Tuesday, 01 June 2010 04:34

Last month's newsletter introduced  The Cooperative Weed Management Area Cookbook that describes how a local organization can integrate all noxious weed management resources in order to benefit entire communities.  Years of proliferation of noxious weeds in our valleys have blighted our land and choked our native plants.  To gain a perspective on how quickly these intruders can take over an area, please view the pictures and descriptions included in the following piece.  If we work together we can make the caucus area noxious weed free one weed by one weed.  We are looking for additional volunteers to be part of the committee.  To join in the effort either contact Crystal Yates-White (970) 920-5214 or use the Contact tab on the Caucus web site.

Invasive weeds:
Aggressive non-native plants which spread into native plant communities, displacing desirable species, often forming dense monotypic stands

Invasion Process:

• Introduction of a non-native plant without natural insect/disease pests
• New habitat & competitive edge favor vigorous growth and rapid spread
• Diverse native plant community replaced by weedy monoculture
• Little or no value to livestock/wildlife

“Small  Beginnings,  
Hardly  Worthy  Of  Notice,
Are  Often  The  Cause
Of  Great  Misfortune.”
- Guicciardini  1530

Invasive Weed Impacts

• Plants
• Animals
• Watershed
• Recreation

Plant Impacts

• 90 % Less Forage on Land Invaded by Medusahead or Spotted Knapweed
• 7 Rare Plant Species Eliminated in 3 Years by Spotted Knapweed Invasion in Glacier National Park
• Permanent Degradation of Native Plant Communities in Wilderness Areas

Wildlife Impacts

• 97% Reduction in Elk Grazing on Land Invaded by Spotted Knapweed
• Bison and Deer Use Reduced 82 and 70% on Land Invaded by Leafy Spurge
• Waterfowl Feeding and Nesting Near 0 on Land Invaded by Pepperweed
• Muskrat and Marsh Wren Abandoned Wetlands Infested by Purple Loosestrife

Watershed Impacts

• Springs / Rivers Dried Up By Saltcedar
• 56 % Increase in Water Runoff and 192% Increase in Soil Erosion on Land Invaded by Spotted Knapweed
• Downy Brome Increased Rangeland Wildfire Frequency From Once in 40-60 Years, to Once in 3 Years

Recreation Impacts

• $2.9 Million Annual Loss in Wildlife Related Recreation in South Dakota from Leafy Spurge
• Upland Bird Hunting Adversely Affected by Yellow Starthistle Invasion in Salmon River Breaks
• Salmon Spawning Beds Threatened by Silt From Knapweed-Related Erosion

“There’s Probably No Issue Impacting Wildlands More Than The Invasion Of Weedy Non-Native Plant Species ”
- Dick Carter, Utah Wilderness Association.  Sep 11, 1995.  Salt Lake Tribune.


“Invasive Noxious Weeds Are Proving To Be The Single Greatest Threat To Natural Ecosystems  
In The West”
- Cullota, 1994.  Science, Vol 265, 26 Aug, 1178-1179

 

Colorado Noxious Weed Act

• Establishes Colorado Noxious Weed List
• Requires all landowners to manage noxious weeds on their property.
• Sets management priorities
• Empowers the County to Enforce

Colorado Noxious Weed List

List A: Rare in Colorado

Myrtle Spurge

ERADICATE ALL LIST As

List B: More common state-wide

State works with Counties to set management goal.



List C:  Most common Statewide

Counties set management goal.



LOOK OUT FOR THESE!

DAME’S ROCKET

 

YELLOW STARTHISTLE

< Prev		Next >