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■ HUNTER RIDGE ENERGY SERVICES LLC
Encana Oil and Gas (USA), Inc.
003 Compressor 12 -inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan
Garfield County, Colorado
Cover photo: View to the southwest along the proposed alignment in an existing right of way
Prepared for:
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
Prepared by:
WestWater Engineering
2516 Foresight Circle #1
Grand Junction, CO 81505
November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Encana Oil and Gas (USA), Inc. (Encana) requested WestWater Engineering (WWE) biologists
to prepare an integrated vegetation and noxious weed management plan for the proposed 003
compressor 12 inch waterline project on Encana's North Parachute Ranch (NPR). The proposed
pipeline would be located in Garfield County, Colorado, in Section 3, Township 5 South, Range
96 West (Figure 1). The pipeline would be located approximately 13.5 miles north of the town
of Parachute, Colorado. The alignment would generally parallel an existing access road to the
compressor site for approximately 2,000 feet. Lands affected by the project are private property
held by Encana.
1.2 General Survey Information
Mapped soil types, as published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), were reviewed to determine the soil types and expected
natural vegetation characteristics at the project site (NRCS 2011).
A field inspection of the project area was conducted by WWE biologists on October 31, 2011,
which is after the active growing and flowering season for many plants, including most noxious
weeds. WWE biologists surveyed the area to identify vegetation communities and to search for,
identify, and map noxious weed species.
Vegetation types were determined through field identification of plants, aerial photography, and
on -the -ground assessments. Identification of plant species was aided by using pertinent
published field guides (Whitson et al. 2001, CWMA 2007, Kershaw et al. 1998, Weber and
Wittmann 2001). Photographs were taken of the general project location, vegetation, terrain, and
specific weed findings. Locations of weeds and other features included in this report were
recorded with the aid of a handheld global positioning system (GPS) receiver using NAD83 map
datum, with all coordinate locations based on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
coordinate system in UTM Zone 12.
2.0 LANDSCAPE SETTING
2.1 Vegetation and climate
The native vegetation in the area is a mountain shrub community which consists primarily of
serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), oakbrush (Quercus
gambelii), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), snowberry (Symophoricarpos spp.), and rabbitbrush
(Chrysothamnos vicidiflorus), with a good understory of grasses including Kentucky bluegrass
(Poa pratensis), arrow -leaved balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and other wheatgrass and
forb species.
The proposed pipeline will be built in an existing disturbance from a previous pipeline project.
Species observed in the reclaimed right-of-way (ROW) include Indian rice grass (Oryzopsis
hymenoides), milkvetch (Astragalus sp.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), glandular phacelia (Phacelia
glandulosa) and other wheatgrass and forb species.
WestWater Engineering Page 1 of 12 November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
The area provides wildlife habitat for a wide variety of species. A list of common plant species
found in the project area is included in Table 1.
Table 1. Common plant species observed and known to occur in the project area.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Arrow -leaved balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittate
Big sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Blue grass
Poa spp.
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Crested wheatgrass
Agopyron cristatum
Cushion phlox
Phlox hoodii
Glandular phacelia
Phacelia glandulosa
Indian ricegrass
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
Lupine
Lupinus sp.
Milkvetch
Astragalus sp.
Mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
Needle -and -thread
Hesperostipa comata
Oakbrush
Quercus gambelii
Onion
Allium sp.
Penstemon
Penstemon sp.
Peppergrass
Lepidium montanum
Prickly -pear cactus
Opuntia spp.
Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnusspp.
Salsify
Tragopogon sp.
Scarlet globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Slender Wheatgrass
Agropyron pauciflorum
Smooth brome
Bromus inermis
Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Snowberry
Symophoricarpos spp
Tansy aster
Machaeranthera spp.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
The climate on the NPR is considered semiarid with a wide range of temperatures and
precipitation. According to data collected by the Altenbern weather station (050214), the
average annual precipitation in the region averages 16.56 inches, and average daily temperatures
range from a high of about 86°F in the summer months to a low of about 13°F during the winter
months (WRCC 2011). The average annual precipitation at the upper elevations of the NPR
should equal or slightly exceed that observed at the Altenbern ranch.
WestWater Engineering Page 2 of 12 November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
2.2 Soils
The proposed pipeline will be built through two soil types (NRCS 2011) as follows:
• Rhone loam is found at all but the very north end of the proposed pipeline; this soil is
characterized as deep and well -drained, is found on upland ridges and mountainsides,
formed in material derived from fine-grained hard sandstone, with slopes from five to 75
percent. The native vegetation is comprised of needlegrass and wheatgrasses, big
sagebrush and various forb species. Areas with this soil type are used for grazing and
wildlife habitat.
• Parachute -Rhone loam is found at the north end of the proposed alignment. It is
moderately deep, well drained soil formed in material derived from sandstone or basalt.
It is found on upland ridges or mountainsides with slopes from three to 75 percent.
Primary uses on this soil type are grazing and wildlife habitat; vegetation is typically
bluegrass and wheatgrasses, big sagebrush, elk sedge, serviceberry and various forb
species.
2.3 Terrain
The proposed alignment extends from the compressor pad up a ridge to intersect with an existing
pipeline. It would be built in an existing ROW. The elevation ranges from approximately 8,160
feet to approximately 8,320 feet.
3.0 NOXIOUS WEEDS
3.1 Introduction to Noxious Weeds
Noxious weeds are plants that are aggressive competitors with native plants when non-native to
an area. Most have come from Europe or Asia, either accidentally or as ornamentals that have
escaped. Once established in a new environment, they tend to spread quickly because the
insects, diseases, and animals that normally control them are absent. Noxious weeds are spread
by man, animals, water, and wind. Prime locations for the establishment of noxious weeds
include roadsides, construction sites, areas that are overused by animals or humans, wetlands,
and riparian corridors. Subsequent to soil disturbances, vegetation communities can be
susceptible to infestations of invasive or exotic weed species. Vegetation removal and soil
disturbance during construction can create optimal conditions for the establishment of invasive,
non-native species. Construction equipment traveling from weed -infested areas into weed -free
areas could disperse noxious or invasive weed seeds and propagates, resulting in the
establishment of these weeds in previously weed -free areas.
The Colorado Noxious Weed Act (State of Colorado 2005) requires local governing bodies to
develop noxious weed management plans. Both the State of Colorado and Garfield County
maintain a list of plants that are considered to be noxious weeds. The State of Colorado noxious
weed list includes three categories. List A species must be eradicated whenever detected. List B
species include weeds whose spread should be halted. List C species are widespread, but the
State will assist local jurisdictions which choose to manage those weeds.
WestWater Engineering Page 3 of 12 November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
The Garfield County Weed Advisory Board has compiled a list of 21 plants from the State list
considered to be noxious weeds within the county (see Appendix A). The Garfield County Weed
Advisory Board has duties to:
1. Develop a noxious weed list,
2. Develop a weed management plan for designated noxious weeds, and
3. Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that identified landowners submit an
integrated weed management plan for their properties.
3.2 Observations
The weed survey included an area approximately 100 feet wide on either side of the proposed
alignment center -line (Figure 1). State -listed noxious weeds observed on the site included bull
thistle (Cirsium vulgare – State B list), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus—State C List),
downy brome (cheatgrass; Bromus tectorum—State C List), field bindweed (Convolvulus
arvensis—State C List), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale—State B List and Garfield
County), and musk thistle (Carduus nutans—State B List and Garfield County).
Downy brome is scattered throughout the project area. A small amount of field bindweed is
found along the access road. Bull thistle and common mullein were encountered in many
locations along the access road and on the existing pipeline ROW. In most cases, weed locations
were recorded as points, but in two cases, the common mullein was so extensive that the
distribution of plants is shown as a continuous strip in Figure 1. Houndstongue and musk thistle
were found on the west side of the access road. Detailed locations for each weed observation are
provided in Appendix B.
It was apparent that several areas in the existing ROW had been sprayed to control noxious
weeds, especially common mullein and bull thistle. The plants sprayed apparently died before
producing seed; however, there are an abundance of live plants, especially first-year rosettes of
common mullein and bull thistle that will develop into seed -producing plants in 2012.
In areas where soil disturbances have created growing conditions which favor non-native
vegetation, several nuisance weed species are present. These plants can negate revegetation
efforts and cause losses due to decreased seeding success and associated costs. The presence of
these plants creates increased competition for resources and can negatively affect desirable plant
species. Plants in this category observed in the project area include Russian thistle (Salsola spp),
lambsquarter (Chenopodium berlandieri) and tumble mustard (Thelypodiopsis spp.). These
nuisance weeds occur on disturbed soils, such as those found along the access road or in the
existing pipeline ROW.
3.3 Integrated Weed Management
Control of invasive species is a difficult task and requires intensive on-going control measures.
Care must be taken to prevent damage to desirable plant species during treatments to prevent
further infestations by other pioneer invaders. Weed management is best achieved through a
variety of methods over a long period of time including inventory (surveys), direct treatments,
prevention through best management practices, monitoring of treatment efficacy, and subsequent
detection efforts. Weed management is often reserved to "control" of existing species and
WestWater Engineering Page 4 of 12 November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
prevention of further infestations (existing and new species) rather than eradication. After
successful and effective management, decreases in infestation size and density can be expected,
and after several years of successful management practices, eradication is sometimes possible.
3.4 Prevention and Assessment of Noxious Weed Infestations
Weed management is costly and heavy infestations may exceed the economic threshold for
practical treatment. Prevention is especially valuable in the case of noxious weed management.
Several simple practices should be employed to prevent most weed infestations. The following
practices should be adopted for any activity to reduce the costs of noxious weed control through
prevention. The practices include:
• Prior to delivery to the site, equipment should be thoroughly cleaned of soils remaining
from previous construction sites which may be contaminated with noxious weeds.
• If working in sites with weed -seed contaminated soil, equipment should be cleaned of
potentially seed -bearing soils and vegetative debris at the infested area prior to moving to
uncontaminated terrain.
• All maintenance vehicles should be regularly cleaned of soil.
• Avoid driving vehicles through areas where weed infestations exist.
Assessment of the existence and extent of noxious weeds for an area is essential for the
development of an integrated weed management plan. This report provides an initial assessment
of the occurrence of noxious weeds for the project area. In order to continue effective
management of noxious weeds, further inventory and analysis is necessary to 1) determine the
effectiveness of the past treatment strategies; 2) modify the treatment plan, if necessary; and 3)
detect new infestations early, which would result in more economical treatments.
3.5 Treatment and Control of Noxious Weed Infestations
Recommended control methods for listed noxious weed species found in the project area are
described in Table 2. Table 2 also includes the life cycle type for each weed species.
Table 2. Control methods for noxious weeds observed in project area
Common Name
USDA
Symbol
Type
Control Methods
Bull thistle
CIVU
Biennial
Severing the tap root at least 2 inches below the soil line
before flowering is very effective. Herbicides can be used
in the rosette to early bolting stage. Flowering plants
should be chopped and bagged to prevent spread of seeds.
Common
mullein
VETH
Biennial
Re -seed with aggressive grasses; mechanical removal of
rosettes; herbicides.
Downy brome
(Cheatgrass)
BRTE
Annual
Journey provides pre- and post -emergence control and
may be used prior to planting desirable species at rates up
to 32 ounces per acre per year. It should be applied in late
summer or fall before cheatgrass emerges; it cannot be
used after newly seeded desirable species have begun to
emerge.
WestWater Engineering
Page 5 of 12
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
Table 2. Control methods for noxious weeds observed in project area
Common Name
USDA
Symbol
Type
Control Methods
Field Bindweed
COAR4
Creeping
Perennial
This weed reproduces by seed and horizontal roots and is
very difficult to eradicate. Seeds can stay viable in the soil
for up to 40 years. Some success in control is reported in
Mesa County with the use of bindweed mites (Aceria
malherbae).
Houndstongue
CYOF
Biennial
Early Spring tillage before weed emergence in the existing
corridor to a dept i of 2 to 4 inches. Herbicide application
in Spring while plants are small and it the late fall,
bagging the seed heads.
Musk thistle
CANU4
Biennial
Tillage or hand grubbing in the rosette to pre -flowering
stages. Repeated mowing at bolting or early flowering.
Herbicides in rosette stage.
3.6 Recommended Treatment Strategies
The following treatment strategies are presented for reference. It is important to know whether
the target is an annual, biennial, or perennial to select strategies that effectively control and
eliminate the target. Treatment strategies vary depending on plant type, which are summarized
in Tables 3 and 4. Herbicides should not always be the first treatment of choice when other
methods can be effectively employed.
Table 3. Treatment Strategies for Annual and Biennial Noxious Weeds
Target: Prevent Seed Production
1. Hand grub (pull), hoe, till, cultivate in rosette stage and before flowering or seed maturity. If seeds
develop, cut and bag seed heads.
2. Cut roots with a spade just below soil level.
3. Treat with herbicide in rosette or bolting stage, before flowering.
4. Mow biennials after bolting stage, before seed set. Mowing annuals will not prevent flowering, but
can reduce total seed production.
(Sirota 2004)
Table 4. Treatment Strategies for Perennials
Target: Deplete nutrient reserves in root system, prevent seed production
1. Allow plants to expend as much energy from root system as possible, do not treat when first
emerging in spring, but allow growth to bud/bloom stage. If seeds develop, cut and bag if possible.
2. Herbicide treatment at bud to bloom stage or in the fall (recommended after August 15 when natural
precipitation is present). In the fall, plants draw nutrients into the roots for winter storage.
Herbicides will be drawn down to the roots more efficiently at this time due to translocation of
nutrients to roots rather than leaves. If the weed patch has been present for a long period of time,
another season of seed production is not as important as getting the herbicide into the root system.
Spraying in fall (after middle August) will kill the following year's shoots, which are being formed
on the roots at this time.
WestWater Engineering
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November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
Table 4. Treatment Strategies for Perennials
Target: Deplete nutrient reserves in root system, prevent seed production
3. Mowing usually is not recommended because the plants will flower anyway; seed production should
be reduced. Many studies have shown that mowing perennials and spraying the re -growth is not as
effective as spraying without mowing. Effect of mowing is species dependent; therefore, it is
imperative to know the species and its basic biology. Timing of application must be done when
biologically appropriate, which is not necessarily convenient.
4. Tillage may or may not be effective. Most perennial roots can sprout from pieces only 0.5 inch to
1 inch long. Clean machinery thoroughly before leaving the weed patch.
5. Hand pulling is generally not recommended for perennial species unless you know the plants are
seedlings and not established plants. Hand pulling can be effective on small patches but is very
labor intensive because it must be done repeatedly.
(Sirota 2004)
Some weeds, particularly annuals and biennials, can develop resistance to herbicides. The ability
to quickly develop immunity to herbicides, especially when they are used incorrectly, makes it
imperative to use the proper chemicals at the correct time in the specified concentration
according to the product label. Most misuse is centered on excessive application, either in
frequency or concentration. This results in mostly top kill and resistant phenotypes.
3.7 Best Management Practices — Noxious Weeds
Construction: The following practices should be adopted for any construction project to reduce
the costs of noxious weed control and aid in prevention efforts. The practices include:
• Top soil, where present, should be segregated from deeper soils and replaced as top soil
on the final grade, a process known as live topsoil handling;
• Wetland vegetation, if encountered, should be live handled like sod, temporarily watered
if necessary, and placed over excavated sub -soil relative to the position from which the
wetland sod was removed;
• Cut-off collars should be placed on all wetland and stream crossings to prevent back
washing or draining of important aquatic resources;
• In all cases, temporary disturbance should be kept to an absolute minimum;
• Equipment and materials handling should be done on established sites to reduce area and
extent of soil compaction;
• Disturbances should be immediately reseeded with the recommended mix in the re -
vegetation section;
• Topsoil stockpiles should be seeded with non-invasive sterile hybrid grasses, if stored
longer than one growing season;
• Prior to delivery to the site, equipment should be cleaned of soils remaining from
previous construction sites which may be contaminated with noxious weeds; and
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
• If working in sites with weed -seed contaminated soil, equipment should be cleaned of
potentially seed -bearing soils and vegetative debris prior to moving to uncontaminated
terrain.
In areas with slope greater than three percent, imprinting of the seed bed is recommended.
Imprinting can be in the form of dozer tracks or furrows perpendicular to the direction of slope.
When utilizing hydro -seeding followed by mulching, imprinting should be done prior to seeding
unless the mulch is to be crimped into the soil surface. If broadcast seeding and harrowing,
imprinting should be done as part of the harrowing. Furrowing can be done by several methods,
the most simple of which is to drill seed perpendicular to the direction of slope in a prepared bed.
Other simple imprinting methods include deep hand raking and harrowing, always perpendicular
to the direction of slope.
Herbicides: Many of the listed noxious weed species in Colorado are susceptible to
commercially available herbicides. Annual and biennial weeds are best controlled at the pre -bud
stage after germination or in the spring of the second year. Selective herbicides are
recommended to minimize damage to desirable grass species.
Professionals or landowners using herbicides must use the concentration specified on the label of
the container in hand. Herbicides generally do not work better at higher concentrations. Most
herbicide failures observed by WWE are related to incomplete control caused by high
concentrations killing top growth before the active ingredient can be transported to the roots
through the nutrient translocation process. Most herbicide applications should use a surfactant, if
directed on the herbicide label, or other adjuvant as called for on the herbicide label.
Grazing: In the event grazing is allowed in the project area, it should be deferred in reclaimed
areas until the desired plant species that have been seeded are established.
Alternative Methods: An alternative method, particularly where there is poor or destroyed
topsoil, is the application of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, typically referred to as
AMF. These fungi, mostly of the genus Glomus, are symbiotic with about 80 percent of all
vegetation. Endo-mycorrhizal fungi are associated mostly with grasses and forbs and could be
helpful when reclaiming this project. In symbiosis, the fungi increase water and nutrient transfer
capacity of the host root system by as much as several orders of magnitude (Barrow and
McCaslin 1995).
Over-the-counter commercial products, which are better adapted to coating seeds when re-
seeding and treating roots of live seedling trees and shrubs at time of planting, come in powder
form and are available from many different sources. Some also come in granular form to be
spread with seed from a broadcast spreader. The best AMF products should contain more than
one fungi species.
All Colorado State Forest Salida District tree and shrub plantings include the application of AMF
(Tischler 2006). Most, if not all, Colorado Department of Transportation re-vegetation/reseeding
projects now require use of AMF and BioSol, a certified by-product of the penicillin
manufacturing process composed primarily of mycelium. Compacted soils respond well to
fossilized humic substances and by-products called humates. These humates, including humic
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
and fulvic acids and humin were formed from pre -historic plant and animal deposits and work
especially well on compacted soils when applied as directed.
3.8 Commercial Applicator Recommendations
A certified commercial applicator is a good choice for herbicide control efforts. Restricted
herbicides require a Colorado licensed applicator. An applicator has the full range of knowledge,
skills, equipment, and experience desired when dealing with tough noxious weeds. Reclamation
farming services using multiple seed bin range drills and specialized related equipment is
available and should be used for reclamation seeding projects.
Monitoring: Areas where noxious weed infestations are identified and treated should be
inspected over time to ensure that control methods are working to reduce and suppress the
identified infestation. The sites should be monitored until the infestations are eliminated or
reduced to acceptable levels. These inspections can then be used to prioritize future weed
control efforts.
4.0 REVEGETATION — RECLAMATION
Site-specific reclamation plans should be developed with a qualified reclamation contractor.
Successful reclamation of the project area is dependent upon soil type and texture, slope gradient
and aspect, proper weed control, available water, and revegetation with suitable plant species.
Table 5 provides the recommended seed mix for Pinyon -Juniper Woodland and/or
Mountain/Wyoming Big Sagebrush Shrubland for the proposed area (BLM 2007).
Table 5. Seed Menu for Pinyon -Juniper Woodland and/or
Mountain/Wyoming Big Sagebrush Shrubland
CommonName
Scientific Names
•Season
Form
LS
lbs/acre*
Plant the Following (10% Total)
Indian
Ricegrass
Achnatherum [Oryzopsis]
hymenoides
Nezpar, Paloma,
Rimrock
Cool
Bunch
1.9
and Both of the Following (15% Each, 30% Total)
Galleta
Pleuraphis [Hilaria] jamesii
Viva florets
Warm
Bunch
2.5
Bluebunch
Wheatgrass
Pseudoroegneria spicata,
Agropyron spicatum
Secar, P-7,
Anatone
Cool
Bunch
2.8
and One of the Following (20% Total)
Thickspike
Wheatgrass
Elymus lanceolatus ssp.
lanceolatus, Agropyron
dasystachyum
Critana,
Schwendimar
Cool
Sod-
forming
3.4
Slender
Wheatgrass
Elymus trachycaulus,
Agropyron trachycaulum
San Luis
Cool
Bunch
3.3
Western
Wheatgrass
Agropyron smithii
Arriba
Cool
Sod-
forming
3.0
and Two of the Following (40% Total)
Muttongrass
Poa fendleriana
Cool
Bunch
0.6
WestWater Engineering
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
Table 5. Seed Menu for Pinyon -Juniper Woodland and/or
Mountain/Wyoming Big Sagebrush Shrubland
CNameommon
Scientific Names
Variety
Season
Form
LS
lb nacre*
Sandberg
Bluegrass
Poa sandbergii, Poa secunda
Cool
Bunch
0.6
Bottlebrush
Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides, Sitanion
hystrix
Cool
Bunch
2.7
*Based on 60 pure live seeds (PLS) per square foot, drill -seeded. Double this rate (120 PLS per square foot) if broadcast or
hydroseeded.
5.0 REFERENCES
Barrow, J. R., and Bobby D. McCaslin. 1995. Role of microbes in resource management in arid
ecosystems. In: Barrow, J. R., E. D. McArthur, R. E. Sosebee, and Tausch, R. J., comps.
1996. Proceedings: shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment. General
Technical Report, INT -GTR -338, Ogden, Utah: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Forest Service, Intermountain Resource Station, 275 pp.
BLM. 2007. Glenwood Springs Energy Office: Revisions to BLM Energy Office Revegetation
Requirements. 3160 (C0140). U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs,
Colorado.
CWMA. 2007. S. Anthony, T. D'Amato, A. Doran, S. Elzinga, J. Powell, I. Schonle, K. Uhing.
Noxious Weeds of Colorado, Ninth Edition. Colorado Weed Management Association,
Centennial.
Kershaw, L., A. MacKinnon, and J. Pojar. 1998. Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone Pine
Publishing, Auburn, Washington.
NRCS. 2011. Web Soil Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation
Service, URL: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov
Sirota, J. 2004. Best management practices for noxious weeds of Mesa County. Colorado State
University Cooperative Extension Tri River Area, Grand Junction, Colorado. Website—
http://www. coopext. colostate. edu/TRA/Weeds/weedmgmt.html.
State of Colorado. 2005. Rules pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the Colorado
Noxious Weed Act, 35-5-1-119, C.R.S. 2003. Colorado Department of Agriculture, Plant
Industry Division, Denver, 78 pp.
Tischler, Crystal. 2006. District Forester, Colorado State Forest Service, Salida. Personal
communication with Bill Clark, WestWater Engineering, Grand Junction, Colorado.
Weber, William A., and Ronald C. Wittmann. 2001. Colorado Flora, Western Slope. Third
Edition, University Press of Colorado, Boulder.
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Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
Whitson, T. D. (editor), L. C. Burrill, S. A. Dewey, D. W. Cudney, B. E. Nelson, R. D. Lee, and
R. Parker. 2001. Weeds of the West — 9th edition. Western Society of Weed Science in
cooperation with Cooperative Extension Services, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
WRCC. 2011. Western Regional Climate Center Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries.
Website—http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/climsum.html.
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RIO BLANCO COUNTY En
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Integrated Vegetation
nc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Noxious Weed-Matragement Plan
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Project Location
1
Legend
• : Musk thistle
• Bull thistle
• Houndstongue
Common mullein
—0=0 Pipeline
7 Common mullein
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Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
APPENDIX A
Garfield County Noxious Weed List
Species
Common name
Species
Code
Growth
Form'
Life
History'
State "A"
List
State "B"
List
State "C"
List
Acroptilon repens
Russian knapweed
ACRE
F
P
X
Aegilops cylindrica
Jointed goatgrass
AECY
G
A
X
Arctium minus
Common (Lesser)
burdock
ARMI2
F
B
X
Cardaria draba
Hoary cress, Whitetop
CADR
F
P
X
Carduus acanthoides
Spiny plumeless thistle
CAAC
F
B, WA
X
Carduus nutans
Musk (Nodding
plumeless) thistle
CANU4
F
B
X
Centaurea diffusa
Diffuse knapweed
CEDI3
F
P
X
Centaurea maculosa
Spotted knapweed
CEMA4
F
P
X
Centaurea solstitialis
Yellow starthistle
CESO3
F
A
X
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum
Oxeye daisy
CHLE80
F
P
X
Cichorium intybus
Chicory
CIIN
F
P
X
Cirsium arvense
Canada thistle
CIAR4
F
P
X
Cynoglossum officinale
Houndstongue,
Gypsyflower
CYOF
F
B
X
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Russian olive
ELAN
T
P
X
Euphorbia esula
Leafy spurge
EUES
F
P
X
Linaria dalmatica
Dalmatian toadflax,
broad-leaved
LIDA
F
P
X
Linaria vulgaris
Yellow toadflax
LIVU2
F
P
X
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife
LYSA2
F
P
X
Onopordum acanthium
Scotch thistle
ONAC
F
B
X
Tamarix parviflora
Smallflower tamarisk
TAPA4
T
P
X
Tamarix ramosissima
Salt cedar, Tamarisk
TARA
T
P
X
1 — Growth form: T = tree/shrub; F = forb/vine; G = graminoid
2 — Life history: A = annual; B = biennial; P = perennial; WA = winter annual
WestWater Engineering
Appendix A
November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
APPENDIX B
Weed Locations
Species
Easting
Northing
Comment
Musk thistle
744335
4391551
clump of plants gone to seed
Musk thistle
744639
4392057
Plant has gone to seed
Bull thistle
744459
4391699
1 seeded plant
Bull thistle
744566
4391868
1 seeded plant
Bull thistle
744543
4391896
5 plants two of which are rosettes
Bull thistle
744593
4391898
1 rosette
Bull thistle
744616
4391920
2 rosettes in a 3 meter radius
Bull thistle
744618
4391929
4 seeded plants 5 meter radius
Bull thistle
744614
4391939
4 rosettes 1 meter radius
Bull thistle
744638
4391943
5 rosettes in a 3 meter radius
Bull thistle
744628
4391945
plant and rosettes 5 meter radius
Bull thistle
744657
4391969
one plant
Bull thistle
744646
4391973
mature plant lots of seed
Bull thistle
744663
4391984
3 seeded plants 5 meter radius
Bull thistle
744622
4391986
3 rosettes
Bull thistle
744624
4391992
6 rosettes
Bull thistle
744629
4392000
one rosette
Bull thistle
744688
4392007
has been sprayed
Bull thistle
744661
4392014
rosettes 1 meter radius
Bull thistle
744684
4392030
hundreds of rosettes in 10 meter radius at valve station
Bull thistle
744647
4392037
2 rosettes
Bull thistle
744650
4392046
6 plus rosettes
Bull thistle
744660
4392068
2 rosettes
Bull thistle
744677
4392083
continues at a low density
Houndstongue
744512
4391773
one rosette
Houndstongue
744524
4391869
one rosette
Common mullein
744338
4391521
1 plant @ NW corner of pad
Common mullein
744463
4391694
2 rosettes
Common mullein
744472
4391728
3 stalks and rosettes in 15 meter radius
WestWater Engineering
Appendix B
November 2011
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 003 Compressor 12 inch Waterline
Integrated Vegetation & Noxious Weed Management Plan
APPENDIX B
Weed Locations
Species £
Easting
Northing
Comment
Common mullein
744487
4391799
5 rosettes and a second year plant gone to seed
Common mullein
744489
4391811
12 rosettes in a 1 meter radius
Common mullein
744492
4391818
8 plants (rosettes) in a 4 meter radius
Common mullein
744504
4391834
5 plus plants in a one meter radius
Common mullein
744512
4391845
9 plants in a 2 meter radius
Common mullein
744559
4391873
stalks and rosettes 5 m wide by 20 m long
Common mullein
744527
4391874
10 plus rosettes in a 2 meter radius
Common mullein
744550
4391896
2 rosettes
Common mullein
744553
4391902
20 plus plants (rosettes) in silt capture basin west side of access road
Common mullein
744581
4391909
plants and rosettes in 10 meter radius
Common mullein
744608
4391919
2 rosettes 5 meter radius
Common mullein
744574
4391924
2 rosettes
Common mullein
744619
4391944
2 rosettes 1 meter radius
Common mullein
744644
4391950
3 plants two of which are rosettes
Common mullein
744640
4391955
Numerous rosettes 5 meter radius
Common mullein
744614
4391972
2 rosettes
Common mullein
744618
4391977
7 plus rosettes in a 1 meter radius
Common mullein
744622
4391983
one rosette
Common mullein
744625
4391992
two rosettes
Common mullein
744665
4391994
live stalk
Common mullein
744635
4392006
6 rosettes in a 2 meter radius
Common mullein
744700
4392018
3 plants gone to seed in a 3 meter radius
Common mullein
744688
4392027
stalks and rosettes 20 meter radius at valve station
Common mullein
744644
4392035
plants continue at a low density
Common mullein
744645
4392051
Plants at low density in 10 meter wide swath
Common mullein
744712
4392069
stalks with seeds 1 meter radius
Common mullein
744667
4392069
2 rosettes
Common mullein
744683
4392088
10 plus rosette in 3 meter radius
WestWater Engineering
Appendix B
November 2011
21221
4S 97W
aS 47W
To the best of Hunter Ridge's
knowledge, all pipelines have
been properly permitted as
required under applicable
regulations. Appropriate
agreements are in place for
the pipeline locations as
depicted on this map.
112AL 452
1,244,
003 Story Booster
11.1 2.3262
00 LOP
SS 9645
.2,122.514
Kr 22
11F vie ni:
49 9
9S 9645
0175 O. S.5 n.7 1.05 1.4
HUNTER RIDGE ENERGY
SERVICES LLC