Bear Lodge Project – Bull Hill Mine
January 2013
Weed Management Plan
13
Integrated Management
Chemical: Metsulfuron, metsulfuron + dicamba, picloram + 2,4-D, and glyphosate are all
effective control agents.
Biological: There are no known biocontrol agents approved for use.
Cultural: Using competitive native vegetation can be an effective control method.
Manual/Mechanical: Hand pulling and mowing before flowering are successful treatments.
Wild licorice
Wild licorice is a perennial that grows 1 to 3 feet tall and reproduces by seed or deep spreading
roots. This plant grows erect in patches or clumps in moist areas. Leaves are alternate, compound
with 11-19 lance shaped leaflets. Stems are simple or erect branches toward the top. Flowers are
green-white to white in color, pea-type in clusters on a long stem. Seeds are bean shaped, 1/8 inch
long, reddish brown, smooth and dull, contained in a bur-like seed pod to 3/4 inch long, covered
with stout, hooked prickles.
Management Objective
: Containment
Integrated Management
Chemical: Picloram, dicamba, and clopyralid + triclopyr are all effective control agents.
Biological: Bruchid beetle (
Acanthosclides aureoles
) is a known seed predator.
Cultural: Livestock grazing early in the growth of the plants can reduce plant vigor.
Manual/Mechanical: Hand pulling and digging can be effective on smaller populations.
7.0
TIMING OF MANAGEMENT
Weed management will occur in three phases: pre-construction, during construction, and post
construction. Weed infestations can occur and/or be discovered in each phase. The pre-construction
phase details the weed inventory prior to construction activities and aids in determining if new weed
populations were brought into the area due to construction activities. Post construction monitoring
will take place throughout the life of the project and three years after disturbance to determine if
weed populations are under control or if treatment is required. Once implemented, a treatment and
monitoring program must be carried out for a minimum of five years to determine and/or maintain
the effectiveness of the management plan.
7.1
Pre-Construction
The pre-construction weed inventory was conducted in August 2011 and September 2012 with the
following species being observed within the Bull Hill Mine study are and along the Miller Creek
Access Route: Canada thistle, musk thistle, Scotch thistle, Russian knapweed, spotted knapweed,
common tansy, hoary cress, houndstongue, ox-eye daisy, yellow toadflax, quackgrass, bull thistle,
common mullein, and wild licorice. Cleaning of vehicles and equipment should be conducted to
prevent the spread of the weed species already present within the permit area and introduction of
new weed species. All vehicles and equipment will be washed free of all mud and vegetative debris
