Vegetation Management Plan

A Control Practice For Imperial Irrigation District’s Water Distribution and Drainage System

August 2010 Vegetation Management Unit

Acknowledgments

This report was prepared with the cooperation of the following agency staff. A special thanks to the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors and Management, Imperial County Farm Bureau, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Imperial County Agricultural Department for their assistance and support as the Imperial Irrigation District Water Department engages in a new era of doing business.

David Watson, Project Manager Imperial Irrigation District Vegetation Management Unit P.O. Box 937 Imperial, CA 92251

Vickie Doyle, Engineer Assistant Imperial Irrigation District Resources, Planning, & Management PO Box 937 Imperial, CA 92251

Steve Charlton, Engineer Imperial Irrigation District Resources, Planning, & Management PO Box 937 Imperial, CA 92251

Bruce Wilcox, Environmental Project Manager, Sr. Imperial Irrigation District Water Transfer PO Box 937 Imperial, CA 92251

Linsey Dale, Executive Director Imperial County Farm Bureau 1000 Broadway El Centro, CA 92243

Al Kalin, On-Farm TMDL Consultant Imperial County Farm Bureau 1000 Broadway El Centro, CA 92243

Candace Nelson, Program Manager Imperial County Farm Bureau 1000 Broadway El Centro, CA 92243

Jose Angel, Assistant Executive Officer Regional Water Quality Control Board Colorado River Basin, Region 7 73-720 Fred Waring Dr., Suite 100 Palm Desert, CA 92260

VMP August 2010 ii Table of Contents

Page

Acknowledgments ...... ii List of Tables ...... iv 1.0 Introduction ...... 5 Imperial Irrigation District ...... 5 Service Area...... 6 Imperial Irrigation District’s Water Distribution and Drainage System ...... 6 Vegetation Management Unit Goals and Objectives ...... 7 2.0 Vegetation Management ...... 8 Imperial Irrigation District Vegetation Management Policy ...... 8 Regional Vegetation Management Governances ...... 8 Regulations ...... 8 Vegetation Management Unit Functions ...... 10 Vegetation Management Activities ...... 10 Sediment Reducing Maintenance Plan ...... 11 Emergency Response Responsibilities ...... 11 3.0 Vegetation Control Procedures ...... 11 Mechanical Procedure ...... 12 Chemical Procedure ...... 12 Biological Procedure ...... 13 Revegetation Procedure ...... 13 Beneficial Plants ...... 14 4.0 Vegetation Monitoring and Evaluation ...... 15 Drain Evaluation ...... 15 Monitoring Water Quality ...... 15 Weed Inventories and Mapping ...... 15 5.0 Education and Training ...... 16 Awareness and Education Objectives ...... 16 Training Objectives ...... 16 References ...... 17

Appendix A Water Construction Resources Section ...... 18 Appendix B Vegetation Control Strategy ...... 20 Appendix C Proposed Vegetation Management Policy ...... 26 Appendix D Imperial Valley Weeds (Undesirable Plant Species) ...... 30 Appendix E Weed Observation and Monitoring Form ...... 33 Appendix F Provisional List of Beneficial Plants ...... 35 Appendix G Acronyms ...... 39

VMP August 2010 iii

List of Tables

Table 3.1 Vegetation Maintenance Program Herbicides ...... 13

VMP August 2010 iv 1.0 Introduction

The purpose of this Vegetation Management Plan (Plan) is to document the goals and objectives to be implemented by the Vegetation Management Unit (VMU) supporting the enhancement of water quality within the Imperial Irrigation District (District) drain shed by reducing sediment loads in conveyance channels. For earthen channels, proper maintenance of side-slopes will assist with erosion control by reducing sedimentation. Plants believed to be beneficial may be used to maintain the integrity of side- slopes on earthen channels. This plan is a best management practice that will be utilized as a guide by District maintenance staff and management, it will be modified by District management when appropriate, (i.e. a living document) and implemented under the authority of District Water Department management.

Substantial resources and time will be required to sufficiently alter the traditional maintenance practices that the Water Department has been accustomed to. Under the new system, mechanical maintenance will typically proceed from upstream to downstream (in the direction of flow) so that silt-laden water is filtered by nuisance vegetation before the vegetation is removed. This approach requires additional training for equipment operators and their supervisors. The Plan will be coordinated with the District’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) programs.

The VMU will work cooperatively with other agencies to assist in the prevention and control of noxious and invasive weeds in District canals and drains. Studies will be completed to identify and report invasive plant species, log and map areas of infestation, and determine the best site-specific vegetation control methods considering all pertinent variables.

A vegetation control strategy to implement goals and objectives will be developed and distributed to upper management to ensure Plan goals are being met within the desired timeframe. To monitor goal accomplishments, the Vegetation Manager will analyze the performance metrics and report the progress to the Water Department managers.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) establish the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water may receive while achieving water quality standards. The District has initiated efforts that will help to meet required sedimentation/siltation TMDL levels established within its service area by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region 7. TMDLs describe a specific water quality attainment strategy for a water body and related impairment identified on the 303(d) list of the Federal Clean Water Act and then oversees and monitors the improvement of the impaired water body to reach the goals set forth in the TMDL. Water quality and the environment are important to the District, which is why the District is taking a proactive approach to update practices and find alternative ways to implement its maintenance program. The Vegetation Manager shall remain sensitive to environmental concerns, regulations, and the requirements of the HCP and NCCP programs. It is also a goal of the VMU to heighten the District’s and the public’s awareness of these types of environmental issues by collecting and disseminating accurate information about environmentally sound vegetation management practices.

The discussion of vegetation management principles is important in managing growth of desirable vegetation by controlling the growth of undesirable vegetation. Each site needs to be assessed initially and periodically during the maintenance cycle. Methods used by the District to manage vegetation include mechanical, chemical, biological, and revegetation processes. Specific activities involved with these methods will be discussed later in the Plan. A work plan that summarizes the projects will be generated each year to show the locations and method of proceeding with the planned maintenance activities.

Imperial Irrigation District

The District is a public agency that provides irrigation water and electric power to the southeastern portion of California. The District was chartered as a political subdivision of the State of California in 1911 under

VMP August 2010 5 the California Irrigation District Act. The District operates under the laws of the State of California (California Water Code §§20500-29978) and is governed by a publicly elected five-person Board of Directors. The District’s three chief functions include: diversion and delivery of untreated Colorado River water for irrigation and other non-potable consumptive uses; operation and maintenance of drainage channels and facilities; and generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power.

The District’s management team works for and reports to the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors, which represents the general public and the agricultural community. The District is committed to establishing open communication with its customers and various stakeholders to determine clear goals by which to measure the success of irrigation practices. One goal is to develop standards and institute policies which will govern current and future vegetation management practices.

Implementing a vegetation management strategy involves the development of a long-term plan and the integration of various management practices to control and eradicate invasive weeds in District facilities used to transport irrigation and drainage water flows. Vegetation control practices include mechanical, chemical, and biological methods used to minimize adverse effects of vegetation overgrowth within the water systems.

The District has five departments managed under the authority of the General Manager: Water, Energy, Finance, Administrative and Support Services, and Human Resources. The Water Department has the sole responsibility for carrying out vegetation management activities via the Vegetation Manager. A chart outlining the organizational structure relating to vegetation management activities can be found in Appendix A, Water Construction and Maintenance Section.

Service Area The District is comprised of a 6,471 square mile water and electric power service area in the Imperial and Coachella valleys of southeastern California. The District water service area is located entirely within Imperial County that is bordered on the west by San Diego County, on the north by Riverside County, on the east by the Colorado River which forms the Arizona boundary, and on the south by 84 miles of the International Boundary with the Republic of Mexico.

The District’s irrigation service area is divided into four units: Imperial, West Mesa, East Mesa, and Pilot Knob, with a gross acreage of 1,061,637 acres.

The majority of the vegetation management activities will occur in the Imperial Unit of the District’s Irrigation Service Area. The Imperial Unit has a total area of 694,346 acres.

Imperial Irrigation District’s Water Distribution and Drainage System The District operates and maintains headwork facilities and de-silting basins at Imperial Dam, the 82-mile long All-American Canal, 1,668 miles of irrigation canals and laterals, 1,456 miles of drainage channels (located inside and outside the Imperial Unit service area), and ten reservoirs. The Imperial Dam, sections of the All-American Canal, and fifty miles of drainage channels are located outside the Imperial Unit area.

The District has 3.1 million acre-feet per year of senior water rights (Priority 3) to Colorado River water, which is measured at Imperial Dam. Under the QSA, the amount of the District’s consumptive use at Imperial Dam does not include the following amounts: District conservation and transfer projects, Salton Sea mitigation flow, All-American Canal Lining Project conservation, amounts made available to holders of miscellaneous present perfected Colorado River water rights (PPRs) and for Indian reserved rights. When all projects are implemented, the result will be a net diversion at Imperial Dam of approximately 2.6 to 2.7 million acre-feet (3.1 million minus 408,000 acre-feet) for use within the District service area.

From 1988 through 2003, water delivered to District agricultural users averaged 2.6 million acre-feet per year. With the inception of the QSA, for 2004 through 2009, water delivered to District agricultural users

VMP August 2010 6 averaged 2.4 million acre-feet per year. The District also delivers approximately 100,000 acre-feet per year of untreated water to municipalities in its service area. The water is distributed from the All-American Canal through the District’s 1,589 mile distribution system, which is comprised of three main canals and around 100 lateral canals for ultimate delivery to approximately 5,600 delivery gates.

The drainage system within the Imperial Unit service area includes 1,406 miles of open drainage channels. Drainage channels are used to collect surface runoff as well as collect subsurface drainage water from approximately 32,227 miles of tile drains. Surface water runoff includes storm and tailwater flows. Ninety-four percent of all cropped farmland have tile drains installed. The salinity of Colorado River water delivered to the District users has averaged 770 parts per million over the last 40 years. Tile drainage, combined with on-farm irrigation management, is used by growers to maintain a viable salt balance in crop root zones to sustain soil productivity.

Vegetation Management Unit Goals and Objectives

The primary objective of the District’s VMU is to maintain an effective and efficient water distribution and drainage system while instituting sound principles and vegetation control practices. There are several goals that must be supported in the process of implementing the primary objective which are listed below.

Goals: 1) Control and manage undesirable plant species within the canals and drains 2) Control sediment deposits 3) Maintain drain bank slope alignments 4) Reduce maintenance costs for the irrigation and drainage systems 5) Reduce soil erosion 6) Improve essential levels of service 7) Compliance with TMDL goals 8) Protect and promote growth of appropriate plants if determined beneficial 9) Interact with growers, agencies, and other organizations to coordinate effective vegetation management solutions

A vegetation control strategy will address several major components that will establish an effective vegetation management program. The Vegetation Control Strategy for the VMU is located in Appendix B.

Components: 1) Coordinate mechanical control in an effective and efficient matter 2) Coordinate implementation of herbicide use to compliment mechanical clearing 3) Identify desirable, beneficial, and noxious plants 4) Preservation of beneficial plants, and elimination of noxious or undesirable plants 5) Education and awareness of beneficial plants as well as noxious and undesirable plants 6) Increase knowledge of the aquatic environment

The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 (FNWA) became U.S. Public Law 93-629 on January 3, 1975, and established a federal program to control the spread of noxious weeds. The California Department of Food and Agriculture recommends plants for noxious weed listing when plants are found to be troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate.

Invasive plants are generally non-natives that infest natural ecosystems, are troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, and are difficult to control or eradicate. Noxious and invasive weeds such as tamarisk, camelthorn, puncturevine, curly dock, and johnsongrass are an economic threat to Imperial County’s large agricultural industry, a nuisance in urban areas, and a threat to desirable native and beneficial plant communities in the desert and riparian areas. Arrowweed, a native of the area, may be considered

VMP August 2010 7 either beneficial or noxious depending on how it is managed. Aquatic pests such as common reed (Phragmites Australis), giant reed (Arundo donax), bulrush (Scirpus spp.), and cattail (Typha spp.) are troublesome because they may impede the flow of water in the canal and drainage systems. A list of some weeds found in the Imperial Valley is included in Appendix D.

2.0 Vegetation Management

Applying adaptive management techniques to vegetation control can assist with maintaining regional ecosystems, managing vegetation in specified areas, preventing system degradation, promoting ecological processes, and reducing adverse environmental effects.

Imperial Irrigation District Vegetation Management Policy

Policy at the District is set by its Board of Directors and administered by its managers. See Appendix C, Proposed Vegetation Management Policy, which addresses vegetation management.

Regional Vegetation Management Governances

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) have the authority to protect water quality and to enforce water-quality control programs. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) ensures that pesticides registered in California are used in ways that preserve water quality while providing effective, environmentally sound pest management. The Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner (ICAC) and the DPR are jointly responsible for the enforcement of pesticide regulations.

Regulations All mechanical and chemical practices utilized by the VMU shall comply with federal, state, and local regulations.

Federal Regulations Federal water regulations include the Clean Water Act (CWA), various regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements.

The Clean Water Act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. Clean Water Act (CWA) became the Act's common name with amendments in 1977.1 The objective of the act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters by regulating point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.

Section 303(d) of the CWA, requires states to identify waters that do not meet water quality standards after applying effluent limits for point sources other than Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) that are based on the best practicable control technology currently available and effluent limits for POTWs

1 See http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html and http://epw.senate.gov/water.pdf

VMP August 2010 8 based on secondary treatment. States are then required to prioritize waters/watersheds for TMDL development. States are to compile this information into a list and submit the list to USEPA for review and approval. This list is known as the 303(d) list of impaired waters.

The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 (FNWA), which became U.S. Public Law 93-629 on January 3rd, 1975, established a federal program to control the spread of noxious weeds. The Secretary of Agriculture was given the authority to declare plants “Noxious Weeds” and limit the interstate spread of such plants without a permit. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to inspect, seize, and destroy products, and quarantine areas, if necessary to contain, or limit the spread of such weeds.

State Regulations State regulations include California Food and Agricultural Code statutes pertaining to non-crop uses, and SWRCB, Department of Pesticide Regulations, and Department of Fish and Game regulations.

California’s primary law granting the authority to implement storm water regulations is the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/permitting/tbl_cntns_porter.html). This law allowed the California Environmental Protection Agency to create the SWRCB and the nine RWQCBs.

California’s SWRCB and RWQCBs implement ongoing efforts to monitor and assess water quality, to prepare the CWA Section 303(d) list of impaired waters, and to develop TMDLs. TMDLs are documents that describe a specific water quality attainment strategy for a water body and related impairment identified on the 303(d) list. More details are available regarding TMDL regulations on the RWQCB website (http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb7/water_issues/programs/tmdl).

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recommend plants for noxious weed listing. If a plant is found to be “troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate”, then the plant can be designated as a noxious weed. All weeds on California’s noxious weed list have a rating and formal definitions by the CDFA. Weed ratings are listed below: “A” – Weeds rated “A” are normally limited in distribution throughout the state with eradication, containment, rejection or other holding action conducted at the state/county level. Quarantine interceptions for “A” rated weeds can be rejected or treated at any point in the state. “B” – Weeds rated “B” are more wide spread with eradication, containment, control or other holding action at the discretion of the commissioner. The State endorses holding action and eradication only when “B” rated weeds are found in a nursery. “C” – Weeds rated “C” are generally widespread throughout the state with action to retard spread outside of nurseries at the discretion of the commissioner. Weeds rated “C” are rejected only when found in a crop seed for planting or at the discretion of the commissioner. “Q” – Weeds rated “Q” are treated as temporary “A” weeds with denoting action outside nurseries at the state/county level pending determination of a permanent rating. “D” – Weeds rated “D” are organisms considered to be of little or no economic importance with no action. Anything not rated as an “A,” “B,” “C” or “Q” weed is given a “D” rating.

Other Regional or Regulatory Permitting Local laws, including Imperial County Agricultural Commission Ordinances, may affect various aspects of the District’s vegetation management and will be adhered to as required.

As a part of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) and related agreements, and pursuant to state and federal environmental regulations, the District is required to comply with various contractual, legal, and regulatory requirements. Implementation of various QSA components, including water transfer programs, also subject the District to compliance with other permits and approvals including State Water Resources Control Board Water Right Orders, Biological Opinions, Endangered Species Act (ESA/CESA) permits, and a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).

VMP August 2010 9

The District’s draft HCP offers protections for both the environment and the District, covering 77 species of birds, fish, animals, and plants that may be impacted by reduced flows in District canals and drains related to its water conservation and transfer activities as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) activities performed by the District on its canals and drains. The District is finalizing this HCP and has proposed a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP), currently under review by the California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in order to ensure a higher level of regulatory certainty for the District. While these various permits, orders, and the HCP/NCCP will reduce the District’s long-term risk and provide certainty during the implementation of long-term water conservation and on-going operation and maintenance (O&M) activities, they also set operating parameters for various District activities (including but not limited to the Vegetation Management Plan).

Vegetation Management Unit Functions

The VMU shall be primarily responsible for performing vegetation management activities within the District irrigation and drainage facilities. Activities include vegetation management, sediment removal, soil stabilization, revegetation if needed, water quality improvement, and flood control.

Vegetation Management Activities Vegetation management involves identification of beneficial plants and removal of undesirable vegetation in and around District drains and canals. Removal of undesirable vegetation is important because it helps to ensure that District drains and canals are free of excessive vegetation that may interfere with the flow of irrigation and drainage water while possibly assisting beneficial plants to become established. A ground cover study of beneficial plants in the drains and canals may reduce undesirable vegetation and anchor drain banks to reduce soil erosion.

Sediment Removal Sediment removal involves the removal of sediment deposits from District canals and drains, typically with the use of excavators. Sediment buildup must be removed because it can reduce the carrying capacity of waterways, which leads to overflows and flooding. Drains are realigned to reduce erosion and sloughing that may be caused by misalignment. Design and flow capacities of District drains and canals vary with each channel. The frequency of sediment removal activities for channels will range depending on the channel and site conditions.

Soil Stabilization Using Revegetation As part of the District’s 2008 Agricultural Water Quality Grant Program award, a study will be conducted to evaluate the benefits of revegetation activities to control soil erosion, develop a self-sustained plant community, and establish a cover to keep noxious weeds from growing. Implementation may reduce soil erosion and/or increase the level of vegetation coverage by desired species.

Water Quality The District will strive to meet and maintain specific water quality standards established in its water bodies to be in compliance with TMDL regulations. The District is currently working to meet the goals set by three separate siltation/sedimentation TMDLs.

Flood Control Surface drainage conveys excess water from land surfaces. An effective flow rate prevents long periods of standing water and flooding that can cause excessive erosion. Common practices used to remove surface water include open channel surface drains and pipelines. Although open channels handle surface water, they also handle subsurface water, county roadside flows, interconnecting channel flows, and storm water runoff from urban, rural, and undeveloped lands.

VMP August 2010 10

Sediment Reducing Maintenance Plan The District will establish and implement a maintenance plan that reduces the amount of sediment that is resuspended within its drainage system. The VMU has the responsibility to improve dredging operations by: (1) Training the District’s equipment operators to recognize noxious and undesirable plants as well as desirable and beneficial plants, to further train personnel about the beneficial uses of desirable/beneficial plants and the importance of using established beneficial plants while mechanically removing undesirable plant species if applicable, (2) Incorporating Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver units on cleaning equipment to maintain proper grade slope alignments, when available, (3) Identifying and restoring impaired infrastructures, and (4) Reducing erosion and sediment disturbance impacts.

To promote the beneficial use of desirable and beneficial plants, the equipment operators will be trained to develop a thorough understanding of their working environment, become proficient in identifying beneficial plants, and understand as well as implement appropriate drain cleaning techniques.

Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver units determine location, elevation, time, and velocity. They are useful tools to develop channel grades and land surveys. After installing GPS receiver units on drain cleaning excavators, equipment operators will be trained in the proper use of this GPS technology to develop familiarization with the receivers and implement effective cleaning procedures. Technical support will be available to equipment operators as well.

It is critical that canal and drain infrastructures are repaired and function properly. A yearly program will be conducted to identify and repair/replace impaired infrastructures such as broken surface/tailwater pipe outlets and subsurface/tile outlets that are not in compliance with District rules and regulations. An inspection and inventory will be conducted on existing infrastructures. Impaired structures will be identified, located, and classified according to severity of impairment.

The typical procedure to reduce system-induced erosion will require staff to analyze the cause of the erosion, evaluate and determine the most appropriate corrective actions to control the erosion, prepare a plan and cost analysis, and monitor the results for effectiveness.

Emergency Response Responsibilities Equipment operators involved in vegetation management and drain cleaning activities are also designated as emergency first responders. All hazardous materials incidents will be reported to the District Hazmat Unit. All employees and contract personnel of the District will adhere to established Hazmat Incident Emergency Response procedures.

3.0 Vegetation Control Procedures

The following specific maintenance procedures should be a guideline for managing the vegetation in the District canal and drainage system and to restore channels to their original design. To accomplish these tasks, four primary methods are used, including mechanical, chemical, biological, and revegetation processes.

VMP August 2010 11

Mechanical Procedure

Within the drainage system, four routine maintenance processes are performed by the maintenance section: disking (when applicable), brush removal, traditional excavator cleaning and GPS-assisted excavator cleaning.

Disking removes aquatic vegetation and/or other debris that clogs the drainage channel and reduces the flow of water. Use of this procedure is less common, done on an as needed basis and when other equipment is not available. A stubble disk is used to dislodge the debris that is clogging the channel.

Brush removal is used for invasive plant species that are in competition with desirable and beneficial plants. This procedure does not require the removal of sediment from the channel or disturbance of the embankment when removing invasive plants. A rake is attached to an excavator which will lift the tree or large shrub at the base of the trunk, extracting the plant along with its roots. This procedure is very efficient and effective where dense terrestrial plant growth is present.

The traditional excavator cleaning process consists of an excavator removing excess silt, weeds, algae, and other debris clogging drain and canal channels that reduce the flow of water. These cleaning operations begin at the outlet of the canal or drain and proceed upstream. This procedure requires the cleaning operation to start at the downstream end of the drain/canal and determine the proper grade elevation based upon the existing grade board upstream. This cleaning process is effective, but a significant amount of sediment is resuspended during the cleaning process and continues to flow downstream from the operation.

The GPS-enhanced excavator cleaning process consists of an excavator removing excess silt with the assistance of a GPS guidance system installed on an excavator, enhancing the operator’s ability to remove the correct amount of sediment without creating excess silt while maintaining design specifications for the channel. The GPS process is different from the traditional cleaning operation in that it starts from the upstream end of the drain/canal, cleaning downstream and using the nuisance vegetation as a filtration system. This procedure will benefit the drainage facility by controlling erosion, maintaining the proper design slope, preventing over-excavation, and reducing suspended sediment from continuing downstream.

Chemical Procedure

Herbicides are often a more effective vegetation control method than mechanical or physical removal. This is because of their ability to spread into and damage the roots of the target plants, thus preventing re-sprouting. When treated with mechanical methods, some woody plants, such as salt cedars, will re- sprout with multiple stems. The multiple sprouts result in a greater flood protection problem and require annual control. With herbicides, annual retreatment is often necessary; however, the treatment area is greatly reduced, as only a small percentage of re-growth will occur. Cattails -tails which can quickly clog a drain channel in a few months after cleaning are another example. By spraying the plants with a registered herbicide the majority of cattails are killed thus keeping the drain channel clean for multiple years and reducing the cost of mechanical cleaning. In addition, the potential for causing water quality impairment through the resuspension of sediment within the drain is virtually eliminated. As a result, this program includes herbicides as the primary method by which vegetation is controlled in channels and on maintenance roads.

The District only uses herbicides according to the label directions and for uses approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Imperial County Agriculture Commissioner. The District Vegetation Manager who is responsible for overseeing the spraying of weeds in the District’s service area, must hold a valid California Pest Control Adviser License (PCA) for weed control as well as a Qualified Applicator License (QAL) with certification in aquatic weed control and right of way categories, must be registered with the Imperial County

VMP August 2010 12

Agriculture Commissioner, and must maintain these licenses with continuing education courses as required by law. The District Vegetation Manager must have available, upon request by the Imperial County Agriculture Commissioner, a written recommendation for areas that will be treated in the District’s service area. For a list of herbicides the District currently uses to control emergent plants, please refer to Table 3.1, Vegetation Maintenance Program Herbicides.

Table 3.1 Vegetation Maintenance Program Herbicides Product Name Chemical Type Use Roundup® Pro Glyphosate Postemergent, nonselective. Used on maintenance roads and right-of-ways. Aqua Master® Glyphosate Postemergent, nonselective. Approved for aquatic use. Used in channels. Habitat® Imazapyr Emergent, preemergent and/or postemergent. Use as an aquatic and terrestrial products. Activator 90 Surfactant Surfactant used with Aqua Master®, Roundup® Pro, and Habitat®. LI 700 Adjuvant Penetrant, acidifier, deposition aid, and drift control agent.

Herbicide spraying is currently performed by an outside contractor that maintains the District right-of-way and controls vegetation growth to maintain channel design capacity. The contractor is supervised by the District’s Vegetation Manager.

Biological Procedure

Biological weed control refers to the utilization of a disease organism, insect, or higher animal that brings sufficient pressure on the target weed to keep it at a low population level. Importing and introducing natural enemies requires special permits and involves lengthy host-specific testing and quarantine periods to ensure that the imported organisms will not become pests. State laws ban the use of non- sterile (diploid) grass carp, but do allow certain strict and limited uses of sterile (triploid) grass carp with appropriate authorization by the California Department of Fish and Game.

The District has introduced the triploid grass carp into its scheduled maintenance plan to eradicate hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation from the canal system. In 1981, the District research team began a three-year study on the mechanical, chemical and biological methods of controlling hydrilla found in 400 miles of District waterways. Findings concluded that mechanical methods were temporary and expensive, and chemical methods were incompatible with agricultural and fishery use. Biological research conducted in cooperation with the Coachella Valley Water District demonstrated the economic viability and effectiveness of using triploid sterile grass carp to consume aquatic vegetation. The District utilizes the sterile variety to avoid adverse impacts to the balance of the environment. In addition to hydrilla, the grass carp also consume other aquatic weeds such as Sago Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil. In June 1989, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the District a distinguished service award for outstanding accomplishment in pioneering biological control of hydrilla.

Revegetation Procedure

A written plan shall be established to implement a revegetation program which will identify several crucial elements in the plan such as site stabilization, site preparation, plant propagation, short-term maintenance, and long-term stabilization.

VMP August 2010 13

Site Stabilization Evaluations of pre-existing site conditions are very important in determining the success of the revegetation program. Severe soil erosion, unwanted weeds, and risk of invasion could reduce the likelihood of a successful program.

Site Preparation Preparation of the site requires the right soil conditions that promote plant growth and establishment. Seed germination requires good seed to soil contact ensuring enough water to germinate. Therefore, it is important to guarantee that soil texture and depth are sufficient to provide adequate moisture holding capacity. Site preparation may also include reshaping the drain banks to conform to the original drain design if conditions exist where erosion has created an area with steep banks which cannot be planted successfully.

Plant Propagation The first stage in plant propagation is the selection of the plant species to be used. This step also sets the stage for determining the requirements of the maintenance phases of revegetation. Whether seeds or seedlings will be planted is an important question, because it has implications for both the cost of the initial implementation and on how rapidly the revegetation will become established. Planting seeds is generally less expensive, but seedlings are commonly much quicker to establish and survive. Trial plots of potentially beneficial plants and planting methods, whether by seed or by transplanted seedlings, should be considered to better understand the most economical method of propagation. In many cases existing seed stock or plants are present at the site where needed and will establish themselves over time.

Short-term Maintenance Short-term maintenance activities generally occur during the first two to three growing seasons after planting. Issues considered are soil fertility, weed control, herbivore control, and irrigation. Implementation of short-term maintenance requires routine (weekly to monthly) monitoring and quick response to remedy any negative situations discovered.

Long-term Stabilization This final phase, intermediate maintenance and long-term stabilization, includes many of the issues addressed in short-term maintenance, but may also include the need to replant all or portions of the project site. This phase is important because it covers the transition from subsidies provided by maintenance activities to a self-sustaining plant community; the ultimate goal of revegetation.

Beneficial Plants

Beneficial plants require minimal maintenance, are well adapted to local climate and soil types, and are not invasive. Because beneficial plants require less sustenance and pesticides, their establishment reduces pollutants and sediment moving into District waterways. When selecting plants for erosion control or slope stabilization it is important to use fast growing species that have root systems which will hold the soil in place. Heavy plants with dense foliage can contribute to slope erosion, and therefore are not recommended. A provisional list of beneficial plant species is included in Appendix F. It is still to be determined what plants will be considered beneficial to the District. In 2008, the District was awarded funding through the State’s Agricultural Water Quality Grant Program. One component of the grant program is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the use of appropriate vegetation along drain banks. Following the conclusion of that project, this “beneficial plants” list will be modified to incorporate results of the research.

VMP August 2010 14

4.0 Vegetation Monitoring and Evaluation

Drain Evaluation

The District Water Department maintains 1,406 miles of open drainage ditches and 1,668 miles of irrigation canals. There are 483 individual drains located along the All-American Canal and throughout the Imperial Valley ending at the Salton Sea.

The QSA environmental compliance documents along with compliance requirements for the sediment/silt TMDL standards have greatly impacted maintenance operations for drains and canals. The VMU was established to maintain an effective and efficient water distribution and drainage system while instituting sound principles and vegetation control practices. A vital component of the VMU is to evaluate and monitor its drain maintenance activities to reduce the amount of suspended sediment from entering into the Alamo River and New River waterways. The VMU will inspect each drain to determine what type of maintenance activities are appropriate for drain cleaning and/or repairs. Once the determination has been made, a drain justification form is completed and logged into a database; then the appropriate equipment is scheduled for the job. Heavy equipment operators remove undesirable vegetation along with any accumulation of sediment from drainage or delivery channels. When appropriate, herbicide spraying may be used in coordination with heavy equipment activities.

Monitoring Water Quality

In the past, RWQCB staff has conducted intermittent water quality sampling within the District’s drainage system as a component of developing new TMDL standards for compliance requirements. The RWQCB may conduct additional special drain sampling events in the future, but their current and ongoing TMDL sampling efforts are focused specifically on the New and Alamo rivers. RWQCB staff routinely collects monthly samples at seven locations in the Alamo River and at four locations in the New River. The RWQCB’s scope on constituents analyzed for any specific sampling event may vary according to their available funds or pollutant of significant interest.

Since 2004, the District has implemented a Drain Water Quality Improvement Plan (DWQIP). The DWQIP includes monthly water quality sampling at seven (7) main drains, quarterly water quality sampling of 18 minor drains, and monthly water quality sampling of the All-American Canal. DWQIP drains flow into the Alamo River, the New River, or directly into the Salton Sea. Water samples are analyzed by a laboratory for orthophosphate, total phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total kjeldahl nitrogen, total suspended solids, and turbidity on a monthly basis. Hardness, alkalinity, and sulfate are tested three times per year.

Major drains Verde, South Central, Central, Holtville Main, Rose, Greeson, Rice 3

Minor drains Peach, Oleander, Magnolia, Fig, Rice, North Central, Munyon, Nettle, Spruce, Timothy 2, Trifolium 10, Trifolium 1, C, I, N, Pumice, P, Niland 2

Weed Inventories and Mapping

Attempting to manage an invasive weed infestation without relevant information reduces the effectiveness of control efforts and wastes time and money. However, prepared with maps and inventory information, the Vegetation Manager can develop strategies focused on removing new and isolated infestations while containing the principle infestation. The Vegetation Manager can prioritize

VMP August 2010 15 which part of an infestation to treat first. The knowledge of invasive weed inventories can increase the efficiency of almost any method of weed management.

Regardless of the tool that is used to manage weeds, monitoring should be done to evaluate the effectiveness of the efforts and to make sure the area has not been re-infested. See Appendix E for the Weed Observation and Monitoring Form.

5.0 Education and Training

Awareness of what undesirable weeds are, and the problems they cause, will help all parties to understand why a long-term weed management program is important. Plants have invasive and competitive natures. Undesirable weeds make it imperative for personnel to be familiar with invasive weed types and know the damage they can cause.

Awareness and Education Objectives

Development of awareness programs outlining problems caused by undesirable weeds, including damage to wildlife habitat and crop and forage production, impacts on scenic and recreational values, and spray drift management are important in developing good weed information strategy which will be readily available to the general public.

Training Objectives

 Develop and fund cooperative training programs to educate and inform all participants in the Weed Management Area about the latest Integrated Weed Management options and technologies.

 Develop and fund a training program in cooperation with the University of California Cooperative Extension Service, Imperial County Farm Bureau, and other agencies to ensure that weed management techniques are effective and cost efficient.

 Herbicide treatments training (i.e. Spray Contractor) showing grass and broad-leaf response, including information on safe handling of herbicides, actual amount of herbicide applied to the area, and other environmental concerns.

 Recognize beneficial and non beneficial plants.

VMP August 2010 16

References

California Weed Conference. 2002. Principles of Weed Control in California. 3rd ed. Fresno: Thomson Publications.

Imperial Irrigation District. 2004. Imperial Irrigation District’s Drain Water Quality Improvement Plan. Imperial, CA.

Imperial Irrigation District. 2007. Imperial Irrigation District Pocket Information. Imperial, CA.

Imperial Irrigation District. 2005. Imperial Irrigation District 2005 Annual Water Report. (pp. 10-11) Imperial, CA.

Imperial Irrigation District. 1990s. Imperial Irrigation District Fact Sheet: Water Transportation System. (p. 1). Imperial, CA.

University of California. Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2001. Aquatic Pest Control. Oakland. Publication 3337.

University of California. Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2001. IPM in Practice: Principles and Methods of Integrated Pest Management. Oakland Publication 3418.

University of California. Agriculture and Natural Resources. 1998. Natural Enemies Handbook. The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control. Oakland Publication 3386.

VMP August 2010 17

Appendix A Water Construction Resources Section

VMP August 2010 18

VMP August 2010 19

Appendix B Vegetation Control Strategy

VMP August 2010 20

Vegetation Control Strategy

The Vegetation Control Strategy outlines the control methods that will eliminate or control the noxious weeds in the District canal and drainage system utilizing Integrated Weed Management practices. The Strategy will be revised by District management periodically to reflect program successes and new challenges. The primary objective of the District’s VMU is to maintain an effective and efficient water distribution and drainage system while instituting sound principles and vegetation control practices. There are several goals that must be supported in the process of implementing the primary objective, which are listed below.

To accomplish these goals, several activities may be necessary, including: 1) Develop long-term solutions using multiple control methods including brush removal equipment, chemical application, and excavating 2) Establish a year-round spray program to control spring and fall annual weeds and ensure that spraying is conducted in a timely manner for optimum effectiveness 3) Identify plant species and establish life cycles for optimum spraying time 4) Apply herbicide to actively growing plants for optimum effectiveness 5) Apply herbicide before seed head formation to prevent seed production 6) Obtain technical assistance to guide effective control methods 7) Develop and implement a soil stabilization and revegetation program

The Vegetation Control Strategy will address several major components that will establish an effective vegetation management program.

VMP August 2010 21

(Phragmites Australis), giant reed (Arundo donax), bulrush (Scirpus spp.), and cattail (Typha spp.) are troublesome because they may impede the flow of water in the canal and drainage systems. A list of some weeds found in the Imperial Valley is included in Appendix D.

The VMU will work cooperatively with other agencies to assist in the prevention and control of noxious and invasive weeds in District canals and drains. The VMU will identify and report all invasive plant species encountered, log and map areas of infestation, and determine the best vegetation control methods to be used.

I. Plan Description

General Overview The VMU was created to organize, develop, and implement effective sedimentation and vegetation control programs. One of the main goals of the vegetation control program is to control the plant species in District canal and drain facilities by utilizing sound principles and practices in vegetation management.

Principles and Practices  Apply herbicide, following label recommendations, to achieve the desired results  Protect threatened and endangered species  Understand the environment to restore and protect the plant and animal habitats  Provide technical training and guidelines  Strive to make positive changes

II. Plan Characteristics

Identification of desirable, beneficial, and noxious plants Successful weed control depends on knowledge of plant identification and life history in addition to proper selection of a control method. A simple way to identify weeds is to compare specimens collected in the field with photographs and drawings. Plants are classified according to life cycles as being annuals, biennials, or perennials.

Annual plants live one (1) year or less: they start from seed, develop foliage, flower, set seed, and die. Seed of winter annuals germinate in the fall or early winter and over-winter in a vegetative form (without flowering). In spring they flower, mature a crop of seed, and then die. Summer annuals germinate in the spring and complete their life cycle during the summer.

Biennial plants have a similar life cycle to annuals since they die after flowering and setting seeds, but require two (2) years to complete the sequence.

Perennial plants live three (3) or more years: they flower and set seed without dying. Perennials are either herbaceous (top growth usually winter kills) or woody (brush or trees).

Solutions:  Contact the University of California Cooperative Extension office to assist in identifying weeds.  Mail samples to the California Department of Food and Agriculture Plant Pest Diagnostics Center.  Familiarize staff with plant species life cycles.

Prevention through recognition and elimination Prevention of a problem is normally better than the cure. Once weeds have become established, it is difficult and costly to control and may persist for years, because viable seeds can lie dormant in the soil. The first step in weed prevention, and the most cost effective means of managing weeds, is preventing the establishment of new weeds.

VMP August 2010 22

Early detection and eradication is crucial to reduce potential environmental and economic impacts. It is much easier to treat weeds when present in small numbers in the first stages of growth than when they are well established.

Early detection and eradication requires an awareness and understanding of the factors that favor the establishment and spread of weeds, and applying appropriate management practices that can prevent or reduce these risks.

Solutions:  Limit soil disturbances – Prevent unnecessary soil disturbances wherever possible.  Revegetation of disturbance sites – If the area has a known weed population, it may be better to control the weeds for a season or two prior to revegetation starting from upstream and working downstream.  Clean equipment and vehicles – Equipment and vehicles exposed to weeds should be cleaned prior to leaving an infested site.  Early detection and eradication – Because a single plant and small infestations are much easier to control than large infestations, it is important to manage weeds proactively through continuous monitoring. To do this effectively, trained staff should be aware and identify restricted and noxious weeds, collect survey information, and understand the importance of eliminating individual weed plants and reporting new infestations in a timely manner.

Education and Awareness It is important to keep management and the public up to date, through discussion, reports and literature, and to educate and reassure them that District staff is implementing the best pest management strategies. District staff will be trained in plant identification and information. An awareness of what constitutes noxious weeds and the problems they cause will help the general public to understand why a long-term weed management program is important. Invasive plants pose a serious threat to desirable and beneficial vegetation. Plants have invasive and competitive natures. Defining noxious weeds makes it imperative for personnel to be familiar with the most important noxious weed species types and know the damage they can cause.

Solutions:  The Vegetation Manager, District public outreach/education staff, or other appropriate District management must take the leading role in educating the public and staff about integrated weed management.  Develop general public awareness programs outlining problems caused by noxious weeds, including: 1. Damage to wildlife habitat and crop and forage production. 2. Health problems associated with weeds. 3. Impacts on scenic and recreational values. 4. Spreading of noxious and invasive weed seed onto agricultural lands. 5. Management techniques used to control herbicide drift when controlling noxious and invasive weeds in District drains and canals.

Understand the Aquatic Environment Many plants are adapted to life in or near water. Many aquatic plants are beneficial because they:  provide food for organisms, including fish, birds, and mammals  produce oxygen for fish and other aquatic animals  provide habitat for numerous invertebrates and cover for fish  stabilize shorelines by reducing erosion  absorb water pollutants  trap silt particles to assist with treatment of polluted water  provide nesting sites for birds  improve the appearance of a body of water

VMP August 2010 23

The federal government classifies fewer than 20 of the known 700 aquatic plants as noxious weeds. Some of the problems caused by aquatic weeds are:  impede water flow, resulting in floods, increase seepage and evapotranspiration, and damage canals  clog pipes, culverts, and water intakes  hinder navigation  interfere with aquatic recreation  increase health hazards by providing shelter for disease-carrying mosquitoes  provide escape cover for non-native fish species  kill fish when decaying weeds reduce oxygen levels in the water or when overabundant submersed weeds consume excessive oxygen at night  prevent the oxygenation of water bodies by covering the water’s surface  create pollution when decaying masses of weeds contaminate drinking water  displace desirable native and beneficial plants, depriving native animals of their natural habitats and food supplies  provide avenues for weed seed introduction into agricultural fields when immersed weeds along banks are left uncontrolled

Prevalent Species in California considered being among the World’s most troublesome aquatic weeds.

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME EMERSED WEEDS Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides Barnyard grass Echinochloa crus-galli giant reed Arundo donax purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Cattail Typha spp. Phragmites Phragmites australis SUBMERSED WEEDS Coontail Ceratophyllum demersum Egeria Egeria densa common elodea Elodea Canadensis eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata Parrotfeather Myriophyllum aquaticum curlyleaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus sago pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus FREE-FLOATING WEEDS Waterhyacinth Eichhornia crassipes Giant Salvinia Salvinia molesta Waterlettuce Pistia stratiotes

Solutions:  Understand the unique characteristics of aquatic settings  Understand the aquatic life stages, significance, and interactions  Become familiar with the organisms that live in and near District facilities

Manage Mechanical Control Mechanical control involves cutting or removing weeds by hand or by machine. Controlling weeds by machine includes excavating or dredging, cutting and mowing, and weed harvesting.

VMP August 2010 24

 Excavating or dredging involves reaching across the bank and dragging a six foot bucket along the bottom, which removes sediment to dislodge the weeds. Dredging deepens a channel and removes weed growth.  Cutting and mowing involves using a mowers or brush cutters to cut over grown areas. This method must be repeated at regular intervals.  Weed harvesting reduces the spread of cut fragments and eliminates foul-smelling, unsightly messes caused by decomposing weeds. The disruption caused by mechanized equipment can temporarily increase water turbidity. The cutting process is usually nonselective, both nuisance and desired vegetation will be removed.

Manual methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and must be repeated frequently. Machine removal can be costly and introduces additional hazards, requiring that workers have training in safety procedures and operation of heavy equipment.

Solutions:  Install GPS on excavators to reduce deepening of channel, and promote precision cleaning, if available.  Apply a plant inhibitor after cutting overgrown areas to reduce plant growth.

VMP August 2010 25

Appendix C Proposed Vegetation Management Policy

VMP August 2010 26

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT POLICY Vegetation Management

A. Purpose for a Policy

The purpose of this policy is to develop an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategy within the Imperial Irrigation District (District) which shall involve the development of long-term planning goals and the implementation of weed management practices to control and eradicate noxious weeds in District waterways. This policy will implement use of sound vegetation management practices, including education, prevention, physical and mechanical control methods, biological control agents, herbicide application, and adaptive management in the propagation of beneficial plants to help stabilize drain banks from erosion and to prevent invasive or noxious weeds from becoming established in selected areas.

B. Utilization Of Vegetation Control Practices

Education The Vegetation Manager shall ensure that all employees performing vegetation control activities are properly educated and licensed where required by law.

The Vegetation Management Unit (VMU) shall stay abreast of new laws and regulations pertaining to worker safety, groundwater protection, endangered species protection, and restricted-use materials including crop related restrictions. Moreover, the VMU shall develop educational programs to keep District employees, water users, and the public informed of these important issues.

Prevention Preventative control measures shall be adopted wherever practical to control or eradicate noxious or invasive weeds. This includes the cleaning of all equipment and their attachments when operating in weed infested areas prior their relocating. The Vegetation Manager shall provide a list of infested areas to the appropriate offices for distribution.

The VMU shall further endeavor to induce competition that favors desirable and beneficial plants, helping to prevent noxious and invasive plant species from becoming established.

The VMU shall consider various viable best management practices to reduce the spread of undesirable or noxious weeds.

Physical and Mechanical Control Methods Physical and mechanical control methods shall be employed when necessary to keep District canals and drains operating efficiently and to meet or exceed designed flow capacities. Removal of sedimentation and vegetation from District waterways will help to maintain the structural integrity of the District’s canals and drains and will facilitate control of invasive, non-native, or noxious plant species within the District’s service area.

Biological Control Agents The VMU shall encourage the use of biological control agents (natural enemies to invasive, non-native plant species) where practicable.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT POLICY (Continued)

VMP August 2010 27

Herbicides The Vegetation Manager shall be responsible for selecting and instituting the use of the safest and effective herbicides registered for controlling terrestrial and aquatic plants. In selecting any herbicide, the Vegetation Manager shall give due consideration to any known hazards and risks associated with use of the material to humans, non-target plant species including production agriculture, animals and the environment. Before the application of any herbicide the Vegetation Management Unit shall determine how the material will affect the target plant, non-target organisms, the environment, and management practices. The Vegetation Manager shall review the possible use of registered growth regulators for controlling terrestrial and aquatic plants.

The Vegetation Manager shall confer with the appropriate federal, state, and/or local agencies before employing any mechanical, chemical, or biological control method that may potentially have a negative impact any endangered and protected species, or wildlife habitat. The Vegetation Manager shall follow the appropriate label instructions when chemical control is used.

C. Integrated Weed Management Strategy & Mandates

1. The VMU shall develop a comprehensive written plan for implementing the District’s IWM strategy.

2. The Vegetation Manager determines the appropriate control method.

3. The VMU shall make information accessible to the public and employees regarding the District’s utilization of all cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods.

4. The VMU shall educate District employees, water users, and the public about the vegetation management problems facing the District, as well as the solutions developed to deal with these problems.

5. The VMU shall develop and utilize a monitoring program and establish evaluation criteria to measure the success of the District’s vegetation control-related activities.

6. The Vegetation Manager shall ensure that safe vegetation management practices are employed.

7. Any employee who uses a pesticide must first be trained and obtain a Qualified Applicator Certificate.

8. Prior to the use of any pesticide, the Vegetation Manager shall ensure that the pesticide is registered in California and that all laws regarding its use are followed.

9. Before the utilization of any pesticide, the Vegetation Manager shall ensure that a written recommendation for the pesticide has been issued by a licensed pest control adviser registered with the Imperial County Agriculture Commissioner’s office.

10. The VMU shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the manufacturer for every herbicide used by the District and is posted in appropriate locations.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT POLICY (Continued)

VMP August 2010 28

11. The VMU shall monitor treated areas to determine if the control methods employed are effective.

12. The Vegetation Manager shall ensure that outside contractors involved in vegetation management activities are:

a) Employ properly trained, certified and legally qualified applicators to handle all equipment and materials;

b) Be familiar with the pesticide to be used, including the manufacturer’s instructions and precautions and any legal requirements pertaining to use as established by local and state regulations;

c) Use all required safety equipment and clothing;

d) Keep written records of chemical name(s), area(s) sprayed, date and time of completion, and quantities of chemical used for each treated area;

e) Be in possession of the MSDS;

f) Be in possession of a written recommendation for pesticide use from a registered licensed pest control adviser;

g) Utilize appropriate application equipment for the job at hand, and use equipment that is properly calibrated;

h) Be prepared for emergencies and have in place interim measures which can be taken before help arrives;

i) Be informed that it is not permissible to spray or inject pesticides directly into water, except as authorized by the Vegetation Manager’s written recommendation; and

j) Be informed that the application of pesticides shall not occur during a temperature inversion, windy conditions or where drift may fall on production agriculture.

VMP August 2010 29

Appendix D Imperial Valley Weeds (Undesirable Plant Species)

VMP August 2010 30

IMPERIAL VALLEY WEEDS (Undesirable Plant Species) Plants Name Scientific Name CA Weed Life Form Growth Habit Status1 Cantaloupe Cucumis Melo (Cucumis A List Annual or Vine/Forb/Herb melo var.dudaim) Perennial Greater Swinecress Coronopus Squamatus B List Annual or Forb/Herb Perennial Nutgrass Cyperus Rotundus B List Perennial Graminoid Quackgrass Elymus Repens (Elytrigia B List Perennial Graminoid Repens) Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum Elaeagnifolium B List Perennial Subshrub/Forb/Herb Puncturevine Tribulus Terrestris C List Annual Forb/Herb Prickly Russian Salsola Tragus C List Annual Forb/Herb Thistle Bermudagrass Cynodon Dactylon C List Perennial Graminoid Johnsongrass Sorghum Halepense C List Perennial Graminoid Field Bindweed Convolvulus Arvensis C List Perennial Vine/Forb/Herb

Bermudagrass Cynodon Transvalensis C List Argentine Prosopis Strombulifera Federal Tree/Shrub Screwbean Weed List Wild Oat Avena Fatua D List Annual Graminoid Ripgut Brome Bromus Diandrus D List Annual Graminoid Cheatgrass Bromus Tectorum D List Annual Graminoid Giant Reed Arundo Donax D List Perennial Shrub/Subshrub Australian Saltbush Atriplex Semibaccata D List Perennial Shrub/Subshrub/ Forb/Herb Fivestamen Tamarix Chinensis D List Perennial Tree/Shrub Tamarisk Peruvian Peppertree Schinus Molle D List Perennial Tree Smallflower Tamarisk Parviflora D List Perennial Tree/Shrub Saltcedar Tamarix Ramosissima D List Perennial Tree/Shrub Prickly Lettuce Lactuca Serriola D List Annual Forb/Herb /Biennial Common Sowthistle Sonchus Oleraceus D List Annual Forb/Herb Shepherd's Purse Capsella Bursa-Pastoris D List Annual Forb/Herb Lambsquarters Chenopodium Album D List Annual Forb/Herb Nettleleaf Goosefoot Chenopodium Murale D List Annual Forb/Herb White Sweetclover Melilotus Alba D List Annual Forb/Herb Biennial Perennial Sourclover Melilotus Indica D List Annual Forb/Herb

VMP August 2010 31

IMPERIAL VALLEY WEEDS (Undesirable Plant Species) Plants Name Scientific Name CA Weed Life Form Growth Habit Status1 Common Mallow Malva Neglecta D List Annual Forb/Herb Biennial Perennial Cheeseweed Mallow Malva Parviflora D List Annual Forb/Herb Biennial Perennial Silversheath Polygonum Argyrocoleon D List Annual Forb/Herb Knotweed Curly Dock Rumex Crispus D List Perennial Forb/Herb Little hogweed Portulaca Oleracea D List Annual Forb/Herb Rescuegrass Bromus Catharticus D List Annual Graminoid Perennial Jungle Rice Echinochloa Colona D List Annual Graminoid Barnyardgrass Echinochloa Crusgalli D List Annual Graminoid Rough Echinochloa Muricata D List Annual Graminoid Barnyardgrass Stinkgrass Eragrostis Cilianensis D List Annual Graminoid Buffelgrass Pennisetum Ciliare D List Perennial Graminoid Littleseed Phalaris Minor D List Annual Graminoid Canarygrass Annual Bluegrass Poa Annua D List Annual Graminoid Kentucky Bluegrass Poa Pratensis D List Perennial Graminoid Annual Rabbitsfoot Polypogon D List Annual Graminoid Grass Monspeliensis Athel Tamarisk Tamarix Aphylla D List Perennial Tree/Shrub Date Palm Phoenix Dactylifera D List Perennial Tree/Shrub 1Noxious Weeds The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 (FNWA) became U.S. Public Law 93-629 on January 3rd, 1975, and established a federal program to control the spread of noxious weeds. The Secretary of Agriculture was given the authority to declare plants “Noxious Weeds”, and limit the interstate spread of such plants without a permit. The Secretary has the authority to inspect, seize, and destroy products, and quarantine areas, if necessary to contain, or limit the spread of such weeds.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture recommends plants for listing. If a plant is found to probably be “troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate”, the Department will designate the plant as a noxious weed. All weeds on California’s 130 plus noxious weed list have a rating. Weeds rated “A” are normally limited in distribution throughout the state with eradication, containment, rejection or other holding action conducted at the state-county level. Quarantine interceptions for “A” rated weeds can be rejected or treated at any point in the state. Weeds rated “B” are more wide spread with eradication, containment, control or other holding action at the discretion of the commissioner. The State endorses holding action and eradication only when “B” rated weeds are found in a nursery. Weeds rated “C” are generally widespread throughout the state with action to retard spread outside of nurseries at the discretion of the commissioner. Weeds rated “C” are rejected only when found in a crop seed for planting or at the discretion of the commissioner. Weeds rated “Q” species are treated as temporary “A” weeds with denoting action outside nurseries at the state- county level pending determination of a permanent rating. Weeds rated “D” are organisms considered to be of little or no economic importance with no action. Anything not rated as an “A”, “B”, “C” or “Q” weed is given a “D” rating.

VMP August 2010 32

Appendix E Weed Observation and Monitoring Form

VMP August 2010 33

IID WEED OBSERVATION AND MONITORING FORM

META DATA

Collection Date (mm/dd/yyyy)*

Observer Name*

Observer Contact Information* Email:

Source of the Data* Imperial Irrigation District or WMA Code: 06025

Hand-Annotated Map ID SITE DESCRIPTION

Site Name or ID* Site Address or other description

Land Use Type Right-of-way

Invaded Vegetation Type Chap/Scrub Grass Herb Aquatic-Fr Aquatic-Sa Terrestrial

Gross Area Area: sq.ft. sq.m. sq.mi. acres

Disturbances & Impacts

Associated Species WEED DESCRIPTION

Weed Genus and Species*

Weed Common Name (s)

Presence or Absence* P A

Infested Area* Area: sq. ft. sq. meters sq. mi. acres

Canopy Cover* Choose one: <1% 1-5% 5-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-95% 95-100%

Appearance/Phenology Circle any: germ'g/early growth new growth flowering seeding senesc. dead

Distribution Pattern Circle any: clumpy scattered patchy scattered even linear

Photo Documentation (use table on back to log photos) WEED LOCATION

Geo Feature Type* Circle one: Point Polygon Line

GPS waypoint or feature ID:

Geographic Location* Coords. (if point): X: Y:

Coordinate System* UTM Zone: Lat/Long dec. degs Other (specify):

Datum* WGS 84/NAD83 Other (specify):

Location Offset Distance: Feet Meters Bearing/direction:

Location Data Accuracy* Choose one: <1m 1-5m 5-15m 15-100m 100m-1km 1km10km >10km

Locality Description

Distance to Water Estimated distance: Horiz ? or Vert? Units:

VMP August 2010 34

Appendix F Provisional List of Beneficial Plants

VMP August 2010 35

The following is a provisional list of “beneficial plants.” The term beneficial plants as defined within the context of this Plan, refers to a plant that exhibits traits that may be considered desirable for the District, including but not limited to

 Substantial root structure to preserve integrity of earthen banks  Non-invasive nature which can easily be controlled without impeding flow of waterways

In 2008, the District was awarded funding through the State’s Agricultural Water Quality Grant Program. One component of the grant program is to evaluate the effectiveness of appropriate vegetation along drain banks. Following the conclusion of that project, this “beneficial plants” list will be modified to incorporate results of the research.

Morning-Glory Family (Convolvulaceae) Alkaliweed (Cressa Truxillensis Kunth) is native perennial, silvery gray-green foliage covered with silky hairs, and small white flowers. It has a deep root structure and an ability to live in soils with high salt contents. Alkaliweed is a desirable component of the native vegetation in natural areas. Manual removal or cultivation can control alkaliweed.

Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) Australian Saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata R. Br.) has a deep root structure and an ability to live in soils with high salt contents. Australian saltbush was first cultivated in the early 1920s in Tulare County as a livestock forage plant for alkaline and saline areas. More recently it has been promoted as a fire- resistant plant tolerant of drought, salt and alkali conditions, to be used for groundcover or erosion control and as a component of reclamation vegetation for the restoration of mined sites in the southwestern states. Manual removal or cultivation before seeds develop can help control this plant species.

Grass Family (Poaceae) Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is commonly grown as durable turf or forage in tropical to warm temperate regions nearly worldwide. Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed, including some that tolerate cooler conditions.

Rhizomes and stolons slender, tough, wiry, branched, scaly, extensively creeping, produce fibrous roots at nodes. Rhizomes survive considerable dehydration and extended periods of drought, but not prolonged periods of freezing temperatures or exposure to sun. Persistent manual removal of rhizomes and stolons can eliminate bermudagrass from small areas.

Borage Family (Boraginaceae) Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum L.) is generally described as an annual, perennial subshrub or forb or herb. This dicot (dicotyledon) is native to the United States and has its most active growth period in the spring and summer and fall. The Salt Heliotrope has gray-green foliage and conspicuous white flowers, with conspicuous brown fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the mid-spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall. Leaves are not retained year to year. The Salt Heliotrope has a moderate life span relative to most other plant species and a moderate growth rate. At maturity, the typical Salt Heliotrope will reach up to 1.2 feet high. It can be propagated by seed and sprigs. It has a slow ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have medium vigor. Salt Heliotrope has medium tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.

VMP August 2010 36

Grass Family (Poaceae) Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L.) typically forms dense colonies and is sometimes confused with bermudagrass. It has a deep root structure that spreads underground and anchors the soil. It can live in both dry conditions as well as saturated soil with high salt contents. However, saltgrass rarely occurs in crop fields and is generally not considered a weed in natural areas. It is used in the restoration of salt marsh and saline or alkaline sites and provides good forage for wildlife and livestock on such sites. Saltgrass is easy to distinguish from bermudagrass when it is in flower since saltgrass has contracted spikelike or racemelike panicles. In its vegetative state, saltgrass is distinguished by having stiffly ascending leaves that are rolled in bud. Blade margins are rolled or flat. In addition, stems are round in cross-section and solid.

Mallow Family (Malvaceae) Alkali mallow (Malvella leprosa) is a low-growing herbaceous perennial to 0.4 m tall, with palmate leaves that have an oblique base, white flowers, and a deep, extensive system of creeping roots. Plants typically form colonies. Alkali mallow is a widespread native of the western United States. It has a deep root structure and an ability to live in soils with high salt contents. It is usually a desirable component of the vegetation in natural areas, but can be weedy in pastures, on agricultural land, and in other disturbed places. Cultivation may facilitate spread of plants by dispersing root fragments. However, repeated cultivation can control or eliminate troublesome colonies.

Sedge Family (Cyperaceae) Needle Spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis (L) Roem & Schult) is a genus of 250 or more species the Cyperaceae (sedge family). Some of the species could reduce erosion at water lines since they do not spread or grow in standing water more than a few inches deep. It has a deep root structure and an ability to live in soils with high salt contents. They are known commonly as spikerushes, although spikesedges is a more technically appropriate name and most scientists who study them in earnest refer to them as such. The vast majority of Eleocharis species grow in aquatic or mesic habitats from sea level to higher than 5,000 meters in elevation (in the tropical Andes).

The genus itself is relatively easy to recognize; all Eleocharis species have photosynthetic stems and lack leaves (the leaves have been reduced to sheaths surrounding the base of the stems). Many species are robust, rhizomatously spreading plants of lowland tropical wetlands, while many others are small caespitose annual or perennial herbs growing near streams, and still others are intermediate. In all Eleocharis species, the flowers are borne on unbranched terminal spikelets at the apices of stems.

Aster Family (Asteraceae or Compositae) Pluchea sericea, commonly called Arrowweed, is a plant of the Sonoran Desert once used medicinally as a dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, antidiarrheal, and throat aid.

Arrowweed is a member of the Sunflower Family. It appears as a large brushy shrub and has adapted to blowing sand and soil erosion by growing in clumps resembling corn shocks. Leaves are grayish green and narrow to 1.5 inches in length and grow all along the stems of the plant. Arrowweed typically grows in wet places such as coastal sage scrub, creosote bush scrub and low desert salt flats.

Arrowweed is a salt tolerant plant and typically grows in areas with low to moderate soil salinity. The plant booms between March - July and produces lavender rayless flowers. Native Americans used the stems of Arrowweed for arrow shafts and the wood to build shelters.

VMP August 2010 37

Pignut (Hyptis suaveolens), also known as Chan, is a genus of flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family. These plants, known commonly as bushmints, are widespread in the tropics and warmer temperate regions of the Americas. There are 300 to 400 species, which may be annual or perennial, and small herb to large shrub. The plant stands upright, strongly aromatic annual or perennial, herb, 0.5–3 m high. The flower blooms purple, blue, violet between March and August. Pignut can be found along river banks, roadsides, waste areas and clearings.

Hog potato (Hoffmannseggia glauca) is a dicot found in the legume family, Fabaceae. Its common names include Indian rushpea, hog potato, and pig nut. It is a California native which prefers alkaline desert flats, creosote bush communities, and disturbed areas. Hoffmannseggia glauca is an erect perennial herb and can measure up to 30 cm tall. Branches are slender, growing out from the base of the plant, and have stalked glands. It has green, fern-like compound leaves with primary and secondary leaflets on slender reddish branches growing out from the base of the plants, with stalked hairy glands. It has a glandulara inflorescence about 2-6 inches long. Its orange-red flowers bloom between the months of April and June. It is called hog potato because it has nut-like, tuberous roots that are eaten by hogs.

Baccone’s sandspurry (Spergularia bocconii (Scheele) Foucaud ex Merino), is a low to matlike annual, with a stem of up to 0.3 m tall and with small, white to rosy pink flowers. Foliage is slightly fleshy and glabrous to short glandular-hairy. Seeds are light brown, rounded kidney-shaped, barely flattened, and covered with minute papillae. Plants usually grow on sandy soil.

VMP August 2010 38

Appendix G Acronyms

VMP August 2010 39

Imperial Irrigation District District

Vegetation Management Unit VMU

Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL

Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred CWA to as the Clean Water Act

Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 FNWA

State Water Resources Control Board SWRCB

Regional Water Quality Control Board RWQCB

California Department of Pesticide Regulation DPR

Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner ICAC

US Environmental Protection Agency USEPA

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPDES

Publicly Owned Treatment Works POTW

Quantification Settlement Agreement QSA

Endangered Species Act ESA

California Pest Control Adviser PCA

Qualified Applicator License QAL

Integrated Weed Management IWM

Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS

VMP August 2010 40