Minimize upland soil compaction during practice construction WFA by selecting the location and timing of the practice to minimize compaction (i.e. avoid periods when soil is wet, especially high clay soils). Use existing roads and limit cross-country travel or initiation ES of new roads. Where clearing of vegetation is determined to be necessary during planned construction or maintenance, the corridor cleared, otherwise prepared, or maintained will not exceed 25 feet in width. Flag or otherwise protect individuals of a listed plant species in construction areas. A pre-construction survey will be completed to ensure that vegetation or habitat structural materials to be removed are not occupied or used as primary cover for a listed species. Cover or nest materials will remain with a 250' undisturbed buffer. Herbicide applications will follow the conservation measures recommended in the FWS document "Recommended Protection Measures For Pesticide Applications in Region 2 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". Use the NRCS computer program Win _PST to determine pesticide mitigation requirements. Complete practice outside covered species' critical periods (as detailed in Table 1), referenced in practice standard as Field Office Technical Guide, Section II, Technical note. Use existing travel routes through listed species habitat. Alignments for planned construction (pipelines, fences) will be routed so as to avoid specific areas known to be occupied by listed species and known habitat features such as burrows and nests. Conduct a pre-installation, pedestrian survey for wildlife that may be trapped within a temporarily fenced construction area. Trapped wildlife will be allowed to escape prior to construction. Screen inlets and outlets to prevent non-native fish and amphibians from spreading into other habitats. Time practice implementation to reduce spread of non-native plants or animals by implementing the practice during the dormant season (e.g. avoid ground disturbance in riparian areas in the summer to reduce salt cedar spread). Clean equipment used in practice implementation (vehicles, farm equipment, and tools) before entering and leaving project site to prevent the spread of non-native plant/animals or disease CONSIDERATIONS Planting materials selected should contribute to wildlife and aesthetics when opportunities exist. Use of certified planting materials should be encouraged, however, distance and source limitations on seed and planting stock should be considered in terms of logistics and costs. Any special handling requirements for planting materials need to be followed for best results, (e.g., beards or awns on seed, hard seed coats, seed mixture ratios). Where air quality concerns exist, site preparation techniques should be utilized that
will minimize airborne particulate matter generation and transport. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS For standard plantings, appropriate forms, worksheets, etc. may be used to develop specifications and documentation. Where plantings require more detailed information or require the use of other conservation practices prior to planting, a specific site specification will be prepared. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Operation. Identify any required items needed to assist in stand establishment such as mowing, burning, flash or target grazing, or herbicides to control weeds and vestige of invasive plants. Address insect and disease control needs where they are likely to create establishment problems. Focusing on the ecological mechanisms and processes that direct succession is central to successful stand establishment. Maintenance. The cooperator has an understanding of the management required to maintain the resulting plant community Any necessary replanting due to drought, insects or other uncontrollable event which prevented adequate stand establishment should be addressed. Recommendations may vary from complete re-establishment to overseeding or spot replanting. Thin stands may only need additional grazing deferment during the growing season. Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies Native Plant Connection (2003) URL: (accessed 14 Aug 2008) Jones, TA. 2005. Genetic principles for the use of native seeds: just the FAQs, please, just the FAQs. Native Plants Journal 6:14-18, 20-24. Mangold, JM, etal. 2007. Revegetating Russian knapweed (Acroptilon rpens) infestations using morphologically diverse species and seedbed preparation. Rangeland Ecology and Management 60:378-385. Sheley, R.L., J.M. Mangold, and J.J. Anderson. 2006. Potential for succesional theory to guide restoration of invasive plant dominated rangeland. Ecological Monographs. USDA-NRCS USDA-NRCS. Technical documents related to plant species community dynamics. The Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) is the repository for the data associated with the collection of forestland and rangeland plot data and the development of ecological site descriptions. [Online]