Noxious Weed newspaper insert

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Noxious Weeds: FAQs
Where do Noxious Weeds come from and why do they
spread?
Noxious wee ds normally are introduced through human activity to a location(s) outside its native or natural range. In many cases these plants have been moved
into North America from another continent. T hey have
been accidentally introduced through contaminated
grain or hay, sometimes intentionally introduce d for
erosion control or as an ornamental. In addition, seed
may be carried by birds or livestock, spread by vehicles, or brought in with contaminated fill dirt. Regardless of how they were introduced, they possess the
ability to survive, propagate and aggressively invade
native plant communities. For example, Malta Starthistle (Centaurea melitensis), a native to the Mediterranean, was introduce d to New Mexico around 1880 in
contaminated alfalfa seed. It is now common in open
areas on roadside s, rangelands, wildlands, hay fields,
pastures, and waste areas.
How bad are noxious weeds?
Noxious wee ds typically possess characteristics which
allow them to compete aggressively with native vegetation. These characteristics include prolific see d production, ability to reproduce vegetatively from plant
parts, rapid gro wth from seedling to seed production,
and ease in adapting to new environments.
Noxious wee ds impact native plants, animals, and
natural ecosystems by:
• Reducin g bio diversity
• Altering hydrologic conditions
• Altering soil characteristics
• Altering fire intensity and frequency
• Interfering with natural succession
• Competing for pollinators
• Displacing rare plant species
• Serving a s reservoirs of plant pathogens
• Replacing complex communities with single species monocultures
What fina ncial impacts do invasive weeds have?
Invasive wee ds affect all of our lives daily. According
to Dr. George Beck, Professor of Weed Science, Colorado State University, impacts occur in many forms
ranging from economic losses to unemployment, food
and water shortages, and increase d severity of natural
disa sters. David Pimentel, Cornell University, estimates that invasive species as a whole ca use a bout
$137 billion in damages and losses to the U.S. economy annually. About $5 billion are spent annually by
US ranchers to control weeds in private pastures and
rangelands.
Dr. Beck further states that a 1988 survey in the State of
Washington indicated that 130 million pounds of forage
are lost each year in knapweed infested rangeland. T his
equates to $951,000 lost annually as pasture or rangeland feed for cattle forage or $2.9 million in hay replacement. T he total annual losses in North Dakota from leafy
spurge (E uphorbia esula) are $87.3 million. About $28.7
million of these losses occur in the household sector and
over 1000 jobs are lost each year because of leafy
spurge.
Real estate value and transactions are dramatically influenced by invasive wee ds. T he Brooks Area cattle ranch
in North Dakota was ba dly infested with leafy spurge
and a decision wa s made to sell it in 1975. It finally sold
in 1991 for about $35 per acre, but should have sold for
$100 to $155 per acre – a 65 percent decrease in land
value. In Klamath County, Oregon, a 1,360-acre ranch
should have been worth from $125 to $150 per acre
($170,000 to $204,000) but sold for $27,000 because of
leafy spurge – an 83 percent decrease in land value.
As the previous examples show, noxious wee ds affect all
Americans directly or indirectly and cost billions of dollars in damage s and losses annua lly. As a society, we
can ill-afford to wait any longer to become engaged in
the battle against invasive weeds.
What is BLM doing to manage invasive weeds on public lands in Ne w Mexico?
Over the past 10 years, funding to the BLM (all states)
has steadily increased for the management of noxious
wee ds. In fiscal year 1994, BLM received $850,000.
T his increased to $8.2 million in fiscal year 2004. In
Ne w Mexico, the allocation in fiscal years 2005, 2006
and 2007 has been about $1 million annually.
Ne w Mexico has a state office (located in Santa Fe),
eight Field Offices (located in Farmington, T aos, Albuquer que, Socorro, Las Cruces, Ro swell, Carlsbad, an d
Amarillo, and two field station office (Hobbs, Cuba).
Full-time weed specialists are located in each district.
Half-time or part-time personnel support most of the
other offices. T hese employees plan and implement
wee d control activities, inventory public lands for wee d
occurrences, follow up on weed control activities to
evaluate succe ss, promote awareness of BLM staff and
the public on the weed problem, and participate in cooperative efforts with land owners and other agencies to
addre ss wee d management opportunities.
Almost 3/4 million acres of public lands in Ne w Mexico
were inventoried for the presence of noxious wee ds in
fiscal years 2004 through 2007. During that same period
10,000 acres of noxious wee ds have been treated. Close
to 250,000 acres were inventoried in 2007. Over 5,000
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acres were treated in 2007, as well.
In addition to inventory and treatment activities, weed
Citizen Involvement – What can you do to help prevent
specialists are actively engaged in several different Cothe spread of weed s?
ordinated Weed Management Area (CWMA) groups
In order to be a member of "Partners Against Weeds,"
scattered throughout the State. The groups are composed citizens need to prepare themselves in four different arof interested private land owners; agency employees at
eas.
the County, State and Federal levels; special interest
1. Awareness – Be a ware of the problem and be able to
groups and other interested public. Fundin g is also proidentify noxious weeds in the field. Know your wee ds!
vided to several Conservation Districts for weed control An excellent guide to wee d identification is available
activities.
from the New Mexico State University Cooperative ExDoes the BLM use herbicide s to eradicate weeds?
tension.
Yes. Currently all Western BLM land managers (except 2. Prevention – Be sure that wee d see d and reproductive
Oregon) are managing weeds un der the guidelines of the plant parts are not introduce d into a new area. Here are
Final Environmental Imsome ways to prevent
pact Statement for Vegethe spread of weeds:
tation Management on
•
Drive only on
BLM Lands in T hirteen
establishe d roads an d
Western States (1991).
trails away from wee dOregon is managing
infested areas.
wee ds under the guide•
When using pack
lines of the Final Northanimals, carry only feed
we st Area Noxious Weed
that is weed free.
Control Program EIS
•
Within 96 hours
(1985) and the Finale
before entering back
Supplemental EIS for
country areas, feed pack
Noxious Weeds (1987).
animals only food that is
T hese documents provide
wee d free.
for integrated pest man•
Remove wee d
agement, which includes
seeds from pack animals
the use of herbicides, on
by brushing them thorlands manage d by the
oughly and cleansin g
Noxious weed treatment with an ATV and spray rig.
BLM.
their hooves before
transporting.
Once I know where these weeds are, ho w can I treat
•
If you find a few wee ds without flowers or
them?
seeds, pull them and leave them where found. If flowers
T here are four treatment methods that can be use d to
or seeds are present, place the weeds in a plastic ba g and
control, and in some cases, eradicate wee ds.
deposit in a refuse container.
•
Physical (hand-pulling, cutting, mowing, dig•
If you find a wee d-infested area, let the landging, diskin g, plowin g, burning, etc)
owner or land managing a gency know so that they can
•
Biological ( use of insects, domestic animals,
take steps to control the weeds.
pathogens, etc)
3. Detection - Be able to identify weed locations and the
•
Chemical (use of herbicide s)
extent of the infestations. If you observe wee d infesta•
Cultural ( development of weed prevention protions on public lands, you can assist BLM by reporting
grams, wee d free forage, wee d free gravel, vehicle wash- locations of weeds to the Noxious Weed Program Cooring, etc).
dinator at the nearest BLM New Mexico Field Office.
Often, you may obtain best results by using several of
4. T reatment –Learn about the different methods of
these control methods together. For example, burn and
treating or controlling wee ds. Utilize the proper type of
reseed in the first year, spot treat remaining plants with
herbicide that is known to control the weed you are tarherbicide s in the second year, change to fall grazing and geting. Apply herbicides strictly according to label direstrict vehicle use in the area. You may obtain advice
rections. Employ other methods, such as, hand-pullin g,
on control methods, as we ll as specific, local concerns
if the method has been proven to be effective.
from local land managers, extension specialists, and
wee d control specialists. After performing wee d control, For further information or que stions concerning
you may find it necessary to perform site restoration.
BLM’s we ed program in Ne w Mexico, please contact
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Texas and Oklahoma, coordinating their efforts to
eradicate noxious weeds.
Although he spearheaded the formation of
the weed-fighting consortium, Florez credits the sucBy Stella Davis
cess of the program in Eddy County to the Carlsbad
Carlsbad Current Argus
Soil and Water Conservation District, which agreed
to administer the funds and coordinate programs.
CARLSBAD - It takes a synchronized army of
''Federal employees are not allowed to hanpeople, time, money and other resources to wage
dle funds, and Carlsbad Soil and Water, which is a
war on noxious weeds within Eddy County's borders
quasi agency, can and so they agreed to do it. They
containing some 2.6 million acres.
have done a wonderful job," Florez said. "The proAlthough the war has yet to be won, leaders
gram has been far more successful than I had origiin the battle are claiming success on some fronts.
nally envisioned. That's because Carlsbad Soil and
But it has taken 10 years to get to that point.
Water took the lead.”
In 1997, Luis Florez, then a range manageWhen the Coordinated Weed Management
ment specialist for the Bureau of Land Management
Area was formed, Florez was able to get a total of
Carlsbad Field Office, found that there was duplica15 agencies and three local governments - the cities
tion of efforts against noxious weeds in Eddy County
of Carlsbad and Artesia and Eddy County - to come
by state, local, and federal agencies and private inon board. Today, there are more than 20 participatdustry.
ing agencies and several oil and gas companies.
So he devised a plan for a consortium of
"I had hoped the group would grow, and it
has exceeded what I imagined," Florez said. “The program is working. The goal was
to reduce jurisdictional barriers
that each of the agencies and
local governments have, and
work together to control noxious weeds in Eddy County:"
He said he believes the
noxious weed management
program is making headway in
controlling weeds such as African rue - which is deadly to
cattle - and the Malta star thistle, two weeds that in recent
years have become more prolific.
"I live in Artesia and
travel U.S. Highways 28S and
62-180 to Carlsbad Caverns
Eddy County Coordinated Weed Management Area a Memorandum of UnderstandNational Park every day,"
ing sighing by National Park Service.
Florez said. "I’m always looking at the rights of way and
the open areas of land to see if I can see noxious
state and federal agencies, local government, quasi
weeds. I am seeing one-tenth of what was out
government agencies, the oil and gas industry and
there before the CWMA was formed."
chemical companies. But getting everyone on board
Florez said the program has come a long
would be the challenge.
way, not only in terms of the number of participating
It would be another year before Florez was
agencies, but also in the amount of equipment able to get agreements signed with 15 participating
some high-tech - manpower and more sophisticated
agencies, but looking back, Florez said it was worth
herbicides that have been developed over the past
the effort.
10 years.
Today, Florez serves as the Carlsbad Caverns
"When the program was started, we had a
National Park exotic plant manager specialist. He
100-gallon sprayer at the BLM and we relied a lot on
also works with 14 national parks in New Mexico,
our partnership with Eddy County Vector Control and
Group to Wage War on Noxious
Weeds
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the New Mexico Department of Transportation to
help us with the rights of way in the outlying areas
of the county," Florez recalled.
Sharing resources
Ray Keller, BLM Carlsbad Field Office rangeland management specialist, who works closely with
Carlsbad Soil and Water in the coordination of the
CWMA and weed management, said that today, the
BLM has four 500-gallon sprayers. It also uses a
global positioning system (GPS) and a geographical
information system (GIS) to map the areas that have
been treated, and others yet to be treated.
"All the agencies have the GPS system that
are the same brand and programmed so that when
they send the information to our GIS guys, it makes
it easier for them to do the mapping," Keller said.
"They print out the maps and we all know who has
sprayed what, and where."
Like Florez, Keller is convinced the CWMA is
making headway in the war on noxious weeds.
'We used to use every drop of chemical in
the 500-gallon tank. Now, we probably use half a
tank. So we are making headway and using less
chemicals in certain areas because there are less
noxious weeds," Keller noted.
He said in the past 10 years, thousands of
dollars have been spent in Eddy County by CWMA,
and all of it has been put on the ground.
''None of the money is used for labor. It's all
used for chemicals and equipment," Keller said. ''The
great thing about CWMA is that all the agencies
share their resources and information. For instance,
the National Park Service's regulations may not allow
them to use a certain type of herbicide that is effective, but the BLM is allowed to use it. We might
have something they can use and we can give it to
them. It works that way with all the agencies within
CWMA. Some agencies don't have the money in their
budget to buy a chemical that is expensive. They
can get it through their partnership with CWMA."
Keller said the participating oil and gas companies used to spray for noxious weeds around their
well pads, but today they provide the money for the
chemicals and the BLM does the spraying for them.
"They would hire some contractor to spray
for noxious weeds, and they were not getting good
results in their weed control. That's not because the
contractor was not doing a good job," Keller explained. "There are certain herbicides that are specific to a noxious weed species and the weeds need
to be sprayed at a certain time of year in order for
the kill to be effective. CWMA has the expertise and
it made sense and was more cost effectiv e for oil
and gas companies to have us do it. We can get a
better price on our chemicals because we buy in
bulk and spray at the right time. The arrangement
has worked out very well."
High tech weed management
Judy Bock, Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District manager, said fighting noxious weeds
is a never-ending battle. However, it has been made
a lot easier with all the agencies on board.
"The formation of CWMA means there is no
duplication of treatment for weeds in the same area.
If an agency is unable to treat a certain area, or
doesn't have the funds or personnel, they bring it up
at our quarterly meeting where we discuss the
status of current and planned applications, as well
as funding," Bock said.
Explaining the role of some of the agencies
within the CWMA, Bock said the Eddy County Road
Department maintains about 1,881 miles of road
outside the city limits of Carlsbad and Artesia, and
the New Mexico Department of Transportation is
responsible for maintaining the state highways
within the county. The national and state parks
maintain their locations with some assistance from
the BLM, and the coordination for the treatment of
other roads, oil and gas locations, and state trust
lands, federal and private property is done through
her office and the BLM Carlsbad Field Office.
She said the GPS and GIS receivers with
software were purchased to make the task for the
mappers a little easier.
"The hand-held GPS units are expensive, but
well worth the money. We purchased eight MobileMapper GPS/GIS receivers with software. They have
been distributed to representatives from various
agencies within the CWMA," Bock explained. "The
receiv ers are programmed for the individual to mark
the location where a plant species has been located.
Using the GPS, the individual documents the type of
plant and the extent of the infestation.
"The information is then downloaded by the
GIS guys at the BLM office and they print it on a
map. It's a great tool and certainly has prevented a
lot of duplication in areas that need to be treated."
Bock said the success of the CWMA has become a model for other areas such as neighboring
Lea County.
"They are in the process of coordinating their
weed management area," she said. "I'm sure there
were some people at first that said getting all these
agencies together to work as a team would never
happen. I think our CWMA has shown that government agencies and industry can successfully work
together to achieve the same goal."
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Devon Energy Corporation
Blackberries and bamboo share something in common with tumbleweed, African Rue and musk thistle – they are all considered noxious weeds and a threat to the environment of New M exico. These
plants, characterized by the federal government as noxious weeds, are
a big reason Devon Energy Corporation joined forces with the Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District and Bureau of Land M an-
agement (BLM ) to help alert the public to the devastating impacts these
plants have on the economy and ecology of the U.S.
“As an industry leader, Devon
feels it is our responsibility to help
lead the way by attacking the weeds
in a two-fold manner,” said Jerry
M at hews, P roduct ion F oreman.
“First, we are diligent about eradicating noxious weeds from around our
well pads and other operation areas
and second, we are committed to supporting the overall efforts to raise
public awareness of this problem.”
For the past few months, Devon employees have been working with the
BLM and the Conservation District
in developing a partnership to closely
coordinate noxious weed control in
Eddy and Lea Counties. The Soil and
Water Conservation District is currently working with Chavez County
to bring them under this program as
well.
Don M ayberry, Artesia Office
Superintendent, said that while there
are 25 different invasive weeds found
in the state, one of the most troublesome is the infestation of African
Rue along State Highways 62 and
180, where Devon has approximately
50 wells. Along with being toxic to
humans and livestock, the weed likes
disturbed areas and the semi-arid desert climate of southeastern New
M exico. Other problem weeds include camelthorn, knapweed and
toadflax.
“We know the importance of
stopping the spread of weeds and removing those that grow on our sites
because they can be a threat to livestock or native species, and as such
they may become more than just a
weed,” said M ayberry. “Early detection and eradication of small infestations and prevention of any new infestation provides us with the most
cost -effect ive w ay t o manage
weeds.”
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M ayberry points out that a coordinated effort is
an efficient and effective way to control noxious
weeds while providing an opportunity to improve
habitat and the overall rangeland health of southeast
New M exico. An added benefit for Devon is a reduction in weed management costs for the company.
He said working with others on this project is an
extension of Devon’s environmental efforts throughout its operations area including its work with Restore New M exico. Participation in both the noxious
weed eradication program and Restore New M exico
help in the restoration of critical wildlife habitat,
supporting native plant communities which in turn
help to eliminate noxious plants.
“Creating and maintaining a high-quality work
environment is a key to real business success. For
the people at Devon, what counts in business is not
what you do, but how you do it. This is the corporate philosophy that guides us,” said M ayberry.
“While we feel these efforts are critical for us, if
others in the industry see the benefits of our participation, they may be likely to join in the effort, creating a win-win situation for everyone.”
Weeds and Recreation, an
Undesirable Combination
The word recreation conjures up joyous
thoughts of enjoying the activities associated
with the great outdoors by fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, hiking, bird watching and swimming just to name a few. In this part of New
Me xico you anticipate being stabbed or punctured by a cactus or yucca plant. But, when
you are impaled by a grass bur or a sticker on a
thistle, your recreational activity is slightly diminished. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that
even areas that we sometime perceive as being pristine are invaded by noxious weeds.
Managing an area that is heavily used by people enjoying the great outdoors brings along
with it special challenges.
One must first understand how a weed travels from one location to another. There are two
major carriers…man and nature. Considering,
there is not much we can do to change the habits of Mother Nature; we are then faced with the
challenges of changing the habits of mankind.
This starts with one person at a time. It is a
matter of educating the visiting public to be
thoughtful in their habits.
There are several venues by which man can
spread weeds. Vehicles can span a great deal
of distance between the mother plant and the
final resting place. Weed seeds are often designed by nature to cling on to objects as a
natural way for the weed seed to move from
one location to another. In order to lessen the
spread of weeds, make sure you keep your vehicle or bicycle on a maintained road to avoid
picking up weed seeds. Secondly, if you do
happen to roll over a patch of vegetation, it is a
good idea to brush off your tires before continuing on to another state park.
One that many people do not consider is the
spread of weeds by your boat. Trailers and
boats often times come out of the lake not only
dripping wet but covered in plant life. There is
also an aquatic weed, Giant Salvinia (Salvinia
molesta) currently found in other states adjoining New Mexico that has yet to enter our state
waters. The most likely way this can travel from
a land locked lake in one state to another state
is by man. Therefore, it is essential that you
clean off and properly dispose of all plant material that may be clinging to the prop of the boat
or trailer prior to leaving that area.
Similar to the spread of weeds by tires is the
spread of weeds by hikers. How many times
has this happened to you? You take off your
shoes and there are seeds embedded in your
shoe laces or even worse, your socks. When
finishing up a hike, inspect your shoes, socks,
clothing and gear closely and remove and properly dispose of any seeds prior to leaving that
location. Once again, staying on a designated
trail is very helpful in minimizing your risk of
picking up and consequently, spreading weed
seeds.
Your pets love to hike right along side you
and are a weed seed’s dream come true for a
free ride. Be sure to check your pets’ paws, especially between the toes and the tail for hitchhikers. It is also a good idea to brush a pets’
coat prior to leaving the location.
And, finally, last but not least, when traveling, it is important to not disturb the plant life
(Continued on page 8)
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(Continued from page 7)
within a state park. There are laws against removing plant life. This is for several reasons.
First and foremost, the law is in place to insure
the survival of native plants thriving in that area.
And, the next visitor to the park would also like
to enjoy the beauty of the plant. But, another
important reason is that a nice wildflower in one
part of the country could very possibly become
another state’s newest noxious weed. Under
certain conditions plants may be at home and
are naturally controlled in the environment under which they currently live. If they get relocated to another part of the country, conditions
may be ideal for their survival, causing them to
flourish and ultimately out-compete native
plants.
Both state parks near Carlsbad, Brantley
Lake State Park and Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, are proactive in weed control.
Some of the weeds we have to fight are the
Saltcedar, maltastar thistles, and mustards just
to name a few. Both parks have staff members
that are active members of the Eddy County
Weed Team. But, we can not do it alone…we
need your help.
As a visitor to New Mexico State Parks, enjoy the enchantment but also, be a responsible
steward of your natural resources. Be aware of
the noxious weeds. When visiting a park the
staff will be aware of what weeds are present
and can help you identify them. Do your part in
helping to slow down the spread of these undesirable and costly floras. Remember, noxious
weeds are all of our responsibility.
Submitted by:
Stefanie Oliver, Park Technician
Brantley Lake State Park
&
Chris Dawson, Botanical Curator
Living Desert
Zoo & Gardens
State Park
African Rue
(Peganum harmala)
African Rue is a weed that was introduced to
New M exico in the 1920’s for use in making dyes; it
is a drought hardy, summer growing, succulent herb
with an aggressive woody root system. This plant
originated in the deserts of North Africa and Asia.
The plant grows approximately 1.5 feet high with
leaves that are alternate, smooth and divided in linear segments. The flowers have five petals and grow
singly in the leaf forks of the stem.
African Rue is toxic to livestock with the
seeds being more toxic than the leaves according to
some studies. The seeds and fruit of the plant are
the most toxic; a lethal dose is 0.15 percent of the
animal's body weight. Young leaves are somewhat
less toxic than the seeds, with a lethal dose of about
1.0 percent of the animal's weight, and mature leaves
are less toxic. Dry leaves are apparently nontoxic.
This plant also replaces the valuable forage
that livestock and wildlife utilize. It is especially
adapted to dry arid climates and survives when some
of our native plants are stressed from lack of moisture.
Currently the BLM is spraying African Rue
on rangelands in Eddy and Lea Counties with assistance from the Carlsbad SWCD. “We are trying to
make a dent in the African Rue problem, but still
have a long way to go”, says Ray Keller of the
Carlsbad BLM office. If you have any questions
about the control of African Rue, contact the Carlsbad SWCD.
Buffalo Bur
Solanum rostratum
Solanaceae (Nightshade) Family
Buffalo bur is a poisonous weed that grows in disturbed and waste areas but will grow almost anywhere.
It is a native of the Great Plains where it grew abundantly
in and around Buffalo wallows. When the plants are mature they will break off near the ground and roll like a
tumbleweed and spread seeds. Buffalo bur is a prickly
annual of the nightshade family typically growing up to 2
feet tall. The leaves, which vary in shape and size, are
irregularly rounded and deeply lobed with spiny veins.
The yellow flowers appear from May to October, and the
fruit is enclosed by a prickly bur.
Buffalo bur can be toxic to horses, cattle, sheep and goats however sheep and goats show more resistance to it. The leaves and fruit
both contain the toxin glycoalkaloid solanine. In some cases as little as
0.1 to 0.3 percent of an animal's weight is enough to be toxic. Since this
plant is unpalatable and injurious to the mouth, poisoning does not usually occur.
Camelthorn
Alhagi maurorum
Camelthorn is a perennial shrub that forms dense patches that grow from 1 ½
to 4 feet tall. It has green stems that are covered with thin spines from ¼ to
¾ inches long. Camelthorn leaves are wedge shaped and alternate with solitary flowers with numerous spiny tipped bracts. The seed pods and violet or
pinkish to maroon colored flowers are pea shaped. This plant spreads rapidly
from vigorous rhizomes and small cut pieces of root material can grow into
new plants. Its rhizomes can give rise to aerial shoots up to 25 feet away
from parent plant. Seed that has passed through the digestive tracts of cattle
and horses germinates more readily than undisturbed seed. Plants grow well
on dry and moist sites and can be found on roadside, overgrazed pastures,
irrigation canals, rivers, and in disturbed areas. It has been known to grow up
through asphalt and housing structures.
Camelthorn is native to southeast Russia occurring primarily in dry open rangeland.
It was introduced to this country in contaminated alfalfa seed and in packing material around date palm shoots. It is injurious to some animals and poses a threat as a
potential alfalfa seed contaminant. Camelthorn grows successfully in dry, rocky,
saline soil, making it weedy in rangeland against preferred forage. It has been
shown to be a severe rangeland pest in areas around El Paso, Texas.
Camelthorn is very difficult to control once established. Preventative measures include using certified weed-free hay and preventing overgrazing. Control of this
plant can be best accomplished using herbicides. When using herbicides, be sure to
use different chemicals each year to prevent the establishment of an herbicideresistant population. Mechanical control of Camelthorn is not recommended. The
entire root system must be removed if hand-pulling is to be successful. Severed
rootstocks encourage new growth and new shoots are denser. Any pieces of roots
that are relocated can make new plants so it is easily spread into uninfected areas.
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Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
Field Bindweed is a perennial weed that
dies back each year and comes back from the
root. It can reproduce from seeds or rootstock. The seeds from this plant can remain
viable in the soil for up to 50 years. The roots
can grow up to 27 feet deep. The plant can
grow prostate, with stems up to ten feet long,
or can grow as a vine. It has white or pink
flowers that are shaped like a funnel. The
leaves are arrow-shape d and can be up to 2
inches long. Other names for this plant are
creeping jenny or wild morning glory.
Field Bindweed is controlled most effectively with herbicides, but keep in mind, that one
application will not completely kill this weed. A
thorough manage ment program with multiple
applications must be used. Studies have also
shown that tilling under the new growth of the
plant helps to control field bindweed. For more
information about the control of this weed,
please contact our office or the local extension
office.
For information on this and other noxious
we e ds in N e w Mex ico, vis it http:/ /
weeds.nmsu.edu.
Malta starthistle
Centaurea melitensis
Malta Starthistle is growing abundantly in our
area despite the dry winter. This annual plant
grows in disturbed are as such as road sides and
open fields as well as in rangelands, pastures and
in crop fields. It has stiff, wiry stems, grows 1 to
3 feet tall, green to blue-green leaves that are
covered with fine hairs. The flowers are yellow
and grow at the end of the stems, either in
groups of 2 - 3 or singly. This plant re produces
from seeds.
Malta Starthistle has been shown to be toxic
to horses. Toxicity usually occurs in horses after
ingestion of 50 to 150 percent of the animal's
weight in green plant material over a period of 1
to 3 months. Horses usually consume the young
plant in early s pring before stalk and spine
growth.
Management of this plant is not difficult.
Mowing the plants in late bud to e arly bloom stage
to reduce the seed population is an effective method
of control. Broad-leaf herbicides also work well as a
control method.
The District is asking that you please contact
us if you notice an area where the thistle is growing
in abundance. We will be happy to assist you in controlling this plant.
11
Marestail, Horseweed
Conyza canadensis
Marestail or horseweed is a native to North
America and grows as a
summer annual here in
Eddy County. It has a
basal rosette that quickly
bolts into an upright
plant that can be anywhere between 1 1/2 to 6
feet in height. The stem of this plant is unbranched and covered with hair. The flowers are
in a panicle with many white to pink ray flowers
(1/16 to 1/8 inches long) and 20 to 40 yellow disk
flowers. Leaves are oblong 3 to 4 inches in
length, alternate and have toothed margins. The
leaves also get smaller the closer to the top of
the plant. The seeds are produce d in the summer
and are distributed by the wind similarly to a dandelion. A single marestail plant can produce up
to 200,000 seed and studies have shown that 80%
of the seeds can germinate right off of the plant.
This plant is drought tolerant and will produce seed and grow in conditions that are stressful to crops.
Marestail can be controlled by mechanical and
chemical applications. Some areas have experienced chemical resistance in marestail. If chemical control is to be utilized, treat your plants
while they are young and actively growing. Mowing and pulling of plants before they have matured is also an e ffective means of controlling this
weed.
Musk Thistle
(Carduus nutans)
Musk thistle is an aggressive, biennial herb
with red-purple flowers and spiny stems and
leaves. Mature plants range in height from 1½ to
6 feet tall, and have multi-branched
stems. Leaves are dark green, coarsely lobed,
with a smooth waxy surface and a yellowish to
white spine at the tip. The large disk-shaped
flower heads contain hundreds of tiny individual
flowers. Each plant may produce thous ands of
s t r a w -c o l o re d s e e d s
adorned with plume -like
bristles.
Musk thistle is not
edible for wildlife and livestock, therefore causing the
native vegetation to be consumed, giving musk thistle
a competitive advantage.
Musk thistle usually is
found in areas with natural
disturbances, such as landslides or areas with frequent flooding. Grassy
meadows, prairies, and other open areas are susceptible to invasion. Musk thistle seeds appear
to possess allelopathic qualities. They can inhibit
germination and growth in other pasture s pecies,
but stimulate or have no affect on their own
seeds.
Hand pulling is most e ffective on small populations and can be done throughout the year, but
is most effective prior to the development of
seeds. Foliar spraying is effective on established
populations of musk thistle. A low pressure and
coarse spray pattern will limit drift and damage
to non-target species. Treatments should be applied during the rosette stage or prior to flowering. Three insects have become established for
the control of musk thistle; thistle head weevil,
thistle crown weevil, and thistle crown fly. Thistle
head weevil was
the first s pecies
released in the
United States for
control of musk
thistle. It has
one generation
per year. It lays
its eggs on bud
bracts and the
larvae infest the
seed head or
stem. The larvae
feed on the
seeds and are
more destructive
than other insect
stages.
12
Rayless Goldenrod
(Isocoma wrightii)
Rayless goldenrod is a low growing, halfshrub that reaches 2 to 4 feet in height. The
leaves are sticky, narrow, alternate and may be
even or slightly toothed. It has flat-toppe d clusters of yellow flowers from June to October.
Goldenrod grows mostly in dry rangelands, especially in river valleys, along irrigation canals, in
drainages, and on gypsiferous soils. It can poison
all species of livestock. The poison accumulates
in the animal and is present in both dry and
green leaves, making the plant toxic all year. The
toxins in the plant can be passed through milk
making it common to find symptoms of pois oning to be found in suckling young. Some of the
signs of poisoning are muscle tre mbling, stiffness
and weakness in the forelegs and quickened and
labore d breathing.
Chemical control of goldenrod has been e ffective using Escort® or Tordon 22K ®. F or more information on the use of these herbicides for goldenrod control, ple ase contact the Carlsbad Soil
and Water C onservation District office.
Russian Knapweed
Acroptilon repens L.
This weed is currently not found in great quantity in Eddy County but is one we definitely don't
want. It causes che wing disease in horses and
can be toxic to humans. Russian knapweed is a
creeping perennial weed that spreads mostly by
root buds but also by seed with growth characteristics similar to Canada thistle. Russian knapweed can be distinguished from other knapweeds
by the pointed pape ry tips of the floral bracts. It
also has dark brown or black, scaly roots that can
reach depths over 20 feet. The plant can reach 4
feet high and has flowers that range in color from
light pink to lavender. The lower leaves ranges
from entire to lobed and upper leaves are small
entire and directly attached to the stems.
People are the major cause of knapweed
spread. It will spre ad re adily in hay and vehicle
under carriages. The best knapweed control is
prevention, and to keep an infestation from becoming established you must correctly identify
the plant. Small and young infestations of knapweed are generally easy to control with herbicides. However, an area must be monitored for
several years and retreated as necessary for seedling control. If you see one of these plants, have
any questions about its control or have questions
about this or any other noxious weed, contact
our office and we will be happy to help you.
13
Saltcedar
(Tamarix)
S al tc e d ar
spe cies
are
spr ea d ing
shrubs or small
trees, 5-20 feet
tall, with numerous slender branches
and small, alternate, scale-like leaves. The pale pink
to white flowers are small, perfect and regular, arranged in spike-like racemes. The distinct petals
and sepals occur in fours or fives and the fruit is a
capsule.
Saltcedar is a very aggressive colonizer that can
adapt to many different habitats. It forms monotypic stands, which causes willows, cottonwoods,
and other native riparian vegetation to disappear.
It is extremely hard for other plants to grow under
or around salt ce dar because the stems and leaves
of mature plants secrete salt, forming a crust above
and below the ground making it impossible. Saltcedar consumes large amounts of wate r which
stresses native vegetation by lowering ground water levels and can also dry up springs and marshy
areas. A single large plant can absorb 200 gallons
of water a day. Paradoxically, s altcedar infestations
can also le ad to flooding, as its extensive root system can choke stream beds.
The Carlsbad SWCD utilizes three main methods
for treating this very invasive plant. The first
method is a ground or aerial application of herbicide applied directly on leaves of the plant. The
best climate for this type of tre atment is during the
month of September. The next method is cutting
of the plants close to the ground and applying herbicide directly to the top of the freshly cut stump
within the first 20 minutes. This treatment can be
done at any time except during early spring. The
final tre atment is using track hoes to go in and remove all of the s alt cedar including the root balls.
The pile of slash then is burned and/ or left for wildlife habitat. If you see one of these plants, have
any questions about its control or have questions
about this or any other noxious weed, contact our
office and we will be happy to help you.
Scotch Thistle
(Onopordum acanthium)
Scotch thistle, sometimes called cotton thistle,
is a branched, robust biennial (or sometimes annual) that often grows 8 feet or more in height and
6 feet in width. Main stems may be up to 4 inches
wide at the base. Stems have vertical rows of
prominent, spiny, ribbon-like leaf material or
"wings " that extend to the base of the flower heads.
Leaves, which have sharp, yellow spines, are up to
2 feet long and 1 foot wide. Upper and lower leaf
surfaces are covered with a thick mat of cotton-like
or woolly hairs, which give the foliage a gray-green
appe arance. Plants flower in mid-summer. The
globe-shaped flower heads are borne in groups of 2
or 3 on branch tips. Flower he ads have long, stiff,
needle-like bracts at the base. Flowers range from
dark pink to lavender. Seeds are smooth, slender,
and plumed.
Removing all Scotch Thistle plants is almost impossible because it is drought resistant and s preads
rapidly. These thick stands of Scotch Thistle create
an impenetrable barrier for wildlife and livestock.
Infestations of Scotch Thistle are found in disturbed areas such as roadways, campsites, burned
areas, and ditch banks. It adapts best to areas
along stream and river banks; however it can be an
immense problem in pastures, grain fields, and
range areas.
Small infestations may be physically removed or
cut a few centimeters below the soil surface ensur(Continued on page 14)
14
(Continued from page 13)
ing that no leaves remain attached to prevent
regrowth. Because of their shorter life cycle,
Scotch Thistle plants can be effectively treated
with herbicides. However, chemicals effective
at treating Scotch Thistle should be applied
with care as they can also have negative effects
on other, desirable broadleaf plants. All herbicide treatments should be applied at the rosette stage of the plant. Generally, herbicide
applications would be in e arly spring or autumn. Herbicides are very effective on seedlings and young rosettes, but control becomes
more variable with incre asing plant age. Seeds
from this plant may persist for several ye ars in
the soil. Buried seed may persist for up to
twenty years, and reinfestation is likely without
yearly manageme nt. Therefore several years of
re-treatment may be necessary.
Yellow Starthistle
(Centaurea solstitialis)
Yellow Starthistle is a member of the Aster
or Sunflower family. It is a grayish-green plant
that grows approximately 1 to 2 feet tall. The
white-wooly stem extends in all directions from
the base. The bright yellow flowers contain
rigid yellow spines that reach outwardly up to one
inch long. It is a ve ry invasive plant because it grows
quickly and can survive in dry, hot summers due to
its long taproot.
Yellow Starthistle grows on roadsides in addition
to rangelands, grasslands, and pastures. This invasive plant makes grazing impractical by wildlife and
livestock because its sharp pointy spines make it
hard to move around and native vegetation gets
crowded out. It is detrimental to horses causing a
neurological disorder in their brain if a certain
amount is consume d. Yellow Starthistle uses a large
amount of water, which thre atens human economic
interest and native plant ecosystems.
Treatment of this plant is very difficult to accomplish. Mowing can help, however you have to mow
in the late spiny or early flowering stage to be successful. Weevils and tephritid fruit flies have been
introduced in hopes that they will reduce the amount
of seed production. Biological control seems to be
working to date, but this is still being researched.
Revegetation of native forage and controlling seed
production seems to be e ffective also. For more information
on Yellow
Starthistle
or other
nox io us
weeds,
ple ase
contact
our office.
15
EXOTIC PLANTS :
A Silent Threat to Our National Parks
By Luis J. Florez
Exotic Plants Management Specialist
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Exo ti c i n va s i ve p l a n ts ,
“weeds,” are overtaking our
Nation’s public lands, including National Parks and wildlife
refuges, at a rate of 4,600
acres per day, on public lands
alone. But weeds do not differentiate between public and
private lands. These plants
can impact scenic values,
wildlife habitat, and they detract from recreational visits.
In addition, the impact to
farmland and grazing uses
raises the cost of agricultural
goods and commodities, increasing the cost for the consumer.
Non-native plants species,
also known as “invasive,”
“noxious,” “exotic” plants, are
on the move within our National Parks. Plants found in
our area that present the most
serious threats include Malta
starthistle, salt cedar, Johnsongrass, Russian olive,
horehound, mullein, Lehmann lovegrass, and African rue.
Many folks call them weeds.
No longer are “weeds” just a
farm or ranch problem. In vasive, exotic plants are everyone’s problem. These plants
destroy our land’s productive
potential, impact the economy
through increased management costs (i.e. farming,
ranching and recreation); they
wreck natural resources in-
integrated approach to control
non-native plants and to prevent re-introduction of exotic
plant species. The program
combines education and
awareness training with applied control methods, including handpulling, mowing, prescription fire, biological control
(using the plant’s natural enemies), and application of environmentally-approved herbicides. These efforts are part
cluding wildlife habitat. They
of a cooperative, multi-agency
impact hunting, fishing and
strategy to control non-native
camping, as well as other
plants.
forms of recreation.
What can you do to help?
Scientists from county, State,
The following are practices
and federal agencies have
that you can follow when out
identified several hundred non
on public lands:
-native plants within our national parks, wildlife refuges,
Sta y o n establ ished ,
and other public lands and
signed roads and trails.
waterways. Exotic, in vasive
Don’t drive, camp, or hike
plants spread quickly, often
in exotic weed-infested
displacing native plants. They
areas.
can easily become estabDon’t pick wild flowers;
lished in disturbed habitats
take a photo instead.
like roadsides and trails.
There are books availOnce construction or other
able describing wildsoil disturbance alters a native
flowers.
plant community, foot and
Where permitted, pack
automobile traffic and mainteanimals should carry
nance activities promote weed
ce rti fi ed , weed -fre e
invasion.
If not detected
feed. Don’t allow weed
early, weeds can become es-grazing.
tablished and spread into unRemove weed seed/parts
disturbed backcountry and
from your animals, pets
othe r re cre ati onal pu blic
and your clothing BElands.
FORE leaving camp.
Help us by reporting new
The key to controlling these
weed infestations and
exotic plants is early detection
locations.
and treatment. Prevention is
the least expensive and most
effective treatment! The National Park Service uses an
16
east New Mexico. The group is composed of interested private land owners; agency employees
at the County, State and Federal levels; special
interest groups and several local businesses and
CARLSBAD FIELD O FFICE --Keeping our public
oil companies.
lands healthy is clearly a Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Significant contributions to the effort are supgoal of the highest order. One of the greatest obstacles to mainplied by Carlsbad Soil & Water Conservation
taining healthy ecosystems is the rapid expansion of noxious
District, providing fiscal accounting, technical
weeds. T hese invasive plants now dominate many sites and often
assistance and equipment storage. The SWCDs
cause permanent damage to plant communities.
of Lea, Chaves (Central Valley and Peñasco),
Noxious weeds are increasing on BLM-administered land at
Lincoln and Otero counties are also partners in
approximately 2,300 acres per day and on all western public lands
Southeast New Mexico’s “Partners Against
at approximately 4,600 acres per day. This is occurring in both
Weeds”.
disturbed and relatively undisturbed areas.
Several area businesses have added credence
An example of noxious weed infestation in New Mexico is
to “Partners Against Weeds.” Circle S Feed
saltcedar, or Tamarisk, an exotic plant which chokes out native
Store’s Wendy Fech and Wally and Richard Minwoody perennials such as cottonwoods – leaving a solid stand of
uet supply BLM with trailers and pumping equipnothing but saltcedar. This “monoculture” results in reduced
ment.
wildlife diversity as
Da v id a n d Vick i
well as a rapid depleMcDonald of Questa Fertilizer
tion of available water,
contribute spray trailers and
due to the plant’s insasupply herbicide.
tiable thirst.
Bill and Wanda Deringer of
Even though noxEZ Rental keep the BLM saltious wee ds are de gradcedar management team buzzing New Mexico’s
ing with chainsaws and other
wildland ecosystems at
services.
a rapid and everThe NM Department
increasing rate, a vast
of T ransportation is also an
proportion of our pubimportant player.
T roy
lic lands are still weed
Hensley, NMDOT Foreman
free. T herefore, it is
and Jimmy Spears, NMDOT
urgent that we apply
Associate Foreman for the
effective and economiCarlsbad region coordinates
cal strategies that are
spraying schedules, manages
available to immediherbicides, calibrates sprayers
ately protect these
and operates equipment along
lands from infestation.
with BLM crews on highway
In Southeast New
r igh t- of - wa y o p er at ion s.
Mexico, a successfully
Spears also personally assists
active partnership is in Left alone, Salt cedar infestation gradually dominates plant community with BLM’s ongoing battle
on lakes, ponds and streams. (BLM photo).
place to manage noxwith saltcedar.
ious weeds on a landThe Eddy and Lea
scape scale.
County Road Departments contribute to the strategy with financial contributions, by identifying
Local coordination
Cooperating agencies, organizations, and individual landownroads to be treated and by assisting with logistics.
ers in Southeast New Mexico have a shared long-term vision for
Oil and gas companies that have contributed submanagement of noxious weed species to accomplish long-term
stantial funding to “Partners Against Weeds” incontrol. Several effective strategies to weed management have
clude Devon Energy, Bass Enterprises, Dawson
been developed. They emphasize prevention, early detection and
Geophysical and Marbob Energy.
mapping, timely control, and adaptive management. T his local
A lot of planning and effort goes into managstrategy is known as Partners Against Weeds and addresses each
ing noxious weeds. “Partners Against Weeds” is
of these elements.
working hard to enable long-term management
The Carlsbad Field Office of the BLM is proactively working
that is adaptable to Southeast New Mexico. Linkwith local partners to battle noxious weed invasions across Southing management plans over entire watersheds,
BLM'S PARTNERS AGAINST
WEEDS
17
prioritizing areas, and spending resources efficiently are helping to
contain the spread of noxious wee d infestations, reduce overall infestation levels, and lead to more diverse ecosystems on our public
lands – lands that are healthy and sustainable.
Alien Invader
Mexico
Enters
New
by L inda Rundell, State Director, BLM-New M exic o
You read it right. And the invasion is be coming a se rious
problem. Ask folks in Uta h, Idaho, W yom ing or Ne vada if
you don’t be lie ve me.
Our sta te is be ing invade d by a ne fa rious multi-ta lente d ex otic plant called chea tgrass (Bromus tectorum) tha t se riously outcompe tes na tive grassland spe cie s. If unche cked, it
spreads rapidly and degrades our
environment, affe cting not just
aesthe tics but soil moisture ,
groundwa te r supplies, na tive fish,
wildlife , and plant communities.
C he a tg ra ss-dom ina te d la ndsca pes host hotte r and more fre quent wildfires, furthe r degra ding
ra nge lands and re ducing wildlife
popula tions. It e ven conve rts
e cosystems tha t a re ca rbon
‘sinks’ (storing more ca rbon than
th e y
re le a se )
to
ca rb on
‘smokesta cks,’ increasing the
amounts of gree nhouse gases we
must cope with.
Ste ve Urquha rt, a state re presenta tive in Uta h calls chea tgrass “a
6’8”, 250-pound, ta ttooed, heavily-a rmed, escaped-from -dea throw invasive spe cies tha t is tak ing ove r the West,” since the fires
it fue ls wipe out othe r pla nts, furthe ring the spread of chea tgrass. Some exotic spe cies a re
worse tha n othe rs; chea tgra ss is
nea r the top of the bad list. So fa r 100 m illion a cres of la nd
in the West ha ve been infested.
This invasion is occurring unde r the rada r for most Ne w
Mex ica ns, hence this a rticle. A na tive of Eurasia , chea tgra ss
ha s a lready taken ove r huge a reas in sta tes to the north
and we st of Ne w Mex ico. It’s sta rting to crop up here, espe cia lly in the northwe ste rn pa rt of our sta te. Na tiona lly, ex otic a nd inva sive spe cies of a ll k inds damage or destroy as
many a cres of land ea ch yea r as wildfire .
Chea tgrass ca n a rrive by pla nes, tra ins
and automobiles, and is furthe r spread
by heavy e quipment used by de ve lope rs,
not to mention hike rs or drive rs touring
our La nd of Enchantment, plus livestock
and big game . It came to the U.S. in the
la te 1800s in shipments of see d and
grain but took a while to ge t going, k ind
of like the spread of sta rlings from Ce ntra l Pa rk in Ne w York C ity.
Chea tgrass is a plant tha t grows, flowe rs,
se ts seed and dies e ve ry yea r. It’s a cool
season grass that ge rm ina tes in the fall
and grows during the winte r a nd ea rly
spring, we ll before our na tive grasses
grow. It dies in June, a voiding the hottest pa rt of the summe r.
Be cause it de ve lops la rge
root
systems
in
the
spring, by the time na tive
grass seedlings sta rt to
grow in April, chea tgra ss
ha s a lready stolen most
of the wa te r out of the
top foot of soil. It a lso
a lte rs soil chem istry, furthe r discouraging our na tives.
In the San Juan Basin, it’s
sta rting
to
transform
sage brush e cosystems to
ee rie
monocultures of
flammable fire fue ls. It’s
a lso sta rting to be seen in
the scenic slot canyons a t
Kasha -Ka tuwe Tent Rocks
Na tional Monument. So
fa r, it’s been re corded in
21 of Ne w Mexico’s 33
counties.
So, why get so upse t
about a plant? He re ’s
why: in Utah, a blaze sta rte d this summe r by a bolt of lightning cha rred
160,000 a cres of chea tgrass-dom ina ted
grasslands in less than 24 hours and
scorched anothe r 200,000 a cre s be fore
fire fighte rs conta ined it. Nowhe re is the
problem worse tha n in Ne vada, whe re
more than a million a cres ha ve a lready
burned this yea r.
(Continued on page 18)
18
(Continued from page 17)
Ne w Mexico is not nea rly as infested a s othe r Weste rn sta tes. But wha t can be done ? Fight the good
fight a long with a ll the othe r good environmenta l
fights we ’re fighting?
Actua lly, yeah.
In August 2007, the Gove rnors of Idaho, Utah, Nevada and W yom ing agreed to deve lop a strate gy for
re habilita ting the m illions of a cre s of ra nge land
burned this yea r by wildfires. The y will organize voluntee rs to colle ct native gra ss seeds, and establish
proje cts a imed a t ha lting the repla cement of na tive
sage brush and bunch grasses with chea tgrass. And
throughout the West, the BLM is pa rticipa ting in a native see d colle ction effort tha t’s pa rt of a na tiona l
“See ds of Success” rehabilita tion e ffort.
The BLM, othe r age ncies a nd unive rsities a re conducting resea rch into control e fforts, which will include a va rie ty of approa ches. One is to plow unde r
che atgrass before it see ds, followed by re seedings of
na tive gra sses. BLM is testing a n he rbicide ca lled Plateau, which se le ctive ly k ills chea tgra ss espe cia lly
whe n applied in the winte r. The Idaho Statesman
re ce ntly reporte d tha t scientists a t Gonza ga Unive rsity a re studying a natura lly occurring fungus nicknamed “the bla ck finge rs of death,” tha t a tta cks
che atgrass seeds.
The BLM in Ne w Mex ico will use the results of this and
additiona l re sea rch as pa rt of its Restore Ne w Mex ico
program, which focuses on restoring grasslands and
wa te rsheds dominate d by exotic and invasive spe cies
– mesquite, creosote, salt ceda r, and now chea tgrass
– to a hea lthie r and more productive sta te . The BLM
will work with ranche rs tha t use chea tgrass for grazing in the spring (the only time it has a ny va lue for
ca ttle) to repla ce it with na tive spe cies tha t will meet
the ir need.
Our goa l is to e radica te this pest throughout Ne w
Mex ico. We owe it to ourselves, our fish and wildlife,
our e conomic hea lth, a nd our childre n.
WEEDS ALONG THE ROADSIDE
By Stella Davis
Carlsbad Current-Argus
CARLSBAD - The pretty purple and yellow flo wers seen dong the
roadsid es throughout the county are not your garden variety type
of pl ants.
They are weeds, they spread proli fically, they are deadly
to livestock and they are on the hit list of numerous state, federal
and local ag enci es involved in land manag ement an d agriculture.
To prevent their spread, as part of its duties to eradicate mosquito es, the Eddy County Vecto r Control Dep artment
has agg ressiv ely sprayed th e county's rights o f ways, in cooperation with other area agen cies. The Coordinated Weed Managem ent Area conso rtium shares its resources and in formation
in an effort to keep the infestation o f noxious weed down.
"We just finish ed spraying for M alta Star thistle
(weed with yellow flo wer)," said Kelly Cox, Eddy County
vector su pervisor. "This year, it seems to b e wo rse in the Otis
and Loving area and pretty much along county rights of way.
Every agen cy deals with it, and we are all working tog ether to
control it.
"The county provides my department with the needed
chemicals, and at times, we have obt ained som e from the Bureau o f Land Man ag ement," Cox said. "They also help us with
spraying, as well as h elping individual ran chers with their
noxious weed problems. We also wo rk closely with the Carlsbad Soil and Water Conserv ation District."
As of Janu ary, his department as used 5,500 gallons
of chemi cal to spray a M alta star thistle in festation south o f
Carlsbad.
Cox said the African rue is an other p roblem throughout the county, and s everal agen cies are already sp raying to
eradicat e the weed.
"We (county vector control ) spray fo r Afri can ru e,
which needs to be sp ray ed in Ap ril. But that spray prog ram
con flicts with our mosquito eradication pro gram. We haven't
had the April showers, so we are not seeing the large number
mosquitoes.
"However, we need to stay on top of the small amount o f
mosquito larvae out there so it does not become a problem
when we do get some rains. But we are having some mosquito
issues in irrigation ditch areas," he said.
Cox said that his department, along with the other
agen cies, is also starting its brush control along county right
-o f ways.
He said th e African ru e - a highly poisonous weed to
cattle and sheep – puts out a white flo wer this time o f year
and is high on the eradication list in Eddy County, as well as
other counti es in southeastern New Mexico.
"The areas where we all have consistently spray ed,
we are seeing less of it. That's encourag -ing," Cox said. "But
we are seeing more o f it in areas along road -sides wh ere we
have been spraying less."
Cox said spraying all the county's rights o f way for
noxious weeds is not possible due to the vastness of the
county.
The county road dep artm ent maintains 1,281 miles of
road outside the city limits of Carlsbad and Art esia, and getting to them all would be a major undertaking and need more
people in his departm ent, Cox said.
.
With increased oil and gas traffi c in the past several
years, the noxious weed seeds are carried to oil field sites,
county roads and ranchl ands by the oil field trucks and that's
where the fed eral, state and land management agenci es come
in. They are able to spray fo r noxious weeds on lands where
oil rigs are locat ed on state and fed eral leas es.
"Everyone is working togeth er to curb noxious weeds
in our county. Afri can rue an d the Malta star thistle are just
two of man y kinds that are out there," he added.
19
MESQUITE
CONTROL
Safety is “Job #1” at
the Waste Isolation
Pilot Plant (WIPP) no matter the
task. This safety culture is fundamental to all WIPP operations, including the trucks that transport
transuranic waste from around the
country to WIPP for disposal.
Roadw ays used by employees and
vendors who w ork at WIPP should
also be made as safe as possible.
For this reason, the Department
of Energy (DOE) and the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) have
teamed in an effort to control the
spread of mesquite along the ac-
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the
primary federal agency that works with
private landowners to help them conserve, maintain and improve their natural resources. T he Agency emphasizes
voluntary, science-based conservation;
technical assistance; partnerships; incentive-based programs; and cooperative problem solving at the community
level.
Since 1935, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (originally called
the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort
to help America's private land owners
and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.
NRCS employees provide technical
assistance based on sound science and
cess routes to WIPP.
Mesquite along roadw ays, if left
unchecked, limits driver vision especially around curves. It also allows w ildlife to get close to the road
without being seen by the driver,
increasing the potential for injuries
to both people and w ildlife. These
well traveled access roads are
used by w aste hauling and vendor
trucks, buses, oil field vehicles
cars, and motorcycles.
During 2007, the BLM applied
chemic als to the nor th and
southbound right-of-w ay along the
North Access Road (from Highw ay
62/180) and to the South Access
Road from the Jal Highw ay, for a
total distance of 17 miles. The
chemicals w ere purchased by the
DOE specifically for mesquite control. Extensive mow ing is now underw ay to remove the dead mesquite. An added benefit to mesquite removal is the grow th of
grasses, which had been limited by
the presence of mesquite.
Plans are to continue our application effort during 2008 by adding
the East Link Road from the WIPP
Site to Red Road.
This mutual effort between DOE
and the BLM w ill improve the safety
for all who use the WIPP access
roads.
suited to a customer's specific needs.
We provide financial assistance for
many conservation activities. Participation in our programs is voluntary.
• Our Conservation Technical Assistance (CT A) program provides voluntary conservation technical assistance
to land-users, communities, units of
state and local government, and other
Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems.
• We reach out to all segments of the
agricultural community, including underserved and socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers, to ensure that
our programs and services are accessible to everyone.
• We manage natural resource conservation programs that provide environmental, societal, financial, and technical benefits.
• Our science and technology activities
provide technical expertise in such ar-
eas as animal husbandry and clean water, ecological sciences, engineering,
resource economics, and social sciences.
NRCS’ primary cost share assistance
vehicle is the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP
offers financial and technical help to
assist eligible participants install or
implement structural and management
practices on eligible agricultural land.
Each year, requests for financial assistance far exceed the amount allocated
to Lea County. The encroachment of
invasive weeds and brush has been
identified as one of Lea County’s primary resource concerns. Since 2002,
EQIP participants have applied brush
control practices on nearly 56,000
acres here in Lea County and received
nearly 1.27 million dollars in financial
assistance. That averages out to
$22.67 of cost share per acre treated.
EQIP Applicant Summary
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
# of
Applicants
61
62
90
66
66
50
Dollars
Requested
$2 million
1.7 million
2.15 million
2.04 million
1.72 million
2.18 million
GLV
22APR08
Eligible Conservation Practices
Contracts
Funded
Dollars
Awarded
14
18
50
29
19
30
17
$539,133
711,905
1.54 million
1.54 million
980,404
1.07 million
987,588
Rangeland
Cropland
Dairy
Practices
Practices
Practices
Brush Management Irrigation Pipeline
Pipelines
Watering Facilities Sprinkler Conversions Lagoons
Water Well Drilling Flow Meters
CNMPs
Pumping Plants
Backflow Valves
Separators
Cross Fencing
Drip Irrigation
T ransfer Pump
Prescribed Grazing
Windbreaks
Flow Meter
20
African rue, Saltcedar Among SE New Mexico Invaders
CARLSBAD FIELD OFFICE Although New M exicans battle
common weeds in their yards each
year, the worst invaders are nonnative plants that are taking over public land.
BLM officials rank saltcedar,
African rue, Russian knapweed,
and M alta starthistle at the top of
the list of this region’s worst
weeds. Others edging up the roll
are Russian olive and Jointed goatgrass.
Several of these weeds are ominously called "ecosystem transformers". In other words, they can
change the environment they're in,
so even if these weeds are removed, it’s difficult for native
plants to re-establish, said Ray
Keller, Range Specialist at the
BLM Carlsbad Field Office.
The common characteristic of
these problem weeds is that none
are native to New M exico or the
United States, he said. They thrive
because New M exico lacks insects
and diseases that keep them in
check in their native habitats.
While the definition of a weed is
subjective, they're normally considered a plant that goes against the
intended purpose of the land.
Identification of problem weeds
can be a big problem. That new
wildflower growing on your property could be a fast-spreading, invasive weed.
A major obstacle in controlling
weeds in New M exico is that so
much of the land is public. Public
lands and roadside rights-of-way
are not actively managed in the
same way a farmer would his
fields. A gencies simply don't have
the funds to manage weeds on such
a massive scale. That's why prevention is the key.
There are weeds that have not yet
taken a foothold here, but may.
“Cheatgrass is a big problem in
Utah and we really want to keep
this one out," Keller said. A few
small pockets have crept into
northwest New M exico,” he said.
Officials have found Yellow
starthistle, which is poisonous to
livestock, in an isolated area of
southwestern New M exico, near
rural Cliff. Purple and yellow
starthistle has also been found in
Lea County. Starthistle has taken
over more than 15 million acres of
land in California and is present
throughout the Southwest. "It
really has the potential to spread
long distances, so we must be especially proactive in stopping this
particular weed species," Keller
said.
Another worry is African rue, a
poisonous, drought-tolerant plant
that was first discovered near
Deming. The rangeland weed that
first appeared in North America in
the 1920s has established an 11county foothold in southern New
M exico.
"African rue thrives in disturbed
soil - along roadsides, oil pads and
near livestock watering tanks,"
Keller said. "It often dominates
where it occurs."
Weeds that are already widespread and difficult to control include the water-hogging saltcedar,
also known as tamarisk. The invader was brought over from Eurasia and the M iddle East in the
1800s as a feathery pink-flowered
ornamental for erosion control. It
thrives along the state's rivers and
streams, forcing out cottonwoods,
willows and other natives.
Besides its documented thirst (a
single mature Salt cedar will tran-
spire up to 300 gallons of water for
day), the tree increases soil salinity, making it almost impossible
for other plants to survive. "We’ve
gotten hold of the problem on the
Delaware River, south of Carlsbad,
“said Keller. “This year we managed to treat the river’s entire reach
from the Texas line to its confluence with the Pecos, but saltcedar
is so widespread that total eradication is unrealistic."
If you run across a suspicious
weed, contact your local county
Extension agent.
S E New Mexico Worst Weeds
African Rue
Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop Family)
Description: African rue is a manybranched perennial that has an aggressive, woody root system.
Height rarely exceeds 1 to 1.5 feet.
Stems are fleshy. When crunched,
the stems have a bitter, acrid taste
and a disagreeable odor. Leaves
are alternate, smooth, and divided
into linear segments. Flowers consisting of five white petals are
borne singly in leaf axils along the
stems. The fruiting structure has
two to four cells, with a manyseeded capsule.
Origin: North Africa. The first
reported infestation in the United
21
States occurred near Deming,
New M exico, in the 1920s.
Key Characteristics:
Bushy growth habit
Fleshy stems and leaves
Five-petaled, white flower
Fruiting structure is a capsule
Distribution: African rue is primarily found in the southern
counties, but isolated populations
have been documented in central
and northwestern counties.
Russian Knapweed
Asteraceae
(Sunflower Family)
Description: Russian knapweed
is a creeping perennial forming
dense colonies as a result of buds
from its black, spreading roots. It
can reach a height of 4 feet.
Lower leaves range from entire
to lobed. Upper leaves are
smaller, entire, and attached directly to the stem. Cone-shaped,
pink to lavender flower heads are
borne at the end of leafy
branches. Floral bracts are greenish, smooth, and papery with a
rounded or pointed margin. Russian knapweed is known to cause
chewing disease in horses.
Origin: Europe and Asia
Key Characteristics:
Deep penetrating black roots (to
25 feet deep)
Flower 0.23 to 0.5 inch in diameter
Floral bracts are smooth and
papery with a rounded or
pointed margin
Perennial
Distribution: Russian knapweed
entered the U.S. around 1900
and is currently found throughout the western U.S. In New
M exico, there are numerous
serious populations distributed in
the central and northwestern
counties, with scattered populations in other areas.
Malta S tarthistle
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Description: M alta starthistle is
an annual, germinating either in
the fall or spring that grows 2 to
3 feet tall. Deeply lobed basal
leaves form a rosette, while stem
leaves are linear or tapered at
both ends. Stem leaves attach
directly to the stem. An extension, of the leaf runs down the
stem, giving it a winged appearance. Flower heads are made up
of yellow flowers. The flower
heads have bracts with a stiff,
sharp, 0.75-inch thorn. Round in
cross section, the long spine has
one or more shorter lateral spine,
at its base. Seed produced from
ray flower, are dark-colored and
lack bristles, while seed from
disk flowers are lighter colored
and have a tuft of white bristles.
Origin: Europe
Key Characteristics:
Yellow flower
0.75-inch spine
Distribution: This weed is a serious problem on roadsides and
waste areas. In New M exico, star
thistle is responsible for chewing
disease in horses.
S alt Cedar
Tamaricaceae (Tamarisk Family)
Description: Salt cedar is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15
feet in height. Leaves are small,
scale-like, gray-green in color,
and overlap along the stem. The
bark is smooth and reddish on
younger plants, turning brown
and furrowed with age. Several
species are considered invasive
in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be
difficult. Salt cedar invades
streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, wetlands, moist rangelands,
and saline environments. It can
crowd out native riparian species,
diminish early successional habitat, and reduce water tables and
interferes with hydrologic process. Salt cedar is native to Eurasia and Africa and was introduced into the western United
States as an ornamental in the
early 1800s. It occurs throughout
the western and central United
States, but is most problematic in
the Southwest.
Origin: Asia
Key Characteristics:
Pink flowers
Deep roots
Extremely invasive
22
type of plant species being
treated. The GPS units being used
are accurate within a couple of
The Bureau of Land Managefeet while most personal GPS
ment’s noxious weed program is
units used for hunting or recreadesigned to prevent and control tion are at best nine to 27 feet
foreign invasive plants
into the natural environment.
Among many
other aspects of noxious
weed control, data management is equally important to the overall
success of the program.
The BLM and its partners are utilizing current tracking technologies to help combat
P hoto courtesy U.S. Department of Defense
these unwanted alien
species.
Technology is forever chang- accurate. In addition to accuracy
ing and dynamic. Today’s innova- these GPS units have the capabiltive electronics and gadgets far
ity to have satellite images, roads
exceed the performance of what
and previously inventoried noxwe thought was top notch two,
ious weeds treatment data overfive and ten years ago. New iPods
laid on the screen.
have larger storage capacities and
The New Mexico Highway Degreater advances in speed and
partment and Eddy County are
performance than computers five
two of our most significant partyears ago.
Utilizing current
ners collecting noxious weeds
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
data with provided GPS units.
and Geographic Information SysThe benefits of using GPS technoltems (GIS) technology the BLM
ogy are seemingly endless, but
can track, manage and analyze the
one of the most apparent benefits
dispersion patterns of noxious
is the ability to transfer data from
weeds.
the units to a database located in
When people talk about the BLM Carlsbad Field Office.
a"GPS," they usually mean a GPS
Compiling the data into one datareceiver. The Global Positioning
base allows the BLM to track acres
System (GPS) is actually a consteltreated, store inventory data, analation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellyze multi year trends and prolites (24 in operation and three
duce maps pertaining to noxious
extras in case
weeds treatments.
one fails). The
Technology is a broad concept
Bureau and its
that deals with the usage and
partners use
knowledge of tools and crafts.
highly accurate
How it affects the environment
GPS units to
depends on the application and
collect
field
user. Technology alone will not
data pertainremove noxious weeds from our
ing to the loca- road sides, but coupled with outtion, density, standing partners and hard work
su r r o u n d i n g
it can help make an improving
vegetation and
difference on our environment.
GPS and Noxious Weed
Control
Lea County’s Noxious Weeds:
For many years now, six to be exact, a
concerned group of citizens and government
agencies have been working to identify and
eradicate a couple of very noxious weeds in
our county. T hese weeds are called African
Rue (Peganum Harmala)and Malta Star Thistle (Tocalote) (Centaurea melitensis) and
they have been identified throughout the
county as a growing problem. There are
other weeds of concern however these two
are our primary objective to eradicate.
The concerned group of citizens and
government agencies that have been working
on this issue is called the Lea County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA).
Initially this group took on the name of Lea
County Noxious Weed T ask Force, however
funding and other types of assistance was
more readily available to CWMA’s so last
year our group officially changed our name
to the Lea County CWMA. Now along with
other like groups we have the entire Southeast New Mexico area covered by one group
or another.
This strategy has proven beneficial in
that local people are dealing with local problems. We determine what will be sprayed and
when according to a master plan, of sorts,
which help all of us, work together and to
eliminate any barriers that may exist. This
has proven to be a great way to attack this
ever growing problem. By entering into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
several entities as well as individuals we are
able to spray identified problem areas without regard to ownership, so if BLM is spraying an area and the area spreads into SLO
land there is no problem as the MOU explicitly spells out one agencies ability to help
another. On private land of course, we do
have an agreement that the landowner must
23
sign in order for us to spray on his or her property.
This work is normally done at no expense to the landowner. So why so much interest to these particular
weeds.
First of all both of these weed are not native to
this part of the state, so that means that they were never
intended to be grown here. Secondly since they are
spreading they are posing an even greater pressure on
our limited water resource namely the Ogallala Aquifer. We feel that by eliminating these weeds we will in
fact relief some of the growing pressure on the Aquifer.
Also the elimination of these weeds will help us
achieve a healthier watershed, in that grasses and other
desirable plants will replace the weeds after they are
gone. In some cases it has been found that some of
these weeds can be dangerous to our livestock. So you
see there are many reasons to try and prevent any further spread of these know culprits of our resources.
Here in Lea County we have a unique relationship between the federal, state and local agencies that are participating in this project.
Some agencies are providing funding, Lea County
Commissioners, while others are providing sprayers
and man power to do the job, BLM, and still others
provide support to assist in identifying problem areas,
Lea County Road Commission. Also as a part of the
MOU, the BLM provides sprayers and manpower to
Lea County to assist in treating road right-of-ways,
these are areas that have grown up with Mesquite and
or Elm trees, that are now posing a hazard to drivers as
views are blocked at intersections and drives. This relationship is doing very well. The Lea SWCD acts as a
fiscal agent in that they will pay for the chemicals and
then get reimbursed by the Commissioners. This helps
in expediting the payment to suppliers for chemicals.
However every year we identify more areas than we
have money or chemical to spray. T his is why the
group as a whole and in particular the Sureste RC&D
Council, Inc. is constantly searching for additional
funding.
So you can see every partner has a vital role in
helping the group meet its primary objective of eliminating these Noxious Weeds. We will continue to fight
the battle and perhaps some day we can say that we are truly
making a difference.
So you might be asking yourself what does this have to
do with me? Well in this insert we have identified many of
the weeds that we are talking about so that as a private citizen
you can help us to further identify areas that need treatment.
So hold on to your insert and use it as a guide to help you
learn what these weeds look like in various stages of their
growth, by you helping us, you will be helping yourself and
the environment as a whole, so be a good neighbor look out
for these culprits and let us know where they are at so we can
get after them and hopefully get rid of them. For further information please contact us at 575-396-5857 ext. #106 or
come by the office at 401 T atum Hwy, Lovington, NM
(USDA Agricultural Service Center) and show us where the
weeds are at, so that we can pinpoint them and get them
sprayed.
New Mexico Department of Transportation’s
Fight Against Noxious Weeds
New Mexico Department of Transportation
By Jimmy Spears, Assistant Foreman Carlsbad Patrol
NM Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has
been a leader in fighting noxious weeds in our state.
Noxious w eeds travel into and throughout our state using
road right-of-ways. NMDOT is the front line of defense
to keep these invaders from entering our lands. We
have various problem w eeds throughout the state from
Russian knapw eed, musk thistle, hoary cress and leafy
spurge in the west, to Malta star thistle, African rue, goldenrod and kochia in the east.
District II reaches from Alamogordo to Clovis and
Vaughan to the Texas state line, and has 16 separate
patrol areas which combat noxious weeds along our
roadways. The District budget is approximately
$350,000 and is split betw een noxious weed treatment
and right-of-way grooming and sight distance for public
safety. We combine our herbicide treatments w ith other
right-of-way maintenance such as construction and mowing to implement an
integrated pest management program for
our highw ays. By
combining our efforts
with other agencies,
we can pool our resources and extend
our dollars to be the
most effective for the
public that w e serve.
24
Marbob Energy Corporation
Marbob Energy Corp. is a family owned company that primarily operates
in Eddy and Lea counties of New Mexico. Marbob Energy Corp. understands the increasing and cumulative demands put upon the public land resources under the Bureau’s multiple use mandate. Trying to manage these
uses while protecting our natural resources can be a difficult task. Within the
last few years the BLM and other government agencies have worked hard in developing partnerships to address past and current impacts on our rangelands in southeastern New Mexico. Marbob
Energy Corp. is glad to be partner this effort.
Over the past several years Marbob Energy Corp. has contributed approximately a half million
dollars towards vegetative treatments, wildlife projects, special status species habitat enhancement/
research, reclamation of old oil and gas locations and has partnered with BLM on archeological data
recovery and testing studies.
These efforts are not only good for our natural resources and help the government agencies
stretch its funding, but shows that industry is willing to support the cause and be a good neighbor.
Eddy County Coordinated Weed Management Area
Memorandum of Understanding Signatories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The County of Eddy
The City of Carlsbad
The City of Artesia
Carlsbad Irrigation District
Carlsbad SWCD
Central Valley SWCD
Penasco SWCD
Natvie Plant Society—
Society—Carlsbad Chapter
NM Department of Transportation
(District 2)
10.NM
10. NM Department of Game and Fish
11.NM
11. NM Department of Energy, Minerals, &
Natural Resources
12.NM
12. NM State Land Office
13.Eddy
13. Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service
14.USDA
14. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
15.Carlsbad
15. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
16.Guadalupe
16. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
17.Sureste
17. Sureste RC&D Council
18.US
18. US Department of Energy—
Energy—Carlsbad
19.USDA
19. USDA Forest Service—
Service—Guadalupe Ranger
District
20.USDI
20. USDI Bureau of Land Management—
Management—
Carlsbad District
Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District
3219 S. Canal
Carlsbad NM 88220
(575)628-1532 phone (575)885-5386 fax
sw [email protected]—email
www.carlsbadsoilandw ater.org—w ebsite