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