## M **cC h**  **o r**  **d A**  **i r**  **F o**  **r c**  **e B**  **a se**  **N o**  **x i**  **o u**  **s W**  **e ed**  **C o**  **n tr**  **o l**  **an d**  **R es**  **to r**  **a ti**  **o n** 

**Jan u**  **ar y**  **­ D**  **ece mb**  **e r**  **2 006**  **Qu a**  **r te**  **r l**  **y A**  **cti v**  **i ty**  **R ep**  **o r**  **t**

**Ja n**  **u ar**  **y 2**  **00 7** 

**M cCh**  **o r**  **d A**  **ir F**  **o r**  **ce Bas**  **e i s a**  **ke y milit**  **ary i n**  **st all**  **at i**  **o n**  **a n**  **d an**  **imp o**  **r t**  **an t** 

**co n**  **s ervat**  **io n**  **a r**  **ea i**  **n t**  **h e Pu**  **g et**  **T r**  **o u**  **g h**  **r eg**  **i o**  **n**

**. T**  **h e N**  **at u**  **r e C**  **o n**  **se r**  **va n**  **cy st**  **r ive**  **s t**  **o**

**as sis**  **t M**  **cCh o**  **r d**  **AF B i**  **n t**  **h e**  **c o**  **n s**  **ervat io**  **n o**  **f it**  **s nat u**  **r al**  **r es**  **o u**  **r ce**  **s wit**  **h in**  **t h**  **e**
**f r**  **amewo r**  **k o f**  **t h**  **e Ba**  **se ’s**  **m ilit**  **ary m an**  **d a**  **t e.**  **M cCh**  **o r**  **d AF**  **B a n**  **d T**  **h e N**  **at u**  **r e** 
**Co n**  **se r**  **va n**  **cy h**  **av e**  **s h**  **ared in**  **t erest**  **s b**  **ec a**  **u se**  **:**

· **Rar e s**  **p ec**  **ie s**  **r ec**  **o ve**  **r y**  **t h**  **r o**  **u g**  **h o**  **u t**  **t h**  **e reg i**  **o n**  **r ed** **u ce**  **s t**  **h e**  **b u**  **r d**  **en o**  **f r**  **ec o**  **ve r**  **y**

**o n**  **a n**  **y si**  **n g**  **l e**  **la n**  **d o**  **w n**  **er or si t** **e.**

· **P es**  **t p**  **la n**  **t s**  **h arm** **n at** **u r**  **al areas**  **a n**  **d r**  **e d**  **u ce**  **t h**  **eir su it**  **a b**  **ilit y**  **f o**  **r m**  **ilit ary** 

**o b**  **jec t**  **iv es** 

**.**M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 2 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy



### Bac **k g**  **r o**  **u n**  **d**

M cC h o rd A ir F o r c e B a se c on t a in s a r a n g e o f

na t u ra l r e s ou r c e s w it h c o n se r v at io n

c o n c e r ns ; e s p ec ia lly t h o s e a s s oc ia t e d w i t h o ak

w o o d la n d s, g ras s la n d s, a nd wet la n d s

. T h is in c lu d e s t he f e de ra l t h r e at e n e d s p ec ie s

, Ho w e lli a aq u at i li s

, a n a q u at ic p la n t

. O ak

w o o d la n d s a r e pr io r ity h a b it a t f o r ne o t ro p ica l b ird s

, a v a r ie ty o f b u tt e rf lie s

, a n d t h e s t at e

t h r e a t e ne d w e s te r n g ray sq u ir r e l. A n E n d a ng e r e d S p e c ie s A ct ca n d id a t e b ird s p ec ie s

, t h e

s t r e a ke d h o r n e d la r k, n es t s a n d r ep ro d uc e s o n t h e a ir

f ie ld

. T h r e e C an d id a t e R e s ea r c h

N a t u ra l A r e as h av e b e en id e n t if ie d w h ic h ca p t ur e t h e m os t

s ig n if ic a n t na t u ra l f ea t u r es

p r e s e n t o n M c C h or d A ir F o r c e B as e

.

T h e s e a r ea s ha v e b e e n t h e f o c us o f la n d m a na g em e n t an d h ab it a t r es t o rat io n e f

fo r t s f o r

s e v e ra l ye a rs

, a n d h a b it a t q u a lity h as s low ly s ta r t e d to i m pr o v e

. H owev e r

, w i t h o u t

c o n t in u e d a tt en t io n t he y w ill d e g r a d e b e ca u s e o f s ig n if ic a n t p o p u la t io n s o f ha b it a t

d e s t roy in g n o n

­ na t iv e pe s t p la n t s

.

F u n d in g f o r t h e ac t io n s d e t a ile d b e low was p rov id e d b y M c Ch o rd A ir F o r c e B as e t h ro u g h a

s e r ie s o f c o nt r a cts

. T h e r e w e r e f o u r a ct iv e c o n tr a ct s d u r in g 2 0 06 : A q u at ic I nv a s iv es ( # 3 8 4 8 )

, N ox io us W e e d C o n t ro l ( # 3 8 8 6 )

, W a t e r H ow e llia ( # 4 8 1 0 ) a n d M am m a l S u r

v e y ( # 4 8 1 1 )

.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 3 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy



### M **c Ch**  **o r**  **d No**  **xi o**  **u s**  **W ee**  **d Co**  **n t**  **r o**  **l (**  **T NC**  **Bu d**  **g et** **# 38**  **86 )** 

T he p u r po se of th i s co ntr act i s to con d uct ge n er a l r est or at i o n a nd en ha nc em en t w or k on

M cChor d A F B

. A s w i th m ost pr ai r i e/ oa k m osa i c ha bita t typ es, th i s p r i m ar i l y c on s i sts o f

i nva s i ve w ee d con tr o l .  I n a dd i t i o n, w e a l so co nd ucte d so m e e nh an cem en t p lant i ng s o f

na ti v e pr a ir i e p l an ts

.

**I n**  **va si**  **ve Wee**  **d Co**  **n t**  **r o**  **l**

T he r e w er e se ver a l t asks com pl ete d u nd er

t h is con tr act du r i ng 2 00 6. La te s pr i ng an d

sum m er i s th e p r i m ar y w i nd ow fo r con tr o l of n ox i ou s w ee ds. In spr i n g, i nt en si v e con t r o l

effor ts w er e m ad e ar ou nd the sou th an d ea st po r t i on s o f th e b ase to c on tr o l s eve r a l

i nva s i ve w ee ds. S um m er p r ovi d ed a n op po r t un i ty to spo t tr ea t su rv i v i ng w ee ds i n a r ea s
tha t w er e initia l l y tr ea te d i n t he spr i n g. F igur e 1 pr ese n ts a m ap of

ar ea s w he r e n ox i ou s

w ee ds w er e tr ea t ed d u r ing bo t h sp r i n g a nd s u m m er

. F i gu r e 2 i n di c at es fa ll act i vities.

.

K na pwee d. M ost of t he w ee d con trol e ffo r t fo cuse d o n co ntr o lli ng s po tte d kn ap w ee d – by far th e m ost a bu nd an t i nva s i ve w ee d o n M cChor d. L i m i ted acc ess t o t h e a i rf i e l d ha s

be en a b i g h i nd ran ce i n pa st ye a r s. T he acce ss i ssue w as r eso l v ed th i s ye ar

. A

ne w

spr ay r i g tha t w e de s i gn ed a nd m ou nte d i n t h e b ack o f t he Kubo ta ha s w or ked

i m pr essi ve l y. A l tog et he r , w e w er e ab l e t o t r ea t a pp r ox i m ate l y 2 45 acr es o f kn ap w ee d

al on g w i th a f ew o th er no x i ou s w ee ds.

W etb la de

. W e a r e co nd uct i ng a ne w tr ia l fo r s cotch br o om con tr ol .  Us i n g h ab i ta t

en ha nce m en t f un d i ng f r om th e m a m m al an d w ate r

ho w el li a s ur vey co ntr acts, w e

pu r cha se d a W et b l a de .  I n i t i a l w or k w as co nd ucte d u nd er

th e w ate r ho w elli a su rvey

con tr act

, bu t a d ditio na l te s t str i ps h ave be en a nd w i ll co nt i nu e t o b e m ad e u nd er

th i s

con tr act

. T he w et b l ad e pr oj ect i s r ep o r ted in de ta i l in th e ho w elli a sur v ey po r t i on of th i s

r ep or t

.

T ab l e 1 be l ow d escr i be s tr ea tm en t a cti v i t i es c on du cted du r i ng spr i ng qu ar

ter

. F i gu r es 1

an d 2 p r ov i de a m ap o f a ll tr e atm en ts m ad e du r ing the yea r

.

T h i s con t r act ha s be en exten de d u nt il Ju l y 31

, 20 07M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 4 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

T a b l e 1 : D e s cri p t i o n o f i n i t i a l w e e d co n t ro l t re a t m e n t s c o n d u ct e d a t McC h o rd A F B i n 2 0 0 7

**T i**  **m i**  **n g**  **Es t.** 

**A c**  **r e**  **s T**  **r e**  **a tm**  **e n**  **t**

Ap ri l 7

. 5 T re a t e d ro a d s i d e t a n s y ra g w o rt a n d s p o t t e d kn a p w e e d a l o n g Pe ri me t e r R o a d (o u t s i d e f e n ce b e t w e e n t h e ri d i n g s t a b l e a n d t h e SAZ g a t e

. W h i l e t h i s i s o u t s i d e

t h e f e n ce i t i s s t i l l McC h o rd ’ s j u ri s d i ct i o n

. ) U s e d a b o u t 7

. 5 g a l o f R o u n d u p Pl u s

a t 1

. 5 %

. Ap ri l 1 T re a t e d s m a l l i n f e s t a t i o n o f kn a p w e e d i n t h e So u t h Ap p ro a ch Z o n e w i t h a b o u t 5

g a l l o n s o f T ra n s l i n e a t 1 %

. Ap ri l 7

. 5 T re a t e d kn a p w e e d i n t h e s a m e s t re t ch o f Pe ri me t e r R o a d a s a b o v e

, u s i n g a b o u t

1 5 g a l m o re o f t h e T ra n s l i n e mi x t u re

. Ap ri l 1 T re a t e d p e ri w i n k l e i n t h e So u t h Ap p ro a ch Z o n e w i t h 2 5 g a l

. o f 1

. 5 % G a r l o n 4

a n d 0

. 2 5 % N u F i l m I R

. Ap ri l 1 T re a t e d s p o t t e d kn a p w e e d i n t h e v a ca n t f i e l d a cro s s O u t e r D ri v e f ro m t h e
C h e mi ca l En g i n e e r i n g co m p o u n d u s i n g a b o u t 1 5 g a l

. 1 % T ra n s l i n e

. Ap ri l 3 T re a t e d kn a p w e e d i n s i d e t h e s o u t h f e n ce l i n e (n o rt h s i d e o f Pe r i m e t e r ro a d ) a n d

i n a n a b a n d o n e d l a n d f i l l s i t e n e a r t h a t f e n ce l i n e b e h i n d W AD S

. 1 % T ra n s l i n e Ap ri l 2 T re a t e d kn a p w e e d a l o n g ro a d s i d e s o f O u t e r D ri v e f ro m L i n co l n B l v d t o H o l i d a y
Pa rk En t ra n ce

. 1 % T ra n s l i n e Ap ri l 6 T re a t e d b l a c kb e rri e s a n d kn a p w e e d a t t h e g ra v e l p i t s o u t h o f t h e e n v i ro n m e n t a l

o f f i ce

, u s i n g 3 5 g a l

. o f 1

. 5 % R o u n d u p

. Ma y 8 5

. 5 T re a t e d 8 5

. 4 a cre s o f s p o t t e d kn a p w e e d o n a n d a ro u n d e a s t s i d e o f a i r

f i e l d

, Mo re y Po n d

, a n d C l o v e r C re e k. U s e d 2 2 5 g a l l o n s o f T r

a n s l i n e @ 1 %

. Ju n e 1 3 5 Sp ra ye d 2 0 0 g a l l o n s o f 1

. 5 % T ra n s l i n e a l o n g t h e e a s t s i d e o f t h e a i r

f i e l d f ro m
EO D b l a s t p i t t o n o rt h e n d o f F o xt ro t R o w

. **T O**  **T A**  **L 2**  **4 6** 

S ou th Appr oa ch Z on e E nh an ce m en t Planti ng s
Dur ing th e fa ll o f 2 0 06 , w e p lan ted 16 25 p lugs o f n at i ve p r a i r i e p l an ts i n t he South

A pp r oa ch Z on e B en st en r es tor at ion ar ea

. T h is ar ea w as m o w ed pr i or to p l an t ing un d er

w ate r h ow el li a f un d i ng

. Add i t i on a l p l u gs o f n a ti ve f

escu e w ill be plan ted in w i nte r 20 07

an d i t w i ll be tr ea te d w i t h Poa st i n sp r i ng to co ntr o l i nva s i ve gr asse s. T h e t ab l e be l ow

i s
a li st of th e s pe c i es p l an ted i n f all

. F i gu r e 2 i s a m ap w i th the p l an ting l oca t i o n

i de n tified

.

T a b l e 2 : F a l l 2 0 0 6 Be n s t e n p l a n t i n g

. **Sp e**  **c i**  **e s**  **Pl u**  **g s**  Aq u a le g i a f o rmo sa 2 5

C a st i le j a h i sp i d a 1 0 0

Eri g e ro n sp e ci o u su s 1 0 0

Eri o p h yl l u m l a n a t u m 4 0 0

L o ma t i u m t rit e rn a t u m 1 0 0

L o ma t i u m u t ricu l a t u m 2 0 0

Mi rco se ri s l a ci n i a ta 2 0 0

R a n u n cu l u s o cci de n ta l i s 2 0 0

So l i d a g e ca n a de n si s 1 0 0

So l i d a g o mi sso u ri e n si s 1 0 0

Vi o l a a d u n ca 1 0 0

**1 6**  **2 5** M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 5 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

F i g u re 1 : Ma p o f s p ri n g a n d s u mm e r 2 0 0 6 w e e d co n t ro l a ct i v i t i e s a t McC h o rd A F B f u n d e d

u n d e r N o xi o u s W e e d C o n t ro l co n t ra ctM cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 6 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

F i g u re 2 : Ma p o f f a l l 2 0 0 6 m o w i n g a n d p l a n t i n g a ct i v i t i e s a t McC h o rd AF B.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 7 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy



### M **c Ch**  **o r**  **d A**  **q u**  **at i**  **c S**  **p ec**  **ie s**  **Co n**  **t r**  **o l**  **( T**  **N C**  **Bu d**  **g et** 

**# 38**  **4 8)** 

T he i n i t i a l g oa l o f t h i s pr oj ect w as t o eli m i na te w ee ds w i th i n t he m ai n ch an ne l o f Clove r
Cre ek i n o r de r t o en h an ce f l ow an d co n ditio ns fo r aq u at i c or ga n i sm s.  Entr i x w as

con tr act e d to p r ov i de a n i n i t i a l p l an an d f

acili t ate th e p er m i tting of t he act i on .  Entr i x

sup plied a n i n i t ial p l an , JARP A , n o­ ef fect s l ett er an d a l ett e r ou t li n i ng pe r m i t str a teg y.

T he Con se rvan cy c on tact e d t hr ee con t r acto r s w i th spe c i a l t i es i n w et land co ns tr uct i on

an d r est or at i o n an d t ou r e d t he s i te w i th pe r so nn el fr om M cChor d. Each o f th e

con tr act o r s vo i ced c on cer ns w i th the po ten tia l cost of the pr oj ect an d li ke li ho od of

ob ta i n i ng p er m i ts i n t i m e for con str uct i o n. T h e si n gle for m al b i d r ece i ved ex cee de d t he

bu dg et o f t he p r oj ect

. A t th at p oin t M cCho r d r eq ue sted tha t T NC stop w or k o n c r ee k

en ha nce m en t so th at a l t er na t i v es t o t h e i n i t i a l pr oj ect cou ld b e e v alua ted

.

T he fu n ds ar e be i ng use d t o con du ct r i pa r ian en ha nce m en t a l o ng C l ove r Cr ee k on th e

w est si de o f t h e r un w ay a nd i n var i ou s ar e as ea st o 0f t he r u nw ay. T h i s i nc l ud es a

m assi ve an d inte ns i ve co ntr o l effor t of a ll b l ac kbe r ry i n pr ep ar at i o n for f a l l p l an t i ng of

w oo dy shr ub s.

Dur ing th e 20 06 w i nt er q ua r te r , a s i d e­ m ou nt ed b oo m m o w er

tr acto r w i th a fi v e foo t

de ck w as use d to cu t b ack t he m aj or i ty o f th e bl ackb er ry

infe stat i o ns. Han d he l d

br ush cut t er s w er e th en use d t o cu t sm al ler

a r ea s th at w er e m i ssed by th e b oo m m o w er

.

Dur ing sp r i n g qu a r te r , a ll pr ev iou s l y m o w ed ar ea s w er e sp ot tr ea ted w i th Ga r l o n 3 A ( tr i c l op yr )

. A l th ou g h Gar lon 3A i s ap p r ove d fo r

aq ua t i c ap p li cat i on s, it w as n ot d i r ect l y

spr aye d i nt o th e c r ee k. D ur i ng s um m er

q ua r t er , su rv i v i n g p l an ts w er e r etr ea ted w i th

2.5 % Ga r l on 3 A a nd 0 .2 5% Nufil m ( no n­ tox i c surfact an t ) .  G a r l on 3A i s a pp r ov ed fo r

aq ua t i c a pp li ca tion s, a n d p r eca ut i on s w er e t a ken to kee p sp r ay fr om en ter i ng w ate r

.

In tot a l , 1 0, 10 0 li n ea r fe et ar e b e i ng r esto r ed in a bo ut a 3 0 fo ot sw at h. T h i s e qu a l s

ap pr ox i m at el y se ve n acr es. M or e t ha n 66 0 0 f

ee t o f C l ove r Cr ee k s tr ea m ba nk w as

tr ea te d on bo t h th e ea st a n d w est si de s of the airf i e l d. T o t he w est of th e a i rf ield, o n l y
the ea st b an k o f C l ov er Cr e ek w as t r ea ted

. In ad d i t i on , b l a ckbe r ry pa tch es o n t he

pe r i m et er o f M or ey Pon d w er e tr e at ed , a s w er e a fe w

ne ar by i nf esta t i on s. See F i g ur e 3

be l ow fo r a m ap o f a ll tr ea ted ar ea s.

33 50 p ot te d p l an ts a nd w ill ow li ve st ake s w er e pla nt ed du r i ng fa ll qu a r ter

. M ost of

th e pl an ts w er e in 1 g a ll o n po ts. 30 0 li ve w ill ow

sta kes w er e p lant ed alon g t h e w ate r line

pr ior to th e h ea vy fa ll r ain s. T ab l e 3 be l ow

i s a li st of the s pe c i es a n d t ype o f sto ck
pl an te d.

T h i s com i ng sp r i ng

, i r r i g at i on syste m s w i l l be pu r cha se d a nd i ns ta ll ed fo r

fu tu r e d ry

sea son w at er i ng o f p l an ts. In ad d i t ion , a ny b lackbe r ry r e­ s pr ou ts or

se ed spr ou ts w ill be

tr ea te d.

T h i s p r oj ect’s e nd da te h as b ee n ex ten de d u n til Septe m be r

30 , 2 00 7.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 8 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

T a b l e 3 : F a l l 2 0 0 6 C l o v e r C re e k re s t o ra t i o n p l a n t i n g

. **Sp e**  **c i**  **e s**  **Si ze**  **Q u**  **a n**  **ti ty** 

Sa l i x h o o ke ri a n a 1 g a l 1 0 0

Sa l i x sit ch e n si s 1 g a l 2 0 0

Sa l i x l u ci d a 1 g a l 6 5 0

Sa l i x sco u le ri a n a 1 g a l 5 5 0

C o rn u s se rice a 1 g a l 5 0 0

F ra xi n o u s l a t i f o l i a 1 g a l 1 0 0

R o sa n u t ka n a 1 g a l 3 0 0

Ame l a n ch i e r a l n i f o l i a 1 g a l 1 0 0

Symp h o rica rp o s a l b u s 1 g a l 3 0 0

R u b u s sp e cta b i l i s 1 g a l 3 0 0

R u b u s p a rvi f l o ru s 1 g a l 2 5 0

O e l mi e ri a ce ra si f o rmis 1 g a l 1 0 0

Sa l i x h o o ke ri a n a 3 ' l i v e s t i cks 1 0 0

Sa l i x sit ch e n si s 3 ' l i v e s t i cks 1 0 0

Sa l i x l u ci d a 3 ' l i v e s t i cks 1 0 0

**T o**  **ta l**  **3 3**  **5 0** 

F i g u re 3 : Ph o t o o f C l o v e r C re e k p ri o r t o t re a t m e n t s s h o w i n g t yp i ca l d e n s e b l a ckb e rry i n f e s t a t i o n

.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 9 of 12

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

F i g u re 4 : P l a n t i n g a l o n g C l o v e r C re e k

, a l s o s h o w i n g co n t ro l l e d b l a c kb e rri e s

.

F i g u re 5 : Ma p o f b l a ckb e rry h e rb i c i d e t re a t m e n t co m p l e t e d i n s p ri n g q u a rt e r 2 0 0 6

. R e st orat i on A r e aM cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 10 o f 1 2

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy



### M **c Ch**  **o r**  **d Wat**  **e r**  **Ho w**  **el l**  **ia (**  **T N**  **C Bu**  **d g**  **et #**  **48 1**  **0)**

T he p u r po se of th i s co ntr act w as t o d o a com pl et e b ase li ne sur vey of w ate r

ho w elli a – a hyd r op h ili c p l a nt li ste d as th r e ate ne d u nd e r

th e f ed er al Enda ng e r ed Spec i es Act. T he r e

ar e 3 4 i d en t i f i ed w et lan ds o n M cCho r d AF B w i th diffe r i ng su i tab ili ty fo r

w ate r ho w elli a.

E ach o f t he 3 4 w et l an ds w er e r an ked fo r

su i t a bili ty, su rveye d, cat a l og ue d a n d

m on i to r ed fo r ho w elli a p r ese nce

. A n a dd i t i o n al w et l a nd w as a dd ed t o t he s ur vey i n fa l l

20 05

. T h i s w et l an d w as e val ua ted an d a dd ed to th e r ep or

t. A dr a ft co py o f th e r ep o r t

w as su b m i tte d an d r ev i ew ed by M cCho r d a n d a fina l r e po r t w as su bm i tte d d u r i ng w i nte r
20 06

.

A pp r ox i m at el y $ 25 ,0 0 0 r em ai ne d in th i s b u dg et fo r

d ire ct co ns er vat i o n r e l at ed act i v i t i es
aft er su rvey w or k h ad b ee n co m pl ete d

. T h i s pr oj ect’s e nd d at e w as e xten de d u n til

Novem be r 3 1, 2 00 6.

F un ds su r p l us to th e h ow el lia su rvey w or k w er e l a r ge l y us ed to p ur cha s e a n

ex pe r i m en ta l w ee d con trol syste m ( W etb l ad e ) tha t p rom i ses to b e ef

f ect i ve a g ain st

S cotch b r oo m

. F un ds f r om th e m a m m al sur v ey con tr act w er e co m bi ne d to p ur cha se a

w et bl ad e m ow i ng /h er b i c i de a pp li cat i on i m pl e m en t, a sui tab l e t r acto r

an d he r b i c i de

. T he e q uipm en t w as de l i ve r ed at the en d o f Se pte m be r

20 06 .  T h e r em ai nd e r of t he

fun d i ng w as u sed to c on du ct br oo m con tr o l w ith t he W etb l a de an d w i th con ve nt i on a l

m o w i ng

.

W etb la de M ow er

. T he W et blad e i s a w ee d co ntr o l syste m th at si m ul tan e ou s l y cut s a nd

ap plies he r b i cide to t he cut s urface .  He r b i c i d es a r e r ep or

ted l y con t a i ne d o n t he bo tto m s
of the cu tt ing b l ad es an d t o t he c ut p l an t surfa ces, w i th ve ry li tt l e “ ove r spr ay ”

. It i s

sup po sed l y e ffe ct i ve th r ou g ho ut th e ye a r , r a i n

­ or

­ sh ine. Cutt i n g can b e do n e at h eig hts

ab ove n at i ve ve ge t at i on

.

W e a r e con du ct i ng a tr i a l to de te r m i ne ho w

th e W et b l ad e a ctua ll y pe rfor m s on Scotch

br oo m a t M cCho r d. T he r e i s ver y li ttle g u i da n ce a va i lab l e t o ind i cate ap p li cat i on r ate s.

T he tr a i l w i ll r un th r ou g ho ut th e ye ar , u s i ng m ul t i p l e ap p li cat i on r ate s .  App r ox i m ate l y

ea ch m on th , si ng l e s tr i ps w ill be c ut thr ou gh d en se b r o om pa tche s.  Str ips w i ll be cut

w i th no

, l ow

, m ed i um a nd hi g h h er bi c ide ap p licati o n r at es.

In late sp r ing o r e ar l y sum m er , w e w i ll be ab l e to eva l ua t e t he e ffe ct i ven ess of

th e

tr ea tm en ts w hi ch ha ve b e en con d ucte d s i nc e Octo be r

2 00 6. A t t ha t p o i n t, w e sho u l d b e

ab l e to d ev elo p r eco m m en da ti on s fo r ef fect i ve te chn i qu es tha t m i ni m i ze h e r b i c i de us e.

T r ea tm en t st r i ps w ill b e co nt i nu ed thr o ug h th e sp r i ng a n d su m m er , b ut w e w i ll no t

be

ab l e to d e te r m i ne e ffe cti v en ess o f br o om tr ea ted af ter th e g r ow i ng se aso n u nt i l spr i ng

20 08

.

A dd i t i on al b r oo m m o w i ng w i th th e W e tb l ad e was co nd ucte d i n fa ll l a r ge r r eg u l a r

b roo m

con tr o l p o l y go ns. T he se ar ea s ar e i n d i cate d in th e Fi g ur e 2 m ap

. F i gu r e 6 s ho w s ph oto s o f th e W et b l a de tr ial.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 11 o f 1 2

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy

B r oo m M owi ng

. B en ste n w etl an d i s on e of th e high est q ua li ty w etl an ds o n M cChor d.

B y con tr o lli ng b r oo m a r ou nd th i s h ab i tat , w e a r e r est or i ng so m e of the fu nct i on th e

w etl an d con t r i bu te s t o the l a nd scap e

. In a ll

, 4 1 acr es w er e m o w ed .  Por tion s of

t hi s w i ll

be spr aye d t o k ill i nva s i ve gr asse s an d b r oa d leave s an d fac il itate fu tur e en ha nc em en t
pl an ting s. S ee F i gu r e 2 fo r a m ap of th e m ow i ng ar ea

.

F i g u r e 6 : P h o t o s o f t h e W e t b l a d e t r i a l

. T o p l e f

t : t e s t s t r i p

. T o p r i g h t : c u t a n d a p p l i e d b r

o o m s t e m. B o tt o m:

W e t b l a d e i n a ct i o n

.M cC hord A FB P r oj e ct Q ua r t e r l y P r og r e ss R e port P age 12 o f 1 2

Th e N at ure C onse rv ancy



### M **c Ch**  **o r**  **d M**  **a m**  **m al**  **S u**  **r v**  **e y**  **( T**  **N C**  **Bu d**  **g et**  **# 48**  **11 )** 

T he p u r po se of th i s co ntr act w as t o i nve nto ry on e o f th e r em ai n i ng un i nve st i ga ted

an i m al c l asse s o n M cCho r d­ M am m al i a. A l m ost 60 spe c i es w er e p oss i b l e occu pa nts o f

M cChor d A F B , i nc l u d i ng m ul t i p l e sp ec i es of

c on ser vat i o n co nce r n. T h i s con t r act w as

ex ten de d to Septe m be r 30 , 2 0 06

.

F o l low i ng a ct i v i t i es occu r r ed du r i ng th e sp r i n g qu ar te r :

· K ell y M cA ll i s te r o f t he W DF W pr ov i de d ass i st an ce w i th tech n i ca l p l an n i n g a nd

tar ge te d tr a pp i ng o f fo ssor i a l m a m m al s.

· T ar ge te d su rvey w or k w as co nd ucte d fo r

aq u ati c m a m m al s an d b ob cats

.

· Hai r s na g tu be s w er e act i vate d i n t he South A pp r oa ch Z on e a nd a w este r n g r ay

squ irr e l o cc ur r e nce w as p os i t i ve l y i de nt i f i e d.

· Repo r t w as d r af te d an d r ev i ew ed by T NC, W DF W a nd M cChor d st aff

. F i na l

r ep or t w as sub m i tte d at th e e nd of Sept em be r

.

S ur pl us fu nd s w er e av ailab l e f rom th i s con tr ac t. It w as d eci d ed by M cChor d th at t he

fun ds w ou l d be st b e use d fo r en h an cem en t o f m a m m al ha bi tat .  Scotch b r oo m i s on e o f

the m ost si gn i f i can t t hr ea ts to up l a nd ha b i t ats. Sur p l us f un ds f r om th i s con tr act an d t h e

ho w el li a s ur vey c on tr ac t ( see s ect i on a bo ve) w er e u sed to pu r cha se a w etb l ad e m o w i ng system

, w hi ch w i ll cut an d ap pl y h er bi c ide s i m ul ta ne ou s l y. T h i s i s an ex pe r i m en tal

pr oj ect th at h o l ds c on s i de rab l e p r om i se.