CWMA Newsletter 2019
3rd edition
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President's Report
by Ron Mabry
Greetings All,
As the season winds down, it’s time to reflect on any successes and any failures that may affect the planning for next season. Take some time to recall any successes and plan to build on them next year. This has been a frustrating and aggravating year for me. Equipment failures, employee failures, application failures and crappy weather have made this one of the more challenging years of my career. I hope your year has been kinder. I thrive on a challenge but sometimes that brick wall wins.
So, I’ve decided that it’s time to hang-up my spurs. This has been a great ride. Over the last 18 years I’ve made lifelong friends that share my passion and commitment to controlling invasive species. I value my membership in the Colorado Weed Management Association for bringing likeminded professionals together and that I have friends and acquaintances all over this state. While we haven’t always agreed, we have always been able to compromise for the common goals of noxious weed control.
I hope you will continue supporting CWMA by running for the board of directors, volunteer for a committee (we have several), attend winter training and spring training and purchasing our publications. These things don’t just happen. It takes a village as they say.
I’m not really going anywhere just going to change my angle of attack. Stay tuned. See you on the other side!
My favorite weed technician says it best-
This summer as a Seasonal Weed Technician for Ouray County Weed Management was fun, successful and full of new experiences. I really can’t think of a better way to spend my summer than working in arguably the most beautiful area in Colorado! I have gained so much knowledge on how invasive species effect our environment and how myself and others can play a role in reducing these species to improve our area for wildlife, native plants and an overall healthier landscape for our community. Through hands on experience I have learned how to identify these invasive plants and the most effective and safe ways to diminish their population. Overall, I am so thankful for my summer with Ouray County Weed Management and the knowledge and background they have given me to continue to improve our local environment in the future.
Audrey Smith
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We are so exited to be bringing you the 2019 CWMA WINTER TRAINING...
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Please join us December 4 & 5 for the 2019 CWMA Winter Training held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, featuring the Colorado Rockies as the backdrop. located in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.
T
here are only days left to save on the hotel discount rate:
Book your reservation by November 11th to secure the $109 per night rate!
Call 1-800-588-0250 and request the Colorado Weed Management Association room block or book online by
clicking
here
.
The CWMA Winter Training is a great way to get your continuing education, network with peers in our industry and learn best practices in weed management. There is a great line-up of speakers!
The following credits will be offered, subject to change:
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Core:
Laws and Regs (2)
Pesticides and their Families (PF)
Applicator Safety (AS)
Public Safety (PS)
Environmental Protection (EP)
Use of Pesticides (UP)
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Agricultural:
Agriculture Weed Control (103)
Forest Pest Control (106)
Rangeland Pest Control (107)
Aquatic Pest Control (108)
Industry & Right of Way (109)
Ornamental:
Turf Pest Control (206)
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What can you do to make WINTER TRAINING even better?
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Sign up to be a
SPONSOR / EXHIBITOR... Connect with potential customers and increase your network! You are critical to the success of CWMA.
Sponsorship / Exhibitor levels include:
- Government / NonProfit Sponsor $250
- Exhibit Booth Only $500
- Bronze Sponsor $750
- Silver Sponsor $1000
- Gold Sponsor $1500
- Title Sponsor $2000
If you would like to customize a sponsor opportunity, please contact
info@cwma.org
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NOMINATE
a worthy person for one of the following CWMA Awards.
- Newcomer Award
- Partnership Award
- Lifetime Service Award
- Weed Manager of the Year Award
Nominations are due by Friday,
November 8, 2019
.
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DONATE an item for the silent auction. Do you have an item to donate to our silent auction? Ideas include: Clothing, Activity Vouchers, Tools, Books or any hand-made crafts! All proceeds go to the Ray Kessler Memorial Scholarship fund.
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The
RAY KESSLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
was developed to help CWMA members defray tuition cost for courses and other formal educational programs. It is named in honor of the late Ray Kessler, a CWMA Board Member and employee of CDOT for over 21 years. In 2011 Ray was given the opportunity to attend the Western Invasive Weed Short Course. Ray was so impressed with the information and knowledge that he gained that he had several conversations with CWMA board members about helping others with educational opportunities to further their professional skills.
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As a CWMA member you are eligible to apply for the Ray Kessler Memorial Scholarship, designed to help members who are seeking to further their job-related education while continuing their employment. The deadline to submit is November 15, 2019 for up to $900 in scholarship funds! Click on the following link for more information and an application.
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Promoting CWMA membership.
How can we help?
Do you know someone that should be a member of CWMA? Learn all about CWMA benefits and membership types at
www.cwma.org/membership
. Use this information as talking points to encourage colleagues to join and get active with CWMA.
Or, perhaps you are unsure whether someone you know is already a member? Search for them in our directory located in the members-only
online portal
.
You can also use this site to renew your membership, register for CWMA events, and update your contact information.
Need help promoting CWMA? Let us know how we assist you.
Monica Groh, CAE
Colorado Weed Management Association
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Below the Radar
by Alan Swartz
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One of our biggest weaknesses in my estimation in the noxious weed control effort is finding a weed that is below the radar. We seem to really get focused on the usual weeds we have seen in our area and may not recognize a new weed that pops up on our radar until it has already gained a foothold.
Such was the case in Adams County this year. Last year while Myron Cunningham and I were out spraying an open space, he found some rosettes of houndstongue. I had only seen two houndstongue plants in my whole life. I didn’t have any picture of the rosettes on my radar. But we dutifully sprayed these rosettes in two small areas, hoping we had caught the infestation in time before it exploded. It was located in trees along a small irrigation ditch.
Fast forward to this June when Mark Slayton and I were spraying the same area. There were a few plants in the same area. I was hopeful. But then as we looked along cattails, small lakes, and river areas we found more plants. Over 1000 to be specific. It was everywhere. Houndstongue is a biennial or short lived perennial with erect flower stems up to 4 ft tall. The seeds are contained in prickles that cling to hair, fur or hair or clothing. Houndstongue has an exceptional weed dispersal system. Each plant can produce up to 2000 seeds. They may survive years until they are picked up by a passing animal.
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Keep updating your "weedar." When you see some plant in many locations, do the research to find out what you are dealing with. Then begin control immediately. The battle is never over. Be vigilant.
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Riverside Stories
by Cara Kukuraitis
Informing the general public and potential funders about the ecological and human impacts of invasive plant management and riparian restoration is critically important to garnering additional resources and funds to support this work. In an effort to help their partners tell these stories – beyond the science and numbers - and raise awareness about the benefits of invasive plant management and riparian restoration, RiversEdge West created the
Riverside Stories series
.
The Riverside Stories are comprised of
five videos
and 14 written narratives that feature individuals from across the West - farmers, teachers, practitioners, contractors, crew members, landowners, and ranchers – who are making a difference in the restoration of riparian lands. In doing so, the series captures both the ecological benefits as well as the human spirit of riparian restoration.
In the series, you can hear from neighbors like
Matt Mitchell and Sal Gonzales
in San Antonio, New Mexico, who are collaborating to restore the natural splendor of the Rio Grande. In partnership with a dozen nearby neighbors, Matt and Sal entered into a watershed partnership in order to streamline the efforts of managing invasive plants along the river system. In this vignette, we tell the story of how this group of neighbors has cleared more than 1,200 acres - nearly 2,300 sq. miles - of invasive plants.
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The series also highlights individuals like
Sarah Henry
, a high school teacher in Bedrock, Colorado. In Sarah’s story, you discover what motivates her to teach students about the impacts that non-native plants have on riparian ecosystems and why she feels it is important to impart the value of protecting and restoring rivers on the next generation.
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Mile High Flood Control's Updated Vegetation Management Approach
by Michael Sarmento
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The Mile High Flood Control (MHFC) (previously, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District) is a multi-jurisdictional governmental agency that assists local governments maintain a network of over 3000 lineal miles of streams and tributaries throughout the seven front-range counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. In addition to the unincorporated areas within these counties we serve 32 municipalities.
As a part of our Stream Services Program we provide management services that include routine maintenance operations such as debris removal, vegetation management (revegetation and weed management), tree thinning, etc., at no additional cost to our local government partners. Local governments work with MHFC staff to develop a yearly maintenance work program that is approved by the Board of Directors.
This year, MHFC continues to expand the updated stream corridor vegetation management approach with a pilot project along eleven tributaries within the Clear Creek watershed in Jefferson County. The main focus of this pilot project will be eliminating continuous mowing of the stream corridors so that we can assess the existing vegetation including weed populations. The intent is to allow the native vegetation to recover from excessive mowing and encourage desirable ecological services such as stream bank stabilization, flood attenuation, groundwater recharge, wildlife and pollinator protection, etc.
We will be mapping native vegetation and nuisance weed populations along these stream corridors in order to develop effective and individualized management strategies that will help encourage healthy and functional stream systems and minimize citizen complaints. The intent of this new management strategy is not to take the place of county and municipal weed management efforts, but to partner with you in managing invasive and noxious weeds. We want to work collaboratively and help leverage management efforts and dollars as in addition to keeping all partners informed.
Mowing will remain as a strategic tool within our weed management toolbox and we will be treating weeds as-needed this year. In addition, we will be removing volunteer trees seedlings that have been traditionally kept under control by mowing operations.
The MHFC hopes to expand this vegetation management strategy throughout Jefferson County and the rest of the District in 2020. If you have questions or would like more information please contact Mike Sarmento at Mile High Flood Control at 303-455-6277 or email:
msarmento@udfcd.org
Michael Sarmento
Sr. Construction Manager | Watershed Service
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CWMA welcomes new Executive Director – Monica Groh, CAE.
Monica brings years of experience working with membership organizations like ours. Her contact info is
info@cwma.or
g
. She will be at the Winter Training registration area, please stop by and say hi!”
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President
Ron Mabry
President Elect
Tina Travis
Secretary/Treasurer
Casey Cisneros
Board of Directors:
James Herman
Bonnie Loving
Kayla Malone
Drew Marino
Curtis Marshall
Jonathan Rife
Alan Swartz
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Ex-Officio Members:
Alicia Doran-Past President
Steve Ryder
Mark Eike
Executive Director:
Monica Groh
Please note our new address:
7187 W. 79th Drive
Arvada, CO 80003
Please note our new phone number:
(303) 210-7077
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Committee Opportunity:
CWMA is making plans for the 2020 Spring Training. We need energetic people to help make this a great event. The time that you could contribute would be invaluable to CWMA.
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How can CWMA work for you!
Do you want to make a difference with CWMA? Would you like to influence the direction that CWMA is leading?
Annual Winter Training Committee - Tina Travis (719) 520-7839
Communications Committee - Tina Travis (719) 520-7839
Education & Social Media Committee - Kayla Malone (719) 221-0102
Colorado 4 Healthy Landscapes (C4HL) - Alicia Doran (303) 271-5989
Legislative Committee - Ron Mabry (970) 626-9775 ext 23
Membership Committee - Bonnie Loving (970) 565-0580
Nominations & Awards Committee - Alan Swartz (303) 434-8358
Scholarship and Professional Grants Committee - Alan Swartz (303) 434-8358
Publications Committee - Alicia Doran (303) 271-5989
Spring Training School Committee - Jonathan Rife (303) 660-7480
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Job Opportunities:
Weed Manager
Ouray County is soliciting Letters of Interests and Resumes for the position of Weed Manager. This is a fulltime, exempt, position providing weed manager services for both Ouray and San Miguel Counties. The position is responsible for compliance with the state noxious weed law, public education, working with the Human Resources Director on recruitment of seasonal employees, training seasonal employees, supervising personnel, grant writing and administration of contracts and agreements with local, state and federal agencies. Special qualifications include acquiring and maintaining the appropriate State of Colorado licenses and certifications; and possessing a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge, skills and abilities include but are not limited to identification of noxious weeds, keeping accurate records, communicating with the public, employees and officials; operating a weed truck and sprayer, and handling/managing noxious weed chemicals. Associate’s Degree with five years of experience in weed management or related field required. A combination of education, training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job may be considered in place of a degree. Minimum Pay Grade: $63,417.80. Experience with computers and use of Microsoft Word and/or Excel is required. Organizational skills, public relations skills and attention to detail are necessary. This position reports directly to the Ouray County Administrator.
More information can be found
here
.
Resume and Letter of Interest must be sent to: Ouray County Human Resources Director, P. O. Box C, Ouray, CO 81427; hand-delivered to 112 Village Square West, Suite 220, Ridgway, CO 81432; or emailed to
speck@ouraycountyco.gov.
This position is open until filled. Job description is available on the Ouray County website
www.ouraycountyco.gov.
Questions may be directed to Human Resources, 970-325- 7332. Ouray County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Natural Resource Biologist
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
Reference Code: Army-AEC-2019-0008
The U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) is made up of archaeologists, architects, biologists, chemists, chemical engineers, civil engineers, entomologists, environmental engineers, environmental scientists, foresters, geologists, historians, mechanical engineers, natural resource specialists, physical scientists and wildlife biologists all committed to delivering environmental solutions in support of U.S. Army readiness and sustainability. The U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Fort Carson is nestled at the foot of the Colorado Front Range near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The USAG Fort Carson manages approximately 373,000 acres in southeastern Colorado. Approximately 85% of the installation has been surveyed, resulting in the documentation of over 8,000 cultural resources.
USAG invites you to participate and collaborate with a dynamic, highly motivated team that operates at a high efficacy under tight timelines to accomplish critical Army requirements. As a participant at USAG, you will have an opportunity to learn, apply knowledge, and gain hands on experience that will prepare you for your future in the labor force. Come be exposed to a variety of environmental-related roles to enhance your knowledge in environmental science, biology, chemistry, computer science or physical science. Under the guidance of a mentor, you will support USAG's mission to military training through support and management of Natural Resources in compliance with Federal Noxious Weed Act (FNWA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition to the management of Natural Resources in compliance with 7 U.S.C. 2801, 7701, et seq, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq., USAG also evaluates impacts to migratory birds under 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and consult with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service on population level impacts to aforementioned species.
As a participant you will draw upon new and previous skills to perform the following: survey for noxious weeds; update and input data into geospatial databases; control noxious weeds; aid with pesticide use reporting; conduct pre- and post-burn vegetation surveys; input and analyze data from vegetation surveys; survey erosion control projects; conduct site visits for NEPA reviews; assist with forest stand exams and forest health improvement; conduct wildlife surveys; and evaluate Human Wildlife Conflicts for MBTA resolution. You will also have the opportunity to actively control the spread of noxious weeds strategically over large acreages and participate in the 2020 five-year updates to the IPMP.
With your mentor's guidance, you will gain valuable insights to become a professional scientist and learning federal laboratory protocols. This amazing opportunity will set you apart as USAEC prepares you for the labor force, while providing guidance and education that will prepare you for your future.
Appointment Length: This ORISE appointment is for a 12 month period. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.
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