[IMCWMA Partners] weed proposal

[Tara Athan]

So far, we have received one weed project description, below, which may 
be eligible to compete for the CDFA supplemental funding. 
Representatives from the Mendocino Blacktail Association will be 
attending the WMA meeting on Monday (1PM, Ag Dept in Ukiah) to answer 
questions about the project.   I hope to see you all then.

-- 
Tara Athan
Coordinator, Inland Mendocino Cooperative Weed Management Area
coord at imcwma.org
707-485-1198
PO Box 415
Redwood Valley, CA 95470


This is part of a proposal submitted to, I believe, the Mendocino NF RAC.

PROJECT NAME: Black Butte River Deer Winter Range Restoration

DATE SUBMITTED: January 27, 2008

PERSON SUBMITTING: Jack Booth, Mendocino Blacktail Association

CONTACT PERSON: Paul Trouette PHONE NUMBER: 707 489-4663


PROPOSED DATES OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: May 2009?


ARE THERE TIME CONSTRAINTS ON THE PROJECT, IF SO WHAT ARE THEY:

Medusahead Grass needs to be burned during when seed devevelopment is in 
the

milk dough stage. This is typically between late April and late May.


PARTNERSHIPS, IF APPLICABLE WHO IS THE PARTNER AND HOW ARE THEY 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT: Mendocino County 
Blacktail Association (MCBA), California Deer Association (CDA), 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and Mendocino County Fish 
and Game Advisory Commission (MCFGAC). MCBA is prepared to contribute 
cash and in-kind labor. All other partners have indicated willingness to 
cost share or provide cash. In addition two private landowners have 
expressed an interest to be involved in the project.


Were any of the following observed: possible sensitive wildlife habitat 
(e.g. rock outcrops, caves, serpentine); springs; heritage resources; 
sensitive plants; any other special features? Winter deer range.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Burn annual grassland in May to reduce medusahead 
grass in stand.

NOTE:

Backround


Clifton Ridge is part of a key wintering range for Columbian 
black-tailed deer on the western portion of the Mendocino National 
Forest (MNF). Deer migrate from the higher summer ranges to spend their 
winters on south and west facing slopes primarily below the 4000 foot 
elevation. On these winter ranges deer utilize forbs, browse and grasses 
to provide necessary winter forage. Most importantly native and non- 
native forbs provide the nutrition deer require to survive the harsh 
winter. Some of these deer travel from management areas, # 17 grizzly, 
MNF Acres,32,920, also area #26 Twin Rocks MNF Acres 26,790.


These deer depend on natural processes such as fire, to create the early 
successional food sources that are vital to sustain them through their 
various seasons. During the past forty to fifty years the use of fire as 
a tool to manage vegetation has been reduced to burning logging slash 
and occasionally managing chaparral brush.


Annual grassland habitats historically were perennial grasslands.Within 
the native perennial grass stands many different species of annual and 
perennial forbs grew in the spaces between the grass plants. The forbs 
are the primary winter forage of deer. In the recent century many annual 
non-native grasses and forbs have been introduced. These include yellow 
star thistle, hedge parsley, medusahead grass and dogtail grass as well 
as many others too numerous to mention. Some of these non-natives are 
having enormous impacts on wildlife that are difficult the casual 
observer to understand.


Many of these weeds have covered the entire grasslands to the extent 
that natural foods of deer are no longer able to germinate, virtually 
eliminating their normal food source. It is well documented that the 
deer numbers on the MNF have declined steadily during the last fifty 
years. The Mendocino County Deer herd plan" recommends strongly,burning 
the winter grasses, in a rotational program, that will restore early 
successional foods or the deer.The Clifton Ridge Project will restore 
vital nutritonal winter foods for the deer.


Proposed Land use


National forest Lands are used by various sportsman, and wildlife 
enthusiasts.It is imperitive that we manage these lands with the future 
in mind.The proposal is consistent with the National forest land and 
resource plan already in existance.


Objective


This project will improve the habitat significantly for the declining 
Columbian black-tailed deer by increasing the quality, and quantity of 
winter forage..


Location


The location of the work to be done is Township 22 N, and Range 10 W . 
Clifton Ridge just north of Atchison Campground. It is the grassland 
portion extending northwest along the east side of theBlack Butte river 
drainage.


Project Description


That portion of Clifton Ridge which consists of grassland will be burned 
when the seed of medusahead grass is in the milk dough stage. This 
usually occurs during May. Some studies have shown 95%+ reduction for 
several years following a successful burn. It may taken ten or more 
years before medusahead grass recovers enough to require another burn.

This strategy works by preventing reseeding of the noxious weeds that 
are present.By burning medusa head grass when the seed is in this stage 
the seed is killed. Most if not all medusa head grass seed germinates 
the same year it is produced so in the areas that are burned there is 
usually almost no medusa head grass the following year.


Dead medusa head grass is very slow to decompose because of its high 
silica content. Over several years this dead vegetation produces a thick 
layer of thatch favors survival of medusa head grass seedlings. Medusa 
head grass has evolved to germinate within the thatch layer after the 
first fall rains and survive longer dry periods after germination than 
most other grass and forb species Burning these grasslands will remove 
the old thatch which becomes very thick and suppresses germination and 
survival of native forbs and perennial grasses.