Application Submitted 4.14.26.pdf

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1. Application / Project Title (100 Character Max)

Buckeye Skyline Regional Park Invasive Plant Management

2. Organization Name (100 Character Max)

City of Buckeye

3. Project Lead (100 Character Max)

Rob Roach, Grant Program Manager, and Courtney Gomez, Grant Program Administrator

4. Program / Project Congressional District (Check Box)

9

5. Program / Project Legislative District (Check Box)

25

6. Unique Entity Number (UEI) (Yes / No)

Yes

7. Previous Funding (100 Character Max)
Has the project area been treated with DFFM grant funds in the past (Yes/No)? If yes, what year

and what was the funding source? Provide DFFM grant agreement number if known.

No, the project area has not been treated with DFFM grant funds in the past.

8. Target Species (100 Character Max)

List the target invasive plant or plants to be treated.

Buffelgrass, Stinknet, Red Brome, Camelthorn, and Fountain Grass

9. Acres to be Treated (#)

List the number of acres to be treated. This number should reflect the “gross area” or general
perimeter of the invasive plant infestation. For more information, please see the 2026 IPG
Application Project Form.

500

10. Treatment Polygon (Yes / No)

Do you currently have a GIS polygon layer for the proposed treatment area or the areas to be
surveyed if this is an Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) project? If your project is

selected for funding, a GIS polygon layer will be required.

Yes

11. Match Contribution (#)

What is the percent match contribution? This is calculated by dividing the total amount of
match by the total project cost (grant share plus match) and multiplying by 100. Percent match
contribution should be 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 30% of the total cost.

10

12. Map and Center Coordinates (0-10 Points; Upload Project Overview Map)

Maximum of 1 page (8 % x 11). Overview map must show the project area, planned treatment
areas, and adjacency to completed, in-progress, or planned IP projects. Provide coordinates for
the approximate center of the project area in decimal form.

Map & Center Coordinates.pdf &

13. Project Overview and Area Description (0-10 Points; 1,000 Character Max)

Provide an overview of the project area, existing vegetation types, and need for funding.
Describe the current population of the target species and any previous control efforts. Describe

if the project occurs on more than one land ownership.

The project is for prevention, control, and removal of invasive plants within 500 acres of the 8,700-
acre Skyline Regional Park. The park is in the White Tank Mountains within the Sonoran Desert,
with 22 miles of recreational trails. Flora includes ironwood, palo verde, mesquite trees, and many
types of cacti. Invasive species and their coverage of the target area include: Buffelgrass 40%,
Stinknet 25%, Red Brome 15%, Camelthorn 10%, and Fountain Grass 10%. These plants have
infiltrated the area and must be removed from competing with native plants for resources. Buckeye
has not had the budget to perform eradication efforts. Volunteers pulled and bagged weeds across 5
acres per year in the winter, as this is the growing season in Buckeye. After the targeted area is
treated, Buckeye plans to budget about $100,000 a year for ongoing treatment and maintenance.
Buckeye will engage the services of a skilled contractor to aid in treating and removing invasive
plants from the area annually.

14. Project Goals and Objectives (15 Points; 1,500 Character Max)

Describe the importance of the project and identify the broad, long-term goals. List the specific,
short-term objectives that will be used to achieve these goals, and identify how the success of

these actions will be measured.

Buckeye is committed to maintaining the health and beauty of Skyline Regional Park and providing
safe and enjoyable experiences while inspiring conservation of natural resources and cultural
heritage. The non-native invasive species targeted for removal and their coverage of the area are as
follows: Buffelgrass 40%, Stinknet 25%, Red Brome 15%, Camelthorn 10%, and Fountain Grass
10%. This project will remove invasive species and noxious weeds from a 500-acre area within
Skyline Park. Backpack sprayers and UTV/ATV sprayers will be used for herbicide application.
Mechanical treatments for invasive plant removal will be used to include grading, weed-eating, and
manual removal of weeds with hand tools. Buckeye will utilize the services of a contractor to
execute the project. To sustain this project after the initial removal, Buckeye will continue preventive
treatment throughout the growing season each year, using its staff and a professional contractor to
assist in this effort. Additionally, Buckeye Park staff will monitor the 500 acres each year to assess
treatment needs. Photo points will be taken before and after the project, and before and after the
growing season each year. Buckeye staff will measure success by initiating ongoing monitoring and
assessment of the eradication success by engaging an independent contractor to provide periodic
reports. Photo points will be compared semi-annually to assess progress and the need for
improvement by Buckeye Park staff.

15. Scope of Work and Project Timeline (15 Points; 1,500 Character Max)

Outline the work to be performed and identify who will complete project activities. Detail
specific treatment methods, provide the names of herbicides, and provide a timeline with start /

end dates. Include annual milestones and quarterly accomplishments.

The project eradicates and prevents non-native invasive plants and noxious weeds. A subject matter
expert independent contractor will be retained to complete the project. The contractor will use
backpack sprayers and UTV/ATV sprayers for herbicide applications, including Glyphosate, Speed
Zone South, Pendulum, Cap, and XL 2G for various control levels. Mechanical treatments include
grading, weed-eating, and manual weed removal with shovels and hand tools. The contractor will
ensure the complete eradication of roots to prevent regrowth and will be responsible for bagging
and removing invasive plant materials. The aforementioned post-emergent and pre-emergent
herbicides were selected to target invasive species and prevent future growth while minimizing
impact on native flora.

The contractor will perform off-site debris removal and prevention services, including furnishing all
labor, material, equipment, and supplies. The Buckeye Parks Manager (BPM) will monitor and
inspect the work area daily. Permits and environmental clearances are not required.

The work is estimated to start by 11/01/2026 and be completed by 12/15/2026. This time is best for
control when buffelgrass is growing, before stinknet produces seeds, before seed maturation of red
brome, during camelthorn active growth, and before fountain grass new growth. No delays are
expected. The contractor shall maintain approved work schedules. Buckeye will provide annual
vegetation maintenance services to maintain the park.

16. Disposal and Prevention (0-10 Points; 1,000 Character Max)

Detail how workers will dispose of invasive plant materials and decontaminate equipment.
Explain the protocol that will be followed when workers enter and leave a work site. Describe
how this project will minimize reinvasion.

Invasive plant materials will be bagged and removed from the site for disposal at a refuse dump
daily. Personnel will don single-use personal protection gear, such as gloves, hats, vests, and safety
glasses, to protect themselves from the elements and invasive species contaminants and disposed
off-site daily. Off-site from the park, equipment will be brushed, air or wet blasted, or high-pressure
cleaned, and washed and rinsed with appropriate cleaning solutions. Pre-emergent herbicides will
be used to prevent the germination of weed seeds by creating a chemical barrier in the soil. Pre-
Emergence Treatments have been used in specific areas, where Buckeye has applied granular pre-
emergence herbicides, such as XL 2G, to prevent the germination and spread of weeds. Research
resources include “Long-term trends in restoration and associated land treatments in the
southwestern United States” by Steel Copeland, etc., and the DFFM 2018 Arizona Invasive Plant
Treatment Prioritization.

17. Collaborative Elements and Partners (0-10 Points; 1,000 Character Max)

Provide information about collaborative planning and implementation of the project. Outline the
contributions of each partner and whether they are financial, technical or both. If permits or

environmental clearances are needed, please describe.

The Buckeye Parks and Recreation staff will cooperatively engage the White Tank Mountain
Conservancy (WTMC) regarding this project. WTMC is an active group of volunteers with a mission
to “inspire all to conserve and enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the White Tank Mountains”.
WTMC conducts numerous recreational and educational activities throughout the year. WTMC
maintains an informative website and posts on social media. WTMC will be contacted for input into
the project and for volunteer help regarding public education. WTMC will also be contacted
regarding volunteer work for the execution of this project and ongoing sustainability.

Buckeye Park staff and the Buckeye Communications staff will also direct efforts to inform and
involve the community in the invasive species removal project, which may be in the form of
meetings, workshops, educational materials, social media, and online resources. The City of
Buckeye is the sole owner of the park.

18. Sustainability Plan (0-15 Points; 1,500 Character Max)

Describe the plan for maintaining the benefits of the project after this grant period concludes.
Specify who will be completing the necessary maintenance work. Discuss the use of
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or similar formal commitments.

This is an invasive species removal project at Skyline Regional Park in the White Tank Mountains.
The purpose is to provide a “one-time catch-up” of eradication of Buffelgrass, Stinknet, Red Brome,
Camelthorn, and Fountain Grass while engaging the community for ongoing support and
maintenance.

Buckeye proposes to establish an annual maintenance plan going forward that will be supported by
the Buckeye General Fund budget to sustain the successful results accomplished by this grant
project. The maintenance plan will be developed annually to fit the requirements of local conditions,
types of vegetation, and climate factors. Buckeye intends to continue to receive the support of the
White Tank Mountain Conservancy, as evidenced by the attached letter of support. To sustain this
project after the initial invasive species removal, Buckeye will continue preventive treatment
throughout the growing season each year, using its staff and a professional contractor to assist in
this effort. Additionally, Buckeye Parks staff will survey and monitor the 500 acres each year to
assess treatment needs. Photo points will be taken before and after the project as well as before
and after the growing season each year. Buckeye will measure success by initiating ongoing
monitoring and assessment of the eradication success by engaging an independent contractor to
provide mapping and periodic reports. Photo points will be compared to assess progress and need
for improvement by Buckeye Parks staff.

19. Budget (0-15 Points; Upload Budget Form)

Upload the Budget Worksheet (Doc/Docx, PDF or JPG format) - Maximum of 2 pages (8 % x 11) -
The Budget Worksheet can be found at the solicitation webpage (20 MB max).

Application_Project Budget.pdf &

Upload Letters of Support (Optional, Maximum of 5 pages - 8 1/2 x 11)
Upload Letters of Support - Maximum of 5 pages (8 * x 11) in one electronic file (PDF or JPG

format)

LOS WTMC.pdf &