Memo of Understanding - Noxious Weed Alliance

MOU

Southern and Central Sierra Noxious Weed Alliance

Memorandum of Understanding

of the

Southern and Central Sierra Noxious Weed Alliance

MARIPOSA, MADERA, AND FRESNO COUNTIES

California

February 8, 2005

This memorandum of understanding is made and entered into by the parties listed in section III.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum of understanding, to include all areas within Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno counties, is to promote and formalize cooperative relationships necessary for effective management, coordination, and implementation of noxious weed programs among the undersigned parties. For the purposes of this MOU, noxious weeds are invasive nonnative plants.

II. GOALS

Whereas, all parties have a mutual interest in promoting education, detection, monitoring, prevention, information exchange, and control; and share the following goals:

1. EDUCATION: increasing public awareness and involvement in Weed Alliance activities.

2. INVENTORY, DETECTION, MONITORING, AND PREVENTION: preventing new weed infestations, detecting existing infestations and preventing their spread

3. INFORMATION EXCHANGE: sharing of technical information regarding control methods, locations, new infestations, successful and unsuccessful projects amongst parties and with other Regional and local Weed Management Areas.

4. CONTROL: Combining resources to bring about effective management and eradication of designated weeds

5. COOPERATION: Facilitate development of Cooperative Agreements for local Weed Management Areas which will include opportunities for shared funding sources, resources, personnel, equipment, etc.

III. NOW THEREFORE IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ABOVE PREMISES, THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES MUTUALLY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

Coarsegold Resource Conservation District

1. Hold four field workshops per year for landowners which include a section on noxious weeds.

2. Contribute financial support for the South-Central Sierra Noxious Weed Alliance.

3. Contribute towards a photo brochure of non-native noxious invasive weed for identification and control measures.

4. Promote cost-effective science-based control of invasive weeds on public and private lands.

5. Promote Integrated Vegetation Management Programs where weeds create a negative impact on the social, cultural, economic, or natural resources of the region.