Mojave Weed Management Area

**Long Range Plan**

# Introduction

# Mission Statement

The Mojave Weed Management Area (MWMA) will cooperate and coordinate
activities necessary for the prevention and control of weeds\* in the
Mojave Desert. The emphasis of these activities shall be focused on the
prevention of weeds, and their expansion, through education and control.

# The Problem

Weed infestations in the Mojave Desert in California reduce the
biological, agricultural, recreational, and economic value of the land
and negatively impact the environment by suppressing native plant
species. A coordinated approach among federal, state, and local agencies
will improve the effectiveness of weed management efforts in the Mojave
Desert. Weed management efforts may include site identification, public
education, and mechanical, biological, chemical, and cultural control.

# The Solution

Goals of this Long Range Plan for the coordinated management of weeds
are:

1)  Protect and enhance biodiversity and promote fully functioning
    ecosystems

2)  Protect and enhance water resources

3)  Reduce fire hazard and fire control costs

4)  Increase profitability and value of cropland and rangeland

5)  Decrease costs of roadside, park, and waterway maintenance

To accomplish these goals, it will be necessary to:

1)  Bring about greater coordination, cooperation, and action to
    successfully halt the spread of weeds and help restore weed-infested
    lands to a healthy and productive condition.

2)  Heighten all citizens' awareness of the degradation brought to
    Mojave Desert lands by the spread of weeds.

3)  Provide a Coordinator to manage the MWMA program.

The Long Range Plan will address four major elements critical to
building a strong and successful regional weed management program.

1)  Education, Awareness, and Outreach

2)  Prevention: Exclusion, Detection, and Eradication

3)  Survey, Inventory, and Mapping

4)  Control and Project Monitoring

The Long Range Plan outlines actions designed to stop the spread of
weeds with an emphasis on the application of Integrated Weed Management
practices. To accomplish this, the supporters and cooperators will seek
to meld resources, priorities, and strategies into a unified action. The
Long Range Plan is a five-year plan and will be reviewed annually to
reflect program successes and new challenges. Unified action is the best
method for reducing the extensive ecological, economic, and social
impacts of weeds on the Mojave Desert's resources and people.

# The Mojave Weed Management Area

The geographic scope of the MWMA includes the portion of San Bernardino
County in the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District, the portion
of Inyo County east of Death Valley National Park, all of Death Valley
National Park, and all of Joshua Tree National Park.

Participation in the MWMA is open to any public or private individual,
organization, or agency interested in weed management, subject to
signing the MWMA Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix A).

# Program Description

# General Overview

The MWMA program is directed at suppressing and eradicating weeds in the
Mojave Desert. The program is generally a cooperative effort of all the
participants. Program funding and administration is coordinated by the
Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District's MWMA Program Coordinator.
Educating the public to assist in controlling weeds is an important
component. The different organizations and individuals supply money,
personnel, and equipment, and cooperate in procuring grants and aid.
Whether a certain weed is eradicated, suppressed or otherwise managed is
usually determined by: 1) State rating (mandate), 2) pest potential in
the Mojave Desert and adjacent regions, 3) size of infestation, 4)
whether control methods are available, and/or 5) whether there is
interest from organizations or government agencies.

# Prioritization

To facilitate planning and implementation of educational and control
programs, representatives from the partner agencies developed a list of
target species within the MWMA. However, weed control activities are not
limited to only species on the target list. The list will be used to
help prioritize weed projects, and will be modified as needed.

**Priority Species** *(In alphabetical order)*

Camel thorn *Alhagi camelorum*

Dalmation toadflax *Linaria dalmatica*

Fountain grass *Pennisetum setaceum*

Giant reed *Arundo donax*

Halogeton *Halogeton glomeratus*

Puncture vine *Tribulus terrestris*

Red Brome *Bromus madritensis*

Russian thistle *Salsola tragus*

Sahara mustard *Brassica tournefortii*

Saltcedar *Tamarix ramosissima*

Tree of Heaven *Ailanthus altissima*

White horsenettle *Solanum elaeagnifolium*

Yellow starthistle *Centaurea solstitialis*

# Program Elements

## Education, Awareness, and Outreach

In general, citizens and landowners in our community have little
understanding of how weeds negatively impact the environment, economy,
and natural resources so important to them. Weed management still tends
to be viewed as an issue exclusive to more traditional row crop
agriculture and front lawns, rather than an integral part of natural
resource management activities, such as: outdoor recreation, fire,
wildlife, wilderness, grazing, timber, maintenance of transportation
corridors, and urban area management. Greater awareness and
understanding from California citizens and landowners will lead to
increased actions from local, state, and national officials in making
weed species a priority.

Education is one of our best tools in preventing the further spread of
weeds, locating previously unknown and remote weed populations, and in
rallying support in controlling and eradicating infested sites. Raising
public awareness and understanding requires a well-planned, well-funded,
and long-term program.

**Action:** MWMA Education, Awareness, and Outreach efforts will
include:

-   [MWMA Weed Brochure]{.underline} -- Produce and distribute an
    informational brochure identifying the MWMA's 13 priority species.
    *(SB1740 funding)*

-   [Weed Tours]{.underline} -- The MDRCD Annual Tour will include at
    least one MWMA site visit and/or presentation.

-   [Public Outreach]{.underline} -- Participate in appropriate
    workshops and events to promote greater awareness and understanding
    of the negative impact of weeds.

-   [Technical Support]{.underline} -- Provide weed management technical
    support to existing school environmental programs.

-   [MWMA website]{.underline} -- Develop and maintain the MWMA website.

# [Prevention: Exclusion, Detection, and Eradication]{.underline}

Preventing a pest from becoming established in an area avoids all
associated losses and costs for control of that pest into the indefinite
future. Prevention covers all aspects of keeping a weed from becoming
established in a new territory. The components of prevention commonly
include exclusion, detection, and eradication. In addition, public
outreach affects all components of prevention.

Exclusion includes all activities to keep a weed from crossing the
border of a region. At the national or state level, it often depends on
border inspections. At the county level, it often depends heavily on
appeals to the public to use caution in activities that can
intentionally or unintentionally move species. To a lesser extent, it
may depend on regulatory activities such as nursery inspections,
weed-free forage programs, and other weed abatement activities.

Detection and eradication of early infestations deal with weeds that
have by-passed the exclusion system. Detection includes all activities
to find new infestations of weeds that normally do not exist in a
region. Eradication includes all activities to completely remove an
infestation. A perfect exclusion system would find and eliminate every
individual pest before it could enter a new region. Currently, such a
system can only be applied to the weeds that pose the greatest economic
and environmental threat due to the numerous resources required to
conduct an eradication program. Weed populations increase rapidly with
time when they are in a new, hospitable environment, and costs of
control increase directly with the size of the population. Prevention
systems accept that it is only a matter of time before many new weeds
will appear in a new region. However, when new infestations are found
early through a good detection system, costs of eradication are lower
and chances of successful eradication are higher.

**Action:** MWMA Prevention actions include:

-   [Weed-Free Forage & Weed-Free Mulch Programs]{.underline} -- Support
    federal and state programs that prevent the spread of weeds through
    forage and mulch.

-   [Nursery Education Initiative]{.underline} -- Provide a list of
    plants on CDFA and CalEPPC lists to nurseries and landscaping
    companies.

-   [County & State Detection Programs]{.underline} -- Promote increased
    county and state surveillance efforts.

-   [Weed Identification Booklet]{.underline} -- Seek grant funding to
    produce a pocket weed guide.

**[Survey, Inventory, and Mapping]{.underline}**

The MWMA believes that a strategic and long-term approach to weed
control is based on a solid knowledge of the regional distribution of
the weeds. The choice of control objective (i.e., eradication,
suppression, or containment) and control technique will depend on how
the weed is spread over the landscape.

The weed mapping strategy itself should be tied to the average
infestation level of the region and the management goals for the
populations in the region. Where weeds are very heavy it is not
necessary or feasible to do fine-grained, intensive mapping. Mapping
these weeds at the section or even township level can provide most of
the information that is necessary for regional prioritizing. Where the
weeds are in small, localized populations, more accurate locality
information is needed for eradication efforts. Mapping weeds intensively
and accurately at the edge of a containment zone is also critical to
succeeding at stopping spread.

Mapping does not need to be done by trained professionals with expensive
GPS units. With proper identification training most individuals,
including volunteers, can map weeds either with inexpensive GPS or paper
maps. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is coordinating
a statewide network of WMA GIS and the MWMA is participating in this
project. The MDRCD has provided a computer and GIS software. Data
collected in the MWMA is input by the MWMA Coordinator.

**Action:** MWMA Survey, Inventory, and Mapping actions include:

-   [Existing Data]{.underline} -- Compile existing weed mapping data
    into the MWMA GIS.

-   [Mojave River]{.underline} -- Seek funding to begin survey of
    Saltcedar and *Arundo*.

-   [Control Project Mapping]{.underline} -- Obtain mapping data in
    conjunction with weed control projects.

**[Control, and Project Monitoring]{.underline}**

Weeds pose a threat to crops, rangelands, irrigation systems, roadsides,
wildlands, recreation areas, and homes. Weed control is best achieved
using a long-term, integrated approach. Weed management is an effort to
eradicate, suppress, or contain a weed infestation from a particular
area. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) is a systems approach to weed
control. IWM involves developing a planned, strategic program that will
take several factors into consideration to maximize weed control. These
considerations include the control objectives for the land (eradication,
suppression, or containment), the effectiveness of the control technique
on the target species, biological and environmental factors, land use,
economics, policy and legal restrictions, practicality, and the extent
and nature of the weed. When implementing weed control techniques, this
approach considers using all available control methods known for a weed
species. These methods include: chemical methods, physical or mechanical
methods, cultural methods, and general land management practices.
Biological control may also be used for containment and control
objectives, but not for eradication.

One important consideration that must be part of any weed control
project is the control objective. These objectives can be described by
the following terms: eradication, suppression, and containment.
Considerable overlap may occur among all three objectives within any one
management/weed control plan.

1)  Eradication is a type of control objective aimed at eliminating all
    individuals of a particular species within a specified area (defined
    in Prevention section above). This objective is the goal when the
    weed is of considerable economic and environmental concern and the
    weed's population size is small.

2)  Suppression is a weed management objective aimed at reducing the
    current infestation density, but not necessarily reducing the total
    area or boundary of the infestation. This applies to many widely
    distributed, high-density weeds where eradication is not feasible.

3)  Containment is a weed management objective aimed at preventing
    infestation expansion and spread, and may be conducted with or
    without any attempt to reduce infestation density. This objective is
    an alternative to eradication or suppression. Containment focuses on
    halting spread until suppression or eradication can be implemented.

In order to ensure the success of a weed control project, specific
project goals must be made. These project goals should be made for both
the short and long-term, as persistent weeds take several years to
achieve the desired level of control. For example, project goals may be
made for 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year increments. Management plans should
be revised annually and modifications made as needed. Mapping
infestation sites should be performed to develop priority weed control
projects, measure baseline vegetation data, biological control agent
population information, and project success.

Monitoring and evaluation of projects indicate the degree of success and
impacts to target and non-target vegetation resulting from weed
management activities. Other than personal observation and professional
judgment, there is seldom any baseline information available on which to
make evaluations. Since success will depend on achieving the objectives
in strategic plans and integrated weed management plans, it is
imperative that monitoring data be collected to assess changes and
trends. The MWMA will establish inventories or collect baseline data
prior to treatment (pool of existing knowledge and data from
cooperators); develop specific evaluation methods prior to project
onset; collect reduction in cover data to evaluate control success;
evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and management measures at six
months, one year, and two years after treatment; take photos of each
project site on three occasions: just before treatment, six months after
treatment, and one year after treatment at the time of cover sampling;
and compile and present data annually to the MWMA.

**Actions:** MWMA Control and Monitoring actions include:

[Saltcedar Control Project at the Lewis Center (Mojave
Narrows)]{.underline}

*[(]{.underline}SB1740 and Mojave Water Agency funding)*

-   Saltcedar will be treated using a cut-stump/herbicide application
    (Roundup Pro Concentrate).

-   The MDRCD will provide a Leader and Assistant; volunteers from Apple
    Valley High School will assist with control efforts.

-   Monitoring will be conducted by the Lewis Center for Educational
    Research.

-   The MWMA will seek funding for additional control/restoration
    efforts at this site.

[Sahara mustard Control Project at Johnson Valley OHV Area (USGS, BLM, &
MDRCD)]{.underline}

*(SB1740 funding)*

-   This is a pilot control project using mechanical and chemical
    methods to eradicate a known population of Sahara mustard.

-   Control methods for Sahara mustard are mostly unknown; results from
    this project will assist in determining effective methods for
    eradicating new populations.

-   Success will be evaluated by monitoring the soil seedbank before and
    after treatments.

-   The MWMA will seek funding for additional identification and
    eradication efforts.

[Fire Behavior, Fire Effects, and Fuel Management in Blackbrush
*(Coleogyne ramosissima)* Shrublands and Invasive Annual Grasslands of
the Mojave Desert]{.underline}

*(USGS, NPS, and Joint Fire Science Program funding)*

-   This project is evaluating the effects of invasive annual plants on
    fire behavior and fire effects, and the role of fire in promoting
    plant invasions at Joshua Tree National Park and other sites in the
    Mojave and Great Basin deserts.

-   Interactions between invasive grasses, fire, and atmospheric
    nitrogen deposition are also being evaluated.

-   Herbicide and early season fire are being evaluated as control
    methods for the invasive grasses *Bromus rubens* and *Bromus
    tectorum*.

-   Effects of treatments on native plants are also being evaluated.

-   Success will be measured by monitoring the soil seedbank and plant
    cover before and after treatments.

[Effects of Off-Highway Vehicles on Soils and Biodiversity in the Mojave
Desert]{.underline}

*(USGS and BLM funding)*

-   This project is evaluating the cumulative effects of 30 years of OHV
    use on soils and biodiversity at the Dove Springs Open Area.

-   Sampling is stratified by high, medium, and low densities of OHV
    tracks digitized from aerial photos taken periodically between the
    1960s and 2000s.

-   One of the response primary variables being monitored is dominance
    by invasive annual plants.

**[Funding and Finance]{.underline}**

Funding for all phases of weed management is chronically inadequate. The
current rate of spread of major weeds, and the introduction of new
species, is far out-stripping our ability to contain them. The problem
is most acute in counties with sparse populations and small private land
bases, resulting in a low tax base. Furthermore, federal funding is
still far from sufficient to deal with the extent and scope of the
problem on the nearly \_\_\_\_ million acres of federal land in the
MWMA. Beyond state appropriated funds, a large pool of available grant
money exists. Grant funds are not typically targeted specifically for
weed projects, but can be tapped in to by encompassing weed control into
larger watershed and restoration level projects.

Another source of funding comes from MWMA cooperating members. Many
partners have in-kind support in the form of control equipment,
educational materials, computer and printing capabilities, and a variety
of unique expertises. While large-scale projects require considerable
funding, the MWMA can achieve many educational, inventory and mapping,
and limited control objectives by drawing on resources within the MWMA
group.

**Action:** MWMA Funding and Finance actions include:

-   [Grants]{.underline} -- Beyond SB1740 funds, the MWMA will submit
    proposals for at least two grants each year. Each grant will target
    one project designated by the MWMA partners.

-   [Assessment of In-Kind Resources]{.underline} -- To continually
    recognize resources available within the MWMA, a survey of MWMA
    members will be conducted, as new projects arise, as to what in-kind
    contributions could be made to complete the project.

-   [MWMA Program Coordinator]{.underline} -- The MWMA Program
    Coordinator is responsible for arranging/recording meetings,
    maintaining records, preparing/managing grant proposals, maintaining
    the MWMA website and GIS, and performing other
    administrative/project tasks. The MDRCD has provided part-time
    funding for this position; however, the MDRCD does not have the
    financial resources to support this position indefinitely. The MWMA
    partners need to establish permanent funding (through grants,
    donations, etc.) for the Coordinator position.

I.  **Appendices**

Appendix A -- Mojave Weed Management Area Memorandum of Understanding