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Weed Watcher Workshop

Thursday, April 9, 6 pm, Leedy Grange Hall, 835 NW Saltzman

Sign up now to attend a Weed Watcher workshop. These programs are presented annually in the spring to help alert area residents to the Class A weeds considered to be of greatest concern, and to train residents as “50 mph botanists,” able to identify these invaders in local natural areas and along streamsides while driving throughout the county.

Each workshop begins with an introduction to invasive species control, a walk-through of the weeds of greatest concern, and includes time to practice identifying these plants with live samples. Participants receive a copy of our handy weed ID guide, which includes information on how and where to report infestations.

Learn more about the threat posed by invasive species and our mission to stop it!

During the workshops, weed experts like Rob Bauer of CWS and Kyle Spinks of THPRD explain why not all weeds are invasive. In order to be considered an invasive species, these weeds have to be more than simply unwanted. If an unwanted weed rapidly infests an area and has a negative impact on human health, economic productivity, or the surrounding environment, then Weed Watchers should be on the lookout in order to catch the invasive species before it establishes itself and the population explodes.

Do Weed Watchers Really Make a Difference?

Yellow archangel can be found in natural areas and yards all around Cedar Mill

Shawn Morford recently shared her experience. “It would be fair to say, as a direct result of the workshop, one of Oregon’s new invasive weeds, yellow archangel, was discovered and treated on state forest land before it took over. It is currently under active treatment to keep it that way by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).

“I attended your Forest Grove workshop early in 2013 and discovered the archangel about a month later on state forestland adjacent to our cabin near Mill City. We were on the phone immediately with the local ODF office and Watershed Council to report it. ODF treated it during the summers of ‘13 and ’14. We keyed out a second invasive as Leopard’s Bane and that was also treated by ODF. As a result of education by ODF, our neighbors removed archangel from their landscaping beds too.

“To my shock, I continue to see archangel sold in landscaping nurseries and whenever I see it, I ask to talk with managers about it. Seems like a lot of education is needed with nurseries, not just the public. The public just buys what is pretty to plant without knowledge of the consequences. I have turned into a raging granny about archangel!”

Why worry about weeds?

Invasive species threaten the stability of native plant and animal communities. They choke out the native plants that do a better job:

• keeping soil in place and out of rivers,
• soaking up excess nutrients from fertilizers,
• providing shade to keep water temperatures cool for fish,
• providing somewhere for native animals to live, and
• providing food sources year round for pollinators and native animals.

Invasive species also create direct problems. Many provide attractive habitat for animals we consider to be a nuisance, like nutria and rats. Some invasive plants like knotweed can also cause property damage to buildings and roadways, costing homeowners and tax payers money.

For more information, visit swcd.net/help-for-homes/weed-watchers. Pre-registration is not mandatory but it helps us know how many handouts and booklets to provide.

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