HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 01012003 - 2003-451 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Edward P. Meyer, Agricultural Commissioner
Director of Weights and Measures A;)K-
DATE: June 30, 2003
SUBJECT: Declare July 20-26, 2003,Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATONS &BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RESOLUTION NO. 2003/451
,CQMNENDATiON(S)s
WHEREAS noxious weeds are a growing threat to our environment and biological diversity, second only to
habitat destruction as a degrading force
WHEREAS,The estimated lost crop productivity caused by noxious weeds has been estimated at
$7,400,000,000 nationwide, a large proportion of which is attributable to California.
WHEREAS noxious and invasive weeds have destroyed large portions of riparian habitat along creeks,
streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of freshwater in California, damaging the integrity of the
riparian system by altering erosion and sedimentation, causing flooding and the depletion of water resources.
WHEREAS, noxious and invasive weeds increase the fire hazard and incidence of wildfires, and cause the
reduction in habitat for native fauna and crowding out of native plant species.
WHEREAS noxious weeds claim more than 4,000 acres of land a day in the western United States and
have reduced the value of land for agricultural and recreational purposes.
WHEREAS noxious weeds can cause sickness and death in animals and reduce the value of forage and
feed..
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County has a longstanding program to control artichoke thistle, purple starthistle,
yellow starthistle and other noxious weeds by the use of Integrated Pest Management practices.
WHEREAS, public agencies, land stewards and citizens groups in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
have joined together to form the Alameda-Contra Costa Weed Management Area to stop the spread of
noxious weeds and restore lands and watersheds to a healthy state for their intended use.
WHEREAS, the California Legislature has passed legislation establishing the week of the P Monday in
July as Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week in California.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County
designates the week of July 20-26, 2003, Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week in Contra Costa
County;
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: o�✓!
�, RECC7MMENI7ATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ..,,.RECOMMENDATION OF HOARD COMMITTEE
-!.APPROVE OTHER
SIGNAInIMP
ACTION OF ARI)ON JULY 15, 2003 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED X
OTHER
I HEARBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION
X UNANIMOUS{ABSENT IV TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES
OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE
DATE SHOWN.
AYES NOES ATTESTEVJAX 25 .20a
ABSENT ABSTAIN •
LERK OF
THE
DISTRICT III SEAT V�1�:Ar?P BOARD OOHN F SSUUPER�VI S AND
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Contact: Vince Guise, 646-5250
CC: County Administrator t
BY2Deputy
RESOLUTION NO. 2003/451
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Department of Agriculture
Date: June 25, 2003
To: John Sweeten,
County Administrator
From: Ed Meyer ,
Agricultural Commissioner/ Director of Weights & Measures
Subject: Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week
Attached is a proposed Board Resolution declaring July 20 - 26, 2003 "Harmful
Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week" in Contra Costa County. This is in support
of a resolution passed by the State Legislature. The resolution is being requested
as a consent item.
Harmful nonnative weeds (which we often refer to as invasive or noxious weeds)
are a major concern for both public and private land managers in our county. As
we work to maintain a balance using Integrated Pest Management techniques,
we are often confronted with new exotic invasive plants capable of throwing the
ecosystem out of balance.
For example, this month we discovered Purple Loosestrife in the Walnut Creek
channel. This was the first discovery of this invasive plant in our county. Purple
Loosestrife establishes and expands populations readily in natural and disturbed
wetlands. Growing to a height of 4 -10 feet, it out-competes and replaces native
grasses, sedges, and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source
of nutrition for wildlife. The highly invasive nature of Purple Loosestrife allows it to
form dense, homogeneous stands that reduce habitat for waterfowl and wetland
plant species. As a result of early detection, we are hoping to eradicate the
infestation by coordinating sites with Flood Control while they perform normal
maintenance activities. Millions of dollars are being spent in the Northern United
States and Canada to control this species.
In conjunction with the Board Resolution, Contra Costa Television has agreed to
include three videos regarding controlling invasive weeds in their programming
for the week of July 20 - 26:
"Controlling Arundo in Your Watershed will air on Sunday, July 20 at 3:30 p.m.,
Friday, July 25 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 26 at noon and 8:30 p.m. Our
own Flood Control is working to control small populations of Arundo that have
been increasing in Contra Costa County. This invasive weed has established
large colonies across the state, most notably in Southern California where in one
10,000 acre riparian habitat the weed has been estimated to consume more than
30,000 acre-feet of water each year, or enough water to meet the yearly
freshwater needs of 150,000 persons.
"Controlling Pampas Grass" will air on Sunday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m., Friday July
25 at 9 p.m., and Saturday, July 26 at 12:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Seeds from fertile
ornamental plantings have allowed this invasive plant to spread beyond its
original beneficial place in the landscape. Its aggressive root system out
competes plants, even those much larger than itself. Hundreds of thousands of
acres along the California coast are now infested to the exclusion of many native
plants and the native animals that depend on them. This invader has escaped in
some areas of our county and will spread without control efforts.
"Yellow Starthistle: Managing an Invasive Alien Species"will air on Sunday, July
20 at 4:30 p.m., Friday July 25 at 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 26 at 12:30 p.m. and
9 p.m. Yellow Starthistle has infested more than 10,000,000 acres and is quickly
expanding in the Sierras up to the 5,000 foot elevation and into the Coast
Ranges. It is the most invasive plant in California, choking out native plants and
has the'potential to kill horses when they feed on it for an extended period of
time. This weed is a major problem for both public and private property managers
in our county.