Summer 2014 MPCD Newsletter

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Summer 2014
Eco-BiTs

Inside this issue:

Forest Revegetation Workshop , Weed Workshop, Grazing & Mowing Management, Tire Tanks, Aerial Clover Seeding, Seeding Window, Cheatgrass, Herbicide Giveaway, Sage Grouse Legislation

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Forest Regeneration Workshop

This Saturday

The Granby District of the Colorado State Forest Service is planning to host a Forest Regeneration Survey Workshop on

Saturday, June 14th
9am-noon
YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch
Adams Summit, Behind Reunion Cabins

This workshop will provide landowners with the information and tools to perform regeneration surveys on their property. After determining the regeneration levels on a property, managers can plan for future forest management treatments.

Click the links below for more information or Contact Ryan McNertney at 970-887-3121 or ryan.mcnertney@colostate.edu.

Regeneration Workshop Flyer

Regeneration Workshop Agenda

Preserving the Beauty of our Land

A community workshop highlighting the Importance of Weed Control in Maintaining the Integrity, Function, and Aesthetics of Private Land

July 17, 2014
10am-2pm
Slate Creek Community Center
$10 (Lunch Included)

RSVP to MPCD (970.724.3456) by July 1, 2014

Come join the Middle Park Conservation District, Summit and Grand County Weed Departments, Summit County Extension, and Friends of the Lower Blue for an informative session on Weed Management.

You will learn all about:

Weed ID
Where Weeds Come From
Why Weeds are a Problem
Options for Weed Control
Chemical Selection, Application, and Timing

The Last 3 inches Does NOT Belong to You!!!

T'is the season to graze the pastures and prepare for haying. Nevertheless, it is also important to remember a few tips to keep your meadows productive and bountiful.

Whether it's grazing or cutting, the ability of your grass to recover after defoliation depends primarily on the amount of leaf area removed. Several studies have suggested a strong correlation between the amount of leaf area removed and the percent of root growth stoppage. Because plants need healthy roots to produce healthy leaves, this correlation is not to be taken lightly.

According to the chart below, the age of old saying of "Take Half, Leave Half" holds true. By removing only half the amount of leave volume, you maximize your grazing and cutting potential while minimizing your roots loss at the same time.

When you think about the rangelands in Middle Park, you can also go with a standard rule to LEAVE THE LAST 3 INCHES STANDING.

Another good grazing management tip is to NOT INITIATE GRAZING UNTIL THE GRASS IS AT LEAST 8 INCHES TALL. This will insure that the the plants have enough initial growth to sustain themselves throughout the season without going below that 3 inch threshold.

Click Here if you would attend a Grazing Management Workshop hosted by the District if it cost $10 or less

Tire Tanks

For Sale

The Middle Park Conservation District currently has tire tanks for sale in 12 foot, 10 foot, and 8 foot diameters.

Tire tanks are an alternative to traditional metal stock tanks for landowners trying to water their stock or wildlife. Tire tanks are made from recycled heavy equipment tires that no longer provide safe driving conditions for operators. In addition to being large and durable, they tanks are freeze-resistant, self-thawing, and rust-free.

**12 foot tanks: $895* , ~2100 gallon capacity**

10 foot tanks: $750* , ~1535 gallon capacity
8 foot tanks: $500*, ~1040 gallon capacity
*Prices include sales tax

Call us to buy one! 970.724.3456

Aerial Clover Seeding:
Win for Ranchers, Livestock, and Wildlife

The Middle Park Conservation District, in partnership with the Middle Park Habitat Partnership Program, Grand County Board of County Commissioners, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, and USFWS Partners for Wildlife, completed an Aerial Clover Seeding on private lands in Middle Park from May 3rd-8th, 2014.

A total of 2,800 acres were seeded as part of the project with 150 landowners benefiting from the seeding. The project called for a 75:25 mix of Mammoth Red and Alsike Clover to be seeded at a rate of 4 pounds to the acre. The majority of the acreage seeded was along sagebrush-meadow interfaces throughout Grand County and along the Highway 9 corridor to Ute Pass.

The benefits of this project are widespread. The increased forage quantity and quality resulting from the added clover will benefit livestock, big game (deer, elk, and pronghorn), sage grouse, hay producers, and sportsmen in Middle Park.

Click here to see a map of the Seeding Areas.

Seeding Windows

With the outside temperatures beginning to rise and hillsides coming to life, the green thumb in many of you may be getting very eager to get planting. This begs the question,

"Is there a good or bad time to seed?"

If you have the ability and plan to actively water the seeded area religiously for at least a month after seeding, you can plant anytime this summer.

If you do not intend to actively water the seeded area and instead rely on natural water/rains, then there are certain seeding windows that will provide the best opportunity for successful establishment. These windows are:

Spring--Once the snow has melted off till Early May
Summer--Mid July to Early August (during summer monsoons)
Fall--After Mid October

CAUTION: Mark Volt, District Conservationist for the NRCS Kremmling Field Office, does not recommend seeding any seed from Mid August through Mid October because it will start to grow but not have enough time to establish enough root reserve to make it through the winter. Seed planted after Mid October will remain dormant until spring.

Contact us at 970.724.3456 for more info on our seed sales!

WOW: Weed of the Week
Cheat Grass / Downy Brome
Bromus tectorum

Submitted By: Lisa Taylor, Summit County Weed Coordinator

Photo courtesy of www.invasive.org

Annual or winter annual grass usually growing about 6” tall in the high country, but can grow up to 30” in other areas.
Cheat grass usually germinates in the fall and over winters in a dormant state. The plants start to grow as soon as they are uncovered from the snow and flower within the first week, setting and dispersing seed before most plants even make an appearance. This gives them a head start on all of the native plants in the area, hence the name Cheat grass.
Leaves are light green and hairy.
Flowers appearing in May through June are slender, hairy and drooping then change color from green to purple to brown as the plant eventually dries out.
Plants reproduce solely by seed that can remain viable for several years.
Can produce up to 400 lbs. of seed per acre.
Has a very fibrous root system that typically reaches 12” in depth but can extend up to 5 feet.
Dry conditions can cause dormancy that may be capable of lasting several years.
Dry stands of Downy Brome in the summer heighten the occurrence and frequency of fires.

Control

Like most annual weeds, Cheat Grass produces a large amount of seed. Smaller areas can be pulled before the plant sets seed, but this method may not eliminate the infestation. These sneaky plants could disappear after pulling for several years only to reappear several years later. This is because of its ability to generate a great amount of seed. For this reason, hand pulling will have to be repeated for several years. An herbicide is recommended for larger infestations of Downy Brome. Please call the Summit County Weed Program for recommendations on an appropriate herbicide. As always a good ground cover will prevent noxious weeds from becoming a problem, so seeding bare ground after pulling any weeds or other disturbance is essential.

For more information about this plant or any other weeds contact the Grand or Summit County Weed Divisions...
Summit County Weed Program--(970) 668-4252 or 668-4218.
Grand County Weed Program--(970) 887-0745

Herbicide Giveaway for
Small Landowners

Grand and Summit County Weed Departments both give herbicide, free of charge, to small landowners to control noxious weeds on their property.

The Grand County Weed Department will be giving away herbicide every Friday, starting on June 13th and excluding the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend. You must come to the Grand County Weed Department Office between 9am to noon with your own backpack sprayer (under 4 gallons) to receive the free herbicide. The Office is located at the County Shop facilities in Granby (469 E. Topaz). Call 970.887.0745 with questions.

The Summit County Weed Department has a Backpack Sprayer Loaner Program. The 3-gallon sprayer comes loaded with herbicide and is designed for landowners with less than an acre of land. Contact Ben Pleimann with questions at 970.668.4252.

Hope for Sage Grouse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2014

Members of the House, Senate Introduce Legislation to Protect Sage Grouse

WASHINGTON– Today, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Congressman Cory Gardner (R-CO), Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), Congressman Steve Daines (R-MT) and Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO) introduced the Sage Grouse Protection and Conservation Act.

This legislation would prevent the Sage grouse from being listed under the Endangered Species Act for 10 years, and instead requires states to develop conservation management plans to meet the unique needs of the Sage grouse in each state. The Sage Grouse Protection and Conservation Act encourages states to work with the Departments of Interior and Agriculture throughout the species management process to ensure that all concerns about the recovery of the Sage grouse are met.

“Biologists and other experts have stated time and again that the most effective species preservation efforts are locally-tailored and take into consideration the unique ecology and topography of the region in which the habitat occurs. If the goal is truly to protect the sage grouse, a one-size-fits all listing out of Washington is not only less effective than locally-tailored plans, but jeopardizes the ongoing work being done in states to preserve and recover the species,” said Congressman Tipton. “State and local species preservation efforts already underway should be given the chance to continue to work to increase the grouse population without interference from Washington.”

“A one-size-fits-all approach is not the way to best protect the Sage grouse,” said Congressman Gardner. “States have proven that they are more than capable of working in tandem with the federal government to preserve wildlife. By encouraging conservation plans at the state level, those most familiar with the local habitats and economies will be directly involved throughout the species management process. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that this legislation is signed into law, so that our states can continue their hard work protecting the Sage grouse.”

The content of this newsletter is for Educational Purposes ONLY. We have attempted to site opinions, beliefs and viewpoints from various sources and professionals. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Middle Park Conservation District or its Board of Supervisors/Employees. It is always recommended that you seek independent advice before implementing new management practices.

Summer 2014 Eco-BiTs