Noxious Weed Monitoring
In the spring of 2022, PCEC launched a habitat enhancement program with a countywide collaborative invasive weed monitoring and education outreach project.
The project seeks to inform Park County landowners and community members on the best practices for the management of noxious invasive weeds and resilient plant communities.
This work is in partnership with Park County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), MSU Extension, County Weed District, Conservation District (Park CD), and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) on the project.
We use established protocols and data analysis that supports State and National monitoring platforms, as well as newer protocols developed by Montana State University. Collecting monitoring data and information brings the potential to enhance and expand existing weed control, grazing practices, and rangeland health knowledge across the county.
Outreach and Education
Our main goal is to create opportunities to advance local knowledge of the landscape in the threat of continued pressures of drought, wildfire, and floods. We do this by providing technical assistance and connecting community members to their local resources while building strong partnerships and engaging with our neighbors willing to help. There is no silver bullet or quick fixes when it comes to treating noxious weeds effectively.
Promoting resilient plant communities and healthy soils is a good place to start. We are working hard to provide Park County residents and land managers with the tools needed, latest research for integrate weed management methods and access to alternative mitigation methods like biocontrol, and revegetation project.
Want to stay informed or get involved?
Go to the PCEC events page to see what we’re planning next, or contact Bethany for volunteer opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “weed mapping”?
Weed mapping, or inventorying, tracks location and density of weed infestations across the landscape. With this information, it is easier to locate priority areas and to plan for the best treatment methods. Integrated weed management is the best approach to rid property of noxious weeds. Each treatment method (biocontrol, herbicide, hand pulling ect.) has specific conditions like timing and ecological factors for the best results; therefore, it can be complicated to plan and execute successfully. Weed mapping is a great way to begin to simplify the process.
Currently we are working on a Yellowstone River Pre & Post Noxious Weed Inventory to assist land managers and recreationalist understand the impact the 2022 flood had on riparian vegetation.
How can I map weeds on my property or public lands I recreate on?
EDDMapS is an amazing weed specific mapping tool we use in Park County and throughout the state. This tool is utilized by private and public land managers to help map and monitor weeds. EDDMapS is also an early detection and rapid response (EDRR) tool. The most effective management action we have against the spread of noxious weeds are EDRR methods. Learn more about EDRR programs here in Montana and weeds to watch out for by clicking here.
Do you map other species of interest?
YES! We also map other plant species of concern. It is easy to get distracted by the weeds but we also need to be looking at the plants we want to manage for, as well as promote. For example, in the aftermath of the 2022 Yellowstone flood, we are starting to map the locations of cottonwood recruitment around river access sites and on river islands to better identify and protect these ecologically delicate sites.
Cottonwood Recruitment Monitoring on the Yellowstone: If you have or see any newly established cottonwood stands on the Yellowstone River please let us know! Capture the GPS coordinates and a photo to email to Bethany.
What is “treatment monitoring”?
Noxious weed treatment monitoring is the process of taking systematic and repeated measurements at a fixed location to observe the treatment of weed species and cause of changes in vegetation over time (treatment efficacy).
Understanding the effects treatment methods have not only on noxious weeds, but also native plant communities and functional groups through monitoring will provide important feedback for land management decisions and provide natural resource benefits, such as improving wildlife habitat and forage of native plant species which they rely upon.
What should participants expect?
To map infested areas, share treatment and management history, and treatment plan.
To work closely with the monitoring team in establishing permanent plots (transects) to be sampled once every year.
To gain valuable information on the effectiveness of applied treatments and the response of noxious weeds and other vegetation.
Want to get involved or have any questions?
Contact Bethany Allen, Plant Ecologist and Monitoring Program Manager
bethany@pcecmt.org or (406) 333-1398