County noxious-weed manager urges early detection, funding and staff support to limit invasive-plant damage

Chaffee County’s noxious-weed manager, Caitlin Malone, presented a detailed briefing on invasive-plant threats, legal requirements under the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, and operational needs to manage noxious weeds in the county.

Malone explained the difference between ordinary weeds ("plants out of place") and state-regulated noxious weeds (non-native invasive species that harm human health, the environment or the economy). She described statewide costs from invasive species, impacts to biodiversity and the role invasive annual grasses and species such as leafy spurge and cheatgrass play in increasing wildfire frequency and degrading habitat.

Nut graf — why it matters: Malone argued that early detection and rapid response (EDRR), containment boundaries and integrated pest management are the most cost-effective ways to prevent long-term ecosystem loss. She outlined Chaffee County’s local listing: A-list species (eradicate), B-list species (contain and suppress) and C-list species (education and mitigation). The county’s containment boundary focuses on the Salida–Poncha Springs–US 285 corridor.

Operational request and staffing: Malone said the program currently covers county and Lake County work under an IGA and that she performs broad duties (mapping, treatment, commercial applicator licensing, grant writing, post-fire restoration and HMIS support for some projects). She requested a division of responsibilities into an administrative coordinator role and a field inspector/implementation role to make the program sustainable; Malone said hiring and retaining qualified operational staff has been difficult and she is at capacity.

Ending: Malone highlighted successful biological-control examples (Dalmatian toadflax control over the past decade) and said continued funding, staffing and interagency coordination are necessary to slow or reverse the spread of high-impact invasive species.