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BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) -- A plan to control invasive, non-native plants at southern Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park has won final approval.
A "finding of no significant impact" was approved by the National Park Service after it was decided that the plan will not adversely affect cultural or historical resources or the Utah prairie dog, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The park will use an integrated pest management plan that includes fire, mechanical, chemical and biological controls of invasive vegetation.
At the same time, the plan is designed to preserve and restore native and sensitive plant species, and to minimize the effects of human activities on native plants.
Elsewhere, local and state agencies are stepping up efforts to eradicate invasive plant species across Utah.
Plants such as the yellow starthistle are being removed from the City Creek Canyon area because of their depletion of water resources. Dyer's woad has long been the bane of farmers and ranchers, taking over pasture lands.
Most cities and counties in Utah have embarked on aggressive invasive plant control programs that rely on a variety of methods to remove non-native plants, many of which were introduced to the state through the importation of hay and other crop products.
Because of its stewardship over cultural and historical resources, the park service must conduct an extensive review so its invasive plant control programs have the least adverse impacts possible.
The latest plan was approved by Mary Gibson Scott, acting director of the park service's intermountain region. It also was endorsed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Lori Hunsaker, Utah deputy state historic preservation officer.
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Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
