BAER Weed Treatment
The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (also referred to as "Forest" or "UWC") has a requirement to enter into a Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC) for control of non-native invasive species (NNIP) of plants using a variety of treatment methods; hand pulling, swabbing, mechanical and hand applied herbicide treatments.
The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest experienced approximately 125,000 acres of wildland fire during the 2018 fire season on the Spanish Fork Ranger District in Utah County, Utah. Of this acreage, the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team identified approximately 1,141 acres of burned area and fire suppression damage that requires rapid response of non-native invasive plant treatments.
The primary objective is to eradicate, reduce, or contain invasive plant populations, thereby minimizing the threat to native plant communities, sensitive wildlife habitat. The projects would emphasize control activities on highly invasive nonnative plant species infestations. To accomplish this objective the Forest Service uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for NNIP control activities as required by the Uinta National Forest Land Management Plan (Forest Plan).
NNIP control activities will be conducted in high severity burned areas and along fire features used during suppression such as roads, trails, staging areas and dozer lines. As the initial NNIP treatments are successful, follow-up treatments later in the summer would focus less on using off road vehicles and mechanized equipment to increasing amounts of spot spraying of herbicides by using backpack sprayers, other hand techniques or horses with suitable spray mounted equipment.
Kenneth Miller, Purchasing Agent, Phone 801-908-1905, Fax 801-908-1930, Email kenneth.c.miller@usda.gov
