2023 noxious weed monitoring with treatmentspreliminary work will begin in the spring of 2023 and will include a coordination meeting with the academy and the herbicide spraying contractor

The Colorado State University Sponsored Programs Division will provide $194,643.80 in noxious weed monitoring and treatment services to the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 through a Cooperative Agreement award under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance (CFDA 15.664) federal grant program. Services will include coordination meetings, establishment of a treatment calendar, preparatory mapping and equipment setup, and areal mapping of 16 noxious weed species at locations in Colorado Springs, Colorado from May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2028. The award will support preliminary coordination efforts in spring 2023 to develop precise timing for weed treatments, monitoring, and post-treatment monitoring between Colorado State University and a contracted herbicide applicator.

A calendar of coordinated treatment events will be established and implemented with the academy and herbicide applicator as outlined in table 1. The results of this meeting will provide more precise timing for weed treatments, monitoring and post-treatment monitoring with coordination from the academy natural resource staff. Preparatory steps include map and field equipment preparation, upgrading data collection forms and mapping to new technology, loading data into field tablets, and administrative and logistical preparation. Areal mapping will include 16 species (table 1).