Heartland Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment
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Updated4-23-2013; Contains changes from Errata Sheet National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Midwest Region Heartland Invasive Plant Management Plan And Environmental Assessment Natural Resource Data Series NPS/MWR/HTLN/NRDS—2013/XXX ON THE COVER Prairie and oak forest at Fire Point, Effigy Mounds National Memorial, Iowa. Photograph by: Ken Block, NPS Heartland Invasive Plant Management Plan And Environmental Assessment Natural Resource Data Series NPS/MWR/HTLN/NRDS—2012/XXX Sherry A. Middlemis-Brown National Park Service The Heartland I&M Network Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield 6424 West Farm Road 182, Republic, MO 65738 Craig C. Young National Park Service The Heartland I&M Network Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield 6424 West Farm Road 182, Republic, MO 65738 The National Park Service publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report series is used to disseminate the peer-reviewed results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service’s mission. Examples of such reports include the results of research that addresses natural resource management issues; natural resource inventory and monitoring activities; resource assessment reports; scientific literature reviews; and peer reviewed proceedings of technical workshops, conferences, or symposia. This use of the Natural Resource Technical Report series for the publication is a method of disseminating the findings of an Environmental Assessment of impacts of proposed actions on natural and cultural resources to a broad audience. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. Information and impact analysis in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established procedures and reviewed by subject matter experts for accuracy and thoroughness. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available from the Heartland I&M Network website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/HTLN) on the internet, or by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Please cite this publication as: Middlemis-Brown, S.A. and C. C. Young. 2012. Heartland Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. Natural Resource Data Series NPS/MWR/HTLN/NRDS— 2012/XXX. National Park Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NPS XXXXXX, Month 2012 ii Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Contents Page Chapter 1: Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Project Background and History .................................................................................. 3 1.1 Project Goals ................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Project Objectives ........................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Scope of IPMP/EA ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Characteristics of IPMP/EA ................................................................................... 6 1.3.2 Restriction to Park Boundaries ............................................................................... 7 1.3.3 Management Actions To Be Considered ................................................................. 8 1.3.4 Defining Species as Invasive ................................................................................... 9 1.4 Purpose for Taking Action ......................................................................................... 10 1.5 Need for Taking Action ............................................................................................. 11 1.5.1 Existing Conditions that Should be Changed ....................................................... 11 1.5.2 Problems to be Remedied and Decisions to be Made ........................................... 13 1.5.3 Policies and Mandates that Should be Implemented ............................................ 13 1.6 Invasive Plant Management at Each Park ................................................................. 14 1.6.1 Eastern Deciduous Forest Parks .......................................................................... 15 1.6.2 Mississippi Embayment Park ................................................................................ 16 1.6.3 Ouachita Mountain Park ...................................................................................... 16 1.6.4 Ozark Highland Parks .......................................................................................... 17 1.6.5 Ozark Plateau Parks ............................................................................................. 17 1.6.6 Tallgrass Prairie Parks......................................................................................... 18 1.7 Impact Issues and Topics ........................................................................................... 19 1.7.1 Scoping Issues ....................................................................................................... 19 1.7.2 Identifying Topics.................................................................................................. 22 iii Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment 1.7.2 Regulatory Measures and Policies ....................................................................... 27 1.8 Relationship to Other Park Plans ............................................................................... 29 Chapter 2: Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 37 2.0 Aspects Common to All Alternatives ........................................................................ 39 2.0.1 Management Actions Defined ............................................................................... 39 2.0.2 Compliance with Regulatory Measures and Policies ........................................... 42 2.0.3 Planning ................................................................................................................ 42 2.0.4 Best Management Practices Common to All Alternatives .................................... 43 2.0.5 Monitoring and Record Keeping .......................................................................... 43 2.0.6 Safety and Training ............................................................................................... 43 2.1 Alternative 1 – No Action .......................................................................................... 45 2.1.1 Management Actions ............................................................................................. 46 2.1.2 Compliance with Regulatory Measures and Policies ........................................... 49 2.1.3 Planning ................................................................................................................ 49 2.1.4 Best Management Practices .................................................................................. 50 2.1.5 Monitoring and Record Keeping .......................................................................... 50 2.1.6 Safety and Training ........................................................................................... 51 2.1.7 Education Programs ............................................................................................. 51 2.1.8 Collaboration ........................................................................................................ 51 2.1.9 In Summary ........................................................................................................... 51 2.2 Alternative 2, Preferred Alternative – IPM ............................................................... 52 2.2.1 Management Actions ............................................................................................. 52 2.2.2 Compliance with Regulatory Measures and Policies ........................................... 53 2.2.3 Planning ................................................................................................................ 54 2.2.4 Best Management Practices .................................................................................. 62 iv Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment 2.2.5 Monitoring and Record Keeping .......................................................................... 64 2.2.6 Safety and Training ............................................................................................... 64 2.2.7 Education Programs ............................................................................................. 65 2.2.8 Collaboration .......................................................................................................