Bear Lodge Project – Bull Hill Mine
January 2013
Weed Management Plan
4
RER is committed to inventorying, monitoring, and treating of weeds associated with the Bull Hill
Mine permit area and Miller Creek Access Route. The purposes of this WMP are as follows:
1)
Prescribe methods to treat existing weed infestations.
2)
Prevent introduction and spread of infestations during construction.
3)
Monitor and treat infestations after construction is complete.
4)
Control expansion of existing noxious weed populations from within the Bull Hill Mine
permit area, Miller Creek Access Route, and from adjacent lands over the life of the Bull
Hill Mine.
5)
Manage and control weeds where growth could increase fire hazard, cause excessive snow
drifting in undesirable locations, or hinder successful reclamation of disturbed areas.
5.0
PRE-ASSESSMENT INVASIVE WEED INVENTORY
BKS Environmental Associates, Inc. (BKS) conducted a pre-assessment weed inventory for the Bull
Hill Mine study area from August 15-18, 2011. The pre-assessment weed inventory for the Miller
Creek Access Route was conducted on September 27, 2012. The weed inventory was conducted to
determine if any state designated noxious weeds, Crook County declared weeds, BHNF weeds of
concern, or potentially invasive introduced plant species (based on professional judgment) were
present. Any occurrences of state designated noxious weeds, Crook County declared weeds, BHNF
weeds of concern, or potentially invasive introduced plant species were photographed, marked by
GPS points, and marked on aerial imagery maps.
Eleven state designated noxious weeds were observed within the Bull Hill Mine study area: Canada
thistle, musk thistle, Scotch thistle, Russian knapweed, spotted knapweed, common tansy, hoary
cress, houndstongue, ox-eye daisy, yellow toadflax, and quackgrass. Three Crook County declared
weeds were observed within the Bull Hill Mine study area: bull thistle, common mullein, and wild
licorice. Neither of the BHNF weeds of concern were observed within the Bull Hill Mine study
area. Occurrences of these species were typically within and along existing disturbances; however,
observations also occurred within native areas proposed for disturbance. Observed species were
typically found as isolated individuals or small populations. However, most weed species observed
were prevalent along existing access roads within the study area and along the Miller Creek Access
Route. Refer to Addendum 1 for a map of weed locations within the Bull Hill Mine study area and
along the Miller Creek Access Route.
6.0
WEED MANAGEMENT
6.1
General Weed Management
An integrated weed management strategy will be employed by RER throughout the construction and
operation of the Bull Hill Mine project, and three years after disturbance. Weed inventories and
control will continue until noxious and declared weeds are eliminated from disturbed areas or are at
pre-disturbance levels. Any management actions will be consistent with the BHNF Weed
Management Plan. All factors of the weed population will be taken into consideration when
deciding on a management action; these factors include species, location, size of the population,
