Rocky Mountain Ranger District Invasive Plant Management Strategy

In December, 2014, Congress passed H.R. 3979, which contained the Rocky Mountain Front Heritge Act.  The Act contains provisions requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for preventing, controlling and eradicating noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The strategy is now complete.

The Rocky Mountain Ranger District has an urgent need to continue the implementation of an aggressive, effective, and coordinated invasive plants management program. This urgency is in response to the continual increase in invasive plant infestations, a growing national emphasis on invasive plant management, and the mandate in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.

On December 19, 2014, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (H.R. 3979 113th Cong. [2014]) was enacted after being signed by the President. Section 3065 of H.R. 3979 (commonly referred to as the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act), contains provisions requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for preventing, controlling and eradicating noxious weeds in the district. The “district” is the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.

The district has prepared an Invasive Plant Management Strategy (strategy) which is intended to guide the planning of future invasive plant management activities on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and meet the requirements contained within H.R. 3979.

If you have any questions or would like to request a hard copy of the strategy please contact Casey Johnson, Invasive Plants Coordinator at (406) 466-5341 ext. 125.  Please use the letter requesting public comments .

Draft Example of Annual Invasive Plant Management Plan for 2016