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INTRODUCTION <br />A. Context of Weed Management <br />There has been a tremendous expansion of invasive alien plant species across the US, <br />including Colorado. New problem weed species arrive in Colorado every year. Weeds <br />create large economic losses for agriculture in both cropland and rangeland situations. <br />Noxious weeds often provide poorer habitat for wildlife than native vegetation. <br />Proliferation of alien plant species alters ecosystem processes and threatens certain <br />native species with extirpation. Thus, unchecked weeds threaten our economic <br />livelihood and our biological heritage. <br />In recognition of our economic and ecological impacts of weeds, the General Assembly <br />of the State of Colorado passed the Colorado Weed Management Act, also known as the <br />Colorado Noxious Weed Act, in 1996. The act requires landowners and managers to <br />manage noxious weeds if they are likely to damage neighboring lands. This act provides <br />that each county in Colorado shall adopt a noxious weed management plan for the <br />unincorporated portions of the county. This plan provides a framework to control those <br />plant species that are listed as "noxious" in Fremont County. <br />Weeds are rapidly becoming one of the most pressing issues for natural managers. <br />Unfortunately, most natural areas contain many alien plant species. In the vast majority <br />of cases, there is not enough labor and money to control all the species of weeds that <br />occur in a natural area. Thus, managers are forced to choose which weed species they <br />will control and which they will not, at least initially. <br />B. Overview of Approach to Weed Management <br />Weed control is part of property management. This plan is based on the desired plant <br />species and communities, rather than on simply eliminating weeds. Preventive <br />programs are implemented to keep the management area free of species that are not <br />yet established but which are known to be pests elsewhere in the area. Priorities are <br />set to reduce or eradicate weeds that have already established on the property, <br />according to their actual and potential impacts on the land management goals for the <br />property, and according to the ability to control them now versus later. Actions will be <br />taken only when careful consideration indicates leaving the weed unchecked would <br />result in more damage than controlling it with best available methods. <br />The plan follows the adaptive management approach. First, weed species are identified <br />through inventory of the property and by gathering information from other sources. <br />Second, land management goals and weed management objectives are established and <br />recorded for the property. Third, priorities are assigned to the weed species and weed <br />patches based on the severity of their impacts, while considering the ability to control <br />them. Fourth, methods are considered for controlling them or otherwise diminishing <br />their impacts and, if necessary, re -order priorities based on likely impacts on target and <br />non - target species. Fifth, Integrated Weed Management (IWM) plans are developed <br />based on this information. Sixth, the IWM plans are implemented. Seventh, the results <br />of management actions are monitored and evaluated in light of weed management <br />objectives for the management area. Finally, this information is used to modify and <br />improve weed management objectives, control priorities, and IWM plans, thereby <br />