The department shall coordinate rangeland protection projects developed under the Rangeland Protection Act. In the performance of its function, the department shall:

A. establish contact with ranchers, Indian tribes and pueblos, local soil and water conservation district boards and appropriate state and federal agencies to determine desire for participation in brush and weed management programs;

B. coordinate field inspections on participating ranches with ranchers, local soil and water conservation district boards, appropriate state and federal agencies and other persons with needed expertise to evaluate the extent of the problem;

C. obtain a written recommendation from persons participating in the field inspections relative to need for and feasibility of control;

D. closely coordinate project activities with local soil and water conservation district boards;

E. under guidelines established by the committee, prepare and implement a plan for each project to receive brush and weed control. Each plan shall include such information as extent of the problem, number of acres by species and land status, recommended method and season of control, estimated cost of control for each participating individual or agency and necessary follow-up management practices required to enhance successful restoration and conservation of the treated area;

F. conduct the contract process to obtain services for control;

G. supervise and administer the actual contracted control or management projects in the field to assure compliance with the contract;

H. maintain an information repository on current technology for brush and weed control; and

I. cooperate and coordinate with any individual or county, state or federal governmental agency or its subdivisions to carry out its duties under this section.

History: Laws 1985, ch. 53, § 4.