links

JOIN US PROJECTS GRAYLING STATUS WEB LINKS VIRTUAL TOUR NEWSLETTERS PRESS RELEASES HOME

contact
Send inquiries via email,
or to the mailing address below:

Big Hole River Foundation
P.O. Box 3894
Butte, Montana 59702

phone: 1-866-533-BHRF

Land Use

Purpose:

To manage, map, treat and control the spread of noxious weeds.

Process:

Mapping, treatment (chemical, biological and physical approaches) and monitoring of noxious weeds along the river and throughout the watershed.

Product:

Control the spread and infestation of weed populations. Educate the public and landowners on the impacts of noxious weeds, management methods and landowner responsibilities.

Update:

The Big Hole Weed project began in 1999. The project has evolved over the last several years and expanded its range and number of activities. The objectives of the project are:

1) mapping of noxious weeds in the river corridor

2) treatment of noxious weeds in the river corridor

3) treatment of weeds outside the river corridor

4) promoting education, licensing and volunteer spray days for the area residents, organizations and landowners.

The program works in partnership with County Weed Boards and The Nature Conservancy. Teams of interns and employees conduct inventories and complete mapping efforts with landowners. Mapping efforts focus on infestations along the river corridor, on ranch roads, public access sites and on private ranches. In addition, the program provides commercial application of herbicide (approved by MT DEQ and MT FW&P) along the river corridor and islands.

The intern program offers extensive outreach and education to landowners, sportsmen, local organizations and others. In addition to education and outreach the interns work to map weed infestations and organize community spray and pull days with volunteers and local residents. BHRF is partnering with The Nature Conservancy and county weed boards in overseeing the weed intern program.  May look to working with local school systems to develop integrated weed management programs.  Exploration of the use of ruminants, bio-control and continued targeted spraying could be part of future activities to lessen weed impacts.