Transcript presentation

Aerial Application of Herbicide for Control of Invasive Species
Mt Home AFB, Idaho
Hill AFB/UTTR, Utah
Smokey Hill ANG Range, Kansas
910th AW/Aerial Spray Squadron
Youngstown, OH
MAIN MISSION
PROTECT TROOPS AGAINST
VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE
(MALARIA, DENGUE, LEISHMANIASIS)
•WARTIME DOC: EUCOM, CENTCOM
•In practice only participate in
humanitarian/domestic contingencies
SPRAY MISSIONS
INSECT CONTROL (WAR MSN)
VEGETATION CONTROL
OIL DISPERSAL
(TOXIN/BIO/CHEM
DECONTAMINATION)
Cheatgrass!!!
Invasive species
Annual Winter Grass
Widespread in Western States
Invades Quickly
Out competes native grasses
Creates huge fire danger
Mt. Home AFB goals:
Minimize fire hazard/create fire breaks
Allow native vegetation to re-establish
Features:
Highly selective herbicide
Controls annual broams and annual and perennial
noxious weeds
Enzyme inhibitor—prevents amino acid synthesis
Low toxicity to mammals, insects, other invertebrates
and aquatic life
VERY Expensive!!!
Biomass Production
Plant sample weights (grams/2 meter2) with Litter
600
(g/2 m2)
500
400
300
200
100
0
Non-treated
Control
cheatgrass
Plateau
6 oz/ac
Plateau
8 oz/ac
Sandberg's bluegrass
Data collected and analyzed by Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
Plateau
10 oz/ac
Plateau
12 oz/ac
annual forbs
Litter
Mission Parameters:
100 ft application altitude
230 mph
100 ft swath width
Flow rate 325 gal/min with raindrop nozzles
Rate: 7 gallons/acre (4 oz/acre Plateau)
Total acreage: 2000+
2006 Mountain Home Aerial Spray Project—Plateau® Application for Cheatgrass
Outcome:
10 sorties over 5 days: 13.9 hours
Complete coverage with GPS confirmation
Area to be field checked next spring for efficacy
Pleased customer
Ironic updates:
Approx. 200 acres of treated area burned
Hill AFB/UTTR
8000+ Acres
Halogeton control
Clearing bombing ranges of weed pests
to facilitate UXO removal
Halogeton:
Invasive Species
Found in Alkaline/Salt soils in arid environments….widely distributed
Not particularly competitive, but easily establishes on disturbed sites
Plant secondary compounds toxic to livestock
Seeds remain viable for YEARS
Krovar: (Bromacil/Diuron)
Soil Sterilant applied before active growing season
Needs to move into root zone (some precipitation required)
Effective, fairly cheap.
Moves readily
Smoky Hill ANG, Kansas
Tordon® Application for
Musk Thistle
Musk Thistle:
Biennial Invasive Species
Reduces forage quality and yields
Biological control agents available
Not 100% effective
Difficult to establish
Best Control Practices include
limiting seed production
Chemical application prior to
germination critical
3221 Acres Treated (2006)
4 Sorties/6.0 flight time
2 gallon/acre
300’ Swath Width
Requirements for aerial spray project:
Statement of need
Environmental Assessment
Installation pays for:
Per Diem
Chemical
Installation provides logistical support
For Consultation Only
Request Procedure Flow
INSTALLATION
HQ AFRC
DOOM
INTERMEDIATE
COMMANDS
910 AIRLIFT WING
AERIAL SPRAY
Direct contact
authorized for
coordination
Procedure for requesting assistance within DoD
Additional information in AFI 32-1074
We need new Reservists!!!