[APWG] MONEY to convert weeds back to 100% native, in the arid West

[Craig Dremann - Redwood City Seed Company]

Dear Wayne and All,

You bring up the issue of money, what is the cost to convert California
weed patches, back to local native species, 100%?

Those details are at http://www.ecoseeds.com/standards.html with a 1/10th
acre by 1/10th acre approach.

There is a baseline estimated price for the first 1/10th acre within a 20
inches of precip. per year area, with surcharges for additional problems
about the site, like:

1.) Less than 20 inches annual precip.
2.) Unusual soil types, like serpentine, sand dunes, etc.
3.) If the site is above 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) elevation.
4.) Angle of site, adding a slope surcharge for every degree above level.
5.) Are you working within Endangered species habitat?
6.) Top soil disturbance surcharge
7.) Human-induced toxins surcharge, like salt brines, road salt, etc.
8.) Global warming/drought surcharge

My suggestions have been, to use Licensed Restoration technologies that
have high quality Performance Standards supporting them.

Using public domain (meaning what you can find in journal articles, or you
can get for free), unlicensed ecological restoration technologies, without
any Performance Standards, you can see what $450,000 can do to convert the
weeds in two plots,  in the Sacramento valley, west of Davis, at
http://www.ecoseeds.com/road.test.html -- visited and photographed on Friday.

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333