Ketchikan Cooperative Weed Management Area partnership

Release Date: Jul 7, 2016

Contact(s): Karen Hutten

Ketchikan, Alaska, July 7, 2016 – Tansy ragwort is in full bloom along the Tongass highway and adjacent lands. It is one of the exotic invasive plants that Ketchikan's invasive plant group is targeting for removal because it is toxic to wildlife that graze on the leaves and flowers. Invasive plants are defined in federal documents as "non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health."

A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) partnership is currently being developed by local landowners and interested individuals who want to remove high priority invasive species before they become widespread and take more time and effort to remove. This group would like to invite all Ketchikan City and Borough land and property owners and other concerned citizens to attend their meeting on Monday, July 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The location is the Ketchikan Public Library small multi-purpose room (1110 Copper Ridge Lane).

The meeting agenda will include (1) current exotic invasive plant management efforts, (2) discussion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by land owners to signify the formation of the CWMA, (3) efforts to obtain funding for exotic invasive plant management, and (4) outreach and education. We will also be available to answer questions on invasive plants and the CWMA program. Please join us.

The CWMA objective is to integrate noxious weed management resources across jurisdictional boundaries to benefit the entire community.

R.S.V.P. Karen Hutten at 907-228-4115 or email at khutten@fs.fed.us.

 

-USDA-

 

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