Weed Concerns for Wilderness Fire Resource Advisors

1. This document is contained within the Fire Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL: http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=fire. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.

2. Weed Concerns for Wilderness Fire Resource Advisors

3. OBJECTIVES • Understand basics of law and policy • Understand effects of fires and fire management • Stock your RA kit with guidelines for management of weeds in fire planning, incident management , and suppression • Understand your role as WFRA in incident management (“Fire Culture”)

4. What is a Weed? • A plant that interferes with a management objective at a given point at a given time • A plant designated as such by law (e.g. Noxious designation) • Are generally exotic—not native to North America

5. Why do we care? • Weeds infest 4,600 new acres PER DAY on federal lands—an explosion in slow motion— a biological emergency • Weed infestations that are not caught early (very early) are PERMANENT • Weeds in wilderness areas are a tougher problem—limited options

6. Why do we care?From the Wilderness Act…. • “An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal Land retaining primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or inhabitation, which is protected and managed to preserve its natural conditions…….(emphasis added)

7. There is a substantive argument that noxious weeds are not part of that naturalness, they are aliens to our North American wilderness • They are also not a good thing for the HEALTH of the land (flora and fauna)

8. Authority • Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) 1976 • Public Rangelands Improvement Act (PRIA) • Taylor Grazing Act • Halogeton glomeratus Control Act • Carson-Foley Act • Executive Orders (13112)

9. Authority, continued • Federal Noxious Weed Act • State legislation • Agency-Specific Guidelines • The good news: Weed management is gaining momentum in land management agencies

10. Fire Effects • Fire is a disturbance—weeds do well on disturbed sites • Nutrient flush following fire • Reduced competition of native species may give weeds a boost • Fire may be a tool for weed control—but it usually requires another control technique with it (e.g. chemical) • FEIS Fire Effects Information System—a good resource for fire effects on specific species

11. Fire Management Effects • Fire personnel and equipment are vectors for weed spread—probably underrated (people, vehicles, helicopter buckets/nets, pack strings) • See Invasive Species Watch-Out List • As WFRA it will probably fall on your shoulders to think beyond weeds into other invasive species

12. Items for your RA Kit • A map of where the weeds are • Watch-out Checklist • Weed I.D. Book • Copy of your Fire Mgt Plan with weed management guidelines

13. Interaction with IMTs • Understand and respect the chain of command—you have the potential to significantly impact operations. Educate with tact. • Be prepared to defend your requests—at shift briefings, team meetings, etc. • Be prepared to follow up the next year(s) • Monitor seedings, wash stations, helibases, spike camps,etc.

14. Wilderness Considerations-parting thoughts- • Weed Management is difficult—and even harder in wilderness areas • Access limitations—time/distance • Equipment limitations • Logistical challenges—especially in dry areas • Treatment costs per acre are SCARY • So we must: • Find infestations early and kill them early (Early Detection Rapid Response)