Working Across Boundaries on Integrated Weed Management… The Blackfoot Weed Management Project
One of the most challenging natural resource issues facing many western communities is the spread of noxious weeds. Here in the Blackfoot it’s no different with the health of native grasslands, ranchlands, forests and streamsides depending on private and public efforts to manage weeds.
The list of weeds in the Blackfoot includes known invaders like spotted knapweed, leafy spurge, yellow toadflax, Canada thistle, St. Johnswort, houndstongue, sulfur cinquefoil, oxeye daisy, hoary cress, common tansy and a number of new invaders like Dalmatian toadflax, orange hawkweed and yellowflag iris.
Weed Identification Sites
While the list may be daunting, the cooperative efforts of public and private landowners, federal and state agencies, county weed coordinators and extension agents, and other non-profit organizations have been remarkable.
Since 1994, the Blackfoot Challenge Weeds Committee has coordinated and implemented a holistic strategy for managing undesirable, invasive and noxious weeds in the watershed. Combining action with education, the core of the program is the locally-led Weed Management Areas with where neighbors work across boundaries to manage their weeds. Almost 475,000 acres are under active weed management with 380 private landowners participating in the project.
Together the weed partners explore a wide range of activities including chemical and biological weed control, revegetation with competitive noxious weed resistant grass species, livestock grazing research and field trials, prevention and eradication through rewards for sighting and reporting new invaders, technical GIS-based weed mapping, and education, awareness and outreach through field days and weed pulls. Join us at one of our summer weed pulls for a first-hand look at how partnerships are making a difference!
Key Partners
Current Projects
June 2007 Spring Weed Pull
Weed Management Areas (WMAs)
The core strength of the Blackfoot Weed Management Project is the 12 locally-led Weed Management Areas (WMAs), including: Avon, Nevada Creek, Patterson Prairie, North Fork, Middle Blackfoot, River Junction, Douglas Creek, Double Arrow, Woodworth, Greenough, Potomac, and the Blackfoot River. The average WMA has 32 participants and encompasses 39,500 acres. Each WMA is organized by a local landowner who serves as a volunteer leader. Once the group is formally organized, the WMA receives technical, educational and funding assistance from the county weed district. If you are a landowner in the Blackfoot and are interested in participating in a WMA or have questions, please contact your local weed district:
- Missoula County – (406) 258-4215 or www.mslacountyweed.org
- Powell County – (406) 846-3348
- Lewis and Clark County – (406) 447-8436
Blackfoot Weed Pull and River Cleanup Day
The Blackfoot Challenge sponsors two Anglers Against Weeds - Weed Pull/River Cleanup Days at Russell Gates Fishing Access in June and August. The purpose of the weed pulls is to see first-hand the impact of weeds and educate community members, recreationists and sportsmen about the importance of working together on weed management. Community members and partners help pull knapweed and leafy spurge from the river corridor.
Multi-Species Grazing Field Trials
Since 2000, goats and sheep have been used to graze spotted knapweed on the Mannix Brothers Ranch in Helmville, MT. Thanks to the willingness of the landowners and assistance from Sieben Livestock, the Montana Sheep Institute, MSU, and many others, the partnership has been monitoring and evaluating results through various grazing trials.
2005 Multi-Species Field Tour and Panel Presentation
2005 Blackfoot Weed Management Project Annual Report
To get a feel for the range of activities and partners involved in the project, please see our annual report.
Landowner Education & Resources
Websites of Interest
Montana’s Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness & Education Program – Provides references and resources for education and awareness of the serious impacts of noxious weeds on the economy and environment of Montana
www.weedawareness.org
Montana Weed Control Association – Provides weed identification, impacts, weed news, information on herbicides, biocontrol, weed bills and more
www.mtweed.org
Montana War on Weeds – Developed by Whitehall High School students, this site provides a user-friendly list of weed resources including: weed information, weed control, insectaries, and more.
http://mtwow.org
Center for Invasive Plant Management – Provides a range of information on ecological management of invasive plants including CWMA resources, education, management, grants, and more
www.weedcenter.org
UM Invaders Database System – A comprehensive database of exotic plant names and weed distribution records for five states in the northwestern United States
http://invader.dbs.umt.edu/
