Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
purpose(s), Refuge System resources of concern (Federally listed species, migratory birds, selected
marine mammals, and interjurisdictional fish), and native species for maintaining/restoring BIDEH.
The next priority would be treating established pests that appear in one or more previously uninfested
areas. Moody and Mack (1988) demonstrated through modeling that small, new outbreaks of
invasive plants eventually would infest an area larger than the established, source population. They
also found that control efforts focusing on the large, main infestation rather than the new, small
satellites reduced the chances of overall success. The lowest priority would be treating large
infestations (sometimes monotypic stands) of well established pests. In this case, initial efforts
would focus upon containment of the perimeter followed by work to control/eradicate the established
infested area. If containment and/or control of a large infestation is not effective, then efforts would
focus upon halting pest reproduction or managing source populations. Maxwell et al. (2009) found
treating fewer populations that are sources represents an effective long-term strategy to reduce of
total number of invasive populations and decreasing meta population growth rates.
Although state listed noxious weeds would always be of high priority for management, other pest
species known to cause substantial ecological impact would also be considered. For example,
cheatgrass may not be listed by a state as noxious, but it can greatly alter fire regimes in shrub steppe
habitats resulting in large monotypic stands that displace native bunch grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
Pest control would likely require a multi-year commitment from the refuge staff. Essential to the
long-term success of pest management would be pre- and post-treatment monitoring, assessment of
the successes and failures of treatments, and development of new approaches when proposed
methods do not achieve desired outcomes.
5.0 Best Management Practices (BMPs)
The BMPs can minimize or eliminate possible effects associated with pesticide usage to non-target
species and/or sensitive habitats as well as degradation of water quality from drift, surface runoff, or
leaching. Based upon the Department of Interior Pesticide Use Policy (517 DM 1) and the Service
Pest Management Policy and Responsibilities (30 AM 12), the use of applicable BMPs (where
feasible) also would likely ensure that pesticide uses may not adversely affect federally listed species
and/or their critical habitats through determinations made using the process described in 50 CFR part
402.
The following are BMPs pertaining to mixing/handling and applying pesticides for all ground-based
treatments of pesticides, which would be considered and utilized, where feasible, based upon target-
and site-specific factors and time-specific environmental conditions. Although not listed below, the
most important BMP to eliminate/reduce potential impacts to non-target resources would be an IPM
approach to prevent, control, eradicate, and contain pests.
5.1 Pesticide Handling and Mixing
• As a precaution against spilling, spray tanks would not be left unattended during filling.
• All pesticide containers would be triple rinsed and the rinsate would be used as water in the
sprayer tank and applied to treatment areas.
• All pesticide spray equipment would be properly cleaned. Where possible, rinsate would be used
as part of the makeup water in the sprayer tank and applied to treatment areas.
G-10 Appendix G. Integrated Pest Management