Natural Resources Conservation Service s13

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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD

BRUSH MANAGEMENT (Ac.)

CODE 314

DEFINITION CRITERIA The management or removal of woody (non- General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes herbaceous or succulent) plants including those that are invasive and noxious. Brush management will be designed to achieve the desired plant community based on Purpose species composition, structure, density, and  Create the desired plant community canopy (or foliar) cover or height. consistent with the ecological site. Brush management will be applied in a manner  Restore or release desired vegetative to achieve the desired control of the target cover to protect soils, control erosion, woody species and protection of desired reduce sediment, improve water species. This will be accomplished by quality or enhance stream flow. mechanical, chemical, burning, or biological methods either alone or in combination. When  Maintain, modify, or enhance fish and prescribed burning is used as a method, the wildlife habitat. Prescribed Burning standard (338) will also be applied.  Improve forage accessibility, quality and quantity for livestock and wildlife. When the intent is to manage trees for silvicultural purposes, use Forest Stand  Manage fuel loads to achieve desired Improvement (666). conditions. NRCS will not develop biological or chemical  Pervasive plant species are controlled treatment recommendations except for to a desired level of treatment that will biological control utilizing grazing animals. In ultimately contribute to creation or such cases, Prescribed Grazing (528) is used maintenance of an ecological site to ensure desired results are achieved and description "steady state," addressing maintained. NRCS may provide clients with the need for forage, wildlife habitat, acceptable biological and/or chemical control and/or water quality references. Follow-up treatments may be necessary to CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES achieve objectives. On all lands except active cropland where the Additional Criteria for Creating the Desired removal, reduction, or manipulation of woody Plant Community Consistent with the (non-herbaceous or succulent) plants is Ecological Site desired. Use applicable Ecological Site Description This practice does not apply to removal of (ESD) State and Transition models, to develop woody vegetation by prescribed fire (use specifications that are ecologically sound and Prescribed Burning (338)) or removal of woody defensible. Treatments must be congruent with vegetation to facilitate a land use change (use dynamics of the ecological site(s) and keyed to Land Clearing (460)). state and plant community phases that have

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically and updated if needed. To obtain the current version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS, Oregon State Office or visit the Field Office Technical Guide. October 2015 314 - 2 the potential and capability to support the CONSIDERATIONS desired plant community. If an ESD is not Consider using Integrated Pest Management available, base specifications on the best (595) in support of brush management. approximation of the desired plant community composition, structure, and function. Consider the appropriate time period for treatment. Some brush management activities Additional Criteria for Restoring or can be effective when applied within a single Releasing Desired Vegetative Cover year; others may require multiple years of to Protect Soils, Control Erosion, treatment(s) to achieve desired objectives. Reduce Sediment, Improve Water Consider impacts and consequences to Quality or Enhance Stream Flow obligate species (species dependent on the Choose a method of control that results in the target woody species) when significant least amount of soil disturbance if soil erosion changes are planned to existing and adjacent potential is high and revegetation is slow or plant communities. uncertain leaving the site vulnerable to long- term exposure to soil loss. Consider impacts to wildlife food supplies, space, and cover availability when planning In conjunction with other conservation the method and amount of brush management. practices, the number, sequence and timing of soil disturbing operations shall be managed to State issued licenses may be required when maintain soil loss within acceptable levels using chemical pesticide treatments. using approved erosion prediction technology. For air quality purposes, consider using chemical methods of brush management that Additional Criteria to Maintain, Modify or minimize chemical drift and excessive Enhance Fish and Wildlife Habitat chemical usage and consider mechanical Brush management will be planned and methods of brush management that minimize applied in a manner to meet the habitat the entrainment of particulate matter. requirements for wildlife species of concern as determined by an approved habitat evaluation Additional Criteria to Control Pervasive procedure. Plant Species to a Desired Level of Treatment Conduct treatments during periods of the year that accommodate reproduction and other life- Additional treatments are planned and will be cycle requirements of target wildlife and applied to achieve effective control of pollinator species and in accordance with pervasive plant species through reapplication. specifications developed for Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644) and Upland Wildlife PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS Habitat Management (645). Plans and specifications for the treatment Additional Criteria to Improve Forage option(s) selected by the decision maker will Accessibility, Quality and Quantity be recorded for each field or management unit for Livestock and Wildlife where brush management will be applied. Timing and sequence of brush management Prepare brush management plans and shall be planned in coordination with specifications that conform to all applicable specifications developed for Prescribed federal, state, and local laws. These Grazing (528). documents will contain the following data as a minimum: Additional Criteria to Manage Fuel Loads to Achieve Desired Conditions 1. Goals and objectives clearly stated. Control undesirable woody plants in a manner 2. Pre-treatment cover or density of the target that creates the desired plant community, plant(s) and the planned post-treatment including the desired fuel load, to reduce the cover or density and desired efficacy. risk of wildfire, facilitate the future application 3. Maps, drawings, and/or narratives detailing of prescribed fire. or identifying areas to be treated, pattern

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of treatment (if applicable), and areas that  Desired degree of grazing or browsing use will not be disturbed. for effective control of target species 4. A monitoring plan that identifies what  Maximum allowable degree of use on should be measured (including timing and desirable non-target species frequency) and that documents the changes in the plant community (compare  Special mitigation, precautions, or with objectives) will be implemented. requirements associated with the selected treatment(s) For Mechanical Treatment Methods: Plans and specifications will include items 1 through 4, above, plus the following: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE  Types of equipment and any modifications Operation: Brush management practices necessary to enable the equipment to shall be applied using approved materials and adequately complete the job. procedures. Operations will comply with all local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.  Dates of treatment to best effect control Success of the practice shall be determined by  Operating instructions (if applicable) evaluating post-treatment regrowth of target  Techniques or procedures to be followed species after sufficient time has passed to monitor the situation and gather reliable data. For Chemical Treatment Methods: Plans Length of evaluation periods will depend on and specifications will include items 1 through the woody species being monitored, proximity 4, above, plus the following: of propagules (seeds, branches, and roots) to the site, transport mode of seeds (wind or  Acceptable chemical treatment references animals) and methods and materials used. for containment and management or control of target species The operator will develop a safety plan for individuals exposed to chemicals, including  Evaluation and interpretation of herbicide telephone numbers and addresses of risks associated with the selected emergency treatment centers and the treatment(s) telephone number for the nearest poison  Acceptable dates or plant growth stage at control center. The National Pesticide application to best effect control and Information Center (NPIC) telephone number dampen reinvasion in Corvallis, Oregon, may also be given for non-emergency information: 1-800-858-7384  Any special mitigation, timing considerations or other factors (such as Monday to Friday soil texture and organic matter content) 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time that must be considered to ensure the safest, most effective application of the The national Chemical Transportation herbicide Emergency Center (CHEMTRAC) telephone number is: 1-800-424-9300  Reference to product label instructions  Follow label requirements for mixing/loading For Biological Treatment Methods: Plans setbacks from wells, intermittent streams and specifications will include items 1 through 4, above, plus the following: and rivers, natural or impounded ponds and lakes, and reservoirs.  Acceptable biological treatment references for containment and management or  Post signs, according to label directions control of target species and/or federal, state, tribal, and local laws, around fields that have been treated.  Kind of grazing animal to be used, if Follow restricted entry intervals. applicable  Dispose of herbicides and herbicide  Timing, frequency, duration and intensity containers in accordance with label of grazing or browsing directions and adhere to federal, state, tribal, and local regulations. NRCS, Oregon October 2015 314 - 4

 Read and follow label directions and REFERENCES maintain appropriate Material Safety Data Branson, F. A, G. F. Gifford, K. G. Renard, R. Sheets (MSDS). MSDS and pesticide F Hadley, and E. H. Reid, ed. 1981. labels may be accessed on the Internet at: Rangeland Hydrology, 2nd ed., Society for http://www.greenbook.net/ Range Management, CO.  Calibrate application equipment according to Heady, H. F. and D. Child, 1994. Rangeland recommendations before each seasonal Ecology and Management, Westview Press, use and with each major chemical and site CO. change. Holechek, J. L., R. D. Pieper and C. H. Herbel.  Replace worn nozzle tips, cracked hoses, 2000. Range management principles and and faulty gauges on spray equipment. practices, 5th edition. Prentice Hall, NJ.  Maintain records of Brush/shrub control for Krausman, P. R., ed. 1996. Rangeland at least two years. Herbicide application Wildlife. Society for Range Management, CO. records shall be in accordance with USDA Monsen, S. B., R. Stevens, and N.L. Shaw, Agricultural Marketing Service’s Pesticide comps. 2004. Restoring Western Ranges and Recordkeeping Program and state-specific Wildlands, Volume 1. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS- requirements. GTR-136-1, USDA, Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO. Maintenance: Following initial application, some regrowth, resprouting, or reoccurrence of United States Department of Agriculture, brush may be expected. Spot treatment of Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2003. National Range and Pasture Handbook. individual plants or areas needing re-treatment Washington, DC. should be completed as needed while woody vegetation is small and most vulnerable to United States Department of Agriculture, desired treatment procedures. Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2008. General Manual: Title 190 – Ecological Review and update the plan periodically in Sciences: Part 404 – Pest Management.. order to: Washington, DC.  incorporate new IPM technology; Valentine, J. R., 1989. Range Developments and Improvements, 3rd ed. Academic Press,  respond to grazing management and MA. complex plant population changes; and Vavra, M., W. A. Laycock, R. D Pieper, eds.  avoid the development of plant resistance 1994. Ecological Implications of Livestock to herbicide chemicals. Herbivory in the West. Society for Range Management, CO.

NRCS, NHCP April, 1995