A combination of efforts has been ongoing to understand the invasive mechanisms of this plant (Desert Alyssum) to spread and how to control it. A chemical application will be used in an effort to gain control of Desert Alyssum. This area has crucial winter range for antelope, deer and elk, and also has sage grouse wintering areas, brood-rearing habitat, as well as numerous leks. This funding would benefit the immediate area through the inventory and removal of Desert Alyssum which is competing with native vegetation. Monitoring transects have shown an increase in perennial plant spacing where Alyssum is dominant. Removal of Alyssum would improve or maintain habitat for wildlife and livestock using this area. Several factors including disturbance, prescribed burning and years of drought this weed is spreading rapidly and has very high plant densities. Work during 2009 included approximately 2400 acres treated with 5000 additional perimeter acres inventoried, and 150 acres monitored. This project area has intensive coalbed methane drilling activity as well as some past prescribed burns that have the highest densities of Desert Alyssum. Transects that never registered this plant over ten years ago, now document this annual as the dominant species. Small plot treatments have been started with a variety of different chemicals and rates are being tested for the most efficient and cost effective treatment. Permittees, DuPont and several oil and gas companies have shown an interest in controlling this plant to allow especially native forbs to reestablish on these sites. This would be a multi-year project since this plant is spreading quickly across the lower elevations in the Rawlins Field Office.
Update: Monitoring showed a 75-90% reduction in Alyssum cover, 15-75% increase in grass cover, and 100% increase in bare ground after treatments. The sites will be monitored again in 2010 to determine if re-seeding with native species may be necessary.
