APPENDIX C

Control

Detection

Prevention

Restoration

Monitoring

USDA - FOREST SERVICE 

Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices
Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants

on the Tonto National Forest 2

INDEX

Introduction........................................................................4 

Supporting 

Direction............................................................................4

Using This 

Guide.................................................................................5 

General Weed Prevention Practices for Site-disturbing

Projects and Maintenance 

Programs............................................................................6

Aquatic Weed Prevention 

Practices............................................................................8

Cultural 

Resources..........................................................................10

Fire Management

Pre-fire, Pre-incident 

Training...........................................................................10

Plans........................................................................10

WildfiresGeneral............................................................................10

Prescribed 

Fire.................................................................................11

Fire 

Rehabilitation...................................................................11

Forest Vegetation Management

Timber Harvest Operations & Stewardship 

Contracting......................................................................12

Post Vegetation Management 

Operations.......................................................................13

Grazing Management..........................................................13
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on the Tonto National Forest 3

Lands and Special 

Uses...............................................................................15

Minerals........................................................................16

Recreation, Wilderness, and Special Management Areas.............16

Research 

Activities.........................................................................17

Road Management

New and 

Reconstruction................................................................17

Road Maintenance and 

Decommissioning..............................................................17

Watershed 

Management...................................................................18

Wildlife, Fisheries, and 

Botany...........................................................................19
Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants

on the Tonto National Forest 4

USDA-Forest Service

GUIDE TO 

NOXIOUS WEED PREVENTION PRACTICES

Introduction

Preventing the introduction and spread of noxious weeds is one objective of Integrated 

Weed Management Programs on National Forest System lands throughout the United 

States. This Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices (Guide) provides a 

comprehensive directory of weed prevention practices for use in Forest Service planning 

and wildland resource management activities and operations. This Guide will help 

National Forest and Grassland managers and cooperators identify weed prevention 

practices that mitigate identified risks of weed introduction and spread for a project or 

program. 

This Guide uses the term “weed” to include all plants defined as “noxious weeds” by 

Forest Service policy:

 

“. . .plants designated as noxious weeds by the Secretary of Agriculture 

or by the responsible State official. Noxious weeds generally possess 

one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to 

manage, poisonous, toxic, parasitic, a carrier or host of serious insects 

or disease, and being native or new to or not common to the United 

States or parts thereof.” (FSM 2080.5) 

For National Forests and Grasslands that use a State-defined noxious weed list, the listed 

weed species are the priority for implementing weed prevention practices in cooperation 

with neighbors and partners. National forests and grasslands that do not have a Statedefined noxious weed list need to determine local weed prevention priorities using weed 

lists created by other State or local organizations. At line officer’s discretion, the 

practices described in this Guide may also be applied to non-native invasive plants that 

are not defined as “noxious”. 

Supporting Direction

This Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices supports 

implementation of the February 3, 1999 Executive Order on 

Invasive Species. Federal agencies are expected to follow the 

direction in the Executive Order. 

Development of weed prevention practices is supported by Forest Service noxious weed 

policy and strategy. Forest Service policy identifies prevention of the introduction and 

establishment of noxious weed infestations as an agency objective. This policy directs 
Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants

on the Tonto National Forest 5

the Forest Service to: (1) determine the factors that favor establishment and spread of 

noxious weeds, (2) analyze weed risks in resource management projects, and (3) design 

management practices to reduce these risks. The Forest Service Noxious Weed Strategy 

identifies development of practices for prevention and mitigation during grounddisturbing activities as a long-term emphasis item. The February 1999 Executive Order 

on Invasive Species requires Federal agencies to use relevant programs and authorities to 

prevent the introduction of invasive species and not authorize or carry out actions that are 

likely to cause the introduction or spread of invasive species unless the agency has 

determined, and made public, documentation that shows that the benefits of such actions 

clearly outweigh the potential harm, and all feasible and prudent measures to minimize 

risk of harm will need to be taken in conjunction with the actions.

Using This Guide

All resource management projects need to analyze weed risks in the planning stage. Risk

includes identifying the likelihood of weeds spreading to the project area and determining 

the consequence of weed establishment in the project area. Resource programs 

undertaking maintenance operations need to analyze weed risks when preparing operating

plans. A finding of risk is the basis for identifying the appropriate weed prevention 

practices from the Guide, which are likely to be effective in a particular project situation. 

When considering the use of a weed prevention practice for a specific project or resource 

program, evaluate the efficacy of the weed prevention practice to meet the goal, its 

feasibility to implement in the specific situation, and its cost-effectiveness. A 

determination of cost-effectiveness may consider the probability and cost of weed control 

if a weed prevention practice is not used and the relative contribution of the project or 

activity to the overall weed risk at the site. 

The Guide identifies weed prevention practices that can be applied to specific sitedisturbing projects and that may also be applicable for maintenance activities. These 

weed prevention practices are listed in the first section: “General Weed Prevention 

The Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices provides a toolbox of ideas for use in 

mitigating identified weed risks in resource management operations. The Guide adds no 

new requirements or regulations. 

In 2001 two weed prevention practices are required by Forest Service policy: 

1. For forested vegetation management operations, use equipment cleaning contract 

provisions WO-C/CT 6.36 (see Appendix 1)

2. Post and enforce weed-free feed orders, where they exist. (FSM 2081.03). 

All other weed prevention practices in this Guide are optional for use based upon an 

analysis of weed risks. This list of practices, if applied, is considered to be good overall 

direction, however, not all of these practices can be implemented in every project. 
Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants

on the Tonto National Forest 6

Practices for Site-disturbing Projects and Maintenance Activities.” The remaining 

sections list weed prevention practices that are more uniquely applicable to particular 

resource management programs, listed by type of resource activity. The intent of this 

Guide is for managers to first identify and apply the General Weed Prevention practices 

and then supplement those practices with the appropriate resource activity specific 

guidance.

General Weed Prevention Practices for Site-disturbing 

Projects and Maintenance Programs

Goal 1: Incorporate weed prevention and control into project layout, design, alternative 

evaluation, and project decisions. 

 Practice 1: Environmental analysis for projects and maintenance programs will 

need to assess weed risks, analyze potential treatment of high-risk sites for weed 

establishment and spread, and identify prevention practices. Determine 

prevention and maintenance needs, to include the use of herbicides, if needed, at 

the onset of project planning. 

Goal 2. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds.

 Practice 2. Before ground-disturbing activities begin, inventory and prioritize 

weed infestations for treatment in project operating areas and along access routes. 

Identify what weeds are on site, or within reasonably expected potential invasion 

vicinity, and do a risk assessment accordingly. Control weeds as necessary. 

 Practice 3. After completing “Practice 2” above, to reduce risk of spreading weed 

infestations, begin project operations in uninfested areas before operating in 

weed-infested areas.

 Practice 4. Locate and use weed-free project staging areas. Avoid or minimize 

all types of travel through weed-infested areas, or restrict to those periods when 

spread of seed or propagules are least likely.

 Practice 5. Determine the need for, and when appropriate, identify sites where 

equipment can be cleaned. Clean equipment before entering National Forest 

System lands; a Forest Officer, in coordination with the Unit Invasive Species 

Coordinator, needs to approve use of on-Forest cleaning sites in advance. This 

practice does not apply to service vehicles traveling frequently in and out of the 

project area that will remain on the roadway. Seeds and plant parts need to be 

collected when practical and incinerated. Remove mud, dirt, and plant parts from 

project equipment before moving it into a project area. 
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 Practice 6. Clean all equipment, before leaving the project site, if operating in 

areas infested with weeds. Determine the need for, and when appropriate, 

identify sites where equipment can be cleaned. Seeds and plant parts need to be 

collected when practical and incinerated. 

 Practice 7. Workers need to inspect, remove, and properly dispose of weed seed 

and plant parts found on their clothing and equipment. Proper disposal means 

bagging the seeds and plant parts and incinerating them. 

 Practice 8. Coordinate project activities with any nearby herbicide application to 

maximize cost effectiveness of weed treatments.

 Practice 9. Evaluate options, including closure, to regulate the flow of traffic on 

sites where desired vegetation needs to be established. Sites could include road 

and trail rights-of-way, and other areas of disturbed soils. 

Goal 3. Prevent the introduction and spread of weeds caused by moving infested sand, 

gravel, borrow, and fill material in Forest Service, contractor and cooperator operations. 

For practices 10 through 12 below, work with the responsible transportation agencies to 

voluntarily adopt these practices where county and state governments have responsibility 

for maintenance of roads that cross National Forest System lands. 

 Practice 10. Inspect material sources on site, and ensure that they are weed-free 

before use and transport. Treat weed-infested sources for eradication, and strip 

and stockpile contaminated material before any use of pit material.

 Practice 11. Inspect and document the area where material from treated weedinfested sources is used, annually for at least three years after project completion, 

to ensure that any weeds transported to the site are promptly detected and 

controlled.

 Practice 12. Maintain stockpiled, uninfested material in a weed-free condition.

 Practice 13. Work with the responsible transportation agencies to adopt these 

practices for maintenance of roads that cross National Forest System lands.

Goal 4. Avoid creating conditions that promote weed germination and 

establishment.

 Practice 13. Minimize soil disturbance and retain native vegetation to the extent 

practical, consistent with project objectives.

 Practice 14. In those vegetation types that have relatively closed canopies as a 

natural condition, retain shade to the maximum extent possible to suppress weeds 

and prevent their establishment and growth in and around project activity.
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Goal 5. Where project disturbance creates bare ground, consistent with project 

objectives, re-establish vegetation to prevent conditions to establish weeds. 

 Practice 15. Revegetate disturbed soil (except travelways on surfaced projects) in 

a manner that optimizes plant establishment for that specific site. Define for each 

project what constitutes disturbed soil and objectives for plant cover revegetation. 

 Practice 16. Revegetation may include topsoil replacement, planting, seeding, 

fertilization, liming, and weed-free mulching as necessary. Use native material 

where appropriate and feasible. Use certified weed-free or weed-seed-free hay or 

straw where certified materials are required and/or are reasonably available. 

Always use certified materials in areas closed by administrative order. Where 

practical, stockpile weed-seed-free topsoil and replace it on disturbed areas (e.g. 

road embankments or landings) 

 Practice 17. Use local seeding guidelines to determine detailed procedures and 

appropriate mixes. To avoid weed-contamination, a certified seed laboratory 

needs to test each lot against the all-State noxious weed list to Association of Seed 

Technologists and Analysts (AOSTA) standards, and also using the Tonto 

National Forest Noxious Weed List, and provide documentation of the seed 

inspection test. There are plant species not on State and Federal noxious weed 

lists that the Tonto National Forest considers non-native invasive weeds. Check 

State and Federal lists to see if any local weeds need to be added prior to testing. 

Seed lots labeled as certified weed free at time of sale may still contain some 

weed seed contamination. Non-certified seed should first be tested before use. 

 Practice 18. Inspect and document all limited term ground-disturbing operations 

in noxious weed infested areas for at least three growing seasons following 

completion of the project. For on-going projects, continue to monitor until 

reasonable certainty is obtained that no weeds have occurred. Provide for followup treatments based on inspection results.

Goal 7. Improve effectiveness of prevention practices through weed awareness and 

education.

 Practice 19. Provide information, training and appropriate weed identification 

materials to people potentially involved in weed introduction, establishment, and 

spread on National Forest System lands, including agency managers, employees, 

forest workers, permit holders, and recreational visitors. Educate them to an 

appropriate level in weed identification, biology, impacts, and effective 

prevention measures. 

 Practice 20. Provide proficient weed management expertise at each 

administrative unit. Expertise means that necessary skills are available and 

corporate knowledge is maintained. 
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on the Tonto National Forest 9

 Practice 21. Develop incentive programs encouraging weed awareness detection, 

reporting, and for locating new invaders.

Goal 8. Set the example; maintain weed-free administrative sites. 

 Practice 22. Treat weeds at administrative sites and use weed prevention 

practices to maintain sites in a weed-free condition.

Aquatic Weed Prevention Practices

Goal 1. To prevent new weed infestations and the spread of existing weeds, avoid or 

remove sources of weed seed and propagules.

 Aquatic 1. Provide outreach to state fish and game departments, counties, and 

other agencies concerning the unique prevention measures and control practices 

associated with aquatic weeds. 

 Aquatic 2. Inspect boats (including air boats), trailers, and other boating 

equipment and remove any visible plants, animals, or mud before leaving any 

waters or boat launching facilities. Drain water from motor, live well, bilge, and 

transom wells while on land before leaving the vicinity. Wash and dry boats, 

tackle, downriggers, anchors, nets, floors of boats, props, axles, trailers, and other 

boating equipment to kill weeds not visible at the boat launch. 

 Aquatic 3. Before transporting to new waters, rinse boat and boating equipment 

with hot (40°C or 104°F) clean water, spray boat or trailer with high-pressure 

water, or dry boat and equipment for at least 5 days. 

 Aquatic 4. Inspect seaplanes and remove weeds from floats, wires, cables, water 

rudders, and pump floats; wash with hot water or spray with high-pressure water, 

or dry for at least 5 days. 

 Aquatic 5. Before take-off – avoid taxiing through heavy surface growths of 

weeds before takeoff; raise and lower water rudders several times to clear off 

plants. If weeds were picked up during landing, clean off the water rudders 

before take-off and leave the water rudders up during take-off. After take-off – if 

water rudders were down during take-off, raise and lower water rudders several 

times to free weed plant fragments while over original body of water or over land. 

If weeds remain visible on floats or water rudders, the pilot may return to flight 

origin and remove plants if an extra landing and takeoff is not a safety concern. 

 Aquatic 6. Maintain a l00 feet buffer of aquatic weed-free clearance around boat 

launches and docks.
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 Aquatic 7. Promptly post sites if aquatic invasives are found. Confine 

infestation; where prevention is infeasible or ineffective, close facility until 

infestation is contained. 

 Aquatic 8. Wash and dry tackle, downriggers, float tubes, waders, and other 

equipment to remove or kill harmful species not visible at the boat launch.

 Aquatic 9. Avoid moving weed plants from one body of water to another. 

 Aquatic 10. Avoid running personal watercraft through aquatic plants near boat 

access locations. Instead, push or winch watercraft onto the trailer without 

running the engine. After the watercraft is out of the water, start the engine for 5-

10 seconds to blow out any excess water and vegetation. After engine has 

stopped, pull weeds out of the steering nozzle. Inspect trailer and any other 

sporting equipment for weed fragments and remove them before leaving the 

access area. Wash or dry watercraft before transporting to another body of water. 

 Aquatic 11. Waterfowl hunters may use elliptical, bulb-shaped, or strap anchors 

on decoys, because these types of anchors avoid collecting submersed and 

floating aquatic plants. Inspect waders and hip boots, removing any aquatic 

plants, and where possible, rinse mud from them before leaving the water. 

Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud attached to decoy lines and anchors. 

 Aquatic 12. Construct new boat launches and ramps at deep-water sites. Restrict 

motorized boats in lakes near areas that are infested with weeds. Move sediment 

to upland or quarantine areas when cleaning around culverts, canals, or irrigation 

sites. Clean equipment before moving to new sites. Inspect and clean equipment 

before moving from one project area to another.

Cultural Resources

 Use the General weed prevention practices.

Fire Management

Pre-fire, Pre-incident Training

Goal 1. Improve effectiveness of prevention practices through weed awareness and 

education.

 Fire 1. Increase weed awareness and weed prevention in all fire training. 
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on the Tonto National Forest 11

 Fire 2. Include weed risk factors and weed prevention practices in Resource 

Advisor duties on all Incident Management Teams and Burn Rehabilitation 

Teams. 

Plans

Goal 2. Improve effectiveness of prevention practices through weed awareness and 

education.

 Fire 3. Assign a local weed specialist or include in Resource Advisor duties to the 

Incident Management Team when wildfire or control operations occur in or near a 

noxious weed area. 

 Fire 4. Resource Advisors need to provide briefings that identify operational 

practices to reduce weed spread, (for example: avoiding known weed infestation 

areas when locating fire lines). Include this information in shift briefings. 

 Fire 5. Provide weed identification aids to Field Observers.

Wildfires – General 

All wildfire weed prevention goals apply except in instances where human life or 

property is at risk. 

Goal 3. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds.

 Fire 6. Ensure that rental equipment is free of weed seed and propagules before 

the contracting officers representative accepts it. 

 Fire 7. Maintain a network of airports, helibases, camps, and staging areas in a 

noxious weed-free condition. 

 Fire 8. Coordinate with local weed specialists to locate and treat practice jump 

areas to make them weed-free. 

 Fire 9. Inspect and treat weeds that establish at equipment cleaning sites after fire 

incidents. 

Goal 4. Avoid creating soil conditions that promote weed germination and

establishment. 

 Fire 10. Use appropriate suppression tactics to reduce suppression-induced 

disturbances to soil and vegetation while minimizing seedbed creation due to 

disturbance from fire effects. .
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 Fire 11. Avoid moving water buckets from infested lakes to lakes that are not 

infested prior to inspection and cleaning. There is no hazard in using water 

infested with aquatic weeds on terrestrial sites. 

Prescribed Fire

Goal 5. To prevent new weed infestations and the spread of existing weeds, avoid or 

remove sources of weed seed and propagules or manage fire as an aid in control of 

weeds.

 Fire 12. Ensure that rental equipment is free of weed seed and propagules before 

the contracting officers representative accepts it. 

 Fire 13. Avoid ignition and burning in areas at high risk for weed establishment 

or spread due to fire effects. Treat weeds that establish or spread because of 

unplanned burning of weed infestations. 

 Fire 14. When possible use staging areas and helibases that are maintained in a 

weed-free condition. 

 Fire 15. Pre-inventory project area and evaluate weeds present with regard to the 

effects on the weed spread relative to the fire prescription. 

Goal 6. Avoid creating soil conditions that promote weed germination and 

establishment. 

 Fire 16. Use appropriate preparation and suppression tactics to reduce 

disturbances to soil and vegetation. 

Fire Rehabilitation

Goal 7. Incorporate weed prevention into project layout, design, alternative evaluation, 

and decisions.

 Fire 17. Evaluate weed status and risks in Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation 

plans. When appropriate, apply for Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation and 

restoration funding. 

Goal 8. To prevent conditions favoring weed establishment, re-establish vegetation on 

bare ground caused by project disturbance as soon as possible using either natural 

recovery or artificial techniques as appropriate to the site objectives. 

 Fire 18. To prevent weed spread, treat weeds in burned areas as part of the 

Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation plan. For known infestations that will 

likely increase, the first preference is prevention, such as planting species to 

compete with unwanted plants. 
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on the Tonto National Forest 13

 Fire 19. Inspect and document weed establishment at fire access roads, cleaning 

sites, all disturbed staging areas, and within burned areas; control infestations to 

prevent spread within burned areas. If you suspect the presence of noxious 

weeds, request BAER funds to inspect and document for emergence in the spring. 

Request BAER funds for control if noxious weeds are present and NEPA has 

already been approved. 

 Fire 20. Seed and straw mulch to be used for burn rehabilitation (for wattles, 

straw bales, dams, etc.) all need to be inspected and certified that they are free of 

weed seed and propagules. 

 Fire 21. Regulate human, pack animal, and livestock entry into burned areas at 

risk for weed invasion until desirable site vegetation has recovered sufficiently to 

resist weed invasion.

Forest Vegetation Management 

Timber Harvest Operations & Stewardship Contracting

Goal 1. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds.

 Forest Veg 1. Treat weeds on projects used by contractors, emphasizing 

treatment of weed infestations on existing landings, skid trails, and helibases 

before activities commence. 

 Forest Veg 2. Train contract administrators to identify noxious weeds and select 

lower risk sites for landings and skid trails. 

 Forest Veg 3. Encourage operators to maintain weed-free mill yards, equipment 

parking, and staging areas.

 Forest Veg 4. Use standard timber sale contract provisions such as WO-C/CT 

6.36 to ensure appropriate equipment cleaning.

Goal 2. To prevent weed germination and establishment, retain native vegetation in and 

around project activity and keep soil disturbance to a minimum consistent with project 

objectives.

 Forest Veg 5. Minimize soil disturbance to no more than needed to meet project 

objectives. Logging practices to reduce soil disturbance include, but are not 

limited to: 
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on the Tonto National Forest 14

 Over-snow logging 

 Skyline or helicopter logging 

 Reuse landings, skid trails and helibases when they are weed free

 Forest Veg 6. Minimize period from end of logging to site preparation, 

revegetation, and contract closure. 

Post Vegetation Management Operations

Goal 3. To prevent weed germination and establishment, retain native vegetation in and 

around project activity and keep soil disturbance to a minimum consistent with project 

objectives. 

 Forest Veg 7. Minimize soil disturbance to no more than needed to meet 

vegetation management objectives. Prevention practices to reduce soil 

disturbance include, but are not limited to: 

 Treating fuels in place instead of piling

 Minimizing heat transfer to soil in burning 

 Minimizing fireline construction 

Goal 4. To prevent favorable conditions for weed establishment, re-establish vegetation 

on bare ground caused by project disturbance.

 Forest Veg 8. For long-term restoration and weed suppression where forested 

vegetation management has created openings, recognize the need for prompt 

reforestation.

Grazing Management

Goal 1. Consider noxious weed prevention and control practices in the management of 

grazing allotments.

 Grazing 1. Include weed prevention practices, inspection and reporting direction, 

and provisions for inspection of livestock concentration areas in allotment 

management plans and annual operating instructions for active grazing allotments.

 Grazing 2. For each grazing allotment containing existing weed infestations, 

include prevention practices focused on preventing weed spread and cooperative 

management of weeds in the annual operating instructions. Prevention practices 

may include, but are not limited to: 
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 Altering season of use 

 Exclusion 

 Activities to minimize potential ground disturbance 

 Preventing weed seed transportation 

 Maintaining healthy vegetation 

 Weed control methods 

 Revegetation

 Inspection 

 Reporting 

 Education

Goal 2. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds. Minimize transport of weed seed into and 

within allotments.

 Grazing 3. If livestock are potentially a contributing factor to seed spread, 

schedule use by livestock in units with existing weed infestations which are 

known to be susceptible to spread by livestock, to be prior to seed-set or after seed 

has fallen. 

 Grazing 4. If livestock were transported from a weed-infested area, annually 

inspect and treat allotment entry units for new weed infestations. 

 Grazing 5. Close pastures to livestock grazing when the pastures are infested to 

the degree that livestock grazing will continue to either exacerbate the condition 

on site or contribute to weed seed spread. Designate those pastures as unsuitable 

range until weed infestations are controlled. 

Goal 3. Maintain healthy, desirable vegetation that is resistant to weed establishment.

 Grazing 6. Through the allotment management plan or annual operating 

instructions, manage the timing, intensity (utilization), duration, and frequency of 

livestock activities associated with harvest of forage and browse resources to 

maintain the vigor of desirable plant species and retain live plant cover and litter. 

 Grazing 7. Manage livestock grazing on restoration areas to ensure that 

vegetation is well established. This may involve exclusion for a period of time 

consistent with site objectives and conditions. Consider practices to minimize 

wildlife grazing on the areas if needed. 

Goal 4. Minimize disturbed ground conditions favorable for weed establishment in the 

management of livestock grazing. 

 Grazing 8. Include weed prevention practices that reduce ground disturbance in 

allotment management plans and annual operating instructions. Consider for 

example: changes in the timing, intensity, duration, or frequency of livestock use; 
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location and changes in salt grounds; restoration or protection of watering sites; 

and restoration of yarding/loafing areas, corrals, and other areas of concentrated 

livestock use.

 Grazing 9. Inspect known areas of concentrated livestock use for weed invasion. 

Inventory and manage new infestations. 

Goal 5. Improve effectiveness of weed prevention practices through awareness programs 

and education. Promote weed awareness and prevention efforts among range permittees.

 Grazing 10. Use education programs or annual operating instructions to increase 

weed awareness and prevent weed spread associated with permittees’ livestock 

management practices.

 Grazing 11. To aid in their participation in allotment weed control programs, 

encourage permittees to become certified pesticide use applicators.

Lands and Special Uses

Goal 1. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds.

 Lands 1. Consider weed status of lands when making land adjustment decisions.

 Lands 2. Conduct weed inventories of all lands considered for acquisition.

 Lands 3. As a condition of land adjustment decisions, the Forest Service may 

require the nonfederal proponent to treat weeds, to federal standards, on the land 

proposed for federal acquisition. 

 Lands 4. Include a weed prevention and control provision in all new special-use 

authorizations such as, permits, easements or leases involving ground-disturbing 

activities when authorized activities present a high risk for weed infestation or the 

location of the activity is vulnerable to weed introduction or spread. Include a 

weed prevention and control provision in existing authorizations that authorize 

ground-disturbing activities when the authorization is amended for other reasons; 

consider the need to amend an authorization directly, when ground-disturbing 

activities are involved. These provisions can be accomplished through the 

development and incorporation of a supplemental clause or as a requirement in an 

associated operation and maintenance plan. 
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Minerals

Goal 1. Incorporate weed prevention into project layout, design, alternative evaluation, 

and decisions.

 Minerals 1. Include weed prevention measures, including project inspection and 

documentation, in operation and reclamation plans.

Goal 2. To prevent conditions favoring weed establishment, minimize bare soil 

conditions and re-establish vegetation on bare ground caused by project disturbance.

 Minerals 2. Retain bonds until reclamation requirements are completed, including 

weed treatments, based on inspection and documentation.

Recreation, Wilderness, and Special Management Areas

Goal 1. To prevent new weed infestations and the spread of existing weeds, avoid or 

remove sources of weed seed and propagules.

 Recreation 1. Encourage public land users before recreating on public lands, to 

inspect and clean motorized and mechanized trail vehicles of weeds and their 

seeds.

 Recreation 2. On designated public lands, issue closure orders that specify the 

use of weed free or weed-seed-free feed, hay, straw, and mulch. (36 CFR 251.50) 

Cooperate with State, County, Tribal governments, and other agencies to develop 

and support publicly available weed-free materials. 

 Recreation 3. Where they exist, post and enforce weed-free feed orders. (FSM

2081.03)

 Recreation 4. Encourage backcountry pack and saddle stock users to feed stock 

only weed-free feed for several days before travel on National Forest System 

lands.

 Recreation 5. Inspect, brush, and clean animals, especially hooves and legs 

before entering public land. Inspect and clean tack and equipment.

 Recreation 6. Tie or hold stock in ways that minimize soil disturbance and avoid 

loss of desirable native vegetation.
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 Recreation 7. Annually inspect all campgrounds, trailheads, and recreation areas 

that are open to public vehicle use for weeds; treat new infestations.

 Recreation 8. Maintain trailheads, boat launches, outfitter and public camps, 

picnic areas, airstrips, roads leading to trailheads, and other areas of concentrated 

public use in a weed-free condition. Consider high use recreation areas as high 

priority for weed eradication. 

 Recreation 9. Consider seasonal or full time closure to campgrounds, picnic 

areas, and other recreation use areas until weeds are reduced to levels that 

minimize potentials for spread.

 Recreation 10. In areas susceptible to weed infestation, limit vehicles to 

designated, maintained travel routes. Inspect and document inspections on 

travelways for weeds and treat as necessary.

Goal 2. Improve effectiveness of prevention practices through weed awareness and 

education.

 Recreation 11. Post weed awareness messages and prevention practices at 

strategic locations such as trailheads, roads, boat launches, and forest portals.

 Recreation 12. In weed-infested areas, post weed awareness messages and 

prevention practices at roadsides.

Research Activities

Goal 1. Incorporate weed prevention into research project design, layout, installation, 

and decisions. 

Research 1. Address weed establishment risk and spread in research project study plans 

and decisions. 

Road Management

New and Reconstruction

Goal 1. Incorporate weed prevention into project layout, design, alternative evaluation, 

and decisions.

 Road 1. For timber sale purchaser road maintenance and decommissioning, use 

standard timber sale contract provisions such as WO-C/CT 6.36 to ensure 

appropriate equipment cleaning..
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 Road 2. For road new and reconstruction conducted as part of public works 

(construction) contracts and service contracts include contract language for 

equipment cleaning such as is in WO-C/CT 6.36. 

Road Maintenance and Decommissioning

Goal 2. Minimize roadside sources of weed seed that could be transported to other areas. 

 Road 3. Periodically inspect system roads and rights-of-way for invasion of 

noxious weeds. Train road maintenance staff to recognize weeds and report 

locations to the local weed specialist. Inventory weed infestations and schedule 

them for treatment. 

 Road 4. Schedule and coordinate blading or pulling of noxious weed-infested 

roadsides or ditches in consultation with the local weed specialist. Do not blade 

or pull roadsides and ditches that are infested with noxious weeds unless doing so 

is required for public safety or protection of the roadway. If the ditch must be 

pulled, ensure the weeds remain on-site. Blade from least infested to most infested 

areas. When it is necessary to blade noxious weed-infested roadsides or ditches, 

schedule activity when seeds or propagules are least likely to be viable and to be 

spread. Minimize soil surface disturbance and contain bladed material on the 

infested site. 

 Road 5. Avoid acquiring water for dust abatement where access to the water is 

through weed-infested sites.

 Road 6. For timber sale purchaser road maintenance and decommissioning, use 

contract provisions for equipment cleaning such as WO-C/CT 6.36.

 Road 7. For road maintenance and decommissioning conducted as part of public 

works (construction) contracts and service contracts include contract language for 

equipment cleaning such as is in WO-C/CT 6.36. 

 Road 8. Treat weeds in road decommissioning and reclamation projects before

roads are made impassable. Reinspect and follow-up based on initial inspection 

and documentation. 

Watershed Management

Goal 1. Avoid or remove sources of weed seed and propagules to prevent new weed 

infestations and the spread of existing weeds.

 Watershed 1. Inspect and document for early detection of noxious weed 
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establishment and spread in riparian areas and wetlands. Eradicate new 

infestations before they become established.

 Watershed 2. Address noxious weed risks in watershed restoration projects and 

water quality management plans.

 Watershed 3. Pay particular attention to practices listed under “General Weed 

Prevention Practices for Site-disturbing Projects and Maintenance Programs” and 

Aquatic Weed Prevention Practices”. 

Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany

Goal 1. Avoid creating soil conditions that promote weed germination and 

establishment.

 Wildlife 1. Periodically inspect and document those areas where wildlife 

concentrate in the winter and spring resulting in overuse or soil scarification. 

 Wildlife 2. Use weed-free materials at big game baiting stations.

 Wildlife 3. For wildlife openings and habitat improvement projects, follow the 

practices outlined in General Weed Prevention Practices--Goal 4; Forest 

Vegetation Management, Timber Harvest Operations & Stewardship Contracting.