other plants              | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Demonstrates allelopathic effects on seed germination or   | 3   |
|     seedling growth of other plants                            |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Demonstrates allelopathic effects to mature stages of      | 5   |
|     other plants                                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+

+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 5)  **Impact on habitat for wildlife (vertebrate or            |     |
|     invertebrate) or domestic animals (aquatic and             |     |
|     terrestrial), including threatened and endangered species  |     |
|     (coordinate with USFWS and state Heritage Programs as      |     |
|     appropriate)**                                             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No negative impact on habitat, or this criteria not        | 0   |
|     applicable based on intended use for the plant (explain    |     |
|     intended use, why not applicable, and how to assure plant  |     |
|     won't be used in an inappropriate, sensitive context)      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Minor negative impact on habitat or species interactions   | 2   |
|     (e.g., decreased palatability; lower wildlife value;       |     |
|     decreased value for undesirable animal species, shifts in  |     |
|     herbivore frequency, shifts in disease frequency)          |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Significant negative impact on habitat or species          | 5   |
|     interactions (e.g., foliage toxic to animals;              |     |
|     significantly lower value for wildlife; excludes desirable |     |
|     animal species from a domesticated area or any native      |     |
|     species from wildland area; increases exotic, invasive or  |     |
|     pest species in any area)                                  |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 6)  **Impact on other land use**                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No negative impacts on other land uses                     | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Minor impacts (plant could invade adjacent areas and       | 3   |
|     decrease its value)                                        |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Significant impacts (plant may alter the system or         | 5   |
|     adjacent lands significantly enough to prevent certain     |     |
|     uses, or negatively affects biodiversity on same or        |     |
|     adjacent wildlands.)                                       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                      | **4 |
|                                                                | 5** |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Points for Part 1**                                    |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **[Part 2. Ease of Management]{.underline}**                   |     |
|                                                                |     |
| *This part evaluates the degree of management which might be   |     |
| needed to control the species or release if it becomes a       |     |
| problem, or eradicate the species or release if it is no       |     |
| longer desirable.*                                             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 1)  **Level of effort required for control**                   |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Effective control can be achieved with mechanical          | 0   |
|     treatment                                                  |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Can be controlled with one chemical treatment              | 2   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  One or two chemical or mechanical treatments required or   | 5   |
|     biological control is available or practical               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Repeated chemical or mechanical control measures required  | 10  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 2)  **Effectiveness of community management to potentially     |     |
|     control the plant release**                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No management is needed, the plant release is short-lived  | 0   |
|     and will significantly decrease or disappear within 5      |     |
|     years under normal conditions without human intervention   |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Routine management of a community or                       | 2   |
|     restoration/preservation practices (e.g., reasonably       |     |
|     practical and financially feasible control methods         |     |
|     including some forms of prescribed burning, flooding,      |     |
|     controlled disturbance, pasture renovation) effectively    |     |
|     controls the release                                       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Cultural techniques beyond routine management can be used  | 4   |
|     to control the release                                     |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Cultural techniques beyond routine management can be used  | 8   |
|     but are unlikely to occur in a timely manner due to        |     |
|     expense or difficult logistics                             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| e.  The previous options are not effective for managing or     | 10  |
|     controlling the                                            |     |
|                                                                |     |
| > release                                                      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 3)  **Side effects of chemical or mechanical control           |     |
|     measures**                                                 |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Control measures used on release will have little or no    | 0   |
|     effect on other plants or wildlife                         |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Control measures used on release will cause moderate       | 3   |
|     effects on other plants or wildlife                        |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Control measures used on release will cause major effects  | 5   |
|     on other plants or wildlife                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| [\*\*If spreads by seed, or both seed and vegetative means, go |     |
| to #4]{.underline}                                             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| [\*\*If spreads by vegetative means only, go to                |     |
| #5]{.underline}                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 4)  **Seed banks**                                             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Seeds viable in the soil for 1 year or less                | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for 2-3 years              | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for 4-5 years              | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for more than 5 years      | 8   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 5)  **Vegetative regeneration under natural conditions**       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Regeneration from resprouting of cut stumps                | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Regeneration from pieces of the root left in the soil      | 4   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Regeneration from root or stem parts left in the soil      | 6   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 6)  **Resprouts after cutting above-ground parts**             |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Does not resprout [or]{.underline} resprouts but the       | 0   |
|     release is sterile and does not produce seed               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Resprouts and produces seed in future years                | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Resprouts and produces seed in same year                   | 8   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                      | **4 |
|                                                                | 7** |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Points for Part 2**                                    |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **[Part 3. Conservation Need and Plant Use]{.underline}**      |     |
|                                                                |     |
| *This part evaluates the importance of the species or release  |     |
| to meet a conservation need. Describe the conservation need.*  |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 1)  **Potential Use(s) of the Plant Release**                  |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Used for low-priority issues or single use                 | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Has several uses within conservation                       | 2   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Has many uses within conservation as well as outside of    | 4   |
|     conservation                                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Has high-priority use within conservation                  | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 2)  **Availability of Other Plants to Solve the Same           |     |
|     Conservation Need**                                        |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Many other plants available                                | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Few other plants available                                 | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  No other plants available                                  | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 3)  **Consequences of [Not]{.underline} Releasing This Plant** |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  No impact to conservation practices                        | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Minor impact on one or more conservation practice          | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Serious impact on one conservation practice                | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Serious impact on more than one conservation practices     | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                      | **1 |
|                                                                | 5** |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Points for Part 3**                                    |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **[Part 4. Biological Characteristics]{.underline}**           |     |
|                                                                |     |
| *This part evaluates the biological properties which indicate  |     |
| the natural ability of the species or release to propagate and |     |
| maintain itself under natural conditions. Note: these criteria |     |
| relate to the species [under natural conditions]{.underline},  |     |
| as opposed to the species under managed conditions used to     |     |
| increase the species, i.e. seed increase programs, or specific |     |
| propagation methods which do not normally occur in nature.*    |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 1)  **Typical mode of reproduction under natural conditions**  |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Plant does not increase by seed or vegetative means ([skip | 0   |
|     to #11]{.underline})                                       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Reproduces almost entirely by vegetative means             | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Reproduces only by seeds                                   | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Reproduces vegetatively and by seed                        | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 2)  **Reproduction (by seed or vegetative) in geographic area  |     |
|     of intended use**                                          |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Reproduces only outside the geographic area of intended    | 1   |
|     use                                                        |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Reproduces within the geographic area of intended use      | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Reproduces in all areas of the United States where plant   | 5   |
|     can be grown                                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 3)  **Time required to reach reproductive maturity by seed or  |     |
|     vegetative methods**                                       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Requires more than 10 years                                | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Requires 5-10 years                                        | 2   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Requires 2-5 years                                         | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Requires 1 year                                            | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| [\*\* If reproduces only by seed, skip to #5]{.underline}      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 4)  **Vegetative reproduction (by rhizomes, suckering, or      |     |
|     self-layering)**                                           |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Vegetative reproduction rate maintains population (plant   | 1   |
|     spreads but older parts die out)                           |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Vegetative reproduction rate results in moderate increase  | 3   |
|     in population size (plant spreads \<3' per year)           |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Vegetative reproduction rate results in rapid increase in  | 5   |
|     population size (plant spreads \>3' per year)              |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| [\*\* If reproduces only vegetatively, skip to                 |     |
| #11]{.underline}                                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 5)  **Ability to complete sexual reproductive cycle in area of | **  |
|     intended use**                                             | 5** |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Not observed to complete sexual reproductive cycle in the  | 1   |
|     geographic area of intended use, but completes sexual      |     |
|     reproduction in distant areas of the United States         |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Not observed to complete sexual reproductive cycle in the  | 3   |
|     geographic area of intended use, but completes sexual      |     |
|     reproduction in adjoining geographic areas                 |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Observed to complete the sexual reproductive cycle in the  | 5   |
|     geographic area of intended use                            |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 6)  **Frequency of sexual reproduction for mature plant**      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Almost never reproduces sexually                           | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Once every five or more years                              | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Every other year                                           | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  One or more times a year                                   | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 7)  **Number of viable seeds per mature plant each             |     |
|     reproductive cycle**                                       |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  None (does not produce viable seed)                        | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Few (1-10)                                                 | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Few/Moderate (11-100)                                      | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Moderate seeded (\>100 - 999)                              | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| e\) Many-seeded (\>1,000)                                      | 8   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 8)  **Dispersal ability**                                      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Limited dispersal (\<20') and few plants produced (\<100)  | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Limited dispersal (\<20') and many plants produced (\>100) | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Greater dispersal (\>20') and few plants produced (\<100)  | 7   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| d.  Greater dispersal (\>20') and many plants produced (\>100) | 10  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 9)  **Germination requirements**                               |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Requires open soil and disturbance to germinate            | 1   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Can germinate in vegetated areas but in a narrow range or  | 5   |
|     in special conditions                                      |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Can germinate in existing vegetation in a wide range of    | 10  |
|     conditions                                                 |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 10) **Interspecific Hybridization**                            |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Has not been observed to hybridize outside the species     | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Hybridizes with other species in the same genus            | 3   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Hybridizes with other genera                               | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
|                                                                |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| 11) **Competitive ability (of established plants)**            |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| a.  Poor competitor for limiting factors                       | 0   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| b.  Moderately competitive for limiting factors                | 5   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| c.  Highly competitive for limiting factors                    | 10  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                      | **7 |
|                                                                | 3** |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+
| **Total Points for Part 4**                                    |     |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+-----+

+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| **References**          |            |                               |
|                         |            |                               |
| Many of the criteria    |            |                               |
| used in this rating     |            |                               |
| system were adapted     |            |                               |
| from the following      |            |                               |
| sources:                |            |                               |
|                         |            |                               |
| Hiebert, Ron D. and     |            |                               |
| James Stubbendieck.     |            |                               |
| 1993. Handbook for      |            |                               |
| Ranking Exotic Plants   |            |                               |
| for Management and      |            |                               |
| Control. US Department  |            |                               |
| of the Interior,        |            |                               |
| National Park Service,  |            |                               |
| Denver, CO.             |            |                               |
|                         |            |                               |
| Randall, John M., Nancy |            |                               |
| Benton, Larry E. Morse, |            |                               |
| and Gwendolyn A.        |            |                               |
| Thornhurst. 1999.       |            |                               |
| Criteria for Ranking    |            |                               |
| Alien Wildland Weeds.   |            |                               |
| The Nature Conservancy, |            |                               |
| Arlington, VA.          |            |                               |
|                         |            |                               |
| **[Section B. Scoring   |            |                               |
| and                     |            |                               |
| Interp                  |            |                               |
| retation]{.underline}** |            |                               |
|                         |            |                               |
| Based on the scores     |            |                               |
| from above, circle the  |            |                               |
| points range you scored |            |                               |
| to determine the        |            |                               |
| appropriate             |            |                               |
| interpretation. The     |            |                               |
| interpretation will be  |            |                               |
| used to determine the   |            |                               |
| course of action for    |            |                               |
| the release.            |            |                               |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| **Part**                | **Points   | **Interpretation**            |
|                         | Scored**   |                               |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| Part 1. Impacts on      | 0-15       | **[Low]{.underline}** chance  |
| Habitats, Ecosystems,   |            | plant is going to affect the  |
| and Land Use            |            | environment                   |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 16-25      | **[Mod]{.underline}**erate    |
|                         |            | chance plant is going to      |
|                         |            | affect the environment        |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 26-45      | **[High]{.underline}** chance |
|                         |            | plant is going to affect the  |
|                         |            | environment                   |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| Part 2. Ease of         | 0-20       | **[Easy]{.underline}** to     |
| Management              |            | control                       |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 21-30      | **[Mod]{.underline}**erate to |
|                         |            | control                       |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 31-47      | **[Diff]{.underline}**icult   |
|                         |            | to control                    |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| Part 3. Conservation    | 0-5        | **[Low]{.underline}** need    |
| Need and Plant Use      |            |                               |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 6-9        | **[Mod]{.underline}**erate    |
|                         |            | need                          |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 10-15      | **[High]{.underline}** need   |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| Part 4. Biological      | 0-25       | **[Low]{.underline}** chance  |
| Characteristics         |            | plant is going to propagate   |
|                         |            | and increase itself           |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 26-40      | **[Mod]{.underline}**erate    |
|                         |            | chance plant is going to      |
|                         |            | propagate and increase itself |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|                         | 41-73      | **[High]{.underline}** chance |
|                         |            | plant is going to propagate   |
|                         |            | and increase itself           |
+-------------------------+------------+-------------------------------+

**[Section C. Action to Take for Releasing Plants]{.underline}**

Follow the decision tree below based on the interpretation above. Start
with your interpretation rating for Part 1 (Low, Moderate, or High) and
follow the appropriate arrow to the next level until you reach a
decision box. Once you reach a decision box you may stop and record the
decision on the first page of this worksheet.

Worksheet Updated 6/14/2007