The first Montana Weed Management Plan was developed in 1985 and was presented by the Montana State Weed Coordinator at the Montana Weed Control Association meeting in January, 1986.

• It highlighted state-listed noxious weeds
• Land manager responsibilities
• priority weeds for management across the state

In addition, it supported new [1985] county requirements in the County Noxious Weed Control Act specifying weed management plans at the county level.

State land management agencies were required to enter into a cooperative agreement with each county weed board where they control lands in legislation enacted in 1995 [HB 395]. State agencies controlling lands include: Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Health and Human Services, and the Montana University system.

State land management agency integrated weed management agreements with counties must include:

1. a 6-year integrated noxious weed management plan, which must be updated biennially;
2. a noxious weed management goals statement;
3. a specific plan of operations for the biennium, including a budget to implement the plan; and
4. provision to submit a biennial report to the Montana Department of Agriculture Weed Coordinator regarding the success of the plan.

Federal land management agencies have been working on the development of weed management plans with counties and state entities since the late 1980's. Most federal agencies have some type of weed management strategy in place at this time.

In 1998, many land managers involved in the weed effort felt it was time to revitalize the state weed management effort. A Montana Weed Summit was held in October, 1998, with the support of the Governor's Office. The Summit was well attended and participants emphasized the need to update the state weed management plan for the new century. A steering committee and task force working groups were formed to complete this goal in a timely manner.

A draft weed management plan was submitted to participants at the second Montana Weed Summit, held in October, 2000. Participants made comments and suggestions to the plan and a final Montana Weed Management Plan was printed and distributed statewide in January, 2001.

In 2004 the plan was up dated, 29 of the 46 action items listed in the state plan had been completed. The plan was reprinted and distributed in January 2005.

The strengthens of the current Montana Weed Management Plan are:

1. it gives a clear overview of where each land management entity currently is in their weed management program;
2. it outlines a plan of action and shows where programs could be improved;
3. it gives specific budget figures of current budgets of all entities and indicates required budgets if we are to decrease weed populations, even slightly, within the state;
4. it lists specific action items to help improve weed management programs in Montana and lists leaders for implementation and a proposed timeframe for implementation.

There is one major limitation within the current Montana Weed Management Plan:

• adequate funding continues to be a serious problem for all weed managers in the state and may impact future implementation of the Plan.

The Plan is designed to be reviewed regularly and improved as new information becomes available.

Montana Weed Mangement Plan (.pdf)