Cooperative Agreement L25AC00509

LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY SEEKS TO ENTER INTO AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) TO COLLABORATIVELY ADDRESS THE GROWING THREAT OF INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS WEED SPECIES ON BLM LANDS WITHIN THE COUNTY. THIS AGREEMENT AIMS TO ENHANCE COORDINATED WEED MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND STEWARDSHIP ACROSS JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES.OBJECTIVES: CONDUCT INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING INVENTORY, MAPPING, TREATMENT, AND MONITORING. PRIORITIZE HIGH-RISK INFESTATIONS AND ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS FOR TREATMENT. FACILITATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND DATA SHARING TO MAXIMIZE EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND PROMOTE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.SCOPE OF WORK:THE AGREEMENT WILL SUPPORT INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT TREATMENTS ON ELM-MANAGED LANDS, IN ALIGNMENT WITH LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY WEED MANAGEMENT PLANS. ACTIVITIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY WEED DISTRICT, LEVERAGING LOCAL EXPERTISE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PARTNERSHIPS.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: REDUCED SPREAD AND IMPACT OF INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS WEEDS. RESTORED NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVED HABITAT QUALITY. STRENGTHENED FEDERAL-LOCAL COLLABORATION IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT IN INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL.THE PROPOSED ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY AND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) WILL DELIVER SIGNIFICANT AND MEASURABLE BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC, LANDOWNERS, AND THE BROADER ENVIRONMENT. INVASIVE AND NOXIOUS WEEDS THREATEN THE PRODUCTIVITY, BIODIVERSITY, AND RECREATIONAL VALUE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS ACROSS THE REGION. THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH A COORDINATED AND SUSTAINED WEED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.KEY PUBLIC BENEFITS:1. PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES2. SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE AND LOCAL ECONOMIES3. ENHANCED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES4. IMPROVED FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY5. STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION6. EFFICIENT USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS