06.12.13 OSMP 2012 Annual Report final cf
2012 Highlights
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Planted 1222 native trees,
shrubs, forbs and grasses
in various restoration sites
across OSMP
Weed Warriors!
Jail Crew 336 hrs
Laurie Deiter & Eric Fairlee
AmeriCorps 320 hrs
Jr. Rangers 253 hrs
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Volunteers 311 hrs
The Integrated Pest Manage-7,500 hours to on-the-
Mediterranean sage has been
ment Program (IPM) consid-ground invasive species man-
aggressively treated for over
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ers 68 invasive species a agement and restoration
15 years on OSMP, and even
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threat to Open Space and
work in 2012.
though population densities
Mountain Parks (OSMP)
are significantly reduced, it
natural lands and promotes Invasive species management
still took 710 hours to sur-
conservation through a vari-
requires a long-term, dili-
vey and treat 6,651 acres of
ety of management and res-
gent, planned approach to be
Mediterranean sage to en-
toration practices. Invasive successful. There is no such
sure all flowering plants
species on nearly 10,000
thing as a one-time event
were removed.
acres of natural and agricul-
OSMP increased its or-
when dealing with weeds.
tural lands were treated by
ganic production from 8
paid and volunteer crews,
to 54 acres. An increase
hard working lessees, a vari-
in organic/natural produc-
ety of grazing animals, preda-
tion is expected again this
tory insects and restoration
coming year
practices. Surveys were con-
Biological insects and a
ducted on 700 acres to
small herd of goats were
monitor treatment success
used to suppress invasive
or review high-quality plant
communities adjacent to
species below thresholds
treatment sites for possible
Surveyed and treated
invasion. These tasks were
Mediterranean sage on
accomplished by a multitude
6,651 acres
of people, including OSMP
seasonal crews and staff, and
Removed hundreds of
AmeriCorps, Junior Rangers,
Russian olive from the
volunteers and jail crews
Weiser property, restor-
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who contributed nearly
ing land back to wetland
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and grassland habitats
Weiser Riparian and Grassland Restoration
Coordinated with Water
Resources staff to survey
By 2012, a quarter of the and other prairie-dependent
for and treat purple loose-
Weiser property was domi-species. Invasive tree re-
strife on 5 miles of irriga-
nated by Russian olive and moval in the riparian area
tion ditches
crack willow. In July 2012 we opened areas for planting of
began a focused effort to native tree and shrub spe-
Surveyed South Boulder
restore grassland and ripar-cies. On October 6, OSMP
and Lefthand Creeks for
ian habitat by removing and 50 Wildlands Restora-
orange hawkweed, a List A
those species. Several hun-tion Volunteers (WRV)
species. Only a sum total
dred trees were removed planted 422 native tree and
of 20 plants were found
during the summer of 2012, shrub species within the
on OSMP
opening habitat for northern
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riparian corridor.
leopard frogs, prairie gentian,
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Weed Corner
Teasel
The NLF is a native amphib-
ian whose population is de-
clining for a variety of rea-
Common teasel, a tall purple-
sons including changes in land
flowered biennial is a com-
use and hydrology, presence
mon invader of natural areas
of nonnative bullfrogs, preda-
throughout the U.S. Histori-
cious fish and the emergence
cally used in medicine and to
of chytrid fungus. Restora-
raise the nap on woolen
tion efforts are underway to
cloth, teasel has become
improve conditions for NLFs
more prevalent in Boulder
on OSMP including the re-
County in the past decade.
moval of cattails dominating
Techniques used to control
specific ponds and wetlands.
teasel on OSMP include a
Goats, a light-footed grazer
combination of prescribed
preferring tough vegetation,
fire, grazing, mowing, hand-
were used with mixed re-
clipping, herbicide and water
sults. More trials will occur
drop their pounds of
manipulation.
seeds. Col-teasel heads
in 2013.
Teasel eradication is required
laborative were clipped
by the State for all lands west
efforts are from this area.
of Highway 93 and Broadway
underway to Monitoring will
in Boulder County. Most
remove a large infestation determine if such an en-
populations in this part of
near a chemically sensitive
deavor is effective.
OSMP are small in size and
neighborhood by using this
managed by clipping the seed
heads off just before they method. In 2012, over 610
Purple Loosestrife
And it Begins, Again!
Purple loosestrife is a ments also take root and
European perennial that is spread to create new infes-
Just as we get a strangle hold
a highly-invasive wetland tations. Even though the
on List A species like purple
plant brought to the number of patches and
loosestrife, myrtle spurge,
United States in the early number of plants per patch
orange hawkweed, and Medi-
1800s as an ornamental. have decreased on OSMP
terranean sage, knotweed
This tall (six to eight feet), over the past 10 years,
gets added to the mix. Knot-
showy plant escaped the proper identification and
weed, like other List A spe-
manicured yards and cur-rapid management of all
cies, is required by law to be
rently covers tens of mil-plants is key to continued
tered throughout the city of
lions of wetland acres in
removed from landscapes
success.
Boulder and city owned
the United States. Man-
and natural areas. Bohemian
Please look for flowers
lands. It is a tremendous
dated for eradication in
knotweed is present on
(from July to September)
seed producer with each
Colorado, land managers
OSMP although its full extent
and report loosestrife to
plant producing over one
around the state, organized
your local noxious weed
million tiny seeds that are
is unknown. Continued map-
by the Colorado Depart-
coordinator. It is found in
transported by water, wind,
ping and initial treatments
ment of Parks and Wildlife,
landscaping, ditches, wet-
animals and clothing. Seeds
will begin in 2013. Currently,
have made great strides
lands and along streams.
easily spread in storm
over the past decade on
19 species present on OSMP
Help stop the spread of this
drains, down irrigation
education and manage-
fall under the designation of
highly-invasive noxious
ditches and along streams to
ment. Loosestrife is scat-
mandatory eradication.
infest new sites. Plant frag-
weed.
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Coming up in
2013
Inside Boulder
Coordinate with OSMP
A team of consultants per-effective pesticide products. gram during the summer of
Agricultural Resources
formed a comprehensive Work is currently underway
2013.
Specialists, and Wetland,
to implement these pro-
Wildlife, and Plant Ecolo-
program during 2011. In their gram changes; City Council,
gists to use mowing, cows
report, they found that Boul-relevant advisory boards
and sheep to manage inva-
der is a national leader in IPM and the public will be up-
sive species, improving
practices and pesticide reduc-dated about the IPM pro-
wetland habitat for NLF
tion. The consultants identi-
and native plant communi-
fied some areas for improve-
ties.
ment including the recom-
mendation to update the
Purge the Spurge Event:
process for the approval and
Plant exchange for home-
use of pesticides. In May of
owners with myrtle
2012, City Council directed
spurge.
staff to incorporate catego-
Continue chicory/goat and
ries into the approved pesti-
tall-oat grass monitoring,
cide list for various levels of
start garlic mustard treat-
hazard. Another recommen-
ment monitoring, and test
dation was that a technical
the new systemwide IPM
advisory committee of ex-
perts from various disciplines
monitoring program.
be formed to assist the city in
Perform large-scale knot-
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making the best decisions for
weed surveys, treatments
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using the safest and most
and participate in the multi
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-departmental monitoring
program.
The Shrub Story
Identify and initiate 11
focused management pro-
Many species we manage shrubs and how their
Avoid purchasing/growing:
jects, including the 710-
were or continue to be sold landscaping choices
Common buckthorn
acre Boulder Creek ripar-
as ornamental plants. Near impact the rich biodi-
Cotoneaster
ian and Floodplain Project
Boulder, seven shrubs species versity along the grass-
Honeysuckle
located between 75th and
impacting our natural lands land/forest ecotone.
Japanese barberry
95th Streets.
are still purchased by home-Staff hopes to expand
Privet
owners and planted in com-outreach efforts to
Increase management of
Wayfaring
mercial landscapes. As land other neighborhoods
invasive species by hiring
Tree of heaven
stewards, we need to increase and at the Boulder
an additional IPM crew
** Russian olive - no longer sold
educational awareness of this Farmers Market in
and purchasing new tools
important issue. Staff has be-
2013.
to increase productivity.
gun working with the Chau-
tauqua Association and cot-
City IPM pesticide ap-
tage owners on invasive
proval list and IPM Opera-
tions Manual
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Agricultural Highlights
In the ever-continuing that crowd out all other
quest to manage inva-plant species. Well timed
CITY OF BOULDER
sive species through grazing will reduce density
integrated methods, and vigor of target invasive
IPM and Ag-Resources species, releasing associated
staffs continue to coor-native plant species from
dinate ways to best use competition and thereby
grazing to control inva-increasing abundance. Sev-
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sive species. Five sites, eral years of prescriptive
either not grazed in decades dominated by aggressive grazing is needed to shift
or grazed at times that pro-species such as common these weed dominated plant
moted invasive species, will teasel, Canada thistle, reed communities back to native
be prescriptively grazed in canarygrass, and cattail.
plant communities.
2013 by various lessee live-These species form dense,
stock. All five sites are nearly monotypic patches
Thank you IPM Crew
OSMP 2012 IPM
Report
4
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