1. Invasive Plant Species Management on F. E. Warren Air Force Base
NMFWA
March 2019
Presenters:
Andy McKinley, F. E. Warren AFB
Alex Schubert, USFWS

2. Overview Purpose and Need Past and Current approaches Summary
Overview of Installation
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan
Funding
Past and Current approaches
Monitoring
Mechanical
Biocontrol Agents
Sheep Experiment
Herbicide
Summary
Questions

3. Installation Overview
History of Installation
Mission
Wyoming

4. Background Extensive invasive/ noxious weeds throughout installation
Weed levels in influenced by proximity of interstates and wind
Projects are detailed in Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP)
Communicate funding needs with appropriate AF agencies
Dalmatian Toadflax

5. Invasive Plants Dalmatian toadflax Leafy spurge Common teasel
Purple loosestrife
Canada thistle
Russian olive

6. Purpose and Need INRMP Objective/Project Language
Objective 2.7: Implement Invasive/Noxious Plant Species Control Plan.
Project 2.7.1: Map, control, and eradicate plant species through continued use of biocontrol agents.
Project 2.7.2: Explore grazing of livestock to control plant species.
Project 2.7.3: Volunteer program to physically remove plants.

7. Management Approaches
Monitoring
Mechanical Removal
Biocontrol Agents
Sheep Experiment
Herbicide (as last line of defense)

8. Monitoring Monitoring Map existing invasives/noxious Early detection
Two-Year Intervals
Canada Thistle
Leafy Spurge
Houndstongue

9. Mechanical Removal Mechanical Common teasel removal
Russian olive removal

10. Biocontrol Agents Mecinus Dalmatian toadflax stem mining weevil
Aphthona leafy spurge flea beetle

11. Sheep/Toadflax Experiment
Partner with University of Wyoming
Sheep grazing to control Dalmatian Toadflax
Fences for Sheep Grazing at FEWAFB

12. Sheep Experiment – Grazing Cells
F. E. Warren AFB

13. Sheep Experiment – Preliminary Results after 2 years of grazing
Initial reduction in Toadflax cover

14. Herbicide – A last resort

15. Summary Sustained Long-term effort
Continued engagement with partner agencies
Integrated Approaches
- Mechanical Removal
- Biological Control Agents
- Livestock grazing
- Herbicides
- Continue to monitor!

16. Questions?