Noxious/Invasive Weed Legislation
Invasive Weeds
• Important contemporary environmental issue– Lots of work is needed to be done!
• Cooperation, Organization, Money
Changes in Legislation & Public Policy
Public Policy Necessary?
• Invasive or noxious weeds often infest public lands– Source for neighboring private land
• Weeds on private lands often spread to public lands as well!
• Invasive weeds a public issue as all parties affected– Weed legislation not a new concept
Colorado Legislation
• Before 1990– Weed control districts unpopular popular
process• Citizens petitioned county commissioners• Placed on ballot
– Increased taxes so often voted down
– At best, Colorado was a patchwork quilt of organized weed control efforts
Colorado Legislation
• 1990 first statewide mandatory weed law passed– Rep Lewis Entz and CWMA wrote bill– 4 statewide noxious weeds
• Leafy spurge• Russian, diffuse, and spotted knapweeds
– State concerned over federal participation
Colorado Legislation
• Testimony Daniel Parker, Director State Soil Conservation Board:– “One frequent comment concerning any
weed program we might have in Colorado has to do with the effectiveness of such a program if the federal lands are not included”
Federal Legislation
• 1990 passed by Congress– Section 2814 amended Federal Noxious
Weed Act of 1974• All federal agencies required to manage
noxious weeds in cooperation with state and local governments
• Written by INWAC
• 2000 Plant Pest Act passed by Congress– Section 2814 rolled into law without
change
Colorado Legislation
• State Weed Law amended 1996:– Created statewide weed coordinator– Changed how noxious weeds
determined• County surveys• Dramatic increase number of noxious weeds
– Created state noxious weed trust fund• Weed management area grants• Educational grants• State funds for eradication efforts
Federal Policy
• Executive Order 13112 February 1999– Created National Invasive Species
Council• Charged with developing and implementing
management plan concerning invasive species for all federal agencies
Colorado Policy
• July 1999– Governor Owens issued executive order
in Colorado to develop invasive weed management programs & implement them in a coordinated & cooperative fashion• Dept of Ag• Dept of Natural Resources• Dept of Transportation• Colorado State University
Colorado Policy
• December 2001– Colorado Strategic Plan to Stop the
Spread of Weeds was adopted• 43 organizations endorsed the plan
– 4 goals• Curb new introductions• Prevent establishment newly introduced
weeds• Stop the spread of established weeds• Restore lands of exceptional ag &
environmental value
Colorado Legislation
• February 2003 HB03-1140– Amended Colorado Noxious Weed Act
• Changes flow neatly from Strategic Plan• Changes how weed list determined
– A,B,C categories– 15 member advisory committee determines list
and makes management recommendations• Places state in better position to take
advantage of federal programs and future legislation
Colorado Noxious Weed Act
• A-list species– Must be eradicated from state
• Methods approved by Commissioner of Ag• B-list species
– Stop the spread– Or eradication; depending upon location
• Methods approved by Commissioner of Ag• C-list species
– Improved management
Healthy Habitats CoalitionAdvocacy Efforts Congress
• Re-direct funds to states: – $80/square mile federally managed
lands– $40/square mile all other lands– Minimums and maximums
• $1 million min; $11 million max– $3 million HI; $1.5 million island territories
– $200 million annually; • about $7.2 million annually to Colorado
– Use of funds• At least 80% on-the-ground• Up to 10% administration• Up to 5% each for education & research
Summary & Future
• Come a long way over past 20 years but lots of hard work still to be accomplished!
• We need your help! Emails!– Contact Governor Hickenlooper &
Congress:• Support Healthy Habitats Coalition’s efforts
– Redirect funds to states– Get Federal agencies to effectively manage
invasive species
Colorado State University Weed Science
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