INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL PROJECTS (R1 SMALL GRANTS)

FY 2012 FINAL REPORT

Project Title: Highway 24 Homestead Reclamation Project Station: Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Contact Person: Kevin Goldie, Wildlife Biologist, Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex, 509-546-8300 Project Description: The Highway 24 Homestead project is a multi-year reclamation effort in part designed to address habitat degradation and hazardous fuels issues in part caused by past land uses and by sub-surface leaching of irrigation wastewater. This increased out-of-season moisture has altered the hydrology and soil chemistry of the project area, allowing kochia and other invasive broadleaf weeds (including smotherweed, tumble mustard, and two species of Russian thistle) to invade and outcompete the stressed native shrub-steppe habitats. In particular, spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), and its associated subshrubs, forbs, and short grasses have all begun to die out. Most of the native forbs and grasses are currently extirpated from much of the core project area. Since the irrigation is both administratively and legislatively protected, the only viable option is to treat the invasive components and introduce native species better suited to the modified site conditions. The multi-year prescription that was developed for this site involves mowing existing standing weeds and detritus, burning the area, chemically treating the invasive components using a rotational, multiple mode-of-action series of herbicide applications, and then progressively seeding in selected native grasses, forbs, and sub-shrubs and shrubs. The funds from the FY2012 Invasive Species Control grant, used to supplement hazardous fuels reduction funds, and supplemented by other funding sources (e.g., station funds), were used to complete some of the early steps of this prescription. Photopoints were established in the project area and adjacent lands, most of the project area was burned in spring 2012 (with the remainder to be burned in spring 2013), broadleaf annuals and cheatgrass were chemically treated in the whole of the project area in summer and late fall 2012, and native grass seed was procured for application in winter 2012/2013. Future reclamation work will include completion of the burn, continued broadleaf control, and seeding and/or planting of native grasses, forbs, sub-shrubs, and shrubs. Invasive Species Targeted: Kochia (Bassia scoparia; Class B noxious weed in WA), Smotherweed (Bassia hyssopifolia), Tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus, S. kali), Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) Project Completion Date or Estimated Completion Date:

Project phase covered under FY12 Small Grant: completed 11-December-2012 Estimated overall project completion date: winter 2015/2016 Project Results: The project area was mowed in mid-late April 2012, to break down and consolidate fuels ahead of a prescribed burn (See Figure 1). The eastern 2/3 of the area was burned on May 30, 2012 (see Figures 2 and 5). The burn was conducted by the Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex fire crew, with the assistance of Complex collateral duty fire personnel, members of the Turnbull NWR fire crew, Hanford Fire (Department of Energy), Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, City of Richland Fire Department, West Richland Fire Department, Benton County Fire District #1, Washington Department of Transportation, and USFWS Law Enforcement. Environmental conditions within burn-prescription did not return in time to finish burning the western 1/3 of the area before the onset of the summer fire season. The intent is to finish burning the project area either in winter 2012/2013 or in mid-spring 2013, as soon as on-ground conditions will permit fire to carry through the area.

Extant large sagebrush plants were retained when possible during the mowing process (see Figure 6). These were protected as much as possible during the prescribed burn. It is believed that the majority have survived. Many were producing fair amounts of seed in winter 2012, though the viability of produced seed is not yet known. It is hoped that these shrubs will help to reestablish sagebrush within the burn area, ultimately reducing reclamation costs. The project area was chemically treated with a tank mix of glyphosate/2,4-D amine/metsulfuron methyl in late July/early August 2012 (see Figure 3). More sensitive areas (i.e., those areas with surviving sagebrush, willows) were treated at a 1 qt./1 qt./0.5 oz. application rate with 2 qt. of non-ionic surfactant. Unburned areas and areas of greater kochia infestation were treated at a 2 qt./1 qt./0.5 oz. application rate with 2 qt. of non-ionic surfactant. Areas with kochia less than 2 feet tall showed 100% burn-down of targeted vegetation and minimal to no impacts to non-target species (see Figure 7). Areas of kochia that had exceeded 2 feet showed significant impacts to targeted weeds, though some kochia was able to pull through sufficiently to produce some seed. It is unclear how viable this produced seed may have been. Practically no non-target species were present in these areas. The burned area showed little to no fall growth of cheatgrass, and minimal “buttons” of kochia (pre-rosette stage kochia seedlings; see Figure 7). The unburned areas showed significant fall regrowth of cheatgrass, and moderate production of kochia “buttons.” Where necessary standing kochia and other senesced broadleaf stalks were mowed to facilitate chemical application (and ultimately prescribed burning). A second chemical treatment of glyphosate (@ 6 fl. oz./acre) was made in November 2012 to control cheatgrass ahead of application of native seed (see Figure 3). “Button-stage” kochia is generally not susceptible to most herbicides, at least not to herbicides that would not also fully inhibit all native seeding efforts. However, most fall growth of kochia in open areas of the central Columbia Basin (such as the project area) is typically killed by winter freezing, so this growth is not anticipated to be problematic for the overall success of the reclamation project. Assuming winter actually comes to the Columbia Basin this year. At least more than the trace we’ve had to date (12-December-2012). The apparent cheatgrass inhibition within the burned area appears to be similar to what has been seen after several large wildfires that have occurred elsewhere on the Monument (e.g., 24 Command Fire in 2000, Weather Station/McLane Fires in 2005, Overlook/Milepost 17/Wautoma Command Fires in 2007). It was noted after these fires that there was a 1-3 year period post-fire in which cheatgrass was significantly inhibited, largely due to heat effects on the soils and direct damage and depletion of the seed bank. This inhibition offers a window in which native species can be established with limited competition. It is unclear if this is actually the case within the Highway 24 Homestead project area, but it does present as an intriguing hypothesis. Two custom native grass seed blends were procured for planting into the project area. “Homestead Mix #1” was composed of a blend of early-seral (Thickspike wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus lanceolatus], Indian ricegrass [Achnatherum hymenoides], Sand dropseed [Sporobolus cryptandrus], Sandberg’s bluegrass [Poa secunda]) and later-sere grass species (Bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata], Needle & Thread grass [Hesperostipa comata]), selected for dry, sandy soils. “Homestead Mix #2” was composed of a blend of early-seral (Sandberg’s bluegrass, Bottlebrush squirreltail [Elymus elymoides], Thickspike wheatgrass and Streambank wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus psammophilus]) and later-sere grass species (Great Basin wildrye [Leymus cinereus] and Inland Saltgrass [Distichlis spicata]), selected for moisture-influenced sandy soils where higher alkalinity and allelopathic compounds are more prevalent. Seed mix composition and seed source/cultivar details are available upon request. A portion of Homestead Mix #1 was drill seeded into the burned area in mid-December 2012, using a 35’ wide John Deere Model 455 seed drill pulled by a Caterpillar Challenger Model 65A (see Figure 4).

Homestead Mix #2 and the remainder of Homestead Mix #1 will be held until the rest of the project area can be burned. If the burn is completed before January 31, 2013, then these mixes will be seeded immediately after it is safe to do so. If the burn cannot be completed until spring then the seed will be held in storage until next winter. In discussions with the industry experts and with the supplier (BFI Native Seeds LLC), given the species in the mixes, this hold should not significantly impact germination of the seed. However, it may be wise to procure a few hundred pounds of the early-sere species to better guard against potential impacts of any unforeseen germ-loss (i.e., “should” in the previous sentence is a loaded term). Future reclamation work, as described in the prescription developed for the project, will include continued control of kochia and other broadleaf weeds. Broadleaf herbicides for the first year’s treatment regime were ordered under a delayed-delivery contract. If the western portion of the area is not burned until spring then this area will be kept in a bare soil condition until seeded in winter 2013 using tank mixes of these broadleaf herbicides and general herbicides (e.g., glyphosate). Native forbs, sub-shrubs and shrubs will be seeded in small blocks in winter 2013 and 2014. Spot treatment control of invasive broadleaves will be continued through at least 2015. Photopoints were set ahead of initiation of reclamation work. These will be visited seasonally. Vegetation monitoring will be conducted three years post-seeding and periodically (as warranted) after that. Number of Acres Treated: 610 acres w/in 154 acres Mow: ~170 acres (~154 acres April 2012; ~16 acres November 2012) Rx Burn: ~102 acres Spray: ~236 acres (~154 acres summer 2012; ~82 acres late fall 2012) Seeding: ~102 acres Number of Acres Inventoried and/or Mapped: ~ 356 acres Number of Acres Restored: 0 acres (restoration is not a goal of this project) Number of Acres Reclaimed: ~92 acres (note: these acres still require follow up invasives control) Total Grant Amount: $83,000 (Snively = $42,500; Homestead = $40,500) Breakdown of Expenditures:

Category Total $ Spent

(Snively)

Total $ Spent

(Homestead) % of Total Grant

Equipment/Supplies $0.00* $0.00* 0% Chemical $55 $8,919* 10.8% Biocontrol Agents --- --- --- Travel --- --- --- Salary $0.00* $0.00* 0% Restoration Materials $53,574 $20,452 89.2% Other (Tractor Mowing) $0.00* $0.00* 0% Other (Prescribed Fire) $0.00* $0.00* 0% TOTAL $53,629 $29,371 100% * Funds from other sources (e.g., hazardous fuels, station funds) were expended in these categories. As these were not grant-derived moneys the totals are not reported here

Figure 1. Areas within the Hwy 24 Homestead project area that were mowed using a tractor-drawn mower, Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge/Hanford Reach National Monument, Grant County, Washington. The area was initially mowed in April 2012 to prepare it for prescribed burning. A smaller area was re-mowed in November 2012 to prepare it for broadcast application of glyphosate.

Figure 2. Areas of the Highway 24 Homestead project area burned through prescribed burning on May 30, 2012, Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge/Hanford Reach National Monument, Grant County, Washington. The western portions of the project area had been intended to have been burned at the same time (as evidenced by the fire control lines) but environmental conditions within burn prescription did not return before the start of the summer fire season.

Figure 3. Areas of the Highway 24 Homestead project that were chemically treated for invasive species, Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge/Hanford Reach National Monument, Grant County, Washington. The entire area was treated with a tank mix of glyphosate, 2,4-D amine, and Escort XP (metsulfuron methyl), with a non-ionic surfactant, for control broadleaf weeds in late July through early August 2012. The west end of the project area and selected areas of the east end were treated with glyphosate for cheatgrass in November 2012, ahead of drill seeding and eventual completion of the prescribed burn.

Figure 4. Areas of the Highway 24 Homestead project site that were drill seeded with a custom native grass seed blend, Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge/Hanford Reach National Monument, Grant County, Washington. Homestead Mix #1 was seeded into this area using a 35’ John Deere Model 455 rangeland drill pulled by a Caterpillar Challenger Model 65A. Seeding was completed on December 11, 2012.

Figure 5. Fire crew members from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Turnbull NWR, and the Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex can be seen pre-staging ahead of the prescribed burn. Cooperative assistance for the burn was also received from Hanford Fire (DOE), the City of Richland Fire Department, West Richland Fire Department, Benton County Fire District #1, Washington Department of Transportation, and USFWS Law Enforcement.

Figure 6. Extant large sagebrush plants were protected from mowing and burning whenever possible in the hopes that they would eventually help to reestablish sage within the project area. A little over 100 large sage plants remained within the project area before the initiation of the project; the majority of these are believed to have survived the burn.

Figure 7. An internal (unmapped) fire control disc line in this November 28, 2012 photo shows the efficacy of fire in temporarily controlling cheatgrass. In burned areas there is very little to no cheatgrass growth whereas in the unburned disc line cheatgrass is showing significant resprout. Also evidenced in this photo is the efficacy of the July/August broadleaf control treatment. Kochia that was less than 2’ in height, such as the brown stem in the lower right hand corner of this photo, was 100% controlled within the project area. Kochia over 2’ in height (not shown in the photo) showed significant burn down but many still produced seed.