Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13-Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining
May 23, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining
SUMMARY--Urges certain managers of public land to survey, control and promote control of noxious weeds. (BDR R-1728)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION--Urging certain managers of public land to survey, control and promote the control of noxious weeds.
Whereas, Noxious weeds have a negative effect upon the environment, impacting all residents of the State of Nevada and affecting the land used for grazing by domestic and wild animals, farmland, native habitat, open spaces and urban areas; and
Whereas, Noxious weeds compete with native plants and spread rapidly, replacing diverse plant communities with unproductive monocultures that severely impact the environment; and
Whereas, Once a noxious weed is introduced into an area, it becomes established, reproduces and disperses its seeds in such a manner that has often been described as "an explosion in slow motion"; and
Whereas, Since control or management of noxious weeds is most effective and least costly during the introduction and establishment phases, and extremely difficult upon dispersal, identification of potential infestations at the early stages is essential; and
Whereas, Problems with noxious weeds in the State of Nevada have not been as severe as in other western states, but recent floods have contributed to a potentially threatening dispersal of these destructive weeds; and
Whereas, Economic losses from noxious weeds can reach major proportions, if ignored, when such weeds become established on lands used for grazing, and environmentally there is evidence that they reduce considerably the conservation of soil and water; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada, Jointly, That the members of the Nevada Legislature do hereby urge the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy and the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service of the U.S. Department of Interior to:
1. Survey for, monitor and control existing noxious weed infestations;
2. Participate actively and in cooperation with state agencies to eradicate newly introduced and not yet established noxious weeds; and
3. Educate the managers of public land in the State of Nevada concerning the potential for loss of productive land if noxious weeds are allowed to proliferate; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy and the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service of the U.S. Department of Interior and each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage and approval.