Standard Stipulation and Design Feature Template for BLM AK Priority Invasive Plant Prevention and Management
222 W 7th Avenue #13
Anchorage, AK 99513
United States
The purpose of this instruction memorandum (IM) is to provide consistent implementation-level direction to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plant species on BLM managed lands. There is a need for a standard set of stipulations and a priority invasive plant list to ensure 1) invasive species requirements are implemented consistently across the state
to protect BLM managed lands; 2) authorized land users are aware of their role in proactive invasive species management; and 3) there is compliance with applicable policy and guidance. This policy applies to external and internal authorized activities and is intended to complement any existing land use plan requirements.
This IM is mission related.
For All BLM External and Internal Authorized Activities including Saleable Mineral Authorizations, Leasable Mineral Authorizations, Right-of-Way Grants, Timber Authorizations, Special Forest Product Permits, Grazing Authorizations, and Special Recreation Permits. For both surface disturbing3 and non-surface disturbing activities unless otherwise specified:
A. Responsibilities: The permit/grant/contract holder, hereafter known as the holder, is responsible for costs and coordination related to invasive species management to ensure that activities of the holder do not result in the introduction, establishment, or spread of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska (AK) Priority Invasive Plants (PIP) (Attachment 2) for applicable periods of the permit.
B. Initial Inspection: For surface disturbing activities only, the holder shall conduct a survey of PIP prior to conducting any on site project work to establish a baseline of any pre-activity infestations within the project area. Survey areas shall include all access roads or ancillary features associated with the area of operations, as defined by the plan of operations. Any PIP found during the initial inspection shall be reported to the AO. Authorizations may still be issued at the discretion of the AO with the development of appropriate preventative measures. When the activity is small in scale and scope or non-surface disturbing, the use of best available data (AKEPIC database) may satisfy this initial inspection requirement to establish a baseline of pre-activity infestations, as determined by the AO. Any holder not completing an initial inspection assumes responsibility for all PIP infestations within the project area.
C. Preventative Measures: The holder shall develop project-specific preventative measures based upon standard best management practices for preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species. See list of suggested resources for developing project-specific preventative measures in Section III. Preventative measures shall include but may not be limited to the following:
The holder shall ensure that all equipment, vehicles (e.g., trucks, trailers, watercraft, aircraft), and gear is free of visible soil, seeds, and vegetative parts before deploying to the project site and before moving from areas of known PIP infestations.
The holder shall not park or stage equipment, supplies, or materials in areas known to be infested with PIP. When feasible, activities shall commence from known un-infested areas and progress toward known infested areas.
The holder shall only use feed (e.g., hay), bedding (straw), mulch, erosion control materials, and seed that is certified as weed-free through the Alaska DNR Weed-Free certification programs. Other sources, including stockpiled items from the site, may be approved by the AO on a case-by-case basis. If Alaska certified weed-free products are unavailable, then Alaska-grown material is preferred. Documentation must be provided to the BLM indicating that certified weed-free products are unavailable.
For operations in waterbodies, when moving equipment or personnel through waterbodies on the way to the project site or before transporting watercraft and aquatic gear (i.e. hip boots, waders, and bait containers) to the authorized use area, the holder shall:
Remove any aquatic plants, animals, and mud attached to watercraft and equipment,
Drain water from boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers, and
Spray all watercraft and equipment with high pressure water or dry for at least 5 days
If the operation involves floatplanes, permittee shall:
Inspect and remove aquatic plants from floats, wires or cables, and water rudders, transom, bottom, chine, wheel wells and float step area and
Pump water from floats.
Before takeoff, do not taxi through heavy plant growth and do raise/lower water rudders to clear off plants.
After takeoff, raise/lower water rudder several times to free aquatic plant fragments while over the water being left or over land
D. Monitoring (for surface disturbing activities only): The holder shall survey the project area during the growing season for occurrence of PIP during the life of the permit/grant/contract. If evidence of PIP is documented, treatment and additional monitoring may be determined necessary by the AO. Formal monitoring for non-surface disturbing activities is not required. Casual observations should be reported to the AO.
Surveys shall include lands encompassed by all access roads or ancillary features associated with the holder’s area of operations, as defined by their plan of operations.
Specific to Saleable Materials (Mineral Materials): Prior to any new disposals, the holder will implement an invasive species inspection, monitoring, and treatment program for PIP as follows:
Material shall be inspected in the area of origin prior to movement once per growing season by the holder. If material is stockpiled on BLM lands it must also be inspected annually. If gravel/borrow area contains any PIP, then:
Area upon which gravel/borrow material is mined must be treated to prevent seed formation, seed ripening, or dissemination of the seed or propagative parts capable of producing a new plant.
When opening a new gravel pit or expanding an existing gravel pit with PIP present, topsoil and material should be removed and stockpiled. Infested material should not be moved off property or placed in vehicle traffic areas.
E. Treatment: If treatment is necessary to eradicate infestations that result from the activities of the holder (i.e., BLM A.O. has documented establishment or spread of PIP above the baseline established in initial inspection from failure to implement preventative measures) (Section I.B.), permittee-proposed treatment methods must receive concurrence from the AO. If the holder fails to perform the necessary treatment, the BLM may initiate treatment at the expense of the holder. The holder shall reimburse the BLM the cost of the treatment. The BLM will proportionally apply any cost incurred among all authorized users of the site.
F. Reporting: For surface disturbing activities, reports that document: 1) initial inspection and 2) monitoring should be provided annually by December 31 to the AO and include:
1. Inspector’s name, title
2. Inspection date
3. List of invasive species identification resource(s) referenced
4. Map showing total area surveyed and any PIP GPS locations.
For any PIP infestations detected include:
Species identification for each PIP
Estimation of infestation size (number of plants or acreage)
Photographs showing the general extent of infestation and close-up photographs of individual plants.
Any treatment methods/strategies proposed for BLM approval.
For non-surface disturbing activities, incidental observations of PIP should be reported to AO.
Resources for Invasive Species Identification and Project-specific Preventative Measures:
A. Invasive Species Identification
Alaska Exotic Plants Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC) Database (https://akepic.portal.axds.co/#map) and Elodea Survey Web App (https://arcg.is/TqaWC1)
Flagstad, L.A., H. Cortés-Burns, and C. Greenstein. 2019. Identification of non-native plants in Alaska. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, University of Alaska Anchorage. 219 pp. Available: https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/invasive-species/publications/
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2020. Selected Invasive Plants of Alaska. Alaska Region R10-TP-164. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd874598.pdf
B. Preventative Measures
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF). 2014. Disposal and Control of Invasive Plant Species. Prepared for Alaska DOT&PF Southeast Region. Prepared by Three Parameters Plus, Inc. Fairbanks, AK. 64 pp. Available: https://dot.alaska.gov/stwddes/desenviron/assets/pdf/resources/se_invasive_final.pdf
Cal-IPC. 2012. Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants: Best Management Practices For Transportation and Utility Corridors. Cal-IPC Publication 2012-1. California Invasive Plant Council, Berkeley, CA. Available at https://www.cal-ipc.org/resources/library/publications/tuc/
Fleming, J. 2005. Vehicle Cleaning Technology for Controlling the Spread of Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species. USDA Forest Service. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdf/hi_res/05511203hi.pdf
Graziano, G., S Seefeldt, and L. Clayton. 2014. Best Management Practices: Controlling the Spread of Invasive Plants During Road Maintenance. PMC-00342. Available: http://cespubs.uaf.edu/publications/
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. 2021. Inspection and Cleaning Manual for Equipment and Vehicles to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species. Available: https://www.usbr.gov/mussels/prevention/docs/EquipmentInspectionandCleaningManual2021.pdf
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Region 7.2018. Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species. Available: https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Aquatic%20Invasive%20Species%20Prevention%20Guidelines%20508.pdf
This IM is effective immediately
This policy is expected to reduce costs to BLM Alaska in the future. Without proactive management of invasive species, costs to BLM associated with invasive species management would likely increase due to the increased spread of unmanaged invasive plant species. Prevention and early detection have proven to be more successful and cost-effective
approaches to managing invasive species than allowing them to establish. Authorized users may incur costs for necessary treatment and control prescriptions.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 amended the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to provide direction (in 16 USC 666c–1) for each department to develop a strategic plan for protecting water, oceans, coasts, and wildlife from invasive species. This amendment directs the Secretary of the Interior through the BLM to take into consideration the economic and ecological costs of action or inaction during the development of strategic plans. In response, DOI updated Part 524 of the Departmental Manual on Invasive Species Management in 2020 (DOI 524 DM 1), which directs the Bureaus to implement measures to prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive plant species; detect and rapidly respond to invasive species; and eradicate or control populations of invasive plant species that are established. DOI 524 DM 1 also directs the Bureaus to use best management practices in all activities to reduce risks associated with invasive plant species, which include but are not limited to natural resource management, construction or development, fire management, permitting, and monitoring.
This policy is in conformance with the Integrated Vegetation Management Handbook (H-1740-2), BLM Manual 6100-National Landscape Conservation System Management (2012), and Department Manual on Environmental Quality
Programs Series 31: Part 524 - Invasive Species (2020).
If you have any questions regarding this IM, contact Ann Erickson, BLM Alaska Botany, Forestry, Range Programs Lead, 907-271-1985, [email protected].
This IM has been coordinated with Field and District Offices, AK-930 Division of Resources, AK-940 Lands and Realty, Alaska Fire Service, and HQ-220 Division of Forestry, Rangeland, and Vegetation Resources.