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producers with the intent to determine the location of leafy spurge and the <br />Imapweeds. This survey was conducted in eazly June of 1991. Avery limited <br />number of respondents returned the survey and on the basis of these responses it <br />was noted that leafy spurge infestation was still concentrated in and along North <br />Creek and north of Rye, Colorado. Following the survey Pueblo County staff <br />toured the North Creek azea. The acres upon which leafy spurge were found was <br />probably limited to 50 to 100 acres. However, leafy spurge.,can: spread by <br />wildlife and watei along North'Creek arid-has tfie potential of uife§ting a large <br />number of acres if some„control measures aze hot undertaken soon. -The concern <br />of leafy spui~e"along North Creek is that chemical means aze limited. Effective <br />chemicals available for leafy spurge control at,the present time are highly water <br />so[iible and could cause injury to sensitive vegetation in the leafy spurge infested <br />area; as well as down streatii from where, leafy spurge is presently located. <br />ana ement o ,. <br />g ~ the weed at this location wtll necessitate biological control either <br />,, <br />throw h azmg, insects: or some similaz means. . . <br />B. CUR1tENT OVERVIEW OF_ PROBLEM <br />"' Ptiebro Cotinty riow faces anumber. of -both acute and chronic weed <br />_ ~, ~ ~... ~_, 1. .. ,. <br />tnfestatron probI'ems',Tfie` acufe'uifestations are those outbreaks which are limited <br />"'"" ~ m stze;',cbCild be 'effectively controlled, but `whose species chazacteristics pose <br />_. , <br />large scale t[freats rfnot addre_ sled m an expedient manner , <br />These act~e~°iiil~,, OnS dude <br />(T) ` Leafy,spurge , .(.i00+ acres) this outbreak now domtnates North Creek with <br />ad'drhonal Iocattons above'Rye;and south of Colorado-City. <br />' '~ (2)" ,hoary.cress -~'(I00'+ acres) this .plant known as,"whitetop" has erupted <br />along Interstate 25 between Pueblo and Elie Huerfano County line. <br />(3) .Musk thistle "- (1'S~+-acres}-this large ~thistleJnow dominates perennial <br />ripari areas near Colorado City and Rye _ .~. <br />._.~.; <br />(4) ' Yellow StarthistIe - (S~ acres) this knapweed like .plant is beginning to <br />invade crop fields on the Fountain Creek drainage and around some <br />wetlands south of Pueblo. <br />(5) Canada Thistle = (400+ acres) this persistent plant has been recorded along <br />most secondary highways and county roads throughout the county. <br />(6) Knapweed{s) - (150+ acres) Russian knapweed has erupted in several areas <br />adjacent to cultivated farms in south-central Pueblo County. Diffuse <br />knapweed has a few locations in mountainous azeas of the county. <br />1a> n ~`~ etnrr?trc v ' <br />C rh'~onic hnfestattons are those weeds that are deeply entrenched in the county. <br />hazd to eradicate, and will require long-term management strategies. The chronic weed <br />infestations include. <br />- (1) Russian Thistle (5000+ acres) -more commonly ,known as "tumbleweed", <br />this is a chronic invader of gazdens,'lawns, crops, and other sites. It tines <br />fences and ditches and"generates countless dollars in management costs for <br />residents to bum it. Response costs for county teams to fight "uncontrolled <br />bums" are directly tied to this plant species. <br />,I2 <br />