Cooperative Agreement L24AC00736

THE IS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE WEEDS. NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE PLANTS POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO NATURAL RESOURCES IN DONA ANA COUNTY BY INCREASED PRODUCTION COSTS FOR RANCHERS AND FARMERS THROUGH DIRECT COMPETITION WITH NATIVE PLANTS FOR WATER SPACE AND NUTRIENTS. EFFORTS WOULD CONTINUE TO DEFRAGMENT HABITAT AREAS. THE BEST MANAGEMENT OF RANGELANDS IS TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS EARLY CONTROL INFESTATIONS BEFORE THEY SPREAD AND MONITOR REGULARLY FOR ADEQUATE FOLLOWUP CONTROL DUE TO THE TENACITY OF SOME OF THESE INVASIVE SPECIES. REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BLM NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE NEW MEXICO STATE LAND OFFICE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH AND NEW MEXICO ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS REGULARLY ATTEND DONA ANA SWCDS MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS AS WELL AS LANDOWNERS FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT. PROJECT SUCCESS WOULD BE EVALUATED BY BOTH THE DONA ANA SWCD AND THE BLM LAS CRUCES DISTRICT OFFICE. THE DISTRICT MONITORS AND DOCUMENTS BRUSH DENSITY VEGETATIVE COVER SPECIES DIVERSITY TRENDS VEGETATIVE PRODUCTION PRECIPITATION AND UTILIZATION PATTERNS AS NEEDED.THE PRIMARY PUBLIC BENEFIT INCLUDES THE REDUCTION OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS, BOTH AGRICULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL. INVENTORY DATA AND INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED TO PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR AREAS REQUIRING MONITORING AND TREATMENT. A SECONDARY PUBLIC BENEFIT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS GIVEN BY DONA ANA SWCD STAFF AND OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, TO THE PUBLIC ON NOXIOUS WEED IDENTIFICATION, BIOLOGY, AND MANAGEMENT. THE NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE AND PLANT MANAGEMENT TASK AGREEMENT WILL HELP TO CONSERVE OUR PUBLIC LANDS BY PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS WEEDS THAT WOULD DISRUPT NATURAL ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT THE NATIVE BIOTIC COMMUNITY