Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan - Watsonville ...

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2.2 Cal-IPC INVASIVE PLANTS AND THREATS Cal-IPC has identified plant species that they consider to be invasive in natural areas, have an aggressive growth pattern that adversely competes with native species, and have potential to change plant community structure and reduce habitat values. In 2006 the California Invasive Plant Inventory was developed as a scientific and education report to provide information to those working on habitat restoration, land managers, and the public. The Cal-IPC inventory has no regulatory authority. Table 2 identifies the inventory categories developed by Cal-IPC. These categories (high, moderate, or limited) reflect the level of a species negative ecological impact in California. This information can be useful to land managers in evaluating management actions. Presently, there are 193 invasive plants listed in the Inventory. Forty-one of these species are also listed as noxious weeds by the CDFA. Table 2. Categories of Invasive Plants, California Invasive Plant Inventory Ranking Meaning of Ranking Number of Plant Species Listed High Plant species pose severe ecological impacts on physical 39 processes, plant and animal communities and vegetation structure, plants have moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Moderate Plant species have substantial ecological impacts; plants have 65 moderate to high rates of dispersal yet establishment is generally dependent on ecological disturbance. Limited Plant species are invasive, but ecological impacts are minor on 89 statewide level; reproductive biology result in low to moderate rates of spread, but species may be locally persistent and problematic. Total 193 Source: Cal-IPC 2006 2.3 PROBLEMS FOR TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP Both noxious weeds and invasive species can hinder natural habitats, degrade visual features of public spaces, and increase fire hazards on public lands. Within the Watsonville Wetlands Trail System, invasive weeds can also adversely affect the progress of riparian and wetland revegetation efforts. Typically, invasive weeds are successful in out competing native plants for growing space, soil moisture, and nutrients. These weeds may also contribute to a fire hazard, thus threatening trail users as well as adjacent lands. 2.4 INVASIVE WEEDS WITHIN THE VMMM PROJECT AREA The VMMM addresses plant species considered to be of management concern within the Watsonville Wetlands Trail System. Most of the plant species found within the project area are listed by the CDFA and Cal-IPC, as noxious weeds and invasive species. This manual provides field identification for 22 plant species considered to be of management concern. Table 3 lists these species, segregated as to their growth habit (herbaceous [non-woody] or woody shrub/tree) and the typical habitat where they are found. Table 3 also identifies the invasive threat ranking Vegetation Management and Maintenance Manual Draft 8 July 27, 2007
assigned to each species. This ranking is based on the CDFA ranking, Cal-IPC ranking, and field observations. In general, noxious weeds and invasive plants are adapted to establish on previously disturbed conditions, such as loose soils exposed by grading or on sites that have experienced a substantial habitat change from previous agriculture, grazing or other activity. The plants can be annual/biennial species, such as Italian thistle, that grow quickly and produce large amounts of seed. The seeds from annual plants are often easily dispersed by wind or by animals. Perennial herbaceous plants, such as Harding grass, reproduce by seed but can also spread by spreading roots. The woody plant species within the VMMM project area are fast growing; they produce copious amount of seed, which are viable for decades (e.g., French broom). The growth habitat of the VMMM invasive weed species is listed on Table 3. Field identification features of each species are presented in Appendix A. This appendix provides the user with information on how to recognize the plant, where would one typically find it growing, and what problems it causes for trail and habitat maintenance. Photographs are included, depicting the species in flower as well as in summer when the plants are commonly observed. Figures 5, 6, and 7 show the current distribution of invasive weeds within the VMMM project area. Vegetation Management and Maintenance Manual Draft 9 July 27, 2007
Page 1 and 2: Draft Watsonville Wetlands Trail Sy
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION
Page 5 and 6: CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Watson
Page 11: CHAPTER 2.0 INTRODUCTION TO WEEDS W
Page 18 and 19: CHAPTER 3.0 INVASIVE WEED MANAGEMEN
Page 20 and 21: General Rules for Grubbing • If t
Page 22 and 23: whipping is critical. However, loca
Page 24 and 25: applications will be needed to cont
Page 26 and 27: Table 4. Levels of Invasive Weed In
Page 32 and 33: 3.1.9 Active Revegetation Within th
Page 34 and 35: In addition, isolated patches of wi
Page 36 and 37: Table 7. Invasive Weed Treatment -
Page 38 and 39: Table 7. Invasive Weed Treatment -
Page 43 and 44: CHAPTER 4.0 RIPARIAN AND WETLAND MI
Page 45 and 46: Table 11. Lower Struve Slough Mitig
Page 47 and 48: Each year’s annual monitoring rep
Page 49 and 50: APPENDIX A Invasive Weeds within th
Page 51 and 52: WILD MUSTARD Brassica ssp. DISTINCT
Page 53 and 54: BULL THISTLE Cirsium vulgare DISTIN
Page 55 and 56: FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare DISTINCTI
Page 57 and 58: HARDING GRASS Phalaris aquatica REE
Page 59 and 60: CURLY DOCK Rumex crispus DISTINCTIV
Page 61 and 62: APPENDIX B Native Plants within the
Page 63 and 64:
CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE Aesculus califor
Page 65 and 66:
BLACK COTTONWOOD Populus balsamifer
Page 67 and 68:
MUGWORT Artemisia douglasiana DISTI
Page 69 and 70:
CALIFORNIA BLACKBERRY Rubus ursinus
Page 71 and 72:
COMMON RUSH Juncus patens BOG RUSH
Page 73 and 74:
APPENDIX C Volunteer Projects Veget
Page 75 and 76:
DESCRIPTION OF WORK VOLUNTEER PROJE
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Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
APPENDIX D Mitigation Area Maps Veg
Page 83 and 84:
APPENDIX E Bucket Watering System V
Page 85:
Georges' Bucket Watering System For
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