Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noxious Weeds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weed District reports eradication work on rush skeleton weed; parks and wildfire‑mitigation projects highlighted
Summary
Weed District staff reported coordinated treatment of rush skeleton weed on private lots near Echo Lake (12 parcels, ~9 acres treated, ~$6,000 in chemical) and plans for a spring follow‑up and monitoring; Parks described completed Heron Park and Many Lakes mitigation projects funded largely by grants with no local tax impact.
Weed and Parks Director Chris Mastis told the commissioners the Weed District found limited presence of rush skeleton weed around Echo Lake and coordinated treatment with 12 of 13 private landowners and the state's early detection and rapid response (EDRR) team. Staff treated roughly 9 acres in early October, using about $6,000 of herbicide, and plan a second treatment in spring followed by monitoring and potential enforcement on the remaining property where permission was not granted.
"We sprayed 12 lots in early October. It took one day. We treated about nine acres and we used about $6,000 worth in chemical to treat this land," Mastis said, adding the treatment was supported by the state's EDRR program and neighboring Lincoln County's weed district.
Mastis also reported that Phragmites samples from a wetland near Whitefish tested native and therefore are not subject to eradication requirements. Parks updates included seasonal staffing changes, completed dock removals, and community forest fire mitigation: Heron Park (37 acres thinned using a $30,000 Joint Chiefs grant) and Many Lakes (about 23 acres completed). Mastis emphasized the projects were covered by grant funds and did not increase local taxpayer costs.
Why it matters: State‑priority noxious weeds can threaten local ecology and agriculture; early detection and coordinated response aim to eradicate or contain limited infestations. Fire mitigation work reduces local wildfire risk and uses grant funds to expand treated acreage beyond original budgets.
Next steps: staff will pursue a second herbicide application in spring, monitor treated sites, pursue enforcement for uncooperative landowners, and report back on results in the spring.
