USFS Continues Invasive Plant Elimination Project in Lake Tahoe

The chemical treatment of invasive plants by the U.S. Forest Service in Lake Tahoe will continue through the summer at about 70 different locations totaling 12.5 acres. In South Lake Tahoe the treatment will take place at the Angora wildfire area, Baldwin Beach meadow, Burke Creek trail, Luther Pass campground, Heavenly Creek Meadow, Heavenly Ski Area, Rabe Meadow and the Spooner Summit fire station as well as at several urban lots that the Forest Service controls.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will continue the project to eliminate known infestations of invasive plants that reproduce and spread rapidly and displace native plants.

An Environmental Assessment released by the Forest Service in 2010 identified 493 known invasive plant infestations located on lands managed by the LTBMU.

Invasive plants can also reduce the amount and quality of fish and wildlife habitat, increase soil erosion and stream sedimentation, and impair recreational access.

The urban lots they will treat are located in the vicinity of Ralph Drive, Terry Lane, Ski Run Blvd, and Mt. Rainier Drive in South Lake Tahoe, Marge Court in Zephyr Cove, and Pine Street on Kingsbury Grade.

Target invasive plants are tall whitetop (Lepidium latifolium), Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), hoary cress (Cardaria pubescens & C. draba) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Photos and information about these species can be found at the Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group’s website: http://tahoeinvasiveweeds.org. Treatments will use three herbicides: Rodeo, Milestone, and Telar. Crews will apply the products with backpack sprayers and other handheld tools. Herbicide application will follow approved Environmental Protection Agency, state, and local direction.

Caution signs will be posted in treatment areas and will remain for at least 48 hours after treatment. Orange and black caution tape will mark the boundary around each treatment area. A dye will be used to easily identify locations that have been sprayed. Treatment areas are very small --most consist of a few plants and the largest site is less than two acres. Access to treatment sites will be restricted during and after the application. Forest Service staff will be onsite to monitor the areas in order to ensure public safety while the project is implemented.

For more information, contact Courtney Rowe at 530-543-2842 or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/InvasivePlantTreatment.
###