MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE WEEDS IN UTAH

• Sponsoring Institution: State Agricultural Experiment Station
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0194841
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Jun 30, 2009
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LOGAN,UT 84322

Performing Department
Plants, Soils & Climate

Non Technical Summary
Invasive weeds adversely impact crops, livestock, native plant communities, and wildlife. Agricultural losses due to non-indigenous weeds in the United States are reported to exceed 27 billion dollars annually. Field bindweed, quackgrass, hoary cress, Canada thistle, leafy spurge, knapweeds, yellow starthistle, dyer's woad, and many other invasive weeds are expanding throughout the Great Basin, reducing crop and forage yields, and upsetting the natural ecological function. Weedy winter-annual grasses, such as cheatgrass (downy brome) and medusahead dominate more than 20 million hectares throughout California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, and Utah, contributing to increased wildfire frequency and intensity. Though advances have been made, much more research is needed to prevent future spread, improve control techniques, and lessen the impacts of weeds. This project primarily addresses non-crop invasive weed management, with emphasis on weed assessment and management on rangeland, wildlands, natural areas, and rights-of-way. Prevention, early detection (including systematic weed inventories and mapping), rapid response to new weed invasions, containment and control of core infestations, and restoration of desirable vegetation have become the mantra of integrated weed management on public lands. This formula for success developed by USU as the "fire model for weed management" now forms the core of national weed management plans written by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S Fish & Wildlife Service. USU has played a key role in advancing early detection of invasive weeds by developing many of the field inventory techniques and standards used now by many public land managers. Testing and refinement of weed mapping techniques and equipment by USU will continue in this project, and information will be disseminated to more land managers. Today's herbicides are generally more effective against weeds and safer to the environment than those of previous decades, and they represent an important element of integrated weed management programs. However, it is still important that each new herbicide be tested under local conditions to refine application rates, application timings, and other variables for optimal product performance. USU has been instrumental in the development and/or refinement of herbicide options for the control of many troublesome weed species in Utah and the region. For example, at least nine new herbicides have been approved in recent years by the EPA for use on pastures and rangeland in the West. Nearly all of these products have been field-tested by USU, either before being marketed in Utah, or within the first few years of commercial availability. Our research has included integrated approaches for the control of such weeds as downy brome, medusahead, and knapweed species by combining the sequential use of herbicides plus prescribed burning, reseeding, and deferred grazing to achieve long-term sustainable weed control. Integrated management will continue to be the foundation of the weed control portion of this project.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
121	2300	1140	100%

Knowledge Area
121 - Management of Range Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
2300 - Weeds;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

weeds

crops

pastures

rangeland

natural areas

land manager

field techniques

herbicide

Goals / Objectives
The overall objective of this project is to provide land managers with improved options for management of invasive weeds in crops, pastures, rangeland, and natural areas in Utah. Specifically, our efforts will focus on: 1) developing practical field techniques to help land managers more effectively and efficiently inventory and map invasive weed species, and 2) identifying herbicide products, application rates, and application timings best suited for Utah conditions.

Project Methods
1) Inventory and Mapping: Development of invasive weed inventory methods and mapping standards for non-cultivated lands will continue through a series of landscape scale projects conducted primarily on public lands administered by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the state of Utah. A large part of this effort will be in support of a new five-year multi-state USDA-ARS project entitled "An Area-wide Demonstration of Ecologically-based IPM of Annual Grass Ecosystems in the Great Basin". Mapping methods suitable for this cheatgrass and medusahead management project will be field-tested and refined to provide land managers with critical information about weeds and desired species for making appropriate ecologically based decisions on rangeland. The cost of such mapping methods must be low enough to allow repeated sampling over years to assess the success of management. Specific inventory and mapping techniques currently used by the Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies also will be evaluated for their potential to be improved. For example, the strengths and weaknesses of recording weed infestations as points vs. polygons will be evaluated; as will the relative accuracy and time requirements of "screen-drawn polygons", "perimeter-walked polygons", "buffered points" and "paper-drawn" points and polygon mapping techniques. The reliability and efficiency of determining weed infestation size by visual estimate, pacing, taping, or use of a laser rangefinder will be compared. The detection efficiency associated with searches for weed infestations of different species and patch sizes will be determined for various vegetation cover types. Findings from of our inventory and mapping work will be shared with private and public land managers through publications and workshops. It is anticipated that this information will be used throughout Utah and the region in developing mapping programs to guide weed control efforts, as well as the creation of Weed Prevention Areas to prevent invasion of non-infested areas. 2) Herbicide Efficacy: Crop, rangeland, and non-crop studies will be established in several field locations across Utah in collaboration with various herbicide manufacturers to determine which products, application rates, and timings are most effective under local conditions. Herbicides will be applied to field research plots using precision CO2 backpack spray equipment or a conventional ATV boom-style plot sprayer designed to maintain constant spray pressure and delivering uniform output volume and coverage. Where appropriate, herbicides will be studied in conjunction with non-chemical weed control methods in an integrated approach. Plots will be replicated and arranged in statistically valid field designs. Herbicide performance normally will be determined by visual evaluation methods approved by the Weed Science Society of America. In the case of perennial weed species, plots will be evaluated at least annually for two or more years following the initial application to determine long-term treatment effectiveness.

Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the period between July 1, 2002 and the conclusion of this project in 2009, we have developed and refined a number of wildland weed inventory and mapping methods for use on range, forest, and other non-agricultural lands. In excess of 200,000 acres of western wildlands have been inventoried by our crews using these methods in support of efforts by federal and state land managers to detect and eliminate new occurrences of invasive weeds in a timely manner. These same field techniques have been reported at national and regional weed science meetings, and were taught at several week-long weed mapping workshops in the West. A comprehensive training manual describing our techniques also was published. Approximately 80 herbicide field performance studies were conducted on a variety of weed species found on rangeland, pasture, and non-crop sites during this 7-year period. Species tested included squarrose knapweed, Russian knapweed, musk thistle, Canada thistle, medusahead, cheatgrass,rabbitbrush, juniper, wand mullein, Russian olive, saltcedar, poison hemlock, and kochia. Results of these field tests were reported at national and regional meetings of professional weed science organizations, and in appropriate publications. PARTICIPANTS: National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah Weed Supervisor Assocation, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, BASF, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Division, county agents. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Wildland weed inventory and mapping techniques developed by Utah State University have been adopted by numerous field units within the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other state and county organizations. Several new herbicide treatments included in our field performance studies were shown to effectively control key noxious and invasive weed species, and our data were used to support the herbicide label development and/or expansion.

Publications

• Enloe, S. F., G. B. Kyser, S. A. Dewey, V. Peterson, and J. M. DiTomaso 2008. Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens) Control with Low Rates of Aminopyralid on Range and Pasture. Invasive Plant Science and Management 1:385-389.
• Ransom, C. and S. Dewey 2008. Herbicide Application Timing for Russian Knapweed Control. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports :3.
• Patterson, R., D. Worwood, and S. Dewey 2008. Time-of-Year Influence on Frill-Cut Herbicide Applications for Control of Russian Olive. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports :in press.
• Reid, C. R., D. L. Winward, and S. A. Dewey 2008. Gray Rabbitbrush Control Using and Experimental One-Pass Mower/Dripwiper Implement. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports in press:.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, K. Edvarchuk, and J. Banks 2008. Control of Squarrose Knapweed Using Aminopyralid Applied at Bloom. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports in press:.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, K. Edvarchuk, and J. Banks 2008. Control of Squarrose Knapweed Using Aminopyralid Applied in the Fall. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports in press:.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, and K. Edvarchuk 2008. Control of Russian Knapweed Using GF2050 - a WG Formulation of Aminopyralid + Metsulfuron. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports :in press.
• Ransom, C. V. and S. A. Dewey 2008. Evaluation of Imazapic, Mesosulfuron, and Propoxycabazone for Down Brome (Bromus tectorum) Control in Rangeland. Abstracts, Weed Sci. Soc. America :.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Wildland weed inventory and mapping methods developed by USU were tested and refined on approximately 23,000 acres of trails and roads in the Ogden, Salt Lake, and Pleasant Grove Ranger Districts of the Wasatch-Cache-Uintah National Forest during 2008. The USU weed mapping methods were taught to 37 federal, state, and county land management personnel during two intensive week-long weed inventory training workshops held in Colorado (Boulder) and Utah (Mountain Dell). All participants received a copy of the new USU Wildland Weed Mapping Methods Training Supplement to use in training their own weed mapping crews. A poster about the training supplement also was presented at the annual Western Society of Weed Science conference in Anaheim, CA. The wildfire/weed management model developed by USU to improve and standardize the approach to invasive weed management was presented to public land management personnel at state, regional, and national meetings. Sixteen herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, Russian knapweed, Russian olive, musk thistle, wand mullein, and kochia, on pasture, rangeland, and non-crop sites in Utah. Effective treatments were identified for the weed species tested. Herbicide active ingredients used in the field tests included picloram, imazapic, triclopyr, clopyralid, aminopyralid, chlorsulfuron, and metsulfuron. PARTICIPANTS: National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah Weed Supervisor Assocation, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, BASF, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Division, county agents. TARGET AUDIENCES: Federal and state land managers (250), ranchers (100), farmers (80), county weed supervisors (70), and other weed scientists (500). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Previously unreported infestations of invasive weed species on Forest Service lands were discovered in areas inventoried by USU crews in 2008 allowing land managers to initiate appropriate eradication measures in a timely manner. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network of the National Park Service has endorsed USU's wildland weed inventory methods by incorporating them into their own field monitoring standard operating procedures document. The USU wildfire/weed management model remains a core element of national weed management plans of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The model also has been adopted by all National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams and all U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Invasive Species Strike Teams. Special emphasis is being paid by these agencies on the model's elements of early detection and rapid response (EDRR). Results of herbicide studies conducted under local conditions provided weed managers in Utah with valuable guidance when designing control programs for specific invasive species problems.

Publications

• Enloe, S. F., G. B. Kyser, S. A. Dewey, V. Peterson, and J. M. DiTomaso 2008. Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens) Control with Low Rates of Aminopyralid on Range and Pasture. Invasive Plant Science and Management 1:385-389.
• Ransom, C. and S. Dewey 2008. Herbicide Application Timing for Russian Knapweed Control. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports, 3.
• Patterson, R., D. Worwood, and S. Dewey 2008. Time-of-Year Influence on Frill-Cut Herbicide Applications for Control of Russian Olive. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports.
• Reid, C. R., D. L. Winward, and S. A. Dewey 2008. Gray Rabbitbrush Control Using and Experimental One-Pass Mower/Dripwiper Implement. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, K. Edvarchuk, and J. Banks 2008. Control of Squarrose Knapweed Using Aminopyralid Applied at Bloom. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, K. Edvarchuk, and J. Banks 2008. Control of Squarrose Knapweed Using Aminopyralid Applied in the Fall. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports.
• Dewey, S., B. Mace, and K. Edvarchuk 2008. Control of Russian Knapweed Using GF2050 - a WG Formulation of Aminopyralid + Metsulfuron. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports.
• Ransom, C. V. and S. A. Dewey 2008. Evaluation of Imazapic, Mesosulfuron, and Propoxycabazone for Down Brome (Bromus tectorum) Control in Rangeland. Abstracts, Weed Sci. Soc. America.

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Weed inventory and mapping methods developed by USU were further refined and tested on approximately 7,500 acres of trails and roads in the Logan Ranger District of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest during 2007. Weed mapping methods were taught to 39 state and federal land management personnel during two intensive weed inventory training workshops held in Colorado (Boulder) and Utah (Antelope Island). All participants received a copy of the new USU Wildland Weed Mapping Methods Training Workshop Supplement. A poster on time and accuracy comparisons between point and polygon methods of wildland weed mapping was presented at the annual Western Society of Weed Science meeting in Portland, OR. The wildfire/weed management model developed by USU to improve and standardize the approach to invasive weed management was presented to public land management personnel at state, regional, and national meetings. Herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, Russian knapweed, kochia, and medusahead on pasture and rangeland sites in Utah, and effective treatments were identified for the weed species tested. Herbicide active ingredients used in the tests included picloram, imazapic, triclopyr, clopyralid, aminopyralid, sulfometuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, rimsulfuron, and glyphosate. PARTICIPANTS: National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah Weed Supervisor Assocation, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, BASF, Bayer, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Division, county agents. TARGET AUDIENCES: Federal and state land managers (300), ranchers (500), farmers (500), county weed supervisors (100), and other weed scientists (1000).

Impacts
The USU wildfire/weed management model remains a core element of national weed management plans of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The model also has been adopted by all National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams and all Fish and Wildlife Service Invasive Species Strike Teams. Special emphasis is being paid by these agencies on the model's elements of early detection and rapid response (EDRR). Previously unreported infestations of invasive weed species were discovered in areas inventoried by USU crews in 2007 allowing land managers to initiate appropriate eradication measures in a timely manner. Data obtained from aminopyralid field studies on Russian knapweed in Utah and other western states resulted in its inclusion on the current Milestone herbicide label. Performance of Milestone and other registered herbicides tested under local Utah conditions was considered in preparation of the latest Utah-Montana-Wyoming Weed Management Handbook. Recommendations from this handbook provide hundreds of land managers with guidance for designing effective control programs against specific invasive weed problems.

Publications

• Andersen, K. A 2007. USU Wildland Weed Mapping Methods Training Supplement. Master of Science Project Report, Utah State University, 107 pp.
• Carrithers, V. , R. Masters, M. Halstvedt, C. Duncan, J. DiTomaso, R. Wilson, and S. Dewey 2006. Managing USA Rangeland Invasive Plants with Aminopyralid. Abstracts, Society for Range Management #60.
• Morris, C., C. A. Call, T. A. Monaco, P. R. Grossl, and S. A. Dewey 2006. Evaluation of elemental allelopathy in Acroptilon repens (L.) DC. (Russian Knapweed). Plant Soil 289:279-288.
• Dewey, S. A., K. A. Andersen, and E. Spencer 2006. Inventory of Tamarisk and Russian Olive on the Yampa River and Tributaries in Moffat and Routt Counties, Colorado (2005 Season). Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology SD0522A, 63 pp:.
• Patterson, R., D. Worwood, and S. Dewey 2008. Frill-Cut Herbicide Applications for Control of Russian Olive. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports (in press).
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Edvarchuk 2007. 2007 Noxious and Invasive Weed Inventory - Logan Ranger District. Annual report prepared for the USDA Wasatch-Cache National Forest SD0701A:23 pp.
• Andersen, K. A. and S. A. Dewey 2007. Time and Accuracy Comparisons Between Point and Polygon Methods of Wildland Weed Mapping. Proc., Western Soc. of Weed Science 60:36.
• Andersen, K. A. and S. A. Dewey 2007. USU Wildland Weed Mapping Methods Training Workshop Supplement. 114 pp.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen 2006. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Bryce Canyon National Park - 2006 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department SD0601A, 16 pp.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen 2006. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants and Rare Endemic Plants Conducted in Portions of Zion National Park - 2006 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department SD0601A, 16 pp.
• Dewey, S., A. Schmidt, M. Robinson, and K. Andersen 2006. Noxious Weed Forest Inventory of 2006. Prepared for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, USDA Forest Service, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology SD0603A, 33.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen 2006. An Inventory of Invasive Non-Native Plants Conducted During 2006 in Portions of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks - Final Report. Prepared for the City of Boulder by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Dept SD0604A, 112 pp.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen 2006. Landscape-Scale Wildland Inventories/Surveys: Utah State University Methods. Chapter 3, in: L. J. Rew and M. L. Pokorny, eds. Inventory and Survey Methods for Nonindigenous Plant Species 22-32.
• Pokorny, M. L. S. A. Dewey, and S. R. Radosevich 2006. Getting Started: Setting Objectives and Planning the Project. Chapter 1 in: L. J. Rew and M. L. Pokorny, eds. Inventory and Survey Methods for Nonindigenous Plant Species 8-16.
• Henry, C., S. Dewey, V. Carrithers, J. DiTomaso, and T. Whitson 2006. Managing Russian Knapweed on Western Rangelands with Aminopyralid (Milestone Specialty Herbicide). Techline Newsletter, DowAgrosciences Winter 200:8-11.
• Andersen, K. A. and S. A. Dewey 2006. Inventory of Invasive Weeds in Twelve National Parks of the Colorado Plateau. Abstracts, Weed Science Society of America, New York, NY 46:19-20.

Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Weed inventory and mapping methods developed by USU were further tested and refined on more than 19,500 acres of wildlands and natural areas in portions of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, The Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and Boulder Colorado Open Spaces and Mountain Parks during 2006. These methods were taught to county, state, and federal land management personnel during three intensive weed inventory training workshops held in Utah and Colorado, and were published as a book chapter (see publications below). Methods and results from weed inventories conducted by USU in twelve National Parks were presented at the annual Weed Science Society of America meeting in New York. The wildfire/weed management model developed by USU to improve and standardize the approach to invasive weed management was presented to public land management personnel at state, regional, and national meetings. Herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, Russian knapweed, kochia, and medusahead on pasture and rangeland sites in Utah; and effective treatments were identified for the species tested. Herbicide active ingredients used in the tests included picloram, imazapic, triclopyr, clopyralid, aminopyralid, sulfometuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, rimsulfuron, and glyphosate.

Impacts
The USU wildfire/weed management model remains a core element of national weed management plans of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The model has been incorporated into the strategy and field operations of all National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams and all Fish and Wildlife Service Invasive Species Strike Teams. Special emphasis is being paid by these agencies to the model's elements of early detection and rapid response (EDRR). Previously unreported infestations of one or more weed species were discovered in each of the areas inventoried by USU crews in 2006 allowing land managers to initiate appropriate eradication measures in a timely manner. Results of herbicide studies conducted under local conditions provided weed managers with valuable guidance for designing programs to control their specific invasive weed problems.

Publications

• Morris, C, C. A. Call, T. A. Monaco, P. R. Grossl, and S. A. Dewey. 2006. Evaluation of elemental allelopathy in Acoptilon repens (L.) DC. (Russian Knapweed). Plant Soil. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9136-x.

Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
The wildfire/weed management model developed by USU to improve and standardize the approach to wildland invasive weed management was presented to public land management personnel at state and regional meetings. Early detection and rapid response to new infestations of exotic weeds is a key element of the model. Utah's many State and National Parks are high-probability points of exotic weed introduction by visitors from around the world. Infestations of invasive weeds could spread from Parks and other public lands to private agricultural lands throughout the region if not detected and eliminated quickly. Searching and mapping methods were refined and field tested as USU crews inventoried invasive weeds on more than 46,250 acres of wildlands in portions of Dinosaur, Canyonlands, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks in Utah; and portions of the Yampa River drainage in northwestern Colorado during 2005. Weed inventory training was provided to county, state, and federal land management personnel. Herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, Russian knapweed, Dalmatian toadflax, leafy spurge, poison hemlock, downy brome, and medusahead on pasture and rangeland sites in Utah; and effective treatments were identified for the species tested. Herbicide active ingredients included in the tests were picloram, imazapic, dicamba, clopyralid, triclopyr, aminopyralid, sulfometuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, and glyphosate.

Impacts
The USU wildfire/weed management model has been incorporated into the core of national weed management plans of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. The model also has been adopted by all sixteen National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams. Previously unreported infestations of one or more weed species were discovered in each of the National Parks inventoried by USU crews in 2005, as well as in the Yampa River drainage, allowing land managers to initiate appropriate eradication measures in a timely manner. Results of herbicide studies conducted under local conditions will provide weed manager with valuable guidance when designing control programs for specific invasive species problems.

Publications

• Monaco, T. A., T. M. Osmond, and S. A. Dewey. 2005. Medusahead control with fall- and spring-applied herbicides on northern Utah foothills. Weed Technol. 19:653-658.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. Quality Assurance Measures for Invasive Weed Surveys on Wildlands. Proc., Weed Science Society of America annual conference, Honolulu, HI. No. 121.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. Determining Effective Search Swath Widths for Wildland Weed Surveys. Proc., Western Society of Weed Science annual conference, Vancouver, BC, p 27.
• Dewey, S. A., V. F. Carrithers, J. M. DiTomaso, and T. Whitson. 2005. Control of Russian Knapweed with Aminopyralid. Proc., Western Society of Weed Science annual conference, Vancouver, BC, p 61.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. Inventories of Invasive Weeds in National Parks of the Colorado Plateau. Proc., Ecology and Management of Pinyon-Juniper and Sagebrush Communities symposium, Montrose, CO.
• Dewey, S. A. 2005. Weed Pressures and Integrated Vegetation Management Issues in the Great Basin. Proc, 9th Annual PNW-IVM Forestry and Rights-of-Way Conference, Nov 8-9, Portland OR, pp 31-61.
• Andersen, K. A. and S. A. Dewey. 2005. Dos and Donts of Wildland Weed Mapping - The USU Experience. Proc., Idaho Weed Control Association annual conference, Feb 3, Nampa, ID.
• Barnhill, J., M. Winger, and S. Dewey. 2005. Utahs Noxious Weeds. USU-Weber County Cooperative Extension Service and USDA-NRCS bulletin.
• Dewey, S. A. and R. W. Mace. 2005. Russian knapweed control in pasture with chlorsulfuron. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports, p 6.
• Dewey, S. A. and R. W. Mace. 2005. Control of medusahead with sulfometuron. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Reports, p 5.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Arches National Park (2003-2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0510A, 30 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (2003-2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0511A, 36 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Bryce Canyon National Park (2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0512A, 32 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Capitol Reef National Park (2003-2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0514A, 50 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Capitol Reef National Park 2005 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0514B, 18 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Cedar Breaks National Monument (2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0515A, 29 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Bryce Canyon National Park 2005 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0512B, 21 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Canyonlands National Park (2003-2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0513A, 40 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Canyonlands National Park 2005 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0513B, 23 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Colorado National Monument (2003) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0516A, 31 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Dinosaur National Monument (2004) Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0517A, 43 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Dinosaur National Monument 2005 Addendum Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0517B, 25 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Hovenweep National Monument (2003) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0518A, 30 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Mesa Verde National Park (2003) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Southern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0519A, 27 pp. plus appendices.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Natural Bridges National Monument (2003) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0520A, 30 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. An Inventory of Invasive Non-native Plants in Zion National Park (2003-2004) Final Report. Prepared for the National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department; Weed Science Research Project Report No. SD0521A, 33 pp. plus appendices. http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncpn/Reports.cfm
• Dewey, S., R. Richards, H. Hudson, and D. Manning. 2005. Invasive Weed Inventory of Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area (2004) Final Report. Prepared for Utah Division of Wildlife Resources by Utah State University; Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology; Weed Science Research Project Report, 12 pp. plus appendices.

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
The wildfire model developed by USU to improve and standardize wildland invasive weed management strategy was presented to public land management personnel at regional and national meetings. Early detection and rapid response to new infestations of exotic weeds is a key element of the model. Utah's many State and National Parks are high-probability points of exotic weed introduction by visitors from around the world. Infestations of invasive weeds could spread from Parks to private agricultural lands throughout the region if not detected and eliminated quickly. Searching and mapping methods were refined and field tested as USU crews surveyed for invasive weeds on more than 40,000 acres of wildlands in portions of Dinosaur, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks during 2004. Members of NPS EPMT crews were also trained in USU's mapping methods. Weed mapping quality assurance protocols were developed, including the use of plastic replicas of flowering leafy spurge, spotted knapweed, and yellow starthistle plants to test field detection efficiency. Herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, Russian knapweed, Dalmatian toadflax, downy brome, medusahead on pasture and rangeland sites in Utah; and effective treatments were identified for each species. Herbicide active ingredients included in the tests were picloram, imazapic, dicamba, clopyralid, triclopyr, sulfometuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, and glyphosate.

Impacts
The USU wildfire/weed management model has been incorporated into the core of weed management plans of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service, thus influencing land management policy and practices on a national scale. The model has been adopted by all sixteen National Park Service Exotic Plant Management Teams, and was practiced during their 2004 national field training exercise held at Arches National Park. Previously unreported infestations of one or more weed species were discovered in each of the National Parks surveyed by USU crews in 2004, allowing land managers to initiate appropriate eradication measures in a timely manner. Results of herbicide studies conducted under local conditions will provide weed managers with valuable guidance when designing control programs for specific invasive species problems.

Publications

• Winger, M. B., W. B. Bitner, and S. A. Dewey. 2004. New and invasive weeds threatening Utah. Proc., Utah Association of County Agricultural Agents, Summer Meeting, Cedar City, UT, p. 7.
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. Distinct roles of surveys, inventories, and monitoring in adaptive weed management. Weed Technology (in press).
• Dewey, S. A. and K. A. Andersen. 2005. Strategies for early detection - using the wildfire model. Weed Technology (in press).
• Belliston, N.D., J. Merrit, R. Whitesides, and S.A. Dewey. 2004. Noxious Weed Field Guide for Utah (revision). USU Cooperative Extension and Cache County Weed Department. 89 pp.
• Dewey, S., M. Winger, and W. Bitner. 2004. Noxious and Invasive Weeds of Utah. USU Cooperative Extension, CD-ROM.
• Dewey, S. A. and R. W. Mace. 2004. Control of greasewood with metsulfuron. W Soc Weed Sci Res Prog Reports, p. 7.
• Dewey, S. A. and R. W. Mace. 2004. Russian knapweed control in pasture with metsulfuron. W Soc Weed Sci Res Prog Reports, p. 8.
• Winger, M. B., W. B. Bitner, and S. A. Dewey. 2004. Noxious weeds of Utah. Proc., Utah Association of County Agricultural Agents, Summer Meeting, Cedar City, UT, p 6.
• Dewey, S. 2004. Early detection and rapid response - do's and don'ts learned from on-the-ground experience. Proc., WSSA-NAWMA Invasive Plant Species Workshop, Feb 12-13, Kansas City, MO. (CD-ROM)
• Dewey, S. 2004. Applying the Principle of Wildfire Management to Weed Control. Proc., Alaska Noxious and Invasive Plants Management Conference. Univ. of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, Oct 26-27, Anchorage, AK. (CD-ROM).
• Dewey, S. 2004. Control Strategies for Major Species of Concern in Alaska. Proc., Alaska Noxious and Invasive Plants Management Conference. Univ. of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, Oct 26-27, Anchorage, AK. (CD-ROM).

Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Invasive weed mapping methods were developed, field tested, and refined, as USU crews surveyed 32,024 acres in portions of Dinosaur, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges, Hovenweep, and Black Canyon National Parks during 2003. Thirty-five weed species known to be invasive in the western U.S. were targeted. Small previously unreported infestations were discovered in each of the parks, prompting land managers to initiate appropriate eradication meaures. A study to identify specific habitats suitable for leafy spurge was completed, and the data were used in a computer program to identify and map areas of northeastern Utah that could be considered most vulnerable to future invasion. Factors condsidered in defining highly suitable leafy spurge habitat were mean temperatures, annual precipitation, slope, aspect, soil type, and associated vegetation. Herbicide performance field studies were conducted on squarrose knapweed, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, Russian knapweed, Dalmatian toadflax, downy brome, medusahead, and goatsrue on pasture and rangeland sites; and effective treatments were identified for each species. Herbicide active ingredients included in the tests were picloram, imazapic, dicamba, clopyralid, triclopyr, sulfometuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, and glyphosate.

Impacts
Adoption of USU's practical field survey and mapping methods by federal and state land managers is expected to improve weed control programs by allowing earlier detection and more timely control of new invasive weed infestations. The ability to identify land areas most suited to invasion could help weed managers set priorities for future monitoring and develop more effective strategies for control efforts. Results of herbicide studies conducted under local conditions will provide weed managers with valuable guidance when designing control programs for specific invasive species problems.

Publications

• Osmond, T. M. and S. A. Dewey. 2003. Control of medusahead following fall and spring herbicide applications. W Soc Weed Sci Res Prog Reports, p. 10.
• Osmond, T. M. and S. A. Dewey. 2003. Effects of herbicides, burning, and reseeding of desirable forages for medusahead control. Proc, Western Soc Weed Sci, 56:34
• Ballard, M., S. A. Dewey, and K. A. Andersen. 2003 Using GPS point features to describe spot, line, and area infestations in wildland weed surveys. Proc, Western Soc Weed Sci, 56:86.
• Andersen, K. A., S. A. Dewey, and M. Ballard. 2003 Field techniques for improving the accuracy and efficiency of GPS wildland weed surveys. Proc, Western Soc Weed Sci, 56:87.
• Osmond, Travis M. 2003. Effects of herbicides, burning, and reseeding of desirable forages for control of medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae). MS Thesis, Utah State University, 51 pp.
• Dewey, S. A., R. W. Mace, and T. M. Osmond. 2003. Downy brome control with imazapic applied on heavy and light thatch. W Soc Weed Sci Res Prog Reports, p. 3.
• Dewey, S. A., R. W. Mace, and T. M. Osmond. 2003. Downy brome control with imazapic on arid rangeland. W Soc Weed Sci Res Prog Reports, p. 2.