Mount Rose Noxious Weed Monitoring and Treatment #7
Project Description:
Friends of Nevada Wilderness seeks to treat approximately 75 acres of noxious weeds on Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest lands within the Truckee River Watershed. The overall goal of the Mount Rose Wilderness Noxious Weed Monitoring and Treatment Project is to protect the water quality of the Truckee River and its watershed. Specifically, our goal is to treat noxious weeds at their source to mitigate their spread, monitor known weeds sites for changes and growth, and identify any new weed activity or infestations. Noxious weeds threaten the biodiversity, wildlife habitat, soil productivity, water quality, and recreational resources of the Mt. Rose Wilderness. By removing them we will help retain and improve watershed health. Staff will lead volunteers to known locales of noxious weeds, removing them with shovels and clippers as necessary. Staff and volunteers will also monitor previously identified and/or treated sites and scout the 2017 Hunter creek Fire perimeter and helicopter loading points.
TMWA Benefit:
Our grant proposal is in line with many of the grant priorities outlined by the TRF, specifically priority #1 (Aquatic Invasive Species); priority #2 (Watershed Improvements); and priority #6 (Stewardship and Environmental Awareness). Noxious weeds, specifically musk thistle, poses a significant threat to the Truckee River Watershed. Through volunteer-powered stewardship projects, we seek to improve the Truckee River Watershed by removing these noxious weeds. Reducing the number of weeds In the Hunter Creek area (a main tributary to the Truckee River) will improve the water quality, reduce soil erosion, and slow the spread further downstream, as well as enhance the recreation qualities of the beloved Hunter Creek Trail. Our longstanding Wilderness Weed Warriors program seeks to both engage and educate the public on the Importance of noxious weed management and it Is our hope that after one project with us, volunteers have a basic understanding of the effect of noxious weeds on plant diversity, wildlife habitat, and water and soil quality. By educating the public on these issues, we can inspire more stewardship and environmental awareness of the Truckee Meadows.