Vale District Public Scoping Meetings Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM Lands in Oregon Environmental Impact Statement Baker City 7/7/08 Vale 7/8/08

District Map

Major Invasive Species Occurrences Major Species in District: Major Species in District: Rush skeletonweed: 500,000 acres infested; 1,100 net acres Rush skeletonweed: 500,000 acres infested; 1,100 net acres Leafy spurge: 60,000 acres infested; 200 net acres Leafy spurge: 60,000 acres infested; 200 net acres Dalmatian toadflax: 7,000 acres infested; 100 net acres Dalmatian toadflax: 7,000 acres infested; 100 net acres Yellow starthistle: 6,000 acres infested; 250 net acres Yellow starthistle: 6,000 acres infested; 250 net acres Whitetop: 2,000,000 acres infested; 7,500 net acres Whitetop: 2,000,000 acres infested; 7,500 net acres Diffuse knapweed Diffuse knapweed Spotted Knapweed Spotted Knapweed Scotch thistle Scotch thistle Yellow/Meadow Hawkweed not known to be on BLM – yet Yellow/Meadow Hawkweed not known to be on BLM – yet

Major Species Baker RA

Rush Skeletonweed

Leafy Spurge – Alder Creek

Yellow Starthistle - Keating

Dalmatian Toadflax

Integrated Vegetation Management An overview of Vale District Integrated Vegetation Management Program An overview of Vale District Integrated Vegetation Management Program Prevention & education efforts: Emphasis on Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR). Prevention & education efforts: Emphasis on Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR). Coordination with ODA, ODFW, ODOT, Counties and County Weed Boards, Tri-County and Jordan Valley Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs). Coordination with ODA, ODFW, ODOT, Counties and County Weed Boards, Tri-County and Jordan Valley Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs). Treatment methods: see following slides. Treatment methods: see following slides. Projects are planned and prioritized based on biggest threat to resources considering species aggressiveness size of infestation, treatment options and effectiveness. Projects are planned and prioritized based on biggest threat to resources considering species aggressiveness size of infestation, treatment options and effectiveness. Public and adjacent landowner notification and coordination – normally do not due to remote sites and small spot treatments. Public and adjacent landowner notification and coordination – normally do not due to remote sites and small spot treatments.

Manual & Mechanical Treatments The Vale District treats approximately 50 total acres each year using manual and mechanical methods. These are numerous small sites widely scattered over the district. The Vale District treats approximately 50 total acres each year using manual and mechanical methods. These are numerous small sites widely scattered over the district. Examples are: 1. hand pulling diffuse knapweed at pull outs and camp sites along the Grande Ronde River by the River Rangers. 2. Many employees will stop and shovel Scotch thistle before the plant bolts. Examples are: 1. hand pulling diffuse knapweed at pull outs and camp sites along the Grande Ronde River by the River Rangers. 2. Many employees will stop and shovel Scotch thistle before the plant bolts.

Biological Agents This district is working closely with APHIS and Oregon Department Ag in bio-control work on yellow starthistle, salt cedar, knapweeds, leafy spurge, etc. This district is working closely with APHIS and Oregon Department Ag in bio-control work on yellow starthistle, salt cedar, knapweeds, leafy spurge, etc. Approximately 55,000 acres now have bio- control agents established to one degree or another. May take several years to build up sufficient populations to be effective. Approximately 55,000 acres now have bio- control agents established to one degree or another. May take several years to build up sufficient populations to be effective.

Bio-Control New Releases on approximately 50 acres each year

Bio-Control on knapweed

Biocontrol Aphthona beetles on Leafy Spurge

Aerial Treatments Rush Skeletonweed in Snake River Canyon

Keating Starthistle

Toadflax Treatments with horses below Promise (Wallowa County)

Herbicide Treatments 2007 District Acres Treated : 1,378 net acres 2007 District Acres Treated : 1,378 net acres Malheur/Jordan Resource Areas: 462 acres – all ground Malheur/Jordan Resource Areas: 462 acres – all ground Baker Resource Area : 841 acres ground + 75 aerial = 916 total Baker Resource Area : 841 acres ground + 75 aerial = 916 total Applications are made by commercial contractors, county weed personnel, ODA, Tri-County CWMA, ODOT, licensed and certified BLM employees. Applications are made by commercial contractors, county weed personnel, ODA, Tri-County CWMA, ODOT, licensed and certified BLM employees. All applications are covered under approved Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs). All applications are covered under approved Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs).

How Vegetation Treatment EIS Would Help Having a broader array of herbicides to choose from resulting from this EIS would help our integrated vegetation management program by: Having a broader array of herbicides to choose from resulting from this EIS would help our integrated vegetation management program by: Noxious weeds - examples: 1) Whitetop - cannot use Telar or Escort at this time due to the injunction. Have lost 1,000s of acres to whitetop as a result. 2) The use Habitat on salt cedar has been very effective on private land. Noxious weeds - examples: 1) Whitetop - cannot use Telar or Escort at this time due to the injunction. Have lost 1,000s of acres to whitetop as a result. 2) The use Habitat on salt cedar has been very effective on private land. Invasive species - example: Plateau on Cheatgrass and medusahead Invasive species - example: Plateau on Cheatgrass and medusahead Weeds in rights of ways, admin. sites, and recreation sites (i.e., changes from mowing to treatment with herbicides or use of residuals). Weeds in rights of ways, admin. sites, and recreation sites (i.e., changes from mowing to treatment with herbicides or use of residuals). Vegetation to promote landscape health objectives - example: using Spike to alter age structure of sagebrush to promote habitat for sage grouse Vegetation to promote landscape health objectives - example: using Spike to alter age structure of sagebrush to promote habitat for sage grouse

Keating Whitetop

Non-noxious Species Having the ability to use herbicides on other than officially listed noxious weeds would improve some treatment options in our program (cost, efficiencies, landscape health, improve coordination with other agencies and private landowners). Example: Being able to use herbicides on poison ivy in campgrounds along the Snake River, etc. Having the ability to use herbicides on other than officially listed noxious weeds would improve some treatment options in our program (cost, efficiencies, landscape health, improve coordination with other agencies and private landowners). Example: Being able to use herbicides on poison ivy in campgrounds along the Snake River, etc.

District Level Analysis Once the statewide Vegetation Treatment EIS is finalized, additional National Environmental Policy Act analysis would be required at the District or Resource Area level. A draft district programmatic EA has been written but has been on hold. It will be revised now that the Record of Decision (ROD) has been issued for the 17 Western States Vegetation Management EIS - AND once the state EIS is final. Once the statewide Vegetation Treatment EIS is finalized, additional National Environmental Policy Act analysis would be required at the District or Resource Area level. A draft district programmatic EA has been written but has been on hold. It will be revised now that the Record of Decision (ROD) has been issued for the 17 Western States Vegetation Management EIS - AND once the state EIS is final.