New Invasives and Other Weeds to Worry About Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Program
What s wrong with Noxious Weeds? Numerous Impacts Reduce crop value or production Pose hazard to humans and animals Cause flooding Lower land values or decrease uses Reduce recreational uses Destroy wildlife habitat Can significantly alter ecological functions They re MONSTERS!
What s the big deal? US Forest Service calls noxious weeds second Plain Economics leading cause of species endangerment Knapweed infestations in Montana rangeland and wildland The BLM cost estimates about $42 million 4,600 annually. acres of wildlife habitat Leafy taken spurge over in every Montana, day by North non-native Dakota, South plants Dakota & Wyoming costs $129.5 million annually and Creates the perfect environment for additional represents a loss of 1,433 jobs non-native species Just 22 of Oregon s 99 noxious weeds annually cost $83 million in lost production, equivalent to 3,329 jobs. Weeds have an estimated cost to the nation s farmers, water quality and recreational areas of $34.7 billion annually. Cornell University Study
What are Noxious Weeds? Non-natives Aggressive Difficult to Control Once Established Cause Economic or Environmental Damage Problem that won t go away/ increases with time Listed by the State Weed Board
What does Washington State do about noxious weeds? Federal Noxious Weed Law Aimed at preventing invasive exotic introductions Meet or match local programs State Noxious Weed Law Prevention/Early Intervention Strategy Prioritized weed list-revised annually County Weed Boards Local control Broad enforcement powers
Other things we do Education Weed control advice Tools General weed ID On-site consultation Community projects Agency partnerships
MOST EFFICIENT STRATEGY EDRR Early Detection/Rapid Response
Some new weeds to worry about..
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Biennial White-4 petaled flower Serrated leaves Thin seed pod S-shaped root Garlic odor
Mustard Family In King County Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) In King County
Look-a-like Money Plant (Lunaria annua) Pink or white flowers-4 petaled Leaves clasp stem Seed pods round
Native look-a-likes Saxifrage Family Fringecup Piggyback Plant
Mustard Family Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) Annual, Biennial, Perennial White flower-4 petaled-split Round beaked pods, along flowering stem Multistemed-from base Alternate leaves, upper clasp stem Toxic to horses Found in Carlsborg area, Clallam
Evening Primrose Family Hairy Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) LARGE pink flowers in leaf axils HAIRY leaves and stem, toothed margin Tall LONG Rhizomes
Hairy willowherb at Carrie Blake park
Native look-a-like Willowherb spp. Small pink flowers from leaf axils Opposite leaves Short rhizomes, offsets or none Often weedy E. cilatum-difficult to distinquish
Native look-a-like Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) Purple flowers in long spires Alternate leaves Prominent mid-vein Smooth
Things to think about: Does it self seed or spread easily? Is it out-competing other plants? Does it form a monoculture? Prevention is KEY! Are there others?
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) ^Orange with spots, spurs ^Native to east coast-can hybridize with I. ecalcarata ^proliferating in JeffCo Policeman s helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) ^ noxious weed Touch-me-not Spurless Balsam (Impatiens nole-tangere) (Impatiens ecalcarata) ^native-not recorded ^spurless, rare native on Olympic Peninsula
Holy Hogweed Batman, what should we do?
Become the expert! Report new plants or suspicious plant behavior European hawkweed (Hieracium sabaudum)- Hwy 101
Look what the dog dragged in
Prevention Make sure rock sources or stock piles are weed free.
Use weed free erosion control materials and mulch.
WWHAM: Locally available! Washington Wilderness Hay and Mulch http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/wwham/wwham_suppliers.htm http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/faqs/weed-free.htm
Keep equipment weed free
Be careful not to spread weeds during regular maintenance activities.
Choose weed-free bird seed.
Avoid over achievers
Go native!
Get involved!
Yellow archangel weed pull on Discovery Trail Get involved!
Ultimate Goal: Minimize Weed Impacts Protect Land Uses and Values
Ultimate Goal: Protect Natural Resources