Now the forest is fighting back with weed-eating goats and sheep, aggressive attacks on new weeds, and restoration of native plants and their habitat.
A newly released, forest wide final environmental impact statement (EIS) and record of decision outlines and assesses the effects of the Lolo forest's updated noxious weed management program.
- Adding goat and sheep grazing to the forest's weed-fighting arsenal
- Increasing the emphasis on treating new weed species and infestations while they're small - and before they spread to other areas
- Allowing forest weed managers to better prioritize where weed treatments occur
- Improving coordination with adjacent landowners and other groups interested in actively managing weeds.
Across the forest, 78,443 acres have been identified as needing treatment for weed infestations.
According to Lolo National Forest weed program leader Andy Kulla, noxious weeds pose an increasing threat to native ecosystems and other plant communities.
“We've known for a long time that noxious weeds are a problem on disturbed sites, but we're also seeing more evidence that weeds can and are invading undisturbed areas,” he said.
Kulla said noxious weeds often crowd out and displace native plants that are considered an indication of healthy ecosystems.
Under the updated program, “we're not just trying to kill weeds, we want to restore and protect native and beneficial weed-resistant vegetation,” he said.
The updated weed management program will emphasize:
- Preventing the establishment of potential weed invaders
- Eradicating new invaders before they become established and widespread
- Containing or reducing the spread of weeds that infest a limited area of the forest
- Controlling widespread weeds in areas with high resource value or in areas that are currently weed free.
Under the new decision, the Lolo forest could treat up to 15,000 acres of noxious weeds annually. Treatment methods may include the use of herbicides, biological agents, mechanical treatments, and goat and sheep grazing.
The forest currently has in place and has updated noxious weed mitigation practices, such as washing off-road machinery and firefighting vehicles to prevent the spread of weeds.
On the Web
To read the Lolo National Forest's environmental impact statement and record of decision on noxious weed management, go online to www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo.
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