Noxious Weed Control
For the past 10 years, the Feather River RCD has worked collaboratively with partners as part of the WEEDS (We Eradicate Exotic & Detrimental Species) group. We are working with landowners to educate and bring awareness to the threat that invasive plant species pose to our lands, public and private. Through Secure Rural Schools Act funding we have worked to introduce targeted grazing as a means to control invasive weeds, particularly yellow star thistle. We are currently funded to work with a volunteer group to map and eradicate yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, and bull thistle from meadow and riparian areas in the Meadow Valley area. We will also be working with private landowners to assist in weed identification and control methods.
For more information on invasive weed control contact us.
For more information on invasive weed control contact us.
Smith Property Long-term Management
The Smith Property is 330 acres owned by the Feather River Land Trust and is part of the “Sierra Valley Preserve” is part of a critical core of seasonal and permanent wetlands in Sierra Valley, which support the greatest diversity and abundance of birds in the entire Sierra Nevada. The Feather River RCD put together a Long-term Management Plan that was incorporated into the Stewardship Plan for this site. The primary invasive plant targeted at this site is Perennial Pepperweed. Volunteers from Patagonia were trained to do monitoring on vegetation transects established in 2014.
The Smith Property is 330 acres owned by the Feather River Land Trust and is part of the “Sierra Valley Preserve” is part of a critical core of seasonal and permanent wetlands in Sierra Valley, which support the greatest diversity and abundance of birds in the entire Sierra Nevada. The Feather River RCD put together a Long-term Management Plan that was incorporated into the Stewardship Plan for this site. The primary invasive plant targeted at this site is Perennial Pepperweed. Volunteers from Patagonia were trained to do monitoring on vegetation transects established in 2014.
Feather River College Project
Yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, and bull thistle were the primary targets of a pilot project at Feather River College (FRC) campus to use grazing to control the spread of these invasive species. The grazed areas were all located within the boundaries of a wetland protected area where select grazing is allowed for the control of invasive species. The FRC location was chosen due to it’s location at the head of American Valley, proximity to adjacent Plumas National Forest lands, and the opportunity it presented to educate the community and incorporate new land management practices into the college curriculum.
In 2009, prior to the start of this project, a student in an FRC GIS mapping class, mapped the extent and relative percent coverage of yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, and bull thistle in the project area. In addition, an Environmental Studies class established five permanent transects across the project area in 2010 that provided additional information on pre-project coverage of targeted species. These transects were monitored again in fall 2011, following the grazing project. The goal is to establish a long-term monitoring program of invasive species as part of a weed management plan for the entire 90-acre campus.
Targeted grazing occurred June 28 through September 6, 2011 using approximately 20 goats owned and managed by a local grazer. The small number of animals allowed for careful control of the grazing in this sensitive area. The total number of acres treated was four, which is significantly lower than the planned amount. The primary reason for this was the extended wet season which made access to some of the acreage impossible to graze, even late in the summer, and the abundance of forage that meant longer periods to effectively graze a plot. On August 20th, the Community was invited to a “Meet the Grazer” day held at the project site where the goats were still actively grazing. The grazer and Feather River RCD staff were on hand to answer questions and share weed management strategies.
This project succeeded in grazing the wetland area on the FRC campus, introducing invasive weed control and monitoring into the curriculum with the intent of long term, self-sustaining invasive weed management on the campus, and conducting a ‘Meet the Grazer’ day to educate the Community at large to using targeted grazing as a weed management tool. In addition, the grazer is interested in promoting targeted grazing to local 4-H youth as a community service project and helping to establish an intern program at FRC.
This project was funded through Plumas County RAC Cycle 10.
Yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, and bull thistle were the primary targets of a pilot project at Feather River College (FRC) campus to use grazing to control the spread of these invasive species. The grazed areas were all located within the boundaries of a wetland protected area where select grazing is allowed for the control of invasive species. The FRC location was chosen due to it’s location at the head of American Valley, proximity to adjacent Plumas National Forest lands, and the opportunity it presented to educate the community and incorporate new land management practices into the college curriculum.
In 2009, prior to the start of this project, a student in an FRC GIS mapping class, mapped the extent and relative percent coverage of yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, and bull thistle in the project area. In addition, an Environmental Studies class established five permanent transects across the project area in 2010 that provided additional information on pre-project coverage of targeted species. These transects were monitored again in fall 2011, following the grazing project. The goal is to establish a long-term monitoring program of invasive species as part of a weed management plan for the entire 90-acre campus.
Targeted grazing occurred June 28 through September 6, 2011 using approximately 20 goats owned and managed by a local grazer. The small number of animals allowed for careful control of the grazing in this sensitive area. The total number of acres treated was four, which is significantly lower than the planned amount. The primary reason for this was the extended wet season which made access to some of the acreage impossible to graze, even late in the summer, and the abundance of forage that meant longer periods to effectively graze a plot. On August 20th, the Community was invited to a “Meet the Grazer” day held at the project site where the goats were still actively grazing. The grazer and Feather River RCD staff were on hand to answer questions and share weed management strategies.
This project succeeded in grazing the wetland area on the FRC campus, introducing invasive weed control and monitoring into the curriculum with the intent of long term, self-sustaining invasive weed management on the campus, and conducting a ‘Meet the Grazer’ day to educate the Community at large to using targeted grazing as a weed management tool. In addition, the grazer is interested in promoting targeted grazing to local 4-H youth as a community service project and helping to establish an intern program at FRC.
This project was funded through Plumas County RAC Cycle 10.
