Henrys Fork CWMA

Herbicide Treatments

Herbicides are an effective and efficient tool for the control of most Idaho

 noxious weeds.  Herbicide application and rates are dependent on

 specific site characteristics, target plant, location, non-target

 vegetation and land-use. Herbicides are an important method of

 treatment when control or eradication is the management objective.

 Environmental concerns make  it critical to follow all label instructions,

 site directions and safety precautions when using any herbicide.

  The 2009 Island Park/North Fork Initiative enabled landowners to spray pastures and

  rangeland infected with Leafy Spurge, Canada thistle, and Spotted Knapweed.  Most

  land owners who used the cost share program took the county labor option, rather than

  doing it themselves, which made for a busy summer. The work that Fremont County

  Weed Department has done on this project in the past has helped set the ground work

  for next year. The county already has people wanting their private property sprayed for

  weeds next year, because of the impacts they’ve seen.  The project is also helping

  cleanup the landscape and bring back native vegetation.   The people who have participated in this project are dedicated

  to weed control and will continue to work with the weed programs designed for their property.  Overall, this project gets

  better each year as it grows. 

                                                          The 2009 Bitch Creek Project was another big success.  The CWMA had a big turnout for this work day, seventeen participants representing private landowners, surrounding counties, BLM, Forest Service, and Fish and Game came to support the spray day which enabled the project to cover all the different property owners along this stretch of land. After several years of this  project, the majority of the Leafy Spurge has left and native species have regained the completive edge. This project is one of the CWMA’s biggest  success.  The project goal was to control and contain Leafy Spurge in the area near Bitch Creek, which borders Fremont and Teton Counties.  Most of the land  treated was privately owned pasture recently taken out of CRP, land bordering  the forest, roadsides, and land along the Bitch Creek drainage.  Due to the successful control this project has had during the previous two years we were able to expand the scope of this project from Hatches Corner and Felt to the Fremont County line.  An estimated 240 acres of Leafy Spurge was treated as well as 60 acres of Musk Thistle and 2 acres of Spotted Knapweed.

  The 2009 Parker / Crapo project occurred on Idaho Fish & Game land and Crapo

  Farms northwest of Parker.  Spotted Knapweed has become a major concern on the

  desert portion of the Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area.  Adjoining agriculture

  fields contained monocultures of Spotted Knapweed which were spreading onto the

  desert with the aid of wind and vehicles.  Early in the summer Fremont County and

  Idaho Fish & Game conducted a weed mapping day at the project to determine the

  total affected area. Later in the summer with the help of Fish & Game employees,

  Fremont County, and Madison County, 365 acres were treated.  Boomless ATV

  sprayers and backpack sprayers were the primary equipment used on the project. 

  Future plans for the surrounding area will include more ground spraying and

  biological releases through a Landowner Incentive Project (LIP) federal grant.

  Herbicides are a valuable tool in combating noxious weeds.  Always read and follow the label.  For assistance

  planning herbicides treatment of noxious weeds contact your County Weed Department.