McChord Air Force Base Noxious Weed Control and Restoration

January ­ December 2006 Quarterly Activity Report 

January 2007

McChord Air Force Base is a key military installation and an important

conservation area in the Puget Trough region.  The Nature Conservancy strives to

assist McChord AFB in the conservation of its natural resources within the 

framework of the Base’s military mandate.  McChord AFB and The Nature 

Conservancy have shared interests because:

· Rare species recovery throughout the region reduces the burden of recovery 

on any single landowner or site.

· Pest plants harm natural areas and reduce their suitability for military 

objectives.
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The Nature Conservancy

Background

McChord Air Force Base contains a range of natural resources with conservation 

concerns; especially those associated with oak woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands.  This includes the federal threatened species, Howellia aquatilis, an aquatic plant.  Oak 

woodlands are priority habitat for neotropical birds, a variety of butterflies, and the state 

threatened western gray squirrel. An Endangered Species Act candidate bird species, the 

streaked horned lark, nests and reproduces on the airfield. Three Candidate Research 

Natural Areas have been identified which capture the most significant natural features 

present on McChord Air Force Base. 

These areas have been the focus of land management and habitat restoration efforts for

several years, and habitat quality has slowly started to improve.  However, without 

continued attention they will degrade because of significant populations of habitat 

destroying non­native pest plants. 

Funding for the actions detailed below was provided by McChord Air Force Base through a 

series of contracts.  There were four active contracts during 2006: Aquatic Invasives 

(#3848), Noxious Weed Control (#3886), Water Howellia (#4810) and Mammal Survey 

(#4811).
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The Nature Conservancy

McChord Noxious Weed Control (TNC Budget #3886)

The purpose of this contract is to conduct general restoration and enhancement work on

McChord AFB.  As with most prairie/oak mosaic habitat types, this primarily consists of 

invasive weed control.  In addition, we also conducted some enhancement plantings of 

native prairie plants.

Invasive Weed Control

There were several tasks completed under this contract during 2006. Late spring and 

summer is the primary window for control of noxious weeds.  In spring, intensive control 

efforts were made around the south and east portions of the base to control several 

invasive weeds. Summer provided an opportunity to spot treat surviving weeds in areas 

that were initially treated in the spring.  Figure 1 presents a map of areas where noxious 

weeds were treated during both spring and summer.  Figure 2 indicates fall activities.  .

Knapweed. Most of the weed control effort focused on controlling spotted knapweed –

by far the most abundant invasive weed on McChord.  Limited access to the airfield has 

been a big hindrance in past years.  The access issue was resolved this year.  A new 

spray rig that we designed and mounted in the back of the Kubota has worked

impressively.  Altogether, we were able to treat approximately 245 acres of knapweed 

along with a few other noxious weeds.

Wetblade. We are conducting a new trial for scotch broom control.  Using habitat 

enhancement funding from the mammal and water howellia survey contracts, we 

purchased a Wetblade.  Initial work was conducted under the water howellia survey 

contract, but additional test strips have been and will continue to be made under this 

contract.  The wetblade project is reported in detail in the howellia survey portion of this 

report. 

Table 1 below describes treatment activities conducted during spring quarter.  Figures 1

and 2 provide a map of all treatments made during the year. 

This contract has been extended until July 31, 2007
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The Nature Conservancy 

Table 1: Description of initial weed control treatments conducted at McChord AFB in 2007

Timing

Est.

Acres Treatment

April 7.5 Treated roadside tansy ragwort and spotted knapweed along Perimeter Road

(outside fence between the riding stable and the SAZ gate. While this is outside

the fence it is still McChord’s jurisdiction.) Used about 7.5 gal of Roundup Plus 

at 1.5%. April 1 Treated small infestation of knapweed in the South Approach Zone with about 5

gallons of Transline at 1%. April 7.5 Treated knapweed in the same stretch of Perimeter Road as above, using about

15 gal more of the Transline mixture. April 1 Treated periwinkle in the South Approach Zone with 25 gal. of 1.5% Garlon 4

and 0.25% NuFilm IR. April 1 Treated spotted knapweed in the vacant field across Outer Drive from the

Chemical Engineering compound using about 15 gal. 1% Transline. April 3 Treated knapweed inside the south fence line (north side of Perimeter road) and

in an abandoned landfill site near that fence line behind WADS. 1% Transline

April 2 Treated knapweed along roadsides of Outer Drive from Lincoln Blvd to Holiday 

Park Entrance. 1% Transline

April 6 Treated blackberries and knapweed at the gravel pit south of the environmental

office, using 35 gal. of 1.5% Roundup. May  85.5 Treated 85.4 acres of spotted knapweed on and around east side of airfield, Morey Pond, and Clover Creek. Used 225 gallons of Transline @ 1%. June 135 Sprayed 200 gallons of 1.5% Transline along the east side of the airfield from 

EOD blast pit to north end of Foxtrot Row. TOTAL 246

South Approach Zone Enhancement Plantings

During the fall of 2006, we planted 1625 plugs of native prairie plants in the South

Approach Zone Bensten restoration area.  This area was mowed prior to planting under

water howellia funding.  Additional plugs of native fescue will be planted in winter 2007

and it will be treated with Poast in spring to control invasive grasses.  The table below is 

a list of the species planted in fall.  Figure 2 is a map with the planting location 

identified. 

Table 2: Fall 2006 Bensten planting. Species Plugs

Aqualegia formosa 25

Castileja hispida 100

Erigeron speciousus 100

Eriophyllum lanatum 400

Lomatium triternatum 100

Lomatium utriculatum 200

Mircoseris laciniata 200

Ranunculus occidentalis 200

Solidage canadensis 100

Solidago missouriensis 100

Viola adunca 100

1625
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The Nature Conservancy 

Figure 1: Map of spring and summer 2006 weed control activities at McChord AFB funded

under Noxious Weed Control contract
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Figure 2: Map of fall 2006 mowing and planting activities at McChord AFB.
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McChord Aquatic Species Control (TNC Budget #3848)

The initial goal of this project was to eliminate weeds within the main channel of Clover

Creek in order to enhance flow and conditions for aquatic organisms.  Entrix was 

contracted to provide an initial plan and facilitate the permitting of the action.  Entrix 

supplied an initial plan, JARPA, no­effects letter and a letter outlining permit strategy. 

The Conservancy contacted three contractors with specialties in wetland construction

and restoration and toured the site with personnel from McChord.  Each of the 

contractors voiced concerns with the potential cost of the project and likelihood of

obtaining permits in time for construction.  The single formal bid received exceeded the

budget of the project.  At that point McChord requested that TNC stop work on creek 

enhancement so that alternatives to the initial project could be evaluated. 

The funds are being used to conduct riparian enhancement along Clover Creek on the 

west side of the runway and in various areas east o0f the runway.  This includes a 

massive and intensive control effort of all blackberry in preparation for fall planting of

woody shrubs. 

During the 2006 winter quarter, a side­mounted boom mower tractor with a five foot 

deck was used to cut back the majority of the blackberry infestations.  Hand held 

brushcutters were then used to cut smaller areas that were missed by the boom mower. 

During spring quarter, all previously mowed areas were spot treated with Garlon 3A

(triclopyr).  Although Garlon 3A is approved for aquatic applications, it was not directly 

sprayed into the creek.  During summer quarter, surviving plants were retreated with 

2.5% Garlon 3A and 0.25% Nufilm (non­toxic surfactant).  Garlon 3A is approved for

aquatic applications, and precautions were taken to keep spray from entering water. 

In total, 10,100 linear feet are being restored in about a 30 foot swath.  This equals 

approximately seven acres.  More than 6600 feet of Clover Creek stream bank was 

treated on both the east and west sides of the airfield.  To the west of the airfield, only 

the east bank of Clover Creek was treated.  In addition, blackberry patches on the

perimeter of Morey Pond were treated, as were a few nearby infestations.  See Figure 3

below for a map of all treated areas. 

3350 potted plants and willow live stakes were planted during fall quarter.  Most of the 

plants were in 1 gallon pots.  300 live willow stakes were planted along the waterline 

prior to the heavy fall rains.  Table 3 below is a list of the species and type of stock 

planted.

This coming spring, irrigation systems will be purchased and installed for future dry 

season watering of plants.  In addition, any blackberry re­sprouts or seed sprouts will be

treated.

This project’s end date has been extended until September 30, 2007.
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The Nature Conservancy 

Table 3: Fall 2006 Clover Creek restoration planting. Species Size Quantity

Salix hookeriana 1 gal 100

Salix sitchensis 1 gal 200

Salix lucida 1 gal 650

Salix scouleriana 1 gal 550

Cornus sericea 1 gal 500

Fraxinous latifolia 1 gal 100

Rosa nutkana 1 gal 300

Amelanchier alnifolia 1 gal 100

Symphoricarpos albus 1 gal 300

Rubus spectabilis 1 gal 300

Rubus parviflorus 1 gal 250

Oelmieria cerasiformis 1 gal 100

Salix hookeriana 3' livesticks  100

Salix sitchensis 3' livesticks  100

Salix lucida 3' livesticks  100

Total 3350

Figure 3: Photo of Clover Creek prior to treatments showing typical dense blackberry infestation.
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The Nature Conservancy 

Figure 4: Planting along Clover Creek, also showing controlled blackberries.

Figure 5: Map of blackberry herbicide treatment completed in spring quarter 2006.

Restoration Area
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The Nature Conservancy

McChord Water Howellia (TNC Budget #4810)

The purpose of this contract was to do a complete baseline survey of water howellia – a 

hydrophilic plant listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.  There 

are 34 identified wetlands on McChord AFB with differing suitability for water howellia. 

Each of the 34 wetlands were ranked for suitability, surveyed, catalogued and 

monitored for howellia presence.  An additional wetland was added to the survey in fall 

2005.  This wetland was evaluated and added to the report.  A draft copy of the report 

was submitted and reviewed by McChord and a final report was submitted during winter

2006. 

Approximately $25,000 remained in this budget for direct conservation related activities 

after survey work had been completed.  This project’s end date was extended until 

November 31, 2006.

Funds surplus to the howellia survey work were largely used to purchase an 

experimental weed control system (Wetblade) that promises to be effective against 

Scotch broom.  Funds from the mammal survey contract were combined to purchase a 

wet blade mowing/herbicide application implement, a suitable tractor and herbicide.  The equipment was delivered at the end of September 2006.  The remainder of the

funding was used to conduct broom control with the Wetblade and with conventional 

mowing. Wetblade Mower. The Wetblade is a weed control system that simultaneously cuts and

applies herbicide to the cut surface.  Herbicides are reportedly contained on the bottoms 

of the cutting blades and to the cut plant surfaces, with very little “overspray”.  It is 

supposedly effective throughout the year, rain­or­shine. Cutting can be done at heights 

above native vegetation.  We are conducting a trial to determine how the Wetblade actually performs on Scotch 

broom at McChord.  There is very little guidance available to indicate application rates. 

The trail will run throughout the year, using multiple application rates.  Approximately 

each month, single strips will be cut through dense broom patches.  Strips will be cut

with no, low, medium and high herbicide application rates. 

In late spring or early summer, we will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the 

treatments which have been conducted since October 2006. At that point, we should be 

able to develop recommendations for effective techniques that minimize herbicide use. 

Treatment strips will be continued through the spring and summer, but we will not be

able to determine effectiveness of broom treated after the growing season until spring

2008. 

Additional broom mowing with the Wetblade was conducted in fall larger regular broom

control polygons.  These areas are indicated in the Figure 2 map.  Figure 6 shows 

photos of the Wetblade trial.
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The Nature Conservancy

Broom Mowing. Bensten wetland is one of the highest quality wetlands on McChord. 

By controlling broom around this habitat, we are restoring some of the function the 

wetland contributes to the landscape.  In all, 41 acres were mowed.  Portions of this will 

be sprayed to kill invasive grasses and broadleaves and facilitate future enhancement 

plantings.  See Figure 2 for a map of the mowing area. 

Figure 6: Photos of the Wetblade trial. Top left: test strip. Top right: cut and applied broom stem. Bottom:

Wetblade in action.
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The Nature Conservancy

McChord Mammal Survey (TNC Budget #4811)

The purpose of this contract was to inventory one of the remaining uninvestigated

animal classes on McChord­ Mammalia.  Almost 60 species were possible occupants of 

McChord AFB, including multiple species of conservation concern.  This contract was 

extended to September 30, 2006. 

Following activities occurred during the spring quarter:

· Kelly McAllister of the WDFW provided assistance with technical planning and

targeted trapping of fossorial mammals.

· Targeted survey work was conducted for aquatic mammals and bobcats. · Hair snag tubes were activated in the South Approach Zone and a western gray 

squirrel occurrence was positively identified.

· Report was drafted and reviewed by TNC, WDFW and McChord staff.  Final 

report was submitted at the end of September. 

Surplus funds were available from this contract.  It was decided by McChord that the

funds would best be used for enhancement of mammal habitat.  Scotch broom is one of 

the most significant threats to upland habitats.  Surplus funds from this contract and the 

howellia survey contract (see section above) were used to purchase a wetblade mowing

system, which will cut and apply herbicide simultaneously.  This is an experimental 

project that holds considerable promise.