HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07152003 - C.10 TO: BOARD OF SLTER'�"ISORS
`R 0 MI. : Edward P. Myer, Agricultural Commissioner
Director of Weights and Measures
DATE: June 310, 2003
SUBJECT: Declare July 20-26, 2003,Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week
SPECIFIC REL , Tz ; O OM N A T ?`' BACKGROUND JUSTIFICATION
SOLUTION 0. 20031451
RECOMMENDATIOTa, U r
WHEREAS noxious weeds are a growing threat to our emnronment and biological diversity, second only to
habitat destruction as a degrading force
WHEREAS, The estimated lost crop productivity cased by noxious weeds has been estimated at
$7,400,000,000 nationwide, a'large proportion ofwllich is attributable to California.
WHEREAS noxious and invasive w.-eds have destroyed large portions of riparian habitat along creeks,
streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of ffreshwater in California, damaging the integrity ofthe
rs.parMM system by altering erosion and sedimentat.lon, cwasing flooding and the depletion of water resources.
WHEREAS, nox us and invasive weeds increase the fire hazard and incidence of wildfires, and cause the
redaction in habitat for native fauna and orwdmg cut of na-five plant species.
WHEREAS =Aious weeds claim more than 4,000 acres of land a day in the western United States and
have reduced the value of land for a riva tural and recreational purposes.
WHEREASnoxious weeds can cause sickness and death in ammals and reduce the value oforage and
feed..
WHEREAS, ontra Costaounty rias a longstanding prc-gram to control aitichoke thistle, purple star thistle,
yellow st rthist e and other nox.,ous weeds by the use of Integrated Pest Management practices.
WHEREAS, pubic agencies, land stewards and citizens groups in Alameda.and Contra Costa Counties
have jefrred together to form the A:ameda-Contra Costa Weed Management Area to stop the spread of
noxious weeds and restore lards and watersheds to a heathy state for their intended use.
the California Le is?at-tire has passed legislation establishing the week of the 3`d Monday in
July as Harnnful.Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week m California,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Cointra Costa County
des=grates the week ofJuly 2.0-26, 2003, a °: .:l Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week in Contra Costa
County;
CONT-.'-,N;JED ON AT A1L%EN_7: YES SIGNATURE:
-DATION OF COUNTY ADMUN,jS--RATOR DA OF B AR_ (ZOMMInTEE
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TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES
OF717HE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE
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AY RS NOES
b T ABST AIN JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE
DISFIRlICT 1111 SEAT vA�� BOARD OF 81MRVISORS AND
COVI 'rY.ADMI�ISTR 170
nract. Vinceuise, 6463-5250
Cc, County Administrator B
SOLUTIONNN . 2003/A5z
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Department of Agriculture
Date, jure 254 2003
To: John Sweeten,
County Administrator
From: Ed M y r z;' �
Agricultural Commissioner/ Director of Weights & Measures
Subject: Harmful Nonnative Weeds Awareness Week
Attached s a proposed Board Resolution declaring July 2 s 26, 2003 "Harmful
l
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 t h ch we often refer to as invasive or noxious weeds)
are a major concern for both gu� hc and private land managers in cwr county. As
we work to maintain a balance using integrated Pest Management techniques,
we are then confronted with w exotic invasive plants capable of t' rowing the
ecosystem out of balance.
:Forxampl this monthwediscovered Puri Loosestrife in the Walnut Creek
channel. This was the first discovery of this invasive pilant in our county. Purple
Loosestrife testi h s and expands popeltio s readilyin natural and disturbed
bands. Growing to a height of 4 910 feet it out-competes arid replaces native
grasses, sedges= and other flowering plants that provide a higher quality source
of nutrition for wildlife, The highly invasive nature of Purple Loosestriba allows it to
form dense, homogeneous stands that reduce habitat forwaterfowl and wetiand
pant species. As a result of early detections we are hoping to eradicate; the
infestation by coordinating sites with Flood Control while they perform normal
maintenance activitie . Million of dollars are being spent in the Northern United
States and Canada to control this species,
�n conjunction with the Board Resolution, Contra Costa Television has agreed to
include three videos r ga Ang controlling invasive weeds in their prograrnming
for the week of July 20 - 26:
}Controlling Arundo in N'our Watershed will air on Sundays July 20 at 3.30 p.m.,
Fridays July 25 at 8.30 p.m. and Saturday, iuiy 26 at noon and 8:30 p.m. Our
own Flood Controlls is wor ng 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 tl�e ted has been estimated to consume more than
3{0,10 0 acre-feet of water each year; or enough water to meet the yearly
freshwater needs of 1 50300 persons.
"Controiling Pampas Grass" will air on Sunday, Jule 20 at 4=30 ,r e, Friday July
25 at 9 p.m., and Saturday, j ly 26 at 112;30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Beans from, fertie
ornamental l t gs have allowedthis invasive plant to spread beyondits
odg n l beneficial Once in the landscape, lits 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 nnany native
plants and the nativenimal that depend on them. Thi invader has escaped in
some areas of our county and will spread without control efforts.
"Yellow St rthi tl : Managing an Invasive Allen cies" will air on Sunday, July
20 at 4:30 p.m., Friday July 25 at g p.m. and Saturdays Juba 26 at 12:30 p.m. and
g p,,n. 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 {evasive plant in California, choking out native pants and
has the potential to kl i horses when they teed -on It for an extended period of
time. This weed is a major proNem for both public and pAvate property managers
in our county.