|
RS300
Fall F99 Rocky Mountain Arsenal Model abstract |
| An abstract should state the issue being addressed and location of the site. It should relate the goals of the project, outline the approach and rationale, state the activities and describe the response. Here’s your chance to judge how well I do the above compared to your attempt. Abstracts are difficult. |
| The US Fish and Wildlife Service chose to accelerate the rate of succession at the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, CO. The goal is to restore the area to mimic the structure and function of a shortgrass prairie within 10 to 25 years. Kochia, cheatgrass and crested wheatgrass currently occupy the site. The plan is to kill existing vegetation by undercutting and disk plowing to a depth of about 4 inches in early spring. Even though 3 range sites are represented on the area, I plan to treat the area uniformly knowing response will vary across the site because of different soil types. I plan to broadcast seed a mix of native species across all soil types. The mix will contain seed of all representative plants. Irrigation will ensure seed-soil contact. Annual weeds will be controlled by flail-cutting in mid June and August, if needed. Plant community composition will be managed post-emergence by amount and timing of water application. Fall and spring irrigation can be used to encourage cool-season grasses; early summer irrigation to encourage warm-season grasses. Mowing or grazing in late spring will negatively impact cool-season grasses and encourage warm-season grasses. |