Please note that this site is privately owned and receives no moneys of any kind either from individuals, businesses or any government agency. This site has no affiliation with the Fire Mountain Canal Corporation outside of being an ordinary paying water user. Please see the bottom of the "About" page for additional legal disclaimers. This section is divided into two sections. The first section deals with State/Federal designated noxious weeds, their properties and how they are spread. The herbicide page deals with the herbicides used to keep the designated noxious weeds under reasonable control. It's in everybody's interest to support an integrated plan that maintains reasonable control of noxious weeds by using the least amount of chemicals, labor, machine time and/or fuel possible. All are getting more expensive as time progresses. The biggest justifications in my mind for the control of noxious weeds is in maintaining farm property values. Another factor is the higher price many farmers receive for certified weed free forage. Such products are in ever increasing demand and are typically used by organizations such as state highway departments, road building contractors, contractors working in National Forests, outfitters etc. I've attempted to list the worst offenders along with their properties and suggested control method. The following may not apply to other areas but certainly applies to this area. Links to the right are grouped in like fashion for easy access.

This is a plant you want nothing to do with. It has an extensive root system, comes back following years (perennial) and is hard to kill with herbicide. As detailed in the Iowa report, only Tordon is totally effective against Canada Thistle. Tordon is a long persistence herbicide and generally requires a license to purchase. In my view, this herbicide should not be used if at all possible. The plant generally spreads via it's root structure but also produces seed. The infestation pictured to the right is extremely unfortunate. The plants have access to direct sun and plenty of water. What is pictured is on Bureau of Reclamation land. Additionally, a "No Spray" sign has been erected making matters worse (my opinion). In this case it certainly appears that everyone involved totally dropped the ball and the rest of us are left to suffer the result.

This is another plant you want nothing to do with. Again, extensive root system, comes back following years (perennial) and is hard to kill with herbicide. Unfortunately, where I live, Delta County has one of the largest infestations in Colorado. The worst thing you can do is to do any type of tillage over or around this plant. Details are in the links to the right. As with Canada Thistle, Tordon gives highly effective control but probably should not be used due to it's very long persistence. Effective control by the use of herbicide is detailed here.

Its hard for me to believe but this plant has been and is being sold for it's ornamental value. Several states have outlawed this plant and called for it's eradication. In Colorado it's classified as a "List B" invasive plant. As with Russian Knapweed, Delta County has one of the largest infestations of Russian Olive in the state. To quote the Columbia University web site, the plant "is difficult, if not impossible, to control or eradicate". Control measures can be found on the Colorado AG web site.

Again, Delta represents a major infestation site for this plant. The term "Salt Cedar" includes some 50-60 separate species (not all are considered invasive). The nature of this plant and what it is able to do and survive should bring pause to anyone living around it. Roots grow to 30 feet, wide tolerance to saline/alkaline soils, survives fire just fine, chokes streams and irrigation ditches, a single, mature, plant can produce 600,000 seeds per year among other notable features. This plant is a poster child for stupid actions of the past. Millions were planted in the west in the 1930's in an effort to control soil erosion and for wind breaks.

Not yet listed as invasive in Colorado, chinese elms have a bad reputation and are listed as invasive in quite a few other states. Locally, they are seen infesting both fields and ditch banks. See the links to the right for details on this less than desirable tree.

The rise of Superweeds is generally considered a herbicide issue. Monsanto Corporation and their glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide is often cited as the main cause of superweeds. More on this topic on the herbicide page.

Well, they have changed their link structure again. I refuse to list links to this absolutely terrible service. If you must and are brave go to this site.and look up Title 35, Article 5.5 to access the same information.

It should go without saying that all of the above plants can be spread through the actions of wind, streams, canal irrigation water and farm machinery. Sources of infestations can be many miles from your location but still be effective in infesting your property. It must also be said that the above featured noxious weeds are far from the only ones with the potential to cause you problems.. The Colorado Weed Management Association newsletter is a good source of information on new problems not seen in Colorado before. The newsletter also covers new technology coming on line in the fight to control noxious weeds.

- Herbicide Page -- Trees Page -- Irrigation Page -- Organics Page

• University of Nevada
• Excellent Info. - Purdue
• CSU Information
• Iowa State Weed Science

• CSU Information
• The Reality of Knapweed
• State Parks Information

• Russian Olive - Columbia University
• USDA Invasive
• Colorado Ag. Site
• Alternatives

• Excellent Salt Cedar Reference
• History - Information
• Colorado Ag. Site
• Tamarisk Coalition Site

• Chinese Elm - Invasive Map
• Chinese Elm - Invasive
• Chinese Elm II
• Duke - Photo I.D.
• From Invasives.org

• Super Weeds
• County Weed Map
• Colorado Noxious Weed List
• Colorado Title 35 Weed Act
• Certified Applicators
• State On-line Testing
• State On-line Testing Info.
• BLM Weed Page
• Colorado Weed Management
• North American Weed Management
• Weed Free Forage Stds.
• Forage MOU
• Certification Stds. Brochure
• Weed Free Slide Show
• Weed Management Slide Show
• Colo. Dept. Ag. Weed Page
• Weed Free Forage
• BLM Weed Free Hay
• CSU Weed Page - For Reference
• CSU County Agent

• Weed Infest I
• Weed Infest II
• Weed Infest III
• Weed Infest IV
• Weed Infest V