Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
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The Tao of treating weeds: Reaching for
restoration in the northern Rocky Mountains
Ortega, Yvette K. 2008. The Tao of treating weeds: Reaching for restoration in the northern Rocky Mountains. Fire Science Brief. 18: 1-6.
Noxious weeds are a serious problem that is spreading across the West. Herbicides such as Picloram have proven to be powerful tools in reducing weed invaders, although use of this tool has often produced unintended consequences. Broadleaf herbicides kill forbs, such as the noxious knapweed, but also harm native forbs such as arrowleaf balsamroot. Removing weedy forbs from a landscape creates opportunities for grasses to thrive-native as well as nonnative. Because of herbicide treatment, study sites experienced great increases in cheatgrass, a non-native grass of poor forage that also alters fire intensity and frequency. Managers should consider that efforts to reduce one problem plant may produce other problems.
Keywords: noxious weeds, restoration, herbicide treatment
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Title: RMRS Other
Publications: The Tao of treating weeds: Reaching for restoration
in the northern Rocky Mountains
Electronic Publish Date: December 17, 2008
Last Update: December
17, 2008