HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190285.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO STEWARDSHIP IMPACT GRANT
APPLICATION FOR ERADICATION OF NOXIOUS WEEDS ON THE PAWNEE
NATIONAL GRASSLAND AND AUTHORIZE ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with a Great Outdoors Colorado Stewardship
Impact Grant Application for Eradication of Noxious Weeds from the County of Weld, State of
Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the
Department of Public Works, to Great Outdoors Colorado, commencing upon full execution of
signatures, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said application, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said application, a copy
of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that the Great Outdoors Colorado Stewardship Impact Grant Application from
the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, to Great Outdoors Colorado, be and
hereby is, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Department of Public Works, be, and
hereby is authorized to submit the application electronically.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 14th day of January, A.D., 2019.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: dim, `� �•
Weld County Clerk to the Board
arbara Kirkmeye
Date of signature: lllyl V4
Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem
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2019-0285
EG0076
MEMORANDUM
TO: Clerk to the Board DATE: January 10, 2019
FROM: Tina Booton, Public Work
Jay McDonald, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Agenda Item
This request is for applying for a Great Outdoors Colorado Stewardship Impact Grant to hire
seasonal staff to work make treatments on the Pawnee National Grassland. We are asking for
$40,000.00. Weld County's match is $15,185.00, The Forest Service match is $69,900, the other
partners (WGCD, CDOT and SLB) match is $6,300.00. The total local match is $91,385.00.
This grant application is for lands in Northern Weld County. The noxious weed species that
will be addressed include: absinth wormwood, Dalmatian toadflax, diffuse knapweed, musk
thistle and Canada thistle.
Please add this item to ttesgenda for Monday, January 14, 2019.
2019-0285
EcvO O l Cn
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PASS -AROUND REVIEW/ WORK SESSION REQUEST
RE: Weld County and Pawnee National Grassland Project
DEPARTMENT: Public Works Weed Division DATE: December 122018
PERSON REQUESTING: .1 but 13ooton. Weed Division Supervisor
Brief description of the problem/issue:
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has allocated $1,000,000 for stewardship impact grants. This is the first time these
funds have been made available. The goal of the grant program is to improve the condition of Colorado lands by
providing grants for outdoor stewardship projects that demonstrate meaningful improvements to the ecological
and recreational amenities throughout the state. These funds can only be used on open space lands, federally
owned land, land trusts or lands protected under a long-term conservation easement. The projects have three
years to carry out the activities.
The proposed Weld County project is a partnership with Pawnee National Grassland (PNG), Colorado State
Land Board and West Greeley Conservation District. We are asking for $40,000 to fund staff to make noxious
weed treatments on the PNG over two years. In the project is a 10 -acre demonstration site of herbicides that
address cheatgrass. Followed by a seeding project with native grasses and wildflower species. Also included is a
volunteer component. These volunteers will be used to report any noxious weed sightings and count wildlife
that they see. This will provide an updated idea of wildlife numbers compared to the improved habitat being
created by addressing the noxious weeds.
The total local match is $53,770. The Weed Division Budget matching funds are in -kind in the amount of
$15,185, CDOT: $2500.00, USFS Pawnee National Grassland: $32,650, West Greeley Conservation District:
$2,800.00 and Colorado State Land Board $435. These in -kind matching expenditures are for chemical
treatments along Hwy 85, WGCD newsletter, USFS equipment and some cash for staff salary, and Weld
County staff time to oversee the program and provide public education along with treatments to the County
roads boarding the PNG.
All applications must be submitted via an internet link. The grant application is due to LOCO by January 17,
2019
What options exist for the Board? (Include consequences, impacts, costs, etc. of options)
1. Put the application on the BOCC agenda January 9th and allow Tina to submit the grant proposal.
2, Do not submit the grant proposal.
Recommendation:
1. Put the application on the BOCC agenda January 9th and allow Tina to submit the grant proposal.
Approve
Schedule
Recommendation Work Session
Sean Conway
Julie Cozad
Mike Freeman
Barbara Kirkmeyer, Pro -Tern
Steve Moreno, Chair
/
Other/Comments:
GOCO Proposal Narrative: Weld County and Pawnee National Grassland Project
Project Description
This project partners Weld County with the United States Forest Service along with Colorado
Department of Transportation, Colorado State Land Board and West Greeley Conservation District with
the goal to reduce noxious weeds while improving native vegetation and wildlife habitat. Included in this
grant project is a ten -acre reseeding focus on a degraded state and federal allotment. This will allow the
public and grazing permittees to utilize the lands as they are intended and receive the most enjoyment
from them while demonstrating renovation opportunities.
Noxious weeds will be treated by a Weld County hired seasonal staff member who has his
Qualified Supervisor spray license. He is very familiar with the noxious weeds, identification of the
noxious weeds at various growth stages and the herbicides along with their safety allowances. This
individual also has a strong familiarity with treating noxious weeds on the federal allotments and
navigating the complex patchwork of ownerships amongst federal, private and state lands.
A large number of wildlife surveys for different species are currently being done by volunteers.
These efforts will be continued and expanded during the project with the creation of a universal wildlife
reporting form. Historic and current wildlife data will be used to help determine if progress is being
made in the right direction for improved wildlife habitat.
Budget Narrative
Returning seasonal staff time will be compensated at $20.36/hour in 2019. The County
estimates an additional 18% to cover benefits and taxes. The grant is built for GOCO funds and Forest
Service to cover the $20.36/ hour while Weld County covers the 18%. We are currently budgeting for
2,455 hours. 2400 hours will be spent making treatments on the Pawnee National Grassland and 55
hours spent with paperwork and maintenance of equipment. These hours will be split between two
seasons or 1227.5 hours each season to treat noxious weeds on the Pawnee National Grassland.
Oversite of the project is based on the Weed Division Supervisor's time at 75 hours and the
Forest Service Rangeland Specialist time at 20 hours. These are both budgeted at $50/hour.
The Forest Service equipment to carry out the treatments is valued at $55,700. The truck is
valued at $12 per hour for 2400 hours. Spraying will be done with the sprayer in the truck as well as
using the truck to haul the UTV to allotments for additional treatments. The trailer with UTV is valued at
$13.45 per hour and planned to be used for 2000 of the total 2400 hours of the truck's service. The
Forest Service chemical is based on treating 45 acres each year at $30 per acre, for a total of $1350 each
year. The Weld County equipment and labor is $45 per hour for treating the County roads that border
the Pawnee National Grassland. The chemical for the roadsides is budgeted at $30/acre. It is estimated
we will treat ten to fifteen acres each year. The Colorado State Land Board has budgeted $1000 for
Esplanade 200SC at 5 oz per acre or other like products for a twenty -acre test plot. Colorado
Department of Transportation covers $2500 of the cost to treat Highway 85 for Dalmatian toadflax and
other noxious weeds to prevent them from spreading onto private lands, State Land and Forest Service
parcels.
West Greeley Conservation District is going to buy the native grass seed and wildflower mix for
ten -acres of the twenty -acre chemical test plot. This will allow us to compare if seeding after the
removal of cheatgrass is beneficial for a faster restoration of a degraded site. The estimated cost for the
seed is $150 per acre. They will also cover the cost of the seeding at $80/hour. We are estimating ten
hours for the seeding project for a total cost of $800.
The educational component involves articles in grazing association newsletters, which includes
staff time to lay out the newsletters as well as time to write the pieces, create weekly Facebook posts,
staff educational booths, and provide presentations at various outreach opportunities. Time to
accomplish these pieces between each entity is 60 hours at $50 per hour.
1. Need
The Forest Service's mission and priorities have recently shifted away from noxious weed
treatments; and nationally and regionally timber and fuels projects are prioritized over noxious weed
efforts. Staffing and funding on the Pawnee National Grassland over the last five years has decreased by
over 50% resulting in a much -reduced capacity at the local level to control noxious weeds on federal
lands within Weld County. The partnership between Weld County and the Pawnee National Grassland is
crucial to continue the work that has been accomplished in prior years and to ensure continued control
in future years. The Pawnee National Grassland is 193,060 acres within a 30 by 60 -mile area. This block
of land is heavily intermixed with private and state lands making it essential for control efforts to be a
multifaceted partnership approach.
This grant application asks for funding to help hire one seasonal staff to make herbicide spot
treatments on the Pawnee National Grassland along with some treatments on private lands. Using past
years mapping data staff will scout the known areas of the Pawnee National Grassland and make
treatments to address the noxious weeds with the correct herbicides in a timely manner as well as verify
that the species have not spread onto other areas of the Pawnee National Grassland. This mapped data
will be updated as time allows. If the Pawnee National Grassland noxious weeds go untreated all
progress that has been made over the last decade to address them will be reversed in just a few short
years. Not only will previous ecological impacts be reversed if treatments are reduced or ceased, but
there will be community impacts as well. Both the Pawnee National Grassland and Weld County have
put a considerable amount of effort into strengthening the trust, respect and relationships amongst
governing agencies and community members to address noxious weed issues. These relationships could
be compromised if noxious weed control efforts are reduced.
The noxious weeds that will be addressed include: Dalmatian toadflax, absinth wormwood,
diffuse knapweed, musk thistle, hoary cress, Canada thistle and Russian olive trees. These list B species
are set for mandatory eradication in Northern Weld County. On the Pawnee National Grassland, these
species typically occur in the riparian corridors, plover habitat and in disturbed areas along hiking trails
and other established recreation sites. The list C species that will be addressed is cheatgrass or downy
brome. This species is invading and taking over large tracts of land. These noxious weeds are impacting
wildlife habitat, including the Northern Leopard frog deemed sensitive in the Rocky Mountain area by
the Forest Service; recreational opportunities, species diversity, ecosystem health and reducing local
grazing capacities on which the community depends. The Pawnee National Grassland office frequently
fields phone calls from private land owners, members of the general public visiting the area and grazing
permit holders to voice their concern on the rise in noxious weeds across the Pawnee National
Grassland. Staff hired for this project hold spray licenses issued by the Colorado Department of
Agriculture. No additional permitting is needed.
2. Community Engagement and Planning
The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Division mandates that certain plant
species be controlled to reduce the spread of these species onto neighboring lands. The current
requirements have been in effect since 2004. There are approximately seventy-five regulated noxious
weed species on three different lists. The lists are A, B and C. A list species are set for mandatory
eradication. B list species are set for eradication to suppression based on County requirements. C list
species are set for suppression. The species that will be addressed in this grant project fall on the B list
under eradication due to the number of acres infested and the locations of the infestations.
As such the United States Forest Service, Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Department of
Transportation and Weld County have worked to address noxious weeds on lands within each of our
own control for years. In the last four to ten years, we have worked together to treat the noxious weeds
across jurisdictional boundaries. This landscape approach has resulted in more effective control of these
species and stronger working relationships between the partners. With this project we will bring the
local Grazing Associations and permit holders into the mix as active partners helping to maintain the
native vegetation through improved grazing practices for wildlife and local ecosystems, while adding
their help in scouting, monitoring, and controlling the noxious weeds.
A number of recreationists visit and use the Pawnee National Grassland for birding, camping,
hiking, shooting and four -wheeling. We will reach out to these users with flyers, posters and brochures
informing them of the noxious weeds, help with identification, if the weeds can be pulled and bagged
and how to report sightings for confirmation by trained staff. The flyers, posters, and brochures will be
available at the Pawnee National Grassland office, the public campground, Baker Draw Shooting Range,
Weld County website, and Facebook pages of the partners. They will also be posted in the West Greeley
Conservation District newsletter and Pawnee National Grassland Range Bulletin newsletter.
The goal behind the increased educational outreach is to encourage more awareness
and participation from the public in addressing noxious weeds. Resulting in increased
community engagement and involvement from the public in helping to keep the natural areas
free of noxious weeds; reducing the impact that noxious weed species play on native
vegetation and wildlife.
3. Project Scope
All of the Pawnee National Grassland needs to be scouted and remain diligent for new weed
infestations, this covers 193,060 acres. This project is planned to take place on 55 of the 80 allotments,
which are pasture level fenced units. The remaining 25 allotments will be scouted by Forest Service staff
while range assessments are being conducted. Based on 2018 treatments, 46 acres were treated out of
the approximate 35,600 acres that were scouted and inspected. 30 acres were sprayed using spot
treatments and 16 acres were boom treated. With continued effort it is believed that we will be able to
treat less acres each year until there is none left to treat as the soil seed bank has been depleted. As the
noxious weeds are removed, the wildlife habitat will be improved for birds, bees, butterflies, frogs,
lizards, antelope, deer, badgers, porcupines and other native fauna. There will be less impact from
equipment and chemicals with reduced need for treatments. The native vegetation will be able to
recover and provide better wildlife habitat and forage value.
Multiple research projects have shown that songbirds, native bees and butterflies increase when
they have access to native plants versus flowering non-native species. In areas where native species
have been replaced or are struggling to return to the ecosystem we will seed these sites with native
grasses, forbs, and shrubs to augment the restoration of the allotment.
In this project we will implement a twenty -acre test site using a new herbicide called Esplanade
200SC. This product acts as a pre -emergent herbicide. It is especially effective on cheatgrass, which has
been expanding rapidly within the county over the last few years. The product provides two years of
residual control while allowing perennial species that have been suppressed by the growth of cheatgrass
to re-establish. A year after the treatment is made, we will drill seed the area with a native grass and
wildflower mix as needed to supplement the establishment of natives. The planned allotment for this
test project is the Carroll allotment, which is a combination of federal and state lands. The Carroll
allotment has been identified by the Forest Service as an area of the grassland that is dominated by
introduced perennial grass species such as crested wheatgrass, and cheatgrass an invasive winter annual
grass. These undesirable species have greatly reduced overall species diversity and forage amounts. If
re -seeding is not required on the Carroll allotment, after the introduced species are suppressed, ten -
acres of seed mix at fourteen pounds pure live seed/acre will be utilized on other degraded sites.
This project will also benefit recreationists on the Pawnee National Grassland as three of the
most visited sites on the Pawnee National Grassland are areas where weed treatments take place. The
Pawnee Buttes, a local iconic area of value, is a popular hiking trail amongst users of the Pawnee
National Grassland. Currently diffuse knapweed is highly visible at the trail head and has received
attention from concerned users. Eradicating noxious weeds at this high use site will aid in native species
recovery as well as public perception on county and federal weed management strategies and
commitment.
Another heavily recreated site on the Pawnee National Grassland is the Crow Valley
Campground which is currently heavily infested with Canada thistle. This site has been treated the last
several years with great progress being made. However, continued efforts are needed to eradicate this
species from this site. The Pawnee National Grassland office frequently fields complaints from the
campground users on the impact the Canada thistle has on the hiking trail accessibility, wildlife habitat
and riparian health. Eradicating this species at this site will greatly improve recreationists' experience.
The third heavily recreated site on the Pawnee National Grassland is the Baker Draw Shooting
Range which is currently infested with List C species. This heavily disturbed site based on its use requires
constant surveying for other noxious weeds. It is important to treat this site as well as survey for new
noxious weed species as it will remain a heavily disturbed site for as long as it is a designated shooting
range. Keeping noxious weeds under control at this site reduces fire hazards and will provide a more
aesthetically enjoyable experience for these users.
We also hope that continued expanded efforts to control noxious weeds within the project area
will promote more collaborative partnerships within the community to engage in noxious weed control
efforts. The Forest Service has a large partnership with over 80 local ranching families. This project
intends to continue to reach out to these partners and get them more involved with the noxious weed
treatments occurring on the Pawnee National Grassland.
4. Measuring Impact
The first measuring tool will be to see the reduction of acres treated using the same aggressive
scouting and monitoring taking place as in the previous years. This work will be done by grant funded
staff, Weld County Weed Division Supervisor and Pawnee National Grassland staff. Efficacy checks will
be conducted on most of the treatments implemented within two months of the application date to
visually estimate the efficacy of applied treatments and determine if follow-up treatments are required
during the treatment window. During and after photos will also be taken throughout the duration of the
project. Historic, major infestations are mapped by polygons in Collector. While treatments are made
additional points are taken and the edges of the polygons are adjusted to show a decrease or increase in
the noxious weed infestations. Using both Collector and the federal recording databases we can track
changes in the size of the infestations over time to quantify the increase or decrease in the number of
acres infested across the project area.
Volunteers, grant funded staff and Pawnee National Grassland staff will also conduct a variety of
wildlife surveys during various times of the year. There are already in place several Forest Service
wildlife surveys that have been occurring across the project area for at least the past several years,
many of which heavily rely on volunteer help and involvement. Having some of these long-standing
wildlife surveys already in place will give us a good baseline to compare trends in wildlife populations as
a response to improving wildlife habitat. Wildlife surveys that are already in place include: swift fox
night surveys; an annual December bird survey across state, federal and private lands; bird counts by
local grazing permittees; raptor surveys; mountain plover surveys; prairie dog surveys; and local reports
from the community. Almost all of these counts involve volunteers from the local area. As part of this
project we hope to expand upon existing wildlife counts by providing Weld County staff, Forest Service
staff and involved volunteers a universal wildlife reporting form so that anyone on the Pawnee National
Grassland can easily report wildlife sightings.
5.Financial Resources
To make meaningful stewardship improvements we will use herbicides to spot treat noxious
weeds that are impacting the native vegetation, reducing recreational opportunities, and impacting
wildlife habitat, including that of the pollinators. We have budgeted a ten -acre site for restoration after
the noxious weeds are removed. With the federal partners and the grazing permit holders, constant
monitoring and communication is in place to see that the improvements are working, and that the
overall health of the ecosystem is headed in the right direction.
With these GOCO funds we will be able to implement two seasons of treatments on the Pawnee
National Grassland to target treatments of noxious weeds. This will put us closer to reaching the
eradication requirement that has been set for these targeted weed species at the state level. We will
also be able to implement some restoration work in a few of the degraded riparian areas to improve
wildlife habitat.
The overall decreasing Pawnee National Grassland budget trend and the uncertainty from year
to year for funding makes it difficult for the Pawnee National Grassland staff to count on being able to
address this state priority without assistance from the partnerships that have been forged over the
years.
The proposed funding from the Pawnee National Grassland will not be lost if the project is not
funded. Work will just not be able to be accomplished as thoroughly as it would if this grant application
is funded. Only two and a half months of work can be funded at this point versus the full six months'
worth of work that is needed to address noxious weeds within the County from mid -April to mid -
October.
Funding is secured from Colorado Department of Transportation for Highway 85 (the line in the
sand) treatments. From West Greeley Conservation District to helps with promotion and education
through their newsletter, Facebook page and other opportunities that arise, as well as for the ten -acre
re -seeding project with grass seed and wildflowers. Weld County has committed to overseeing the
project, funding the additional expense of the seasonal staff and making treatments along the County
Roads running through the Pawnee National Grassland. The Colorado State Land Board has committed
to participating in the ten -acre test plot with herbicides to reduce the pressure of the non-native,
invasive grasses so the seeding project can be as successful as possible. The United States Forest Service
has committed to providing the equipment for the project to see that it is successfully carried out. Their
cash match is planned and will depend on their local final approved budget that is coming over the next
few months.
No other fund-raising efforts are planned for at this time.
6. Letters of Support
There is no opposition to this project. All partners, neighboring landowners and the
recreationists understand the importance of noxious weed control. No one has voiced any concerns or
questions regarding the project and improving the vegetation on the Pawnee National Grassland.
Partner letters of support are from United States Forest Service, Colorado State Land Board,
Crow Valley Livestock Cooperative Inc. Grazing Association, Pawnee Cooperative Grazing Association,
West Greeley Conservation District.
There are also two letters of support from bordering private landowners who have been long
time neighbors to the Pawnee National Grassland and seen the changes in land management over the
decades.
Weld County and Pawnee National Grassland
Proposed Budget
Goc.
GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO
Cash Expenses
$40,000.00
Labor for spraying
Oversight of implementation
Treatment along Hwy 85
Materials - chemical
Materials - seed
Re -seeding
CASH SUBTOTAL
In -Kind Expenses
Equipment & labor Use
Education and Outreach
Overhead
PROJECT EXPENSES/CONTRIBUTIONS
GOCO
5401000.00
Ap • licant
$6,000.00
$3,750.00
$685.00
Partner
$10,000.00
$1,000.00
$2,700.00
$1,500.00
$800.00
Partner
$2,500.00
$1,000.00
Total
556,000.00
$4,750.00
52,500.00
$4,385.00
51,500.00
$800.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$10,435.00
$2,400.00
$2,000.00
$350.00
$16,000.00
$55,700.00
$500.00
$3,500.00 $69,935.00
$500.00
$58,100.01
$3,000.01
S350.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.0►0
50.00
IN -KIND SUBTOTAL
$4, 750.00
$56,200.00
$500.00
$61,450.00
TOTAL
$40,000.00
$15,185.00
$72,200.00
$4,000.00 $131,385.00
Item
Overall Match
Cash Match
9f Total Costs
CALCULATION OF MATCH REQUIREMENTS
Requirement
$32,846.25
$13,138.50
30.44%
Actual
$91,385.00
$29,935.00
Meets Requirement?
Yes
Yes
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