By Tom and Donna Walker

Introduction Presenters

Donna Walker – Horticultural Lecturer Tom Walker – Horticultural Industry

Purpose Encourage weed eradication and control

Objective today Awareness and Education

Terminology Weeds – Undesirable plants. Noxious weeds – Weeds that are

particularly troublesome. Invasive plants – Plants from other places,

not found here naturally.

Seed Distribution – Invasion Vehicles – Cars, Bikes and Trucks. People – Boots and Clothing. Animals - Local

Soil Disturbances – Propagation Road building without weed control Construction without reclamation Weed Pulling without re-seeding

Exponential Growth Weeds make tens of

thousands of seeds per year.

Weed seeds viable up to 20 years, creating a “seed bank”.

One Knapweed, 10 years = 36,513 acres or 5 trillion seeds.

Apathy – Perpetuation Ecological risk

Decline and loss of native varieties Decline of wildlife –

Grazers and pollinators Loss of Shelter Loss of Nesting

Loss of plant diversity

Apathy – Perpetuation Environmental risk

Increased evaporation Desert encroachment Increased erosion

Apathy – Perpetuation Economic risk

Loss of tourism. CSU Extension says, “In CB the Ox-Eye daisy is

crowding out the wildflowers they are famous for.” CoDeptAg says, “CB is a lost cause”

Declining property values. Declining grazing acres. Increased fire danger – Brome grass. Escalating eradication costs.

Governmental Action Taken Federal Law – Subtitle E – Noxious Weed

Control and Eradication. The Secretary of Agriculture is required, “to provide assistance to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate noxious weeds on public and private lands”.

Government Actions Taken Colorado State – Title 35 The Colorado

Noxious Weed Law 1990. Mandates the enforcement responsibility to county and local government.

Law provides authority for assessment, notification, citation, access, remediation and the filing of tax liens on property.

Government Action Needed Gunnison County –

Grossly under funded. No weed board, one interim agent. No intention of citing property owners or

enforcing state law. Other Colorado counties are actively combating the problem. See LaPlata County (Durango), http://www.lpcweeds.org

Government Action Needed Cities - Crested Butte, Almont, and

Crested Butte South currently contract with Gunnison County. No weed boards No enforcement. Lack of programs.

Establish – A Weed Agenda Understand the Risk. Know the Law. Assess the problem. Support Integrated Weed Management methods

on city properties. Help Craft Ordinances. Help Educate land owners. Help Enforce and monitor compliance.

Real Estate Law The Colorado Real Estate Commission

requires that the presence of weeds must be disclosed in writing and acknowledged by the buyer, prior to closing. This applies to commercial, residential and agricultural property.

More Bad Weeds Coming Knapweed – adapting to elevations Yellow Star Thistle – fatal to horses Curly Dock Perennial Sow Thistle – first seen in 06 Absinth Wormwood - Allelopathic

Call to Action Learn more… Contact your Councilmen and Commissioners Talk to your neighbors and friends. Clean up your property. Volunteer to pull weeds. Be seed-free before entering the wilderness. Report back country sightings to GC or BLM

Herbicide Primer Personal concerns

Toxicological - real Psychological - presumed

Environmental concerns Impact on animals and desirables Persistence

In ground In waterways

Herbicides (preferred) Milestone (cool weather broadleaf selective)

Great on Chamomile Sterilizes seed Microbial breakdown Short half life Reduced rate (3-5 oz per acre) Toxicologically insignificant Environmentally (in new EPA “reduced risk” class)

Herbicides (preferred) Escort (cool weather broadleaf selective)

Great on Toadflax (linaria bulgaris) Translocates via rhysomes Microbial breakdown Short half life Reduced rate (1.5 oz per acre) Toxicologically insignificant

Cultural Practice Grass Seeding with

Slender Wheatgrass (San Luis) Sherman Big Bluegrass Winchester Idaho Fescue Lodorm Green Needlegrass

Water to establish Reseed, reseed, reseed….