BLM-CO Strengthening Partnerships for Invasive Vegetation Management, Southwest District

One of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health, and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands and multiple jurisdictions. These invasive plants can dominate and often cause permanent damage to natural plant communities and traditional land uses, including grazing and agricultural purposes. If not eradicated or controlled, noxious weeds will continue to jeopardize the health of the public lands and will constrain the myriad of activities that occur on public lands. BLM Colorado leverages the strength of integrated weed management programs through cooperation with county/district/state weed programs, building on-the-ground Weed Management Area Partnerships, and by working with others to produce weed education and awareness materials. The objective of this funding opportunity is to partner with a cooperator that would be a state agency and/or local units of governments, (e.g. counties, cities, special districts which have authority to enforce state and federal laws regarding the eradication of noxious weeds in the State of Colorado), to provide invasive weed management on public lands. Activities would include the inventory and location of current infestations and treating and monitoring weeds utilizing an integrated weed management plan. This information is important for land management and assessment of land health conditions. With an integrated weed management approach, the recipient will be responsible for implementing chemical and mechanical treatments, biological control methods, land management planning, and other methods as deemed applicable with the input of BLM staff.