[APWG] Saharan Mustard statement from each APWG member by Aug. 1st?

[Craig Dremann]

Dear APWG member Federal Land managers, and FHWA or DOT APWG members,

If your public agency manages lands or highways in the desert Southwest
or California deserts---it would be very useful if each agency would
post across this Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group
list-server, a statement from your agency regarding the status of the
Saharan Mustard infestation on the lands that you are managing.

If any members of the APWG will be meeting in the next few months,
either as a group, or within your own agency regarding land management
or exotic plant issues, I would appreciate that this topic be put on the
agenda.

Specifically, before August 1, 2005, a statement posted on this APWG
list-server for all the members of the Working Group, to include the
following information:

1.) CONTACT: Agency and contact person.

2.) HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?  Acknowledgment that Saharan mustard is a
huge problem in the desert, and describe how big of a problem and how
destructive is it to the desert ecosystems located on public land? 

Is the mustard impacting on Listed Endangered plants or animals?  Has
the Agency done formal consultation with the USFWS regarding the mustard
and its modification of Endangered Species habitat?

3.) ACTION: What is the agency actively doing about the mustard?

4.) ACRES: Surveys and mapping, and approximately how many acres
infested in 2005, and how does that compare to 2004, 2003, 2002, etc.? 
Is the infestation moving slowly or exploding?

5.) BUDGETS: FY 2005 budgets and FY 2006 budgets for control and
ecosystem restoration.

6.) COST PER ACRE: What are the actual costs per acre for mustard
control, and what are the costs per acre for desert restoration?

7.) CONTROL & RESTORATION: How many acres in FY 2005 and FY 2006 will be
controlled and the ecosystems restored?

8.) WHAT IS THE PLAN: What's the detailed outline for each agency, on
how the mustard is going to be managed and what is the plan to get the
desert ecosystems restored on their lands?

9.) DEADLINE TO FINISH JOB: What is the deadline date for complete
control of the mustard and restoration of the ecosystems on the lands
that each agency is managing?

10.) INVENTING EFFICIENT METHODS: How much is each agency investing in
developing and inventing efficient methods to control the mustard, or to
efficiently restore the desert ecosystems?  

11.) PRIZES FOR THE INVENTORS OF EFFICIENT METHODS: Are any "prizes"
going to be offered, by any agency, to invent efficient methods of
control or desert ecosystem restoration, or are any SBIR (Small Business
Innovative Research) grants going to be offered?   

I'll look forward to reading each agency's statement.  My own mustard
surveys and photos are at http://www.ecoseeds.com/mustards.html

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333