Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2017 01 11

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes December 14th 2016 Page 3 of 7 announcing $500 fines for bringing dogs to the Bend Farmer Market posted at the market’s entrances. C. Farewell to Christopher Smith Proclamation—Helen read a statement of gratitude for the work and dedication of Christopher Smith. Christopher commented that he has enjoyed his time on OSAB, and it had been a difficult decision not to reapply. He also told the board to call on his expertise whenever it was needed. VII. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda- A. none VIII. Discussion Item: CSU Proposal for Herbicide Application Plot and Monitoring on Davidson Mesa and Aquarius Open Space Properties: Extending the Duration of Annual and Biennial Weed Control on City of Louisville Open Space Properties with Esplanade Tank Mixes— Presented by: Dr. Scott Nissen, Derek Sebastian, & Shannon Clark This is a proposal to include plots on Davidson Mesa into an ongoing weed control research study. Dr. Nissen and his team study invasive plant management. Weed control projects tend to take multiple years to follow up on, so they propose extending the work that their group is already doing across the Front Range up to central Wyoming. They want to increase the number of sites included in their study. The goal is to help improve prairie open space lands that have been invaded by annual weeds. Local short grass prairies are currently dominated by perennial bunch-grasses and invasive annual weeds, such as cheatgrass, tend to take up moisture and to fill in between native bunch-grasses, competing with the natives for water and light. Cheatgrass can also changes fire frequencies and timing. This project focuses on a specific herbicide product called Esplande. Dr. Nissen emphasized that their research is not funded in any way by the herbicide manufacturer (Bayer). In the study Esplanade will be tank mixed with other herbicides (all information is in the packet). Glyphosate and Imazapic are the herbicides most commonly in use for cheatgrass, but managers find they don’t work too well. Esplande was developed for weed control in citrus groves, but this group has been using it for wild land prairie restoration, particularly for controlling cheatgrass (aka downy brome) and other winter annuals. It is a pre-emergent herbicide that sits on the soil and keeps seeds from germinating. Perennial grasses seem to be able to resist it because it stays on the surface of the soil, and they generally propagate vegetatively below ground. It has a low use-rate (ie. it takes little chemical to be effective). They have had good results all around the Front Range. Derek shared several pictures of wild prairie vegetation before and after application, showing the open ground around the bunch-grasses where the cheatgrass has disappeared, and the native species flourished. Graeme asked about whether these studies have been done on grazed land. Dr. Nissen answered that currently the chemical is not on-label for grazing, though these studies are underway by the manufacturers (this process is very involved). Missy asked about the safety for grazing wildlife. Dr. Nissen reported that there has been very limited study in orchard, but there hasn’t been research looking directly at wildlife impacts. Spencer asked for a time frame of results. Derek replied they got good results within 2 years of application, because the perennials are under the canopy of the invasive annuals. Derek pointed out that there are nearly no native annuals in the local short grass prairie ecosystem, so Esplande can make this selection cleanly. Laura asked about the chemical’s longevity in the soil and its impact on the native seed bank. Dr. Nissen explained that the chemical degrades slowly but it only needs 3-4 years to 5