Range Program Information
Program Overview
Noxious Weeds
The noxious
weeds program controls the invasion and spread of invasive non-native
plants through inventory, prevention, education, and control. Invasive
non-native plants are estimated to infest approximately 330,000
acres of National Forest and Grassland in the Eastern Region. These
plants are a threat to our ecologically significant communities,
as well as an impact to recreation and a potential threat to timber,
wildlife, and fisheries. The noxious weeds program concentrates
on inventory and control activities in areas deemed most at risk
from the effects of non-native plants. Education and training, and
the development of collaborative partnerships for weed control,
are additional important components of the program.
Grazing Land Vegetation
Grazing land vegetation maintains and enhances 64,735
acres of open-land habitat in Region 9. These open-lands
are desirable for habitat diversity and for livestock
grazing. Without managed disturbance, they will revert
back to forest. To keep these lands in open-land condition
and within Forest Plan objectives several tools are
at our disposal: mechanical mowing; over-seeding;
herbicide application; prescribed fire; plowing and
seeding; and hand felling of woody vegetation. Funds
are typically combined with grazing fees to enhance
vegetative conditions on 5,000 acres per year and
to inventory 1,000 acres per year for Environmental
documents and future allotment plans. The balance
will be used to implement new plans by building fences,
ponds, or improving vegetative conditions.
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