Aerial Application of Herbicide for Control of Invasive Species

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Aerial Application of Herbicide for Control of
Invasive Species Mt Home AFB, Idaho Hill
AFB/UTTR, Utah Smokey Hill ANG Range, Kansas
910th AW/Aerial Spray Squadron Youngstown, OH
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(No Transcript)
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MAIN MISSION
PROTECT TROOPS AGAINST VECTOR-BORNE
DISEASE (MALARIA, DENGUE, LEISHMANIASIS)

• WARTIME DOC EUCOM, CENTCOM

• In practice only participate in
  humanitarian/domestic contingencies

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SPRAY MISSIONS
INSECT CONTROL (WAR MSN) VEGETATION CONTROL OIL
DISPERSAL (TOXIN/BIO/CHEM DECONTAMINATION)
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Cheatgrass!!!
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Invasive species Annual Winter Grass Widespread
in Western States Invades Quickly Out competes
native grasses Creates huge fire danger Mt.
Home AFB goals Minimize fire hazard/create
fire breaks Allow native vegetation to
re-establish
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Features Highly selective herbicide Controls
annual broams and annual and perennial noxious
weeds Enzyme inhibitorprevents amino acid
synthesis Low toxicity to mammals, insects,
other invertebrates and aquatic life VERY
Expensive!!!
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Biomass Production
Plant sample weights (grams/2 meter2) with Litter
(g/2 m2)
Data collected and analyzed by Synergy Resource
Solutions, Inc.
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Mission Parameters 100 ft application
altitude 230 mph 100 ft swath width Flow rate
325 gal/min with raindrop nozzles Rate 7
gallons/acre (4 oz/acre Plateau) Total acreage
2000
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2006 Mountain Home Aerial Spray ProjectPlateau
Application for Cheatgrass
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Outcome 10 sorties over 5 days 13.9
hours Complete coverage with GPS
confirmation Area to be field checked next
spring for efficacy Pleased customer Ironic
updates Approx. 200 acres of treated area burned
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Hill AFB/UTTR
8000 Acres Halogeton control Clearing bombing
ranges of weed pests to facilitate UXO removal
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Halogeton Invasive Species Found in
Alkaline/Salt soils in arid environments.widely
distributed Not particularly competitive, but
easily establishes on disturbed sites Plant
secondary compounds toxic to livestock Seeds
remain viable for YEARS Krovar
(Bromacil/Diuron) Soil Sterilant applied before
active growing season Needs to move into root
zone (some precipitation required) Effective,
fairly cheap. Moves readily
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Smoky Hill ANG, Kansas
Tordon Application for Musk Thistle
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Musk Thistle Biennial Invasive Species Reduces
forage quality and yields Biological control
agents available Not 100 effective Difficult
to establish Best Control Practices
include limiting seed production Chemical
application prior to germination critical
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3221 Acres Treated (2006) 4 Sorties/6.0 flight
time 2 gallon/acre 300 Swath Width
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Requirements for aerial spray project Statement
of need Environmental Assessment Installation
pays for Per Diem Chemical Installation
provides logistical support
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Procedure for requesting assistance within
DoD Additional information in AFI 32-1074
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We need new Reservists!!!