Broadwater County board adopts local noxious weed list including waterhemp

The Broadwater County Noxious Weed Board voted to adopt a resolution establishing a county noxious weed list that names musk thistle, common burdock, common mullein, black henbane, perennial sowthistle, Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.

The board opened a public hearing on the resolution; staff reported no written comments had been received to the courthouse and no online comments were pending before the vote. The board then moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote; the chair declared the motion passed.

The action formalizes a county-level list that supplements the state’s noxious-weed framework. Jessica (staff member) explained the distinction between nuisance and noxious weeds, saying the state of Montana designates noxious species “through legislative action” and typically after petitions from the Department of Agriculture when a weed poses an economic or environmental threat. She described nuisance weeds as locally aggravating species that are not state-designated.

One board member recounted a recent state public hearing and said the Montana Seed Trade Association sponsored a proposal that will add waterhemp to the Montana state noxious weed seed list; the member said they acted as a spokesman for that proposal. Another member warned that species such as Palmer amaranth could severely affect local seed farms if they establish in the county, underscoring the economic rationale for the county list.

Board members noted no public opposition was recorded during the hearing. The commission is expected to consider the county resolution at its meeting the following day, as one commissioner confirmed.

Next steps: the board will integrate the adopted county list into its work plan for spray operations, monitoring and outreach, and the county commission will take up the resolution for formal county-level action.