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8 <br />Invasive Species Prevention <br />To reduce the spread of noxious and invasive weeds, all machinery and equipment to be used on the <br />Site should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned before arrival. Any plants, seeds, mud, and dirt clods <br />should be removed through washing to prevent the import of undesirable species to the Site. <br />Herbicide Use <br />Herbicides are an effective weed management tool. Herbicide treatments should begin as needed <br />based on weed populations, as early as the first year, if extensive perennial weeds or woody species are <br />present. Selective herbicide application, using herbicides formulated for specific plant groups, and spot <br />herbicide application, applying herbicide directly to the foliage of target plants, are preferred over <br />broadcast and non-selective applications. All herbicide applications will be completed per <br />manufacturer label instructions, and all applicators will hold a valid State of Minnesota Pesticide <br />Applicator License. <br />6.3.2 Mechanical Mowing <br />During the first year, vegetation in the seeded areas should be mowed 2-3 times throughout the growing <br />season as needed to prevent weed seed production and remove shading from small plant seedlings. <br />During the subsequent few years during establishment, vegetation in the seeded areas will likely require <br />mowing 1-2 times throughout the growing season to control annual weeds and to ensure good <br />establishment of seeded species. Noxious, invasive, and woody plants may also require mowing to <br />prevent seed development. <br />Mowing will be accomplished by agricultural tractors with flail or rotary mower attachments, zero-turn <br />mowers, and/or other mechanical option(s). Flail mower implements are preferred to mulch the cut <br />material and avoid forming a mat of cut vegetation which could smother desirable plant growth. Other <br />mechanical cutting implements may be used if haying is expected to follow the mowing operation. <br />Where appropriate, mower height should be at least 6-9” from the ground to avoid damaging flowering <br />plants. Weed whipping may be used to remove excessive vegetation growth in areas that are difficult to <br />access with mechanical mowing equipment. <br />6.4 Plant Community Management Techniques (Long-Term) <br />A variety of vegetation management techniques should be implemented on the Site. Methods will be <br />selected to provide the best control possible of noxious, invasive, and woody species while minimizing <br />impacts on desirable, native species. <br />6.4.1 Control and Prevention of Invasive Species <br />Preventing and controlling invasive species within the management units will require long-term <br />management efforts. These efforts will likely take shape as a combination of the following approaches. <br />6.4.2. Herbicide Use <br />While mowing/grazing controls annuals and may provide short-term control for some perennials, most <br />perennial invasive species, and in particular woody plants, must be treated with herbicide to provide <br />effective control. Herbicide treatment will reduce populations, prevent the spread of weed seeds, and <br />kill vegetation. Ongoing annual herbicide applications 2-3 times per year will likely be required into the <br />long-term maintenance phase to continue providing control of woody and noxious species introduced <br />to the Site from surrounding landscapes.