Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Brush and Weed Control Education Program (San Juan County)

Plan Goal

Private land Managers, state and federal agency land managers will learn the most efficacious, economical and ecologically sound means of managing noxious brush and weeds.

Situation Statement

The spread of invasive non-native plant species is one of the greatest threats to the long-term environmental stability and health in the Four Corners region. An invasive weed mapping project just completed, well documents the problem in the over three and one half million acres of land within the San Juan Basin Weed Management Area. More than 5,000 invasive weed species sightings are documented, encompassing more than 48,000 acres of infestation. Russian Knapweed is the most prevalent species followed by Musk Thistle, Hoary Cress, Canada Thistle and Plumeless Thistle, respectfully, while Russian Olive and Salt Cedar dominate the tree species of invasives. Isolated spots of Yellow Toadflax, Wavyleaf Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Bull Thistle, Camelthorn, Leafy Spurge and Spotted Knapweed were also identified. Many of these weeds have caused serious ecological and economic damage in other areas of the country and threaten the Four Corners if action is not taken.

The primary focus of this project is to develop an integrated plan to contain and control them in the area and to limit infestation. At present, the severity of the problem in the Four Corners region is on the increase even after the many efforts to cost share control with Agriculture producers. The main culprit for the increase was the drought in 2001-2003. The drought brought a shortage of irrigation water in some areas, and on non-irrigated land it reduced native vegetation by as much as 60 percent. Without this competition, invasive species have moved in at an alarming rate. The two invasive weeds most prevalent since the drought are the Russian Knapweed and the Hoary Cress.

Responsibility for the control of invasive weeds on lands in the Four Corners is divided among a wide array of people and agencies complicating efforts to develop a cohesive control strategy. For example, 1.8 million acres of tribal trust lands are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo Nation. However, these lands are bisected by state and county right-of ways that are infested by invasive species. There is little coordinated effort between these agencies to control the spread of invasive species. Without coordination and integration, efforts made by one, can easily be thwarted by inactivity on the part of another. Close coordination is a precursor to successful containment and control of invasive weeds species.

Target Audience and Actions

The challenge in managing the invasion of non-native plant species in the Four Corners is four fold:
1. Identifying and mapping the location of invasive plant species.
2. Coordinating the development of a control strategy among the responsible parties.
3. Educating and involving the public in a control effort.
4. Implementing a control program on the lands in the Four Corners.
Implementation model -- The project will consist of five phases operating over a Five-year period. First, a concentrated effort will be made to provide digitized maps of the invasive species currently infesting the Four Corners area. Second, a community-wide education program will be conducted to increase public awareness and to solicit community support and participation. Third, an interagency work group will coordinate an integrated invasive weed control program. Fourth, the interagency workgroup will implement a comprehensive control program in the project area. Finally, an evaluation of the program will be conducted to determine the impact on the spread of invasive species.

Identify and Map Invasive Species -- A concentrated effort will be made to continue to identify and map the location of invasive weed infestations on private, public and reservation lands within the project area. This will be accomplished in three ways:
1. The existing weed mapping data collected in 2005-2006 will be put into a digitized format, and shape files or geodata bases will be created by a GIS consulting company. This will be layered with identifying points such as county roads, BLM roads, rivers, towns, lakes etc. to enable anyone to identify their location.
2. An Internet site will be developed, and the data will be made available to the public. Certainly, access to accurate data is an essential precursor to developing an effective control strategy. The web site will not only serve as a source of information on invasive species in the region but will also serve as a communication tool between the participating agencies. Control measures, demonstration plot results, identification of invasive species, and newsletters will also be posted on the site.
3. The agricultural community and the general public will be enlisted into the effort to identify weed infestations as well. A media campaign will be conducted to increase awareness and invite participation.

Educate and Motivate the Public -- A community education program will be conducted to further increase community awareness and participation. The education program will consist of the following components.
1. A weed symposium will be conducted for residents of the Four Corners.
2. A minimum of six (six) workshops each year will be held for irrigation-agricultural water users groups, and Navajo Nation Farm Board members, and curriculum materials will be developed to support the workshops.
4. Two invasive weed tours will be conducted each year for producers, landowners, public agencies and the general public.
5. Demonstration plots will be put out on the control of Russian Knapweed, Musk Thistle, Canada thistle, Russian Olive and Salt Cedar.
6. A quarterly invasive weed newsletter will be produced and distributed to over 500 area agricultural producers, public agencies and private landowners.

Interagency Work Group -- A multi-agency workgroup will develop and coordinate the control program within the project area. Success in this project depends on all agencies working together with a common focus. Workgroup partners will include, NMSU Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Natural Resources, Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District, New Mexico State University Agriculture Science Center and the state and county highway departments.

Conduct a Control Program -- The interagency work group will develop an integrated control strategy for the entire project area. Utilizing the GIS data collected, the group will develop and implement control measures designed to contain or eradicate invasive species found on lands within the project area. This group will continue to seek out monies through grants to help land managers with these efforts.

Short-Term Objectives

develop an integrated control strategy for the entire project area. Utilizing the GIS data collected, the group will develop and implement control measures designed to contain or eradicate invasive species found on lands within the project area.
Conduct a community education program by means of eductional workshops, symposiums, invasive weed maps, newsletters, demonstration site tours and invasive weed web site.

Medium-Term Objectives

To increase the knowledge of weed management programs by private land managers and state and federal agency land managers. To increase the adoption of weed management strategies by 5% over life of POW and increase net ranch income on treated acreage by 5%.

Long-Term Objectives

Overall range and crop conditions on treated acreage will impove over pretreatment conditions. As the number of acres densely infested with noxious brush and weeds declines, production will increase, soil erosion will decline, water use efficiency will improve and animal handling costs will decline.

Evaluation Plan

All demonstrations will be evaluated for plant kill, brush and weed reduction, and increased forage production, depending on age of plots and nature of brush and weed species. Field days and tours will be held to show results to clientele. Impact of program will be determined by commerical measures of chemical sold, acres treated or money expended by species and practice. The estimated economic benefits accruing as a result of adopting recommendations from this plan is $1 million to the agriculture industry.