BLM-MT, Montana & Dakotas Noxious Weed Control, Montana State Office

BACKGROUND: The Bureau of Land Management has historically worked cooperatively with State Agencies and their related entities in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota to support the management of invasive plants on Federal and adjacent public and private lands. These cooperative working relationships have resulted in more efficient management and control of noxious weeds and invasive species. Cities, Counties, and Special Districts develop positive relationships with adjacent landowners to cooperatively manage weeds on a landscape scale across multiple jurisdictions using integrated management systems for the planning and implementation of control programs. Integrated weed management systems include education and awareness for staff, cooperators, and the public; prevention and early detection and rapid response to all noxious weed species; inventory of public and cooperator lands for noxious weeds; control of noxious weeds by various methods that include cultural, physical, biological, and chemical controls or other land practices; and evaluation of treatment areas. OBJECTIVES: The objective of these partnerships is to treat and monitor weeds cooperatively across multiple jurisdictions. Partners will (a) Prioritize and target undesirable plant species or group of species to be controlled or contained within a specific geographic area; (b) Describe the integrated management system to be used to control or contain the targeted undesirable plant species or group of species; and (c) Detail the means of implementing the integrated management system, coordinate the duties of the partners in prosecuting that method, and establish a timeframe for the initiation and completion of the tasks specified in the integrated management system. PUBLIC BENEFIT: Managing and controlling noxious weeds and invasive species on public and surrounding lands helps ensure that these areas remain suitable for their intended uses and that their native plants and natural resources are protected. Raising public awareness of the detrimental effects which invasive plants have on the environment and local economies is an important role of State Agencies and their local political subdivisions.