Noxious Weeds & Integrated Weed Management

Purpose: To establish and implement a strategy with the Tonto Weed Management Area* (TWMA) and other state partners to address the control of non-native invasive plants, known as noxious weeds, through public and decision maker education and action in order to control and contain established infestations, prevent introductions, eradicate spot infestations, and limit impact to the county and state’s economic and ecological resources.

* - A Weed Management Area is a distinct geographic area based on similar physical, biological and human use patterns and weed species in which an organized team of individuals and organizations that accept responsibility for weed management cooperatively develop common management objectives, facilitate effective treatment and coordinate efforts to control or prevent the spread of invasive plants.

Expected Results:
• Implementation of a balanced approach to protect agriculture and natural areas from invasive plants and to diminish their impacts through broad constituencies, land use interests and management involvement.
• Mobilization of an effective cadre of Weed Management Areas and supporters to address invasive species, especially involving the state public policy decision makers.
• Creation of a government-based infrastructure to combat invasive plants based on the grass-roots, voluntary, multi-stakeholder weed management area.

Situation: Many plant species are deemed noxious weeds because of their ability to impact ecological and economic values. They are considered non-native and aggressively invasive. They are capable of quickly displacing native vegetation. Control vectors of their native lands are not present. They are usually have little forage value and are sometimes poisonous. They do not respect boundaries. Well-established populations are always difficult to control and seldom eradicated. It is estimated that the cost to control a noxious weed doubles every fours it is not treated. I found that the widespread lack of awareness of the potentially damaging impacts of noxious weeds is a great deterrence to expedient and efficient control.

Three noxious weeds, yellow starthistle, diffuse knapweed and dalmation toadflax, were introduced to areas of Gila County over the past decade or more. Other noxious weeds have been discovered since the program began, including Malta starthistle, jointed goatgrass and sweet resinbush.