WEED CONTROL ALONG DRY CREEK MONDAY 5/1/23
This year the Association, under the direction of Open Space Consultant, Charlie Baun, Environmental Conservation Services, Inc. will take a targeted approach to combating noxious weeds in the community’s riparian and open space areas. Crews with Hawkeye Landscape and Conservation will conduct a three flush application approach (3 sprays of an aquatic safe 2-4-D timed with germination cycles for identified weeds), target spraying with backpack sprayers using an aquatic safe herbicide colored with a dying agent.
The first application by Hawkeye Landscape will be Monday, May 1. The specific weeds being targeted are poison hemlock, Canada Thistle and Scotch Thistle along Dry Creek from Border Trail to Dry Creek Road. Residents are encouraged to watch for the crews and to avoid the trails along the creek during the application process.
As designated by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, a plant is noxious when it is considered to be injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. Noxious weeds are generally spread by the dispersal of seeds, or other plant parts, by wind, water, animals, machinery and people. Weeds can produce seeds with barbs, hooks or other attaching devices that facilitate easy adherence to people, animals or equipment, and can cover great distances as society has become increasingly mobile. Some noxious weed, have been introduced by ill-advised horticultural plantings, while others were inadvertently dispersed through the planting of contaminated crop seeds, the feeding of weed seed contaminated forage to livestock, or on vehicles, boats or other machinery. As noxious weeds typically are not native to the ecosystem that they impact negatively, there are often no natural processes to limit the growth or spread of the plants, and they “out-compete” native plant species.
Noxious weeds pose a significant threat to landowners, agricultural interests and natural ecosystems throughout Ada County. The ability of noxious weeds to produce monocultures that considerably alter landscapes makes it imperative to control their dispersal. This requires collaboration between landowners, farmers, ranchers and government agencies (including Ada County Noxious Weed Control) to solve the great challenge of controlling and eradicating noxious weeds. Pursuant to Idaho Code 22:24-07, Idaho’s Noxious Weed Law specifically requires that invasive weeds are to be controlled both on public and private land by the individual, company or agency owning the land.